§tbforb Inquirer.
BEDFORD, PA„ FRIDAY JAN. 12, 1860.
SPLIT IN THE REPUBLICAN PAR
TY.
Articles, with the above and similar cap
tions, bfive been going the rounds of the
Copperhead papers throughout the eoun
try. It may be they are on ly whistling to
keep their courage up, but it is more likely;
that the natural sluggishness of their old
fogy ideas has prevented tbein from dis*
cerning. what long ago has been patent to
every one not blinded by partisan zeal or
fossilized by the soporific influences of Cop
perhead conservatism. The originality and
progressiveness of such men as Hon. Thad
deus Stevens, Hon. Henry Wilson and a
host of others frighten these drowsy drones
of the political world into the most pitiable
quakings. They first cry out that these
pestilent fellows will turn the world upside
down with their new tangled notions, but
finding the world upon a stronger founda
tion than they supposed, with the utmost
sangfroid, forgetful of their past abortive
attempts at prophecy, they inform us that the
party, to which these disturbers of their sty
gian slumbers belong, is about going to piec
es, simply because some of its members
happen to differ upon the minutiae, in the
working out of great principles. Lloyd
Garrison was probably right in ceasing to
publish the Agitator any longei and saying
that its mission was ended. Not so the
Republican party, its mission is only begun,
in the illimitable field of progress to which
the future invites us, its aim, is to promote
every good work, to encourage a truer na
tionality, a higher civilization, a more ex
tended freedom.
It is the activity of robust, exuberant life
and Dot the throes of dissolution, that char
acterizes the Republican party at the pres
ent moment. It is the natural diversity, of
living, active, thinking, progressive minds,
independently investigating great questions
of civil policy, with the same high aim. and
not the discordant jarring <>f antagonistic
principles. No doubt ail this seems strangely
ominous to the dim vision of Copperheadism,
but the intelligence of the country has reali
zed that we are the progressive party of a
progressive age in a progressive country.
They are the apologists, for slavery despot
ism, and anarchy, we —the advocates of un
trammelled liberty and christian humanity.
They cling to the laws and institutions of
the dead past, the effete and the obsolete.
We press forward to the rich fruition of a
bright aod glorious future. They are the
party of ignorance superstition and decay,
we—of intelligence, morality and progress.
OUR COMMON SCHOOL SYSTEM.
No. 3.
Inequality of Taxation.
In order that we may the better appreci
ate the significance of the figures, which
follow, it may be well to state that the law,
as it now stands and is enforced, requires of
each district to keep open its schools four
months in each year or forfeit the State ap
propriation. Under these requirements,
we find in Jefferson county, that a tax of 13
mills to the dollar is required to keep open
the schools four months at an average rate
of $2O per month to teachers in Knox dis
trict, while its richer neighbor. Corsica, is en
abled to obtain 6 months school, at an aver
age teacher's salary of $25, with a tax of
only five mills to the dollar. That is in or
der to obtain the same advantages the poor
er district would have to endure five times
as high a rate of taxation as the richer.
In Indiana county, Canoe district obtains
four months school at $l6 per month for
teachers, with a taxation of 13 mills to the
dollar', while Saltzburg district with 3 J mills,
obtains the same length of term and pays
her teachers $lB per month. Here again
we find the same advantages gained by the;
richer district at less than one fourth the
rate of taxation of the poorer.
In Lancaster county, East Hempfield has
six months school at $29, with a 13 mill tax,
while West Lampeter has eight months at
$3O with a 1.5 mill tax. Here we find the
poorer district would be obliged to bear 12
times as high a rate of taxation in order to
gain the same educational advantages as its
richer neighbor.
In Centre county, Taylor district has four
months school (& $2O, with a 12 mill tax,
while Farmer's mills district obtains six
months @ $28.83 with a two mill tax or
about one-twelfth again.
In Bucks county, New Britain has five
months @ $25, with a 12 mill tax, while
Northampton has five months @ $26, with
a 2 two mill tax or less than a twelfth.
In Luzerne county, Dennison has five
months @ $l7, with 13 mills, while New
Columbia has seven months <3j $18.86 with
1.1 mills or less than one-twelfth.
In Lebanon county, Heidelberg has five
months @ $2O, with a 12 mill tax, while
Cornwall has six and one-half months (cf
$23, with 1 mill or one-eighteenth the rate
of tax of the poorer district.
In Potter county, Sweden district has
four months @ $lB, with a 13 mill tax,
while Coudersport has eight and one-half
months @ $26, with a 2.5 mill tax, or one
thirteenth the rate of Sweden.
In Northampton Co., Moore district has
four and two-third months <3 $2O with a
20 mill tax. while Bethlehem Borough has
nine months (ft, $33.84 with a 1 mill tax, or
gets the same advantages at one fifty-fourth
part the rate of taxation of the poorer dis
trict
* The average rates of taxation in differ
entcounties, by comparison, show a likeine
quality. Thus: Bucks county with an av
erage taxation of 1.12 mills has an average
of 8.28 months school at an average salary
of $25.29. ' •
McKean, with a tax of 6.8 mills, obtains
6.07 months school @ $21.09. To enable
McKean to obtain the same length of school
term at the same salaries as Bucks, would
require of her a rate of taxation nearly six
times as great. Lehigh county, with a tax
of 2.15 mills and a teacher's salary of $22.39
has 5.76 months school, while Clearfield
county has 429 months, with a salary of
$2448 aad a tax of 9.27 mills, or at about
five timos the rate of taxation required in
Lehigh to obtain the same advantages.
j $25.50 per mouth, and obtains 7.34 months
sohool at a tax of .60 mills.
Jefferson county has 4.7 months school
at $20.90 salary, with a tax of 9.6 mills.
Here we iind that Jefferson county, to ena
ble her ro pay the same wages to teachers,
and to have the same length of chool term
! would be compelled to levy a tax about
twenty-six times as heavy as Montgomery.
The average rate of taxation throughout
j the iitate is 3.27 mills; Yet leaving out
the disparity in length of school term, we
; see the poor district of Moore in Northamp
ton county, enduring a tax of 20 mills, or
over six times the average of the State while
the rich district of Oley iri Berks, pays but
i of a mill or less than one fourtli the aver
age of the State.
These are but a few, of the hundreds and
even thousands of instances of the gro3s in
equality and injustice borne by the people
under the present most unjust system of tax
ation. Surely no one will pretend that such
results as these were intended to be produ
ced, by the framers of our school laws.
TIIF. NI'XDBY PRESS.
Sunday papers have been tolerated, if not
encouraged, in their violation of the Sab
bath. until from timidity they have advanc
ed to aggressiveness. The Philadelphia Presa
has essayed to lead their host in the assault
upon religious observances and institutions,
and defiance of the law of the land as Well as
the moral and religious sense of the People.
Its editor shows his duplicity and incon-is
tencv in a style that would be amusing if
the subject were not one too serious for lev
ity. Take the following from his defence
"Onr reverend critics should understand
that in a period, when, into a single hour,
are frequently compressed the events of
years, and when the evolutions and inven
tions of man are so numerous and rapid as
to baffle imagination and defy parallel, the
people on .Sunday morning are just as anx
ious to know what transpired on Saturday
as those on Monday are to learn what took,
place on Sunday. This is a thinking and
reading age, and ours is a thinking and a
reading country. Is God better served by
spreading before his creatures good doc
triues. or by allowing them to peruse what
ever they <-an seize upou to fill their leisure
Sabbath hours?"
The same plea, of a desire, might be made
an excuse for every violation, of, not only
Sabbath and Sabbath laws, but also, of all
other laws, and in accordance with this
spirit we find in the same number an arti
cle of a full column in advocacy of running
the city street cars for the accomoda
tion of Sunday pleasure parties, quickly
verifying the truth that ' fiacUit descensus
Acerui, " But the editor speaks of spread
ing before his readers good doctrines for
their perusal during the leisure hours of the
Sabbath, the paper from which this extract
is made, contains 8 pages or 84 columns of
printed matter, what are the good doctrines
embodied in these 8 pages. About 16 col
umns are devoted to secular news embracing
court proceedings, police reports, commer
cial political and financial news, Ac., two
columns are given to church news and eta- j
tis tics, with but little of a religious character j
about them, 8 columns to exclusively busi- j
ness advertisements, 3 to amusements, ope- j
ras, circuses, theatres, Ac., 3 to tales and j
poetry,6 to theatrical and dramatic criticisms, j
4 to miscellanous but not religious matter,
1 to the advocacy of Sunday railroad travel
and Sunday amusements, aud the remaining
4j columns are devoted to the Sunday ques
tion and an argument in favor of the abro
gation of, not only, the Sabbath day, but al
so, of the moral law and the Decalogue.
One of these articles concludes thus. "In
the present state each man is entitled to
judge for himself how much, or what part
of the day he will employ, and in what av
ocations, whether useful physical labor, in
social visiting, attention to the sick and af
flicted, in meetings for relieious improve
ment, or in mental culture, literary or scien
tific: knowing that in the doing of all right
things he is worshipping God.' :
We never had a very high opinion of the
moral integrity of "The Press." Its toad
yism in politics was absolutely disgusting and
now its practical infidelity in religion, and o
pen advocacy of the abrogation of all moral
restraints make its very pages loathsome.
He who introduces it into his family must
have a strong faith in his own restraining
influence, or small regard for the morals of
his children.
OUR PUBLIC MEN.
"WE COMPLAIN that Pennsylvania does
not occupy the position in the family of
States to which she is entitled. Her wealth,
the extent of her territory, her geographic
Eosition, and her wonderful resources entitle
er to a rank, in fact, rather than in name,
as the "Keystone" of the great arch of the
republic. But she does not stand thus. In
Congress she occupies the position of a third
or fourth-rate commonwealth, and is listened
to only by courtesy, when others of far less
magnitude in all that should constitute
greatness, command attention. It is so in
national conventions; it is so everywhere;
and, like a blind giant, possessing all the
elements of strength and power, she is half
the time powerless."
It is the Philadelphia Daily News that
says that. Now, without stopping to in
quire whether this is the naked truth, or an
unwholsome exaggeration, the result of a
morbid imagination, we may remark that a
Commonwealth is not, and cannot, be known
in the national councils by its masses. It
must be known and judged by its represen
tative men. If Pennsylvania allows herself
to be represented by her weaker men rather
than by her stronger; or, selecting her strong
er men, she unwisely rotates them into pri
vate life, just when they have acquired that
experience and discipline which is essential
to enable them to exert their powers influ
entially in public stations, she has really
nothing to blame but her own stupidity.
In all circles, public and private, where
business is to be transacted, brains and exper
ience count strongly. It depends little where
the man who possesses these qualities was
born or lives—he will have that considera
tion accorded to him to which he shows him
self entitled. A complaint is made that
Massachusetts and South Carolina have
had more sway in Congress than their pro
portion of the population would indicate they
ought to have had, the answer is that those
States have commonly sent the I .' best men
to Washington, and have had the wit to
keep them there.
Pennsylvania has had some very superior
men in Congress. She has some of that
sort there now Stevens and Williams may be j
gentlemen has been there for so many years
that be has become an expert in parliamen
tary topics and all the arts of legislation.
His constituents appreciate his powers and
services, and keep him there. But a strong
opposition is manifested elsewhere in the
State, among special classes, to get rid of
him, if possible, because of his marked
pre-eminence. The croakers would drive
all the brains in Congress in Pennsylvania
into retirement, and then mourn all the
louder that she was stripped of her due
share of influence.
Pennsylvania is not deficient in men of
large abilities for any kind of service. The
misfortune is that this sort do not as often
get into public employments as the general
welfare requires. Of late years Philadelphia;
while exceptions must be allowed in her fa
vor, has been so remiss in promoting her a
blest men that she ought to maintain silence
no matter what disparagement the Com
monwealth may rest under.— Pittsburgh
Gazette.
EQUALIZING SOLDIERS' BOUN
TIES.
The men who fought and won the battles
of the Government, and thus maintained it
in power, have not been treated altogether
fairly so far as bounties are concerned. The
men who first enlisted feel that injustice has
been done them, in the matter that, while
they served long and faithfully without ex
tra pay, others who went into the army af
ter the hard fighting and marching were
done, secured fortunes. In a plain common
sense view, the injustice is highly offensive,
and the friends of the soldier, in, as well as
out of Congress, are determined that there
shall at least be an equalization of bounties,
that the men who were willing to meet the
first furious attack of treason, shall be rec
ompensed and paid equally with those who
enlisted when the battle was more than half
Fought and won. The bill of Mr. Clarke,
of Kansas, which is now before the House,
proposes to equalize the bounties to sol
diers, by providing for a uniform bounty of
$lOO per year, computing for the whole pe
riod of service, and counting of the whole
term of enlistment. This measure is ap
proved as one which will do full justice to
all our fighting men, and we trust that it will
become a law as speedily as possible.—ffar
risburg Telegraph.
HENRY WINTER DAVIS IS DEAD.
The telegraph brings the sad intelligence
of the death of Mr. HENRY WINTER DAVIS
of Maryland. He was born in Annapolis in
1817, graduated at Hampden Sydney College
was elected a Representative in Congress
from Baltimore in the 34th, 35th and 36th
Congresses, serving on the Committee of
Ways and Means. In 1863 he was elected
to the 38th Congress, and served as Chair
man of the Committee on Foreign Affairs.
He failed to obtain the nomination for a seat
in the present Congress. He was the author
of the Wade Davis manifesto that appeared
in 1864: a paper most remarkable for vigor
and fearlessness, whatever may be said of its
other qualities.
31 r. DAVIS possessed various and exact
culture, and in the department of literature,
was the author of several attractive volumes
He was a man of rare genius; decidedly
the ablest man iu Maryland. He possessed
a finished and graceful delivery, the effect
of which was damaged in large rooms by
lack of proper tone of voice. He was a
radical thinker, and a man of great moral
courage. He dared to differ from the most
powerful. By his intrepidity he imparted
an impulse to the cause of Freedom in
ryland, which must hand down his name
with increasing lustre to posterity.—Pitts
burgh Gazette.
FROM WASHINGTON.
Statement of number of volunteers
called from each State.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 6.
The Secretary of War, in compliance with
a resolution of the House of Representa
tives, has furnished a statement of the num
ber of volunteers called forty the President
at various periods. The first call was for
75,000; the second, in July, 1864, for 500,-
000, and the third, in December, for 300,-
000, namely:
Aggregate, reduced
to the three
States. Aggregate, years standard
31ainc 71,745 56,595
New Hampshire. 34,605 30,827
Vermont 35,246 29.052
Massachusetts.... 151,785 123j844
Rhode Island 23,711 17,878
Connecticut 57,270 50,514
New York.. 455,568 380,980
New Jersey 79,511 55,785
Pennsylvania 366,326 267,558
Delaware 13,651 10,303
Maryland 49,730 40,692
West Virginia.... 30,003 27,653
Dist. Columbia... 16,872 11,506
Ohio 317,133 239,976
Indiana 195,147 152,283
Illinois 258,217 212,694
Michigan 90,119 80,865
Wisconsin 96,118 78,985
Minnesota 25,034 l-,675
10wa..... 75.860 68,182
Missouri 108,773 86,182
Kentucky 78,540 70.348
Kansas 20,097 18,654
Total 2,653,062 2,129,041
This informrtion was called for to facili
tate the business of the special committee
on the war debt of the loyal States, to whom
it has been referred.
DEATH OF A NOTED DiviiNE. The Lu
theran Church of the United States mourns
the death of Benjamin Kurtz, D I), L. L.
D., which event transpired in Balltimore. on
Friday last.
The American says Dr. Kurtz was most
favorably known to the citizensof Baltimore
and indeed of the entire State, and as an a
ble theologian, a devout Cbrisian, and pos
sessing many excellent traits of character.
By virtue of his talents he received the de
grees of Doctor of Divinity and Doctor of
Literature and Laws from the College of
the English Lutheran Church, of which de
nominations he for about forty years was an
efficient pastor. Dr. Kurtz was connected
for many years with the Lutheran publica
tions, and occupied the editorial chair with
vigor and faithfulness. He was also the
author of a uuniber of works, the titles of
some of which: "'Why are you a Lutheran?"
''Baptism,' and a prayer book, <fcc. Many
of his editorials in the Lutheran Observer
evinced a high decree of theology and its
concomitant subjects. He has gone to his
rest full of honors, having lived to the ad
vanced age of 71 years. As a zealous and
useful Chi istian, a learned man and a good
citizen, Dr. Kurtz will long be remembered
in this community. The funeral of the de
ceased took place on the afternoon of New
FROM WASHINGTON.
WASHINGTON, January 4, 1866
THE TAX COMMISSIONERS,
Now in New York engaged upon their
report, will not be ready, so they inform the
.Secretary of the Treasury, to submit their
report to him for two weeks yet. The Secre
tary will have it under advisement for at
least two weeks. It will not be submitted
to Congress, therefore, before the first of
February. It will be a most voluminous
document, covering several hundred pages.
The Committee on Ways and Means are
very anxious to have this report.
A EULOGIST WANTED.
The committee appoiuted to secure a
proper person to pronounce the eulogy on
| the life and character of the late President
Lincoln have thus far been unable to secure
any one. Both Stanton and Holt have de
clined. Neither of them have assigned any
reason therefor, further than they have not
time to attend to it.
SOLDIERS PETITIONING Kott DISCHARGES.
Applications are pouring in upon the Sec
retary of War and General Grant from vol
unteer soldiers, asking to be discharged the
service alleging that they see no further use
for their services and they arc anxious to re
tire to civil pursuits. It is the settled policy
of the department to abridge the military
force throughout the country as rapidly as
possible and to as small a compass as the ex
igencies of the service will permit.
THE WAR DEBT.
One of the first things to be done in Con
gress next week is to take up the question
of assumption of the loyal State war debt.
There is a very strong feeling among Con.
gressmen in favor of such a course.
LATE INDIAN OUTRAGES.
A copy of a letter from Gen. Pope to Gen
eral Sully, dated at Sioux City, December
9th, 1865, received by Commissioner Cooley
of the Indian Bureau, states that a trader at
Eort Rice reported a large number of In
dians along Missouri river, who are very
friendly to the whites. The chiefs of these
parties were highly displeased with outrages
committed by Indians at Kayer Pope and
are returning all stolen goods and horses
they can recover to General .Silly. They
intended also to deliver up the Indians who
shot the white traders.
THE RECONSTRUCTION QUESTION.
.Senator Lane of Kansas, it is understood
will make a speech soon after the re-assem
hling of Congress, strongly endorsing the
President's reconstruction policy. Senator
Wade of Ohio, is entitled to the floor on
Senator Wilson's bill, making all equal he
fore the law under cover of which most of
the speeches on restoration are made.
THE WHITE HOUSE.
The visitor;- at the White House on busi
ness with the President were granted early
interviews to day the crowd dispersing before
two o'clock. A number of Senators called
on the President, but most of those present
were persons interested in pardons, and ask
ing employment.
A CAVALRY LEADER IN TROUBLE.
This evening's Republican says that it has
seen in the hands of the proper authorities
a statement signed by over thirty officers
under the command ot a Major General who
has distinguished hiinselt'as a cavalry officer
under Sheridan, to the effect that at a public
meeting in Texas, a judge Hancock, an ex
rebel. made a treasonable speech and that
the Major General aforesaid who was drunk
allowed and endorsed all that Hancock said
The removal of this General is earnestly de
manded.
LAND GRANT TO MISSOURI.
Under the swamp land grant of 1860,
swamp selections in the former Jackson,
now Centre land district, covering 171,7*27
acres, has been granted to th.- State of M is
souri, for which a patent from the United
States has just been prepared, with a view
to its transmission to the Governor of that
State.
TO BE MUSTERED OUT.
Orders for mustering out the 18th, 143 d
and 46th Illinois Infantry, and 2d 10th and
17th Illinois Cavalry; Ist oattery of Kentucky
Artillery, and 2d Wisconsin Cavalry have
just been issued.
SCOTCH WHEAT FOR DISTRIBUTION.
Nine different varieties of wheat were to
day received at the Bureau of Agriculture,
from Glasgow, Scotland, for distribution;
also two varieties of rye grain seed.
A CLERGYMAN WANTS TO CARRY THE MAIL.
A Virginia clergyman writes to the Post
office Department, asking for a mail contract
He states that he does not know as he can
take the oath of allegiance, for he has prayed
in the pulpit during the war for the success
of the Southern cause, but as the prayers
were never answered, lie is of the opinion
that no aid and comfort were given and that
therefore he remains a lcyal citizen.
THE INTERNAL REVENUE RECEIPTS.
Are becoming unusually large during the
past few days. They range lrom one to two
millions per day, and occasionally exceed the
latter ainouut.
THE SUPREME COURT.
The last case argued in the Supreme Court
to day was No. % irregular docket, being
that of Evan Rogers against the city of Bur
lington, lowa.
THE RECOGNITION OF MAXIMILIAN.
The President will send to Congress to
morrow or on Monday a copy of all of the
diplomatic correspondence on Mexican af
fairs. It is believed that it will contain a
letter from Napoleon directed to Secretary
Seward, asking for the recognition of Maxi
milian, and the latter's reply thereto.
THIRTY-NINTH CONGRESS.
First Session.
WASHINGTON, Jan. o, 1866.
SENATE.
The Senate met at 12 o'clock, and was
called so order by the President pro tern.,
Mr. Foster.
.Mr. Surnner presented a petition of two
citizens of Boston, asking for indemnity
from the British Government for the loss of
a ship burned by the Alabama, which was
referred to the Committee on Foreign Af
fairs.
Mr. Sumner presented a petition from
the colored citizens of Mississippi and Ala
bama, asking for their judicial rights before
the law, which was referred to the Special
Committee on Reconstruction.
Mr. Sumner presented a protest from the
colored citizens of Colorado against the rec
ognition of that State on account of the in
justice done to their race in the newly form
ed constitution.
Mr. Chandler presented the protest of the
citizens of Michigan against the renewal of
the reciprocity treaty, except upon terms
that will protect American commerce.
Mr. Morgan offered the memorial of the
Union League Club of New York, asking
that Congress give to the widow of the late
President the amount of salary for the full
Bresidential8 residential term, which was referred to the
ommittee on Finance.
Mr. Trumbull offered a bill to enlarge the
powers of the Freedmen's Bureau. Also,
a bill to guarantee freedom to the eolored
people in the States lately in rebellion.
Mr. Sumner presented a resolution call
ing for the printing of one hundred thou
sand copies of the Tate message of the Pres
ident with the reports of Generals Grant
and Schurz. which was referred to the Com
mittee on Printing.
Mr. Sumner presented a resolntion call
ing upon the President for detailed informa
tion respecting the appointment of Provis
sional Governors, how they were paid, and
whether they took the oath of allegiance,
&c., which was adopted.
Mr. Sumner offered a joint resolution,
proposing au amendment to the Constitu
tion of the United States, to guarantee the
payment of the national debt, and to pre
was referred to the Judiciary Committee.
Mr. Sumuer offered a bill providing for
the revision of the statutes of the Un'ted
States, which was referred to the Judiciary
Committee.
Mr. Williams introduced a joint resolu
tion, submitting the following article as an
amendment to the Constitution: "No pow
er shall exist in Congress to provide for the
payment of any person or persons for or on
any account of the emancipation of any
slave or slaves in the United States, and no
appropriation of money shall ever be made
by law of Congress for that purpose. The
article was referred to the Judiciary Com
mittee.
Mr. Trumbull introduced two bills, of
which he had given previous notice, a bill to
enlarge the powers of the Freedmen's Bu
reau, and a bill to guarantee freedom to the
colored citizens of the States lately in re
volt.
On motion of Mr. Ramsey, the Senate
adjourned at 12.30, to meet on Monday
next.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
\ arious resolutions of inquiry were pass
ed. including one offered by Mr. Ingersoll,
of Illinois, instructing the Judiciary Com
mittee to inquire whether any further legis
lation is necessary for the suppression of
polygamy in Utah.
()n motion of Mr. Pike, of Maine, the
Committee of 7"Vays and Means were in
structed to iuciui-e into the expediency of
providing for drawbacks of the duties paid
on material entering into the construction of
American ships, in order to compete with
those of foreign construction on equal terms.
The House then went into Committee of
the whole on the President's message.
After a prolonged discussion the Com
mittee rose and adjourned till Monday.
FROM HARRISBURG.
Harrisui rg, Jan. s.— Hon. Eli Slifer,
Secretary ot the Common wealth, received a
letter from Governor Curtin, dated at Mat
anzas, Cuba, December 28, 1865, in which
he speaks of certain letters which he (the
Governor) has forwarded, and which he
supposed the Secretary of the Common
wealth bad certanly received. These letters
Mr. Slifer never received. But in his pres
ent letter the Governor gives the substance
of hir> announcement in missing letters,
which is of considerable importance to the
public.
He says that during the first week of his
experience in Cuba the heat set very hard
upon him, and seemed to increase the viru
lence of his disease, but that of late the cli
mate has acted like a charm upon him. His
physician has advised him to remain for
some time longer, and he is therefore deter
mined to take the full benefit of his original
intention, as announced in his message,
which he wrote just previous to his depar
ture, and prolong his stay until the middle
or latter part of February, when he thinks
he may return with safety.
THE CONTESTED ELECTION CASE.
Mr. David McConaughy, who, on Wed
nesday, contested the seat of 0. M. Duncan,
the sitting Senator from the Nineteenth
District, embracing the counties of Adams
and Franklin, will not rely so much upon the
additional soldiers'votes that came in after
Duncan had received his certificate as upon
bis allegation that a number of votes of de
serters were received for Duncan. Indeed,
it is virtually conceded that the thirty-one
votes purporting to have been cast at" Vic
toria, Texas, on last election day, are fraud
ulent, and Mr. McConaughy abandons
them.
The Union candidate for District Attor
ney in Franklin county, whose election would
have been a certainty if these votes were
genuine, has declined a contest in court, and
has conceded his opponent's election on the
certificate of the return judges. These re
turns, which were postmarked Philadelphia,
and duplicates of which reached the Secre
tary of the Commonwealth's office, Nov.
20th. 1865, have not been placed on file here
as official papers, and certificates of the re
turns which have been issued only make
mention of the votes as "purporting to have
been cast. " It is said that the friends of
Duncan have the most voluminous evidence
in relation to these returns, embracing the
affidavit of the Captain of one of the com
panies in which this vote purports to have
been cast, together with the testimony of
the judges of the election whose names are
signed to the returns, to the effect that they
never signed the papers.
Col. MeClure advances a very curious
theory in regard to the soldiers' vote, which
he does not believe is genuine. He asserts
that it was concocted by the enemies of Mc-
Conaughy for the purpose of throwing odi
um and discredit upon the effort that would
be made to oust Duncan upon general alle
gations of fraud. In other words, while he
does not defend the returns, he will not be
lieve that Republicans were concerned in
getting them up. This question will, doubt
less, never be elucidated, for the reason that
there is nothing about the returns, as sent
to the Secretary of the Commonwealth and
the I'rothonotaries of Franklin and Adams
counties, to indicate who sent them, and it
is a little dountful if anybody will step for
ward and assume the responsiblity.
The whole contest may, therefore, hinge
upon the alleged voting of deserters. There
are only twenty-five of a majority to over
come on Duncan's certificate, ana this, it is
said, can be wiped ouL though the testi
mony, in that case, will amount to many
pages offoolscap. It is announced on pretty
good authority, that the Committee drawn
to try this case will submit to the Attorney
General for his decision the question wheth
er the act of Congress, which prohibits de
serters from the army of the United States
the privileges of voting, can debar a voter
from the exercise of his franchise in the e
lection of State officers. If this is done,
then the fate of Mr. McConaughy will be to
a great extent dependent upon the nature
of the Attorney-General's decision.
TEXAS AND MEXICO.
Movements of Gen Crawford--Repor ted
Designs on Monterey—Recruiting Going
on.
NEW ORLEANS, Jan. 5.
Additional accounts from Brownsville say
that General Crawford has plenty of funds.
His chief of staff, Col. A. F. Reed, is rapidly
raising recruits in Brownsville, enlisting
United States soldiers still in the United
States service, and promising them dischar
ges as soon as the necessary papers are made
out and forwajded. There has been no in
terference with this proceeding by our au
thorities as yet.
Recruiting offices are opening in otner
parts of Texas. One of the recruiting offi
cers informed the correspondent of the New
Orleans Time* that a force is to come from
New York in addition to that being raised
on the Rio Grande. A camp is being estab
lished below Brownsville, with sufficient
supplies.
General Mejia is aware of General Craw
ford's movements.
The Brownsville correspondent of the
Times, under date of the 30th of December,
says:
Gen. R. Clay Crawford has arrived at
Brownsville with the appointment of Gener
al in the Mexican and Republican army, and
authority to recruit on the American division
for the Republican service under his com
mand.
General Crawford established recruiting
offices at Brownsville a:id other places in
Texas, and the enlistments were already
progressing rapidly.
It is reported that Gens. Lew Wallace
and Ijogan are connected with the move
ment and they are soon expected to arrive.
Cavagol, the celebrated Mexican fillibus
ter, was expected with a large suniofmoney
The Imperialists werein Matamoras. Gen.
Mejia had commenced barricading the streets
fearing an attack from Crawford s American
division at any time. It is thought that
Crawford will join and move on Monterey,
establishing their base at that point..
A schooner, laden with arms and ammuni
tion, consigned to a purveyor at the head
quarters of the 2oth Army Corps, went
ashore at Bagdad and was seized by the Im
perialists,
General Mejip levied a loan of $lO,OOO on
the merchants of Matamoras.
The military railroads from Grashead are
completed to White Ranche, making th e
travel from Brownsville to Brazos in for
days.
news says that American families
are leaving Matamoras, and coming to the
American side, fearing an attack. Liberal
forces, numbering about 2,200, are scattered
along the river.
RECONSTRUCTION.
WASHINGTON. January 6, 1866.
The Committee of Fifteen, on Recon
struction, held their first meeting, at the
Capitol this morning, and elected Senator
Fessenden Chairman, and appointed a clerk.
Several members of the Committee being
absent, it was determined to take no definite
action until a full attendance was had. It
was found that nearly all of the credentials
of the Southern Congressmen elect were be
fore them. Those of the Tennessee delega
tion were presented in full and found to be
entirely formal.
A large number of resolutions were placed
on the journal of the Committee, which
have been referred from time to time by
both Houses. Notice was given of a prop
osition to send a sub committee to investi
gate into the Southern States, and report
fully on the civil, military and political situ
ation. It was intimated by one member
that he should urge the early consideration
of the credentials of the Tennessee delega
tion.
A committee consisting of Senator Fess
enden and Reverdy Johnson, andßerpesen
tative Washburne, of Maine, was appointed
to confer with President Johnson on matters
connected with the reconstruction policy.
An Important Decision from the Super
intendent of Common Schools.
The common school laws of the State fix
the eligibility of pupils for admission to
those schools at from six to twenty-one years
of age, providing that a Pennsylvania boy
or girl can, if desired, attend school for fif
teen years. When the slave-holders' war
was precipitated, there were hundreds of
able-bodied boys between the ages of seven
teen and twenty-one who entered the armies,
fought well and greatly distinguished them
selves. of these were left to occupy
graves on fields made immortal by their
valor. Others have returned home disabled
for life, and still others, having passed
through all the perils of battle, came back
to us uuharmed. Many of the minors thus
escaping the dangers of the war. became of
age in tne army, and since their return, are
desirous of entering the public schools to
finish their education. But the strict letter
of the law forbids the admission to my pub
lic school of a man over twenty-one years
old; and if the law were rigidly adhered to,
hundreds of young men in the State, among
whom are a large number of helpless crip
ples. would be deprived of that education
for which the munificence of the Common
wealth has provided.
Some time since this subject was formally
brought to the attention of the Superinten
dent of Common Schools, on the application
of a discharged soldier, who had reached
his majority in the service of his country,
to enter a public school. After a careful ex
amination of the subject. Superintendent
Cobum has decided that by every principle
of right and equity all minors who volun
teered and became of age in the army, are
entitled to a term of years or months in the
public schools equal to that which they
served in the army. Thus, if a boy volun
teered at 19 years, and served two years in
the army,'he may. if he desire, spend two
years iu the public schools. The Superin
tendent argues that the country had the ser
vices of these heroes, had exhausted their
school term, for which reason the State is
bound to make up the time by allowing all
such to enter public schools after the 21
years' limit fixed by the law. The decision
is a just one in all respects and will meet
wit'i great approbation.— Harrisburg Tele
graph.
Wisdom from the West.
There is a compendium of natioualecono
my in this single paragraph in the Lawrence
(Kansas) Journal: '"Just at present there is
a great excitement in Illinois about the high
E rices of transportation. The farmers are
olding conventions and urging Congress to
appropriate large sums of money to give in
creased facilities for transportation East,
which is all well enough. They urge,
among other things, the construction of a
canal around Niagara Falls, which will cost,
if we remember rightly, though the esti
mates are not before us, some $ll ,(XX>,OOO.
This is all well enough also. But we will
venture to say that $11,000,000 invested in
factories and manufactures will do far more
to afford a home market to the West than
the proposed canal. The West is the "mas
ter of the situation.' If it will be true to
itself it can soon become independent. But
to do this it must multiply its forms of in
dustry. It can never become independent
by simply growing corn and wheat.'' Truer
words were never spoken. The Western I
§olicv is to be supplied with a home market,
he should work steadily and determinedlv
to this end. That attained, there will be
neither occasion for, nor justification of
waste of time and energy in agitating for
additional machinery to confirm the citizens
of the Mississippi Valley in their single em
ployment of raising food -an employment
so unremunerative by reason of the distance
that separates the producer from the con
sumer, that in many localities of at least
three States, Indian corn is now used for
fuel.
Kcncontre in The Virginia Capitol.
RICHMOND, Jan. 5. —An exchange of pis
tol shots took place to day at noon, in the
hall of the Capitol, between ITenry Rives
Pollard, of the Examiner, and Nat, Tyler
and William D. Coleman, of the Enquirer.
Six shots were fired without damage, except
the knocking off of'half of thw tassel on the
cane of the marble statue of Washington.
The House of Delegates was in session at
the time, aud the occurrence produced a
great excitement. The parties were arrested
by the Sergeant at Arms, and brought to the
bar of the House. Pending a discussion on
amotion to refer the case to a committee,
the House adjourned till to morrow.
The difficulty originated in an article in
the Examiner , on the public printing, to
which the Enquirer replied by calling ou
the former to name the person referred to
or stand convicted of falsehood. The Ex
aminer made no editorial reply.
The Tariff Question.
Senator Sprague, Chairman of the Com
mittee on Manufactures, some days ago sent
a communication tj the leading manufac
turers throughout the country to ascertain
their views in regard to the present tariff,
and also as to the Internal Reveuue tax on
manufactures. Quite a number of respon
ses have been received. They all breathe
one sentiment —that the Internal Revenue
tax is so heavy they are compelled to raise
the price of manufactured articles to such
an extent that imported articles can be sold
cheaper than the domestic article; therefore
they maintain that a higher tariff must be
imposed on the foreign article or the tax re
duced on the domestic article. This view
of the matter will lie laid before Congress
AFTER THE WAR.
The Tribune , looking over the field since
the war,discourses some curious things thus:
"One of our leaders is now in charge of a
machine for patent pumping; another is
building a iailway through the oil country.
One of the first soldiers of the Army of the
Potomac is in the pistol business; another
keeps a retail grocery store; while one of
Sherman's most trusted licutcntants is a
claim agent. One Major General prints a
weekly journal in Baltimore. Some of our
officers were drafted into Congress; others
are on their way to distant Courts to rep
resent the honor of a nation they did so
much to sustain. These starred and belted
gentlemen go down from the command of
cohorts to become agents and partners and
dealers, perhaps with the orderly who stood
before their tents, or the private who held
their stirrup. So with the Generals of the
rebellion. The greatest of them all is now
a teacher of mathematics in a university.
Sherman s great antagonists are in the ex
press and railroad business. The once
dreaded Beauregard will sell you a ticket
from New Orleans to Jackson; and. if you
want to send a couple of hams to a friend in
Richmond, Joe Johnson, once commander
ot great armies, will carry them. The man
whose works GraDt moved upon at Do nelson
edits an indifferent newspaper in Orleans,
while the commander of the rebel cavalry
at Corinth is his local reporter. Marshall
practices law iu New Orleans; Forrest i,
running a saw mill; Dick Taylor is now
having a good time in New York; Roger A.
Prvor is a daily practioner at our courts,
and so with the rest of this bold, vindictive
and ambitious race of men. The Govern
ment against which they warred is now
their friend and protector."
Direct vote for President.
The proposition so to amend the Consti
tution as to secure the election of President
and Vice i'resideut by a direct vote of the
people, will certainly pass both House- of
Congress, and come before the people for
ratification. Tne qualification demanded i
that the voter must be acit.zen of the Uni
ted States, of twenty-one years of age. not
under conviction for infamous crimes, who
can read and write, and who shall have re
sided for one year in the State, and >ix
months in the district where such qualified
persons shall offer to vote. Making intelli
gence a basis on which to rest a qualificat on
as a voter, has long been demanded in this
country, not that the ignorant have in any
way controlled the elections, but that aii
possible danger of such ever being the cast
should be guarded against. In a land
of free schools and a free pres.-.
no man unable to read is rationally entitled
to the exercise of the elective franchise.
By a direct vote of the people fbr President
and Vice President, too, we shall get rid of
the last direct influence of the dead carca--
of slavery on the body politic. It will be
conceding, in reality, the proper power to
the governing masses—giving only to such
as represent, in their own intelligence and
virtue, the dignity and force of the govern
ment. the right of choosing those who are
to wield its authority.
Laws of Newspapers.
The courts have settled the followiug
points:
1. Subscriberes who do not give express
notice to the contrary are considered as wish
ing to continue their subscriptions.
2. If subscribers order the discontinuance
of their papers, the publisher may contiuue
to send them till all that is due be paid.
3. If subscribers refuse or neglect to take
thoir papers from the offic-e t-o which they
are directed, they are held responsible till
they have settled their bill and ordered their
paper discontinued.
4. If subscribers move to other places
wiihyut informing the publisher, and the
paper is sent to the former direction, they
are held responsible.
fi. Refusing to take a paper from the office
or removing and leaving it uncalled for is
prima facia evidence of intentional fraud.
0. A postmaster neglecting to inform the
publishers when a paper is not taken from
the office, makes himself liable for the sub
scription price.
Strange infatuation.
It is reported from Washington that cer
tain Weston members, representing consti
tuents who are using corn lor fuel, have ex
pressed a'deterniination to oppose any alter
ations in the tariff likely to secure home in
dustry against foreign competition. This is
the kind of wisdom that would lead a man
whose house was on fire to refuse to j<eiinit
the use of water to save it, The free-tra
der stands ready with the specious and false
theory of buying abroad and paying for it
with our surplus products of the soil. Now
are we not buying abroad, but do we pay
with oui surplus products? The answer is
found in the astounding fact, that while tie
corn of the West is being burnt us fuel, ice
are importing foreign goods and wares at
the rate of six millions a tceek !
With these facts staring him iu the face,
the Representative in Congress who per
sists in opposing protection to American
industry and capital, whereby a market for
ail we can raise would be created, is a mon
ument of stupidity, or worse. — Pittsburgh
t onunercial.
I 'Ai.MKKSToMANA. —The Nation tells two
stories of Lord Faiinerston never before in
print. On one occasion, when a vote of
censure was proposed in Parliment upon
his ntinistery, a friend asked him what the
Govern men t. intended to do. "Well," he
said, "there are three distinct propositions
before the House. We shall take a few
words from the first, add a few from the
second, and transpose a few from the third,
and then we shall have a resolution of our
own which will be as clear as mud." Again,
at the time that the Scheswig-Holstein im
broglio was just beginning to bore the world,
intheautum of 1863, an eminent English
diplomatist went to call upon the Premier
to ask for information on the subject. Af
ter hearing his request L I Palmerston
thought a while, and then answered in his
short jerky mauner, "Yes. quite rieht to
come to me. \ ery difficult question that
of Schleswig- Hoistcin, and there never were
but two people whor really uml i.stood it—
myself and——. But then vou see the mis
fortune is, that is dead and 1 have for
gotten it."
SIZE OE THE WEST. —lllinois would make
forty such States as Rhode Island, and Min
nesota sixty. Missouri is large than all
New England. Ohio exceed- eitlu r Ireland
or Scotland or Portugahand equal- 1> -Igium.
Scotland, and Switzerland together. Mis
souri is more than half as large u- Italy, and
larger than Denmark, Holland, Belgium,
anu Switzerland. Missouri and Illinois are
larger than England. Scotland, Ireland, and
Wales.
Great Flood in the West Hraneli of "ie
Susquehanna River!
WILUAMSPOHT, Pec.
We are now having a very destine ■; iv< icy
flood, carrying with it all the log- lj ug to
the West, Branch of the Susquehanna It
is estimated that from sixty to seventy mill
ions feet of saw logs,-valued at nearly a mill
ion of dollars, have passed this place wo Inn
the last twenty four hours. This is the
heaviest loss ever sustained by the lumber
men on this river^
i IMMIGRATION. —During the month of
November 20,870 immigrants arrive i at New
York 13,179 being Germans. From January
1 to December 1, lBtio, the number that has
airi /ed has hem 188,204. of whom 72,9W>