Bebforb Inquirer. BEDFORD, PA., FRIDAY FKB. % 1866 Ot R COMMON SCHOOL SYSTEM. NUMBER V. A remedy for some of it defects. With so great a diversity of surface, soil, climate, density of population, &a, as ex ists in our State, to obtain exact uniformity and equality of educational advantages, is practically impossible. But a much nearer approximation, than is obtained by the present system, is cer tainly attainable. The plan we propose for obtaining such approximation, and equaliz ing taxation is as follows; viz : First by a system of general aud equal taxation throughout the State, to obtain a fund suffi cient to defray the expenses.of instruction aud keep open the schools a minimum term ot four or five months, at the average sala ries of teachers for the whole State, leaving the present system of taxation iu force, for the purpose of raising a building and con tingent fund, and keeping open the schools as much longer than the minimum term as each district, for itself, may deem expedient. Second, to distribute this general fund among the various districts according to the number of schools in each, instead of, as at preseat, according to the number of taxa bles. Since writing article No. 4, we have received the speech of Mr. Householder, in the State Senate, in favor of a revision of our common school system, also the school report of 1863- We shall avail ourselves to some extent, of the labors of Mr. House holder, by making use of his statistics. By a laborious calculation he has ascertained that a tax of two mills to the dollar upon the valuation of the real and personal prop erty of the State and about ten per cent, of the gross receipts annually coming into the State Treasury, a school fund of at least $1,600,000.00 can be obtained. This near ly equals the cost of instruction lor the whole State in 1864, for an average of 5.53 months' school at an average teacher's sala ry of $22.79, and by the proposed method of equalization would be obtained at a rate of taxation 1.27 mills less than the average rate for the whole State in 1864. This is a general system of taxation such as we have had in view, and at the proposed rate would secure a minimum term of at least five months to each school in the State at the average teacher's salary lor the State, of $22.79. Thus far we agree. In the mat ter of distribution we differ radically not only from Mr. Householder but also from the suggestion of Mr. Coburn our present excellent State Superintendent. They both propose a distribution per capita, according to the number of scholars. That this leaves the distribution as uncertain and une qual as that according to the number of tax ables, must be evident to every one at all familiar with either school or census statis tics, as the proportion of children to adults, and of adults to taxable* under ordinary cir- j uumstances is nearly the same, and every I variation, produced by this method, from 1 the results of the present one, is as likely to aggravate as to ameliorate the present ine quality and injustice. After a careful ex amination of this point, we are constrained to adhere to our own proposition, as first made, to distribute the fund according to the number of schools. This we believe to be the only method by which any near ap proximation to equality of taxation and uni formity of educational advantages can be obtained. The chief objection to this i method would be its tendency to unneccssa- I rily increase the number of schools; this we ! believe would be entirely obviated by re- i quiring each school district to provide for building and contingent expenses by local taxation. This would doubtless be a suffi cient check upon an undue multiplication of schools. We will now endeavor to give a few additional reasons, why we deem our plan the more likely to accomplish the de sired result. At first thought it would ap pear that the present method of distribu tion according to the number of taxable* ought to produce the result desired, and it I was doubtless intended so to do at its adop tion, but on a careful examination it will be found that its failure results from well es tablished laws of population and its effect upon the value of property. These are, that as population increases the value of property increases, and that as the density 1 of population increases the average cost of j education per scholar decreases, while the reverse of both these takes place where population decreases, that is, the value of property falls while the average cost of edu cation increases; thus in Bucks county, we find the average cost, per month, per capi ta, is but 43 cents while in Forest county it amounts to $2.12 or more than five times as much as in Bucks. These differences in cost arise from the fact that in densely pop ulated districts each school has the maxi mum number of scholars, perhaps 70 or 80, that a single teacher can successfully in struct. but in the sparsely settled districts it often becomes necessary to have schools where, by reason of distance and bad roads, there will be but 15 or 20 scholars at most, yet there must be such schools or a large portion of the children of the State be left without the means of obtaining even the most elementary education. This single ease will fully exemplify the utter impossi bility of arriving at any near approxima tion to equality by Mr. Householder's sys tem. Taking his own figures we find For est county would get but $690.75 when the actual cost of instruction in 1864 for four months was $1,242.00. Thus by his distri bution she would get but two months school Bucks county would get $35,566.- 50 where the cost of instruction in 1864 for 8.28 months was $47,924.92. Ilere we sea the rich county of Bucks would receive from the State an amount sufficient to keep her schools open 6 months at the average salary of teachers for the whole State, while the poor county of Forest, though paying precisely the same rate of tax as Bucks, would only get sufficient to keep her schools open 2 months. Does this look like equality ? Ah uno disce onutai. This is probably an extreme case, but the same general principles prevail throughout the State and render any system based upon population, whether of children, adults, or iaxabies. objectionable and incompetent to produce any near approximation to the de sired equality. By the method we pro pose. of distributing according to the num ber of schools, the f 1.60U,000.00 would give to each of the $i2,506 schools in opet ation in 1864, if 127.32 enabling each tokeep open 5. 14(months with the average teacher's salary of $32.79. This would give Forest county $1,782.48 and Bucks $32,657.58 and enable each to keep its school open the same length of time while bearing the same rate of taxation. This wc lelieve to be the nearest approx imation possible at present to the true spirit of our common school system. With this view of the subject wc shall await the ac tion of the legislature, with the hope of seeing it acknowledge the true and funda mental priuciple of our school system, and make the richer portion of the State assist in providing for the education of the poorer, instead of as heretofore making the poor assist iu supporting the rich. JIDtiE KINGS DECISION. Iu another column will be found the decis ion of Judge King on the deserter's vote in Franklin county. The point, on which he sustains the motion to quash the petition, is that the Federal and State constitutions both provide that ,I No man shall be deprived of life, liberty or property, unless by the judg ment of his peers or the law of the land." With the highest respect for Judge King s legal ability, as well as his personal merit, we cannot, but think that in this case he has al lowed his personal aversion to the discharge of a disagreeable duty to bias his jndgment. The act of Congress, disfranchising deserters, certainly does Dot deprive them of life, liber ty or property. But it is in the nature of outlawry and authorizes similar proceedings ; in fact almost exactly follows the proceedings in similar cases provided, by the laws of Eng land as well as those of our own State. When we remember that outlawry is only resorted to where the criminel can not be ar rested and brought to -trial and punishment, and that this was the precise case of the de serters, the absurdity of requiring thetn to be arrested and tried by a jury of theirpeers is at once apparent. The Judge askes "is there any dearer right than the elective franchise and is that left entirely without protections? Which may be answered by asking, is there any greater crime than treason and shall it go unpunished? However much we may admire Judge Coulter's " I am a citizen of Pennsyl nia:'" we very much prefer the "talismanic" words "I am an American citizen." SHALL THE WHITE TRAITOR VOTE AND NOT THE LOYAL BLACK ? "Judge King has decided that persons who evaded the draft or deserted from the military service of the United States are legal voters. This is just what the Demo crats claimed them to be. How bitter a pill this decision must be for those Abolitionists to swallow, who bellowed so loudly against the reception of "Skedaddler's votes" at the last election."— Bedford Gazette, Janu ary 26, 1866. It was entirely a work of supererogation for the Gazette to tell us that its party claimed deserter votes to be legal. We learned this significant fact during the late campaign. But we do not intend to discuss this matter at present, we design to contrast with the above a second quotation from the same issue. In speaking of the Republi can delegation in Congress from this State who voted for Negro Suffrage in the Dis trict of Columbia, the earnest, ardent, and zealous supporter of the right of traitors to vote, who controls its columns, thus relieves himself of the last month's accumulation of bile: "Let those names be banded down to the latest posterity, on the roll of everlasting in famy, as those of traitors to their race, ene mies to their country, and breakers of the law of God. which separates sociallly and politically the white and black people." Reader, which do you think is entitled to vote ? Do you think that the traitor "who evaded the draft, or deserted from the mili tary service of the United States," to or ganize resistance at home; to shoot at our enrolling officers; to burn the property of Union men; and to encourage others to de sert is entitled to all the rights that you are ? And, if he is, do you not think that the honest colored man, who voluntarily entered the army and gave all his assist ance to crush the rebellion is also entitled ? If the traitor, the curse of his country and his children's shame, shall have a vote why shall not the patriot "by all his country's wishes blest." have the same rights? Will the Gazette tell us why a traitor should vote and not the patriot ? leg*' We would call the special attention of our readers to the letter of General An drew Jackson on the importance of protec tion to our home industry, which we pub lish in another column. The British man ufacturers and their allies, the free traders. I are making a vigorous effort just now to I reestablish the old free trade system and to destroy our manufacturing interests once j more. Tins letter written at a similar cri ] sis in our national affairs is peculiarly ap | plicable to our present circumstances and will be read with the deepest interest by the | admirers of Old Hickory, in both parties. THE WOOI.KN MANUFACTURE.—The re port of the Secretary of the National Asso ciation of Wool Manufacturers, states that returns were received up to the 25th of October of 917 woolen mills, with 4.100 sets of cards and a weekly consumption of scoured wool of 2,225,545 pounds, of which 1,619, 0,,s pounds were domestic, 61 3,497 pounds, or 28$ per cent foreign wool; 550 pounds, scoured wool is the weekly average per set. Of 624 woolen mills DO statement has been j received. From the official report of the I nited States Tax Commissioners, the wool en manufactured in the United States for the year ending June 30, 1865. was sl2l - THE STATE OF COLORAHA.—WiIIiam. J. Harden, a colored citizen of Colorado, tele graphs to Washington from Denver that negroes had the right of suffrage in that ter ritory until 1864, when they were deprived of it by a law signed by Gov. Evans, and that the admission of Colorado at this time would render their disfranchisement perpet ual. He contradicts, moreover, the avsser tion made in the East, that the enabling act has been complied with, especially that part which requires the constitution to ac ord with the principles of the Declaration of Independence. THE Interior Department has just issued to the State of lowa a swamp land patent oF upward of 30,504) acres. The Land Office is actively engaged in bringing the work tQ I a close for that State. Legality of the Deserter Vote. The following is the opinion of Judge King in the wise of Howe vs. Stenger, delivered in the court of quarter sessions of Franklin county on the 16th inst, in which be decides that deserters cannot be disfranchised with out conviction by due process of law. Of the three points raised by the defence, he decides bur one, as that governed the case, leaving the questions as to whether the law is ex post facto aud as to the power of Con gress to regulate suffrage in the States, undetermined. The ease will go the Supreme Court in May next. We subjoin the opin ion: This case comes before us on the petition of twenty or more of the qualified electors of the county of Franklin, complaining that W. S. Stenger was not duly elected to the office of District Attorney; that the election was undue, and D. Watson Rowe was duly elected to said office. The respondent has filed a motion to quash this petition for the following reasons: 1. Because said petition was not filed within ten days after the election for said office of District Attorney, held on the 10th day of October, 1868. 2. Because said petition was not tiled un til after the time of swearing the said \Y. S. Stenger into office had expired, nor until he was in fact sworn into said office without any objection being made. 3. Because the said petition is too vague, indefinite, and unprecise to entitle it to a hearing. 4. Became it does not appear that, if all that is stated upon the face of the petition is proved, the result of the election would be changed, or that the court would be com pelled to declare the election an uudne elec tion. 5. Because even if it be true that the alle ged persons named in the petition were deserters from the military sei vice of the United States, and that they did vote foi the said William S. Stenger, still said per sons were qualified electors of Franklin county and this commonwealth, notwithstan ding anything in the act of Congress of March 3, 1865, entitled "an act to amend the several acts, heretofore passed, to pro vide for the enrolling and calling out the national forces and for other purposes." The first reason a-rigned has not been pressed, and hut little stress has been laid on the second by the counsel for the res pondent; and the views we are about to sub mit on the principal question in the case, as presented by the fourth and fifth reasons render it unnecessary to express any opinion upon the third reason assigned We come, therefore, to consider whether the votes of v.'urtis Dulepon, George Miller, John Tal iieltu and Abraham Sheeley were illegal, on the ground that these voters had been draf ted into the military service of the United States, and had failed to report to the Pro vost Marshal of the 16 th District of Pennsy lvania, composed, in part, of the county of Franklin. The counsel for the respondent make three points: 1. That the election laws of this common wealth aie exclusively within the complete and absolute control of the State authorities and cannot be modified or changed by Con gress. 2. That the act of Congress of 3d March, 1865, so far as relates to all persons drafted into the military sen-ice of the United States prior to the passage t hereof, is an ex pott facto law and therefore unconstitutional and void. 3. That even if the act be constitutional the voters referred to in the petition could not be disfranchised, without hearing and trial according to the law of the land. The first and second of these points in volve questions of very grave importance aud require time for their investigation; aud having arrived at the conclusion that the provisions of the act of Congress cannot be enforced in this case, for the reasons we shall presently state, we express no opinion in re gard to them. That Congress has power to punish deser tion or refusal to report when drafted, or j for evading the draft by leaving the jurisdic tion ot the United States, we entertain no doubt: and no punishment that can lawfully | be inflicted for such offences cau be too severe These are crimes against the country of the most dangerous tendency, and admit of no palliation and excuse; and it was on account of this very enormity, that we hold that no man can justly and lawfully be deemed guilty ot them, until such guilt has been judicially established. No man can be deprived of life, liberty or property unless by the judg ment of his peers or the law of the land. But the Federal and State constitutions guarantee this fundamental right to every citizen. Have these safeguards been provi ded, in the organic law of the Federal and State governments, for no purpose? Is there any dearer right than the elective f anchise, and is that left entirely without protection? \\ e can best answer these pregnant ques tions by que ting the eloquent language of Justice Coulter, in the case of Brown vs. Hummel, 6 Barr, 91: "The talismanic words, I am a citizen of Pennsylvania, secures to the individual his private rights, unless they are taken away by a trial, where he has an opportunity of being heard, by himself, his counsel and his testimony, more major/urn, according to the laws and customs of our fathers, and the securities and safeguards of the constitution. Sir Edward Coke defines the meaning of the words, by the lau: of the land. —for they were used in Magna Char ta, and have been sprinkled with the tears and blood of many patriots— to Ire a trial by due course and process of law: * * * It is against the principles of liberty and common right to deprive a man of his pro perty or franchise , while he is within the pale of the constitution aud with his hand on the alter, without hearing and trial by the course aud process of Idw. In another part of the same opinion he speakes of the right of suffrage as the most important of all a man's franchises, and asks "who does not feel its value, and who hut would turn pale if he thought he couid be deprived of it with out a hearing or t ial, lhese fundamental principles of civil liberty cannot be overlooked or disregarded by the courts, to which we all look for protection without seriously imperiling the safety of the people- It is a thousand times better, therefore, that Mr. Rowe should lose the office he claims, lhaD that his right thereto should be declared by trampling under feet the sacred right to which we have just ad verted. that no man shall be condemned without an opportunity ot being heard in his own defence. For the ieasons we have thus hastily and imperfectly presented, we sustain the mo tion to quash the petition. THE FREEDMEN OF MARYLAND.—Sena tor Creswell has received a number of let ters from different parts of Maryland, sta ting that the freedinen, even in that State which pronounced in favor of emancipation, are constantly and brutally attacked by the returned rebels, and are in such imminent peril of their lives that the Freedmen's Bu reau, tinder military protection, must be maintained. It i* expected that he will give to the public this important correspon dence. In us we are every day newly ad monished of the necesssity of maintaining the stronghold of national authority even in the border States. R. BUCHANAN READ, the painter and poet is being urged at Washington for a for eign mission. COLT'S great pistol factory is readv once more for operation. It was partially de stroyed by fire some time since. A NEW territory is about to be created from the vast region of country lying west of Arkansas. CONGRESSIONAL. WASHINGTON, Jan. 2(J, 1866. SENATE. A joint resolution extending the time for the completion of the Bur ington f the Freediuen's Bureau. Mr. Cowan offt ed an amendment restricting the operations f the Bureau to the States lately in rebellion. M. Trumbull said this would exempt from the operations of the bureau the States cf Kentucky, Mis souri, Delaware and Man laud. Mr. Guth rie contended for the exemption ofK nitucky from the operations of tb bill. No vote was taken. Adjourned. HOUSE. The House was not in s ssion. having ad journed until Monday. WASHINGTON . Jan. 22. ISO 6. SENATE. The Committee on the condition of the late rebellious States reported a resolution proposing an amendment ro the Constitution which provides that representatives and di rect taxes shall be apportioned according to numbers, but where persons are disfranchis ed ou account of race or color, all such per sons shi.ll be excluded from the basis of rep resentation: which was luid over for the present. The bill in relation to the qualifi cation of jurors was takei up and discussed, and then postponed until Thursday. The resolution to refer the paj ers and documents on the subject of the representation of the lately rebellious States to the Committee on Reconstruction, was passed. The bill for the enlargement of the powers of the freedinen's bureau was ; aken up. An a niendment to restrict its operations only to the States formerly in rebellion was not adopted. A proposition o abolish military jurisdiction met with a lil e fate. An exec utive session was held. Adjourned. HOUSE. Bills were introduced lor the defence of the Northeastern frontier to regulate elec tionsin the District of ( olunibia; to pre vent the passing of counti feit United States money; for the establishu ent of a navy yard on the Deleware river; gi inting pensions to the soldiers of the war of 1812; to prescribe an oath of office for the admission of the State of Colorado into he Union, all of which were referred. M Stevens offered a resolution, which he )■ ibsequently with drew, to instruct the Con uittee on Foreign Affairs to report upon he expediency of granting a loan to the K( public of Mexico, to enable her to prevent the establishment ofa ni'inarchical governn .nt on her soil. Mr. Williams offered a resolution calling for the immediate trial bj court martial of Jeff. Davis and other hading men of the late rebel government. Y resolution pro posing an amendment to the Constitution, makiug the Chief Just) -e of the United States the legal successoi to the chief mag istracy if both President and Vice Presi dent should die or unable to act, was refer red. A series of resolute ns declaratory of the status ofthe Souther i States, was of fered and referred. An -olution congratu lating the President on his refusal to accept a present of a carriage ai d horses was of fered, but no definite action was taken. A resolution proposing an amendment to the Constitution was offered see Senate) in re gard to representation. The matter was discussed at length. Ad curried. The de bate will be continued to day. WASIHNGTOI . Jan. 23. 1806. SENATE A bill was introduced io amend the act for the relief of seamen and others on the books of vessels lest at se; . which gives of ficers of the navy ind mai iue corps compen sation, not to exceed one month's sea pay, for personal effects lost at sea, provided that no loss prior to April, 1861, be paid. It provides, in addition, th: t the bounty mon ey paid to any seaman or marine, when en listing. be deducted from his prise money. The bill to meet the expenses of collecting soldiers' claims against the Government was reported. An amen Iment to the bill for the admission of Col< rado as a State, sets forth that it would not take effect, ex cept upon the principle tl at all persons there should be equal before tin law. An amend ment to the sale of po.-tage stomps and stamped envelopes on credit were reported; it stated that if it should become expedient to change the style of postage stamps, the Postmaster General be authorized to so modify t he present contract as will allow the contractors a sum sufficient to cover the the expenses of manufacturing. Ordered to be printed. A petition from the artisans of the country for the adopt on of the eight hour system was referred to the Committee on Naval Affairs. A petition from the cit izens of Alleghany co M P i., asking for the relief of the -ufferers by the recent explo sion of the Alleghany ar.-enal, was referred. A protest from the California Legislature a gainst the survey and saie of mining lands of the United States wa- printed and refer red to the Committee on Public Lands. A protest from the citizens of St. Lawrence county New York, against the renewal of the reciprocity treaty w; s referred to the Committee ou Finance, the Military Com mittee reported against he sale of public property ut Point Lookoi t, which was for the present suspended. The bill to enlarge the powers of the freed) l en's bureau was then taken up, pending the discusion of which the Senate adjourned. HOUSE. The Committee on R construction wore instructed to report upon the expediency of authorizing the taking of a census of the 1 nitod States during th lire sent. year. A series of resolutions were < nercd and referred declaring that the Unite 1 States Govern ment was formed by the people, and not by States as such; and that the doctrine of State rights is subversive of all governments. By an act of secession the States forfeit their rights and privileges, and the territory formerly controlled by them reverts to the Government. The resolution also declares that Texas should beset apart for the color ed population. The amendment in relation to the apportionment of direct taxes and representation was taken up and discussed until the hour of adjournment. WASHINGTON, Jan. 24. 1800. SENATE. A joint resolution was offered proposing an amendment to the Constitution proh bit ing payment by the United States, or any State, for or on account of the emancipation of any slave or slaves, nor for debts con tracted in aid ofthe rebellion against the National Government; referred. Samuel J. Kirkwood was sworn in as a Senator roni lowa. A petition from citizen® of Colorado was presented, asking that the Territory he admitted as a State, but with the word ' white st ricken from her constitution; also, another asking that the right of suffrage be extended to women. A resolution wa3 a greed to, instructing the Committee on the Judiciary to inquire and report what legis lation is necessary for the protection of loyal citizens whose property was confiscated by rebels. 'lhe bill to enlarge the scope cf the freedmen s bureau was token up. An un successful attempt was nu de to nullify the title to the Sea-island lauds, given Dy Gen eral Sherman to the negrtes. Several other ( . dilatory amendments were made, and all negatived. Adjourned. HOUSE. A bill was introduced giving soldiers of tbe war of 1812 increased pensions. Also, a bill granting additional bounties to the sol diers of 1861 and '62. The joint resolution proposing an amendment to the Constitution in regard; to apportionment of representa tion, was taken up and discussed at great length. The House adjourned without coming to a conclusion on the subject. WASHINGTON, Jan. 25. 1866. SENATE. The bill relative to the sale of postage stamps on credit was reported. A bill was introduced abrogating the charters of the cities of Washington and Georgetown, and investing the government of the city in a commission to be appointed by the President. A petition was presented Asking for such action as shall prevent States from making any distinctions in civil rights on account of color or race. The bill to restrict the ex pense of the collection of soldiers' claims was willed up and discussed without result. The bill to extend the powers of the freed uien's bureau was taken up, debated, and passed; yeas 37, nay 10. An executive ses sion was held. Adjourned. HOUSE. Twenty-five thousand copies of the reports of Generals Grant and Schurz on the South ern States, were ordered to be printed. A resolution was adopted requesting the Com missioner of agriculture to communicate to the House the amount of revenue received and disbursements made by his bureau since he took charge of the same. The Committee on Commerce were instructed to report upon the propriety of renumerating owners of property thrown overboard or otherwise destroyed at sea in order to pre serve human life in case of shipwreck. The Committee on the District of Columbia were instructed to report a bill excluding room suffrage in the District all parties who have voluntarily borne arms against the United States. A resolution was adopted asking for information whether any employ ees of the Government who could not take the oath were required to give bonds, and whether the sureties were liable for breach thereof. The discussion of the suffrage a mendment was resumed. No vote was tak en, and the House adjourned without com ing to any action. WASHINGTON, Jan. 26. 1866. SENATE. A bill was introluced to provide for the improvement of certain harbors in Ohio; referred to the Committee on Commerce. A resolution was submitted directing the Committee on Finance to inquire into the expediancy of providing by law that bank directors, who were organized under the authority of the United btates laws, should give bonds for the faithful performance of their duty. A resolution instructing the Committee on Pensions to inquire iuto the expediency of providing for the payment of pensions to the widows of enlisted men employed as artificers, was agreed to. It was ordered that when the Senate adjourned it adjourn until Monday next. The House bill for the extension of time for the with drawal of goods for consumption from pub lie store-houses, was called up and passed. A resolution was introduced and adopted, instructing the Committee on Commerce to inquire into the expediency of appropria ating one thousand dollars for erection of a post office and custom-house at Topeka, Kansas. A bill to amend an act entitled an act for the relief of seamen and others, borne on the books of vessels wrecked or lost in the naval service, was called up. The bill was passed as reported by the Naval Com mittee. A discussion on the appointment of Provisional Governors in the Southern States then took place, pending which the Senate adjourned. HOUSE. A petition of ten thousnad citizens and soldiers of the United States for the equal ization of bounties to soldiers who served in the suppression of the rebellion, for an in crease of pensions to disabled soldiers, their widows and orphans, and reminding Con gress of the feeling of the public in favor of confiscation of the lands of the rebels and their donation to the soldiers was presented. A report from the Committee on Elections stated that Alexander H. Coffroth, who has the certificate of election for the Sixteenth congressional district of Pennsylvania, has pnnin facia the right to the seat from that district, and is entitled to his seat. A re port from the minority of the Committee stated that W. H. Koontz is entitled to his seat. The reports lie over for future con sideration. A resolution was introduced and passed directing the Committee on Mili tary Affairs to report as to the expediency of directing the Secretary of War to con struct a military road from the western boundary of Minnesot ato the gold fields of Idaho and Montana; and also, for the pro tection of the emigrants, to establish milita ry post along the line of said road. A dis cussion then took place on the constitution al representative amendment. Adjourned. THE LEGISLATURE. IIARRISBURO, Jan. 23. SENATE. A remonstrance against Sunday-ear travel was presented. A resolution was presented commending the action of our Representa tives in voting for the colored suffrage bill, and requesting our Senators to support and vote for the measure. The committee ap pointed at the last session to investigate the alleged railroad briber}- case (the $30,000 affair) made a long report upon the matter, which was ordered to be printed. A debate ensued. Adjourned. HOUSE. The resolution making appropriation of I five hundred dollars to the heirs of Corn planter, and five hundred more for a tomb stone to be placed over his grave, were passed. The Indians were on the floor of the House at the time. An act authorizing an additional notary public for this city was passed. In the evening, the resolutions in regard to the death of President Lincoln were deputed and eulogies were delivered upon the distinguished deceased. Adjourn- HARRISBCRU, Jan. 24. SENATE. Petitions in favor of and remonstrances against the running of Sunday cars were presented. A memorial of the managers of the Deaf and Dumb Asylum for an ap propritlon was offered. A bill was present ed which provides that as by act of Congress deserters are disfranchised, and therefore not citizens of the United States, and so be ing unable to vote, that any election officer who receives the vote of such disfranchised person, or any deserter who attempts to vote, shall be deemed guilty of a high mis demeanor and liable to severe punishment. The Senate then met the House in joint con vention and afterwards adjourned. (See House.) HOUSE. A bill was presented prescf-ibing eight hours as the limit of daily labor, the pro visions of the act to extend only to Phila delphia. Leave of absence was granted to Mr. Thomas of this city, on account of au accident sustained by him on the railroad. The committee appointed to investigate the railroad bribery case made a further report. The Senate entered, and the two chambers resolved into joint convention, and proceed ed to count the votes of the late election. John F. Hartranft was declared elected Au ditor Genera], and James 11. Campbell Sur veyor General. A bill was presented for the relief of citizens of Cnainbersburg, whose property was destroyed by rebels, in the invasion. Adjourned. HARRISBURO, Jan. 25. I BENATE. Several private bills were passed. Ad journed till Monday. HOUSE. Joint resolutions were introduced instruc ting our Senators and Representatives at Washington to apportion Representatives according to the whole people not disfran chised. They were made the special order for Thursday, February Ist. An act exten ding the time for presenting military claims for one year was ordered to a third reading. An aet authorizing the tax upon mortgages to be deducted from the tax upon the real estate upon which the mortgages is secured was lost. A resolution to print a number of copies of the resolution and proceedings relative to the death of President Lincoln was defeated. A bill to amend the revenue laws of the Commonwealth was presented. A copy of the joint resolutions in regard to the death of President Lincoln was ordered to be forwarded to Mrs. Lincoln. Adjourn ed. HARRIHBURG, Jan. 2f'. SENATE. The Satiate was not in session, having ad journed until Monday. HOUSE. The resolution, ordering four hundred copies of the speeches, resolutions, etc., of the House, in regard to the death of Presi dent Lincoldj which was defeated onThurs dry, was again called up and passed. Peti tions for and against Sunday travel were presented. A number of bills were pass ed, and the House adjourned until Mon day. THE TARIFF. UEN. JACKSON TO DR. COLEMAN. WASHINGTON CITY, Aprif26, 1824. SIR : I have had the honor this day to receive your letter of the 21st inst., and with candor shall reply to it. My name has been brought before the nation by the people themselves without any agency of mine; for 1 wish it not to be forgotten that I have never solicited office, nor when called called upon by the constituted authorities have ever dee'ined where I conceived my services would be beneficial to my country. But as my name has been brought before the nation for the first office in the gift of the people, it is incumbent on me, when asked, frankly to declare my opinion upon any political or national question pending before and about which the eountry feels an interest. You ask me uiy opinion on the tariff. I answer that I am in favor of a judicious ex amination and revision of it; and so far as the tariff before us embraces the design of fostering, protecting, and preserving within ourselves the means of national defence and independence, particularly in a state of war, I would advocate and support it. The ex pedience of the late war ought to teach us a lesson, and one never to be forgotten. If our liberty and republican form of govern ment, procured for us by our revolutionary fathers, are worth the "blood and treasure at which they were obtained, it surely is our duty to protect and defend them. Can there be an American patriot who saw the privations, dangers, and difficulties experi enced for the want of a proper means of de fense during the last war who would be will ing again to hazard the safety of our coun try if embroiled, or rest it for defense on the precarious means of national resources to be derived from commerce, in a state of war with a maritime power which might de stroy that commerce to prevent our obtain ing the means of defence and thereby sub due us? I hope there is not; and if there is, I am sure he does not deserve to enjoy the blessing of freedom. Heaven smiled upon and gave us liberty and independence. That same providence has blessed us with the means of national independence and national defense. If we omit or refuse to use the gifts which He has extended to us, we deserve not the continu ation of His blessings. He has filled our mountains and our plains with minerals - with lead, iron and copper—and given us a climate and soil for the growing of hemp and wool. These being the grand materials of our national defense, they onght to have ex tended to them adequate and fair protection, that our own manufactories and laborers may be placed 011 a fair competition with those of Europe, and that we may have within our own country a supply of those leading and important articles so essential to war. Beyond this I look at the tariff with an eye to the proper distribution of labor and revenue, and with a view to dis charge our national debt. lam one of those who do not believe that a national debt is a national blessing, but rather a curse to a republic, inasmuch as it is calcu lated to raise around the administration a moneyed aristocracy dangerous to the liber ties of the country. This tariff —I mean a judicious one —pos sesses more fanciful than real dangers. I will ask what is the real situation of the ag riculturist? Where has the American farmer a market for his surplus product* ? Except for cotton he has neither a foreign nor a home market. Does not this clearly prove, when there is no market, either at home or abroad, that there is too much la bor employed in agriculture, and that the channels of labor should be multiplied ? Common sense points out at once the reme- j dv. Draw from agriculture the superabun- ' dant labor, employ it in mechanism and manufactures, thereby creating a home mar ket for your bread-stuffs and distributing labor to a most profitable account, and bene fits to the country will result. Take from agriculture in the United States 600,000 men, women, and children, and you at once give a home market for more breadstuff* than all Europe now furnishes us. In short, sir. we have been too long subject to the policy of the British merchants. It is time we should become a little more AmmatntZ' ed, and, instead of feeding the paupers and laborers of Europe, feed our own. or else in a short time, by continuing our present poli- j cy, we shall all be paupers ourselves. it is, therefore, my opinion that, a careful ff is much wanted to pay our national debt and afford us the means of that de fense witliiu ourselves on which the safety and liberty of our country depend: and last, though not least, gives a proper distribu tion to our labor, which must prove benefi cial to the happiness, independence and wealth of the community. This isa short outline of my opinions gen erally on the subject of your inquiry, and believing them correct and calculated to fur ther the prosperity and happiness of my country, I declare to you I would not barter them for any office or situation of a tempo ral character that could be given me. I have presented you my opinions freely, because I am without concealment, and should, indeed, despise myself if I could believe myself capable of acquiring the con fidence of any by means a< ignoble. I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedi ent servant. ANDREW JACKSON. RAPID CONVERSION.— The New York Times of Thursday, says: We learn from our special Washington dispatch of last evening that at the Repub lican caucus of Monday night there was a majority of two to one in favor of qualified. as opposed to universal, negro suffrage The vote of the House, on Thursday, however, showing a majority of two to one in favor of universal, against qualified , suf frage would indicate if the information given by the Times is correct the most rapid con version on record. If the Republican mem bers were two to one in favor of qualified suffrage on Monday night, they must have changed their minds in a body between Monday aud Thursday. Andyet'Mr. Ray mond did not make a speech in all that time the thing is inexplicable.— lfittslrurgh Ga zette. THIS re-organization of the armies of the Republic to be be in accordance with a plan furnished by Gen. Giant, which plan has been embraced in a bill now before Con gress. KX -SLAVEHOLDERS and traitors through out the South are acting with great brutality towards aged and iufira negroes, who are a charge to parishes. Protection to Southern Royalty. The Memphis Daily Loyalist states that, at a remit meeting of old citizen, at Wal nut Hill Mississippi, resolutions warning those who did not go into the rebellion to leave that section of the country at once, were adopted. A memorial from Nashville now on its way to Washington, set# forth that such is the feeling in that State, that it those who were in rebellion, obtain con trol of civil affairs, there will be no safety for loyal men in that State, and that, rather than this should happen, they would prefer that the State should remain under, provis ional. or even military government, for some time to come. Soon after hostilities ceased it is well known that open military rule was relaxed and the civil courts opened; the first use made of them by pardoned rebels and sympathizing secessionists was to institute prosecutions against Union men. and espe cially against those who entered the military service of the United States, for damages. Willing judges and complaisant juries have been found to award and enforce these claims It was to put au end to these persecutions and to protect loyal men from these annoy ing persecutions that Lieutenant General Grant issued his order of the I2tb. There is no doubt whatever that the ha tred of the men who, living at the South, remained true to the flag, is more intense than toward the blacks or the whites of the North. The manifestation of a disposition to persecute and hunt down these men is calculated to increase the difficulties that be set the work of reconstruction, already suffi ciently involved. Whether the States are in or out of the Union; whether they are to be rebuildedfrom the foundation, or restored on the old theory that they have simply been out of their proper relations to the Federal Government are questions about which loyal and good men may differ, but there is no division of sentiment as to what is the plain duty of the Government toward those who, through evil and good report have adhered to it. They will be protected, though civil government is not restored in the Southern States during the next twenty years.—Cin cinnati Commercial. PENNSYLVANIA COAL.— The amount ol anthracite ccal mined and sent to market from Pennsylvania in 1865, was 9,488,396 tons. In 1860 the amount as stated in the census was 9,397,332. This is a very slight increase in quantity, although the value has been greatly enhanced. A FORT SMITH, Arkansas, paper, says the price of "poor green lumlier" in that place is SSO per thousand feet. "And yet," says the paper, "we have in great abundance the Itest of timber, including pine upon our river hanks, and are actually in the greatest c< d region in the world—in the center of a coal bed 400 miles in length." DURING the year 1865 about 125,000,000 letters passed through the Post Office of the city of New York. The amount of postage on both letters and papers, was $1,721,579 40; amount received for box rents. $67,786 75; expenses of office. $359,791 71; profit to Government over expenses, $350,174 22. jg STATE OF STEPHEN TUCKER, dee'd The understgned having been appointed by the Orphans' Court of Bedford county. Auditor to make distribution of the balauee in the hands of E. M. Alsip, Esq.. a lui'r of Stephen Tucker, dee'd., hereby notifies ail persons interested that he will attend to the duties of his appointment at his office in the borough of Bedford, on Saturday, j the 3d day of February, A. D. 1566, at 10 o'clock A. M S. L. RUSSELL, Auditor. Jan. 19, 1566. SHERIFF SALES. By virtue of a Writ of vend, exponas and Sundry Writs offi. fa., to uie directed, there will j he sold at the Court House, in the Borough of I Bedford, on Saturday, the luth day of February, j A. IL 1566, at ten o'clock A. SI., the following | Real Estate, vii: I A tract of land containing 123 acres more or le.s j about 60 acres cleared and under fence, with a twe story log house, and new double log barn thereon erected. Adjoining lands of John Swarts, Daniel Davis and others, situate in East Provi dence township, Bedford county, and taken iD ex ecution as the property of John Sleightcr. A I.SO. One lot of ground in Clearville, fronting 39 feet on Main street and extending back 173 feet to an alley: adjoining lot of John L. Grove on the east, and George Weimer on the west, situate in the town of Clearville. Monroe township. Ised furd county, and taker in execution as the prop erty of Isaac Mick feel. A I. SO. j One lot of ground (unimprovedj containing 20 I acres, more or less, adjoining land of Noah D;cbl on the South, and others, situate in Napier town ship. ALSO, another lot of ground (unimproved) con taining ton acres, more or less, adjoining land of j Joseph Souaer, situate in Napier township, Bed ; ford county, and taken in execution as theproper j tv of Isaac Flegle. JOHN ALDSTADT, Sheriff. January 19, 1866. EGISTER'S NOTICE. AH persons interested are hereby notified that the following accountants have filed their accounts in the Register's office of Bedford County, and that the same will be presented to the Orphans' Court in and for said county,on Tuesday the 13th day of February next, at the Court House in Bed ford, Tor confirmation: The final account of Adam Weaverling, Adm'r of the estate of Jacob Weaverling. late of West Providehce township, dee'd. The account of Levi llardinger, Adm'r of Jona j than C. Dickcn. dee'd, who was Executor of the i last will. Ac. of David Dieken, late of Cnmber j land Valley tp., dee'd. The account of Jeremiah Baughmau, Adm'r of the estate of Jonathan Snider, late of the United States Army, dee'd. The account of Frederick Mowry, Adm'r of the estate of Henry Mowry, late of Juniata tp., dee'd. The account of Atriel Koontz, Adm'r of the estate of Charles Koontz, late of Bedford town ship, dee'd. The account of James Sill. Adm'r. of the estate of I'etcr Berkhchner, late of St. Clair tp. dee'd. The account of J. B. Cessna. Esq.. Adm'r of the estate of Jacob 11. Orris, late of Bedford twp., dee'd. The account of Andrew B. Snowberger, Adm'r. of the estate of Polly Replogle, late of S. Wood berry tp., dee'd The account of John Zook, Esq., Adm'r. with the wili annexed of Maria Zook. late of .Middle Wood berry tp., dee'd. The account of Edmund S. Blackburn, Adui r. with the Will annexed of Jos. G. Blackburn, late of Napier tp.. dee'd. The account of Jacob Fritz, Adiu'r of the estate of Matilda Fritz, lute of Juniata tp., dee'd. The final account of John S. Gf .Tr, Adm'r. of the estate of Isaac Grove, lata ot Monroe town ship, dee'd. The account of Wm. SS. Elder, one f the Ad ministrators of the estate of Robert Elder, dee'd. who was guardiau of Charles A Matilda Nicode rnus. minor children of John A. Nici dcmus,dee'd. The account of Thomas Jamison, Adm'r. of the estate of Lawrence Jamison, late of Bedford Bor ough. dee'd. The account of Philip Snider, guardiuu of Geo. W., Leonard N., Eve Ann and John IV. Snider, minor children of John and Sophia Snider, dee'd. The guardianship account of Jacob ,o:tg. guar dian of Nancy Jane, Louisa and Henry Lougcn ecker, minor children of Mary Longenccker, late of .Middle Woodbcrry tp., dee'd. The administration account of Wm. Jackson Kerr, Adm'r of the estate of Mary Kerr, late of Harrison tp., dee'd. The account of Jacob Kcgg, Adm'r