THE COLUMBIAN AND DEMO CHAT, BLOOMSBTJ11G, COLUMBIA COUNTY, PA. AND- " BliOOMSBUHGh.PA. Friday Mornlnff, April 8, IHtO. n-TItB COLUMBIAN lis." the Largest Circulation of ujr paper pnlillihtil In Northern Penuiylvanla, and U alio a much larger sht than any af Itseoteui oraiidi and Is tharcrora the bait uaedlunt tar advertising In thla section ofthe State.. Tho Fifteenth Amendment. By reference to another column It will bo seen thnt President Grant has ofticl ally proclaimed tlio adoption of this Amondmcnt. Wo do not believe It lias been letrally rsitlfled. Tho consent of TJaw York was withdrawn beforo tho ratification was comploto; In Indiana tho mcosuro was passed without tho necessary quorum In tho Legislature, and was therefore Illegal ; and in sever' al of the Southern States tho ratlflca tion was mado by bogus States, whoso organization oven Congress refused to endorse by admitting them to ropres entatlon. If they at the time wero out ofthe Union and If they wuronot,why readmit them T they could not give legal assent to a measure which was to bind every man in tho nation. But tho amendment lacks moral as wall as legal weight. It is undeniable that many Legislatures approved of it when their constituents expressly voted it down, as In Michigan, Ohio, Connect icut, and other states. Again it was pushed through Congress when a largo number orSouthcrn States wero cither without represcn tat ion , or if represented It was by a set of carpet-baggers pushed into their seats by colored voters and Federal bayonels, and tho ratlllcatlon of several States accomplished by tho disfranchisement of tho white race, and tho strong arm of military power. Hut it has becu declared adopted, and tho Supremo Court undoubtedly will sus tain It, as it has just been packed by ap pointing judges who aro willing to be como tho pliant tools of n military ad ministration. Itesistanco, though Justi fiable, is not to bo thought of. If attempted It would give tho Iladicals a now Icuso of power, and permanently shoulder upon us such rulers as Grant, Butler and Sheridan. Wo aro not now, and never havobeen In favor of making suffrage dependent upon rare or color. Wo know that many colored men arc as competent to exorcise tho privllego as wo aro ; but our objection Is to further degrading the ballot,by admitting to Its ezperclso three millions of semi-barbarous, Ignor ant blacks, who will bo mero tools of carpet-baggers and military satraps, Intelligence counts for naught, and power is lodged In tho hands of Ignor ance. If tho people of Pennsylvania had de cided in favor of negro suffrage, no ono would have acquiesced moro cheerfully than wo ! but they have not decided in its favor j thoy aro opposed to it, and if an opportunity had beon given them, would have voted it down by a tremen dous majority ; and yet it has been forced on us. Theso aro our objections to the Amendment, and wo submit to Its enforcement under protest. She Colored Vote. Tho Flfteonth Amendment having becomo a part of the Constitution, the politicians are engaged in "cyphering up" tho amount of the colored vote. Perhaps wo can assist them in this labor. As the elections In Connecticut will occur on Monday next, that Btateclalms attention first, though It Is doubtful whether the colored vote can be polled there this year, as, we presume, some legislation will be necessary to adapt tho registry and other laws to the re quirements of tho now condition of things. The colored population of Con necticut, in I860, was 8,627. At present it is probably 10,000, and the number of colored votes is. say about l.uuo. as nearly all the new citizens will proba bio vote with tho Republicans, thoDera- ocrats may lose Connecticut, when the colored men are admitted to tho polls. Of tho States in which tho Amend ment confers tho right of suffrago on colored men, thoso having tho largest colored population aro Delaware, ICon tucky, Indiana, Maryland, New Jersey, Now York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia. As tho last-named Stale was not created when thoJast cou sin was taken, wo aro unnblo to state what Is tho number of her colored citi zens. In Delaware they numbered 2!, 027 in 18C0, and now this class of that State's population probably reaches 2.1, 000, orabout '1,000 votcis. In Kentucky, tho colored population in 18C0 was 230, 167, and may now bo as high as 250,000, which would afford about forty thous and voters. In New Jersey tho colored people numbered 25,336 when tho last census was taken. Their present num ber Is probably 80,000 about 6,000 vo ters. These may be tho means of ro-olce- ting Mr. Cuttell to tho Senate next win ter. A very largo proportion of the colored people ol that Stalo, however, reside in tho six lower counties, which compose tho First Congrcaslonal district and which aro strongly Republican now. In thefco tho colored vote will not Increaso tho Republican strength in tho Legislature. In Maryland the colored voters will numbcrabout 20,000, and will prove an Immense acquisition to tho Republican party. In New lork this voto will not bo over 10,000, but this will prove somewhat dangerous- to tho futuro domlnunco of tho party against which it will, most probably. bo chiclly thrown. In Ohio tho colored volo will bo about 7,000. In Pcncylvauia the colored popula tion, in 1860, was 60,049, and Is now. probably, about 60,000, affording a vote of about 10,000. In this city, the color wl people, according to the last consus, numbered 22,185. Patting tho present colored population at 25,000, tho colored voto will not iar exceed 4,000. The most of this vote will bo cast in tho Southern wtdeThe Day. Tun Legislature adjourned ou Thurs day. Let us bo thankful. JIcFabland has been rejected as Superintendent of tlio Orphan' School, by tho decisive vote of 11 to 19, PAEI8, Marcli 30. Midnight. I'rlnco Plerro Napoleon Bonaparte has received an order from tho Emperor to quit France-, nt ouco, with his family. , Tho Columbia County Invasion. XXXIV TII1J CAHIJ It. I.. CI1AIMN, t.'ON .IIIIUll. Young Ikeler who was examined as a witness ngainst Mr. Chimin was 18 years old In 1801. Tho clreuinstiineo that ho had purchased two bars of lead and a box of gun caps from Mr. 0. was seized upon for want of something better and ho was subjected to tho manlpu latlon of Col. Albright, Professor Pealer and eventually thoJudgo Advocntont Ilarrlsburg, in order to mako hi in a useful witness forpurposo of persecution and to Justify tho arrest of an upright and Innocent man. Ho was nt first taken to tho camp nt Benton whero upon the 2Gth of September ho mado tliofollowlngaluldavlt beforo Albright. "FitANCM M. Ikleih 1 am 18 years oldjllvo In Benton Twp.wlth my father, t know I). L. Chaplu. I don't know that I heard him say anything about tho soldiers or the draft. I bought some lead on tho Sunday morning of tho meeting at Runccs. I got 2lb. I never heard Chapin sax anything about selling powder to resist tho soldiers. I saw Jacob Pealer go to tho meeting. Abraham McCollutn; ouo win Hardy Edgar. I did not seo any of them como home. I did not hear what was done at tho meeting. I boliovo I run n fow of tho balls that day. I boliovo I did not go out to shoot squirrels. Sworn and Subscribed before mo this Hh Sept. 1801. Ciias. AuimaiiT, Col. 202nd, Begt, P. V." This statement being unsatlsfao tory young Ikeler was put under pressure and threatened in order to extort testi mony from him. Ho was told that if ho did not testify in a satisfactory manner he would le sent in Mr. Chapin!1 place. IIo s.tys that Prof. Pealer told him that "If ho did not swear against Mr. Chapin ho (Pcaler)would havo Mr. Chapin brought homo from Fort Miff lin and send him tliero in Chopin's place, and It was not likely ho would over get out." The boy was then held under guard as a prisoner and in his state of alarm and confusion of mind a second aflUlavit was extorted from him on tho day following tho making of tho first one. It wasas follows: "Fran cis M. Iklhh: l went to D. L. Chapin Sunday morning between 0 & 7, o'clock and rapped nttho doorand agirl cnino to tho door, and I asked to seo Mr. Chapin. Slio called him out of bed. I went Into tho houso aud wailed until ho dressed himself aud camo down. I asked him if ho had heard that tho soldiers had como up to Bloomsburg. Hodropthls head and seemed to bo In n study. I told him tho word was they wero coming up to destroy properly and burn out Democrat). I beliovo ho then asked who told tho word. I told him that Wesley KHno told us at our house. I then asked him if ho would sell mo lead. I believe ho said he could. I then bought n box ofgun caps and two lbs of lead. I told Chapin that I wan ted tho lead to drive back the soldiers if they came back to molest usiu any way. lie did not say anything to mo iiow I should use it. No ono sent me. I went on in;r own account. I got tho lead to bo used against tho soldiers. I knew thcro was .to bo a meeting al Ranee's, and learned it of Samuel Kline, Sworn aud Subscribed this 27lh of Sept, 1801. Ciias. Albright. Col. 202nd, Regt, P. V." P. S. I was advised not to toll any thing about Chapin." Sub3equently,upon Ikeler's being pro duced beforo tho Military Commission, ho made a third statement, in a modi- fled form, which was considered to bo of no Importance by the Commlsiou. Wo have endeavored to obtain au exact copy of his testimony from A. J. Herr, Esq, who was counsel for tho Defendant but that gentleman is unable to find his papers in tho case as thoy havo been mislaid. But wo havo abundant in formation already of tho utter worth- lessncssor rather impudence of the pretenses on which Mr. Chapin wos arrested and subjected to four mouths of dungeon life. Tho two bars of lead sold Ikeler would weigh about 2Soz. These mid tho slnglo box of G. D. gun caps, constituted the military supplies furnished by Mr. C. for resisting the army of invasion, according to the theory of the prosecution? Of course thero never was any sincerity In this most frivolous accusation which was concocted Inmalicoand died evontually under general contempt. Mr. Chapin' health was affected by his Imprisonment. IIo becamo rhou matloand his sight much impaired and when taken to Ilarrlsburg for trial was unable to walk from tho depot, ouo leg being drawn up. Hois yet troubled with rlieumatlson and chronic diarrhoea contracted nt Fort Mifflin In bombproof IIo was tried for resMIng the draft, though ho had been ono of tho most active men in his tocUon In nsslstlug to furnish soldiers for tho war. In conclu ding his caso wo will ask our readers to peruse tho following statement written by Mr. Chapin In prison, Dec. II. 1801, every word of which Is indubitably true. "Fout Mifflin, Dec. 11th 1801. On or about tho 7th of August 1862, Myron Fellows, who was then living with me, mado up Ills mind to enlist In tho nrmy and try and ralso a bound of Volunteers to entitle him to a Lieuten ancy. I replied that Lwas very sorry to loso his services, but, If ho had mado up his mind to enlM, I would render hint all the assistance I could In procur ing volunteers, in auoul ono week wo recruited between sixty and seventy men. On or about tho twelfth of August 1862 tho company recruited wero to ren devous at Town Hill preparatory to starting for tho Kail Road Depot at Shlckshlnny. James Tubbsuud myself called tho volunteers up in lino, Myron Fellows being unavoidably absent mado out a Roll and helped to got tho to- crults conveyances to transport them to Shlckshlnny, where they remained a few days when E. S. Osbourn Esq Joined them with thirty or forty mon, Myron Fellows yiolded hh right to tho position of Captain and accoptcd that of First Lieutenant. Tho Company was attached to me iiu r. v. itoy Stone was elected Colonel, A short tlmoaftcr In thosamoycarO, IC, Hughes began recruiting a company to whom I furnished a Spring Wagon to haul his music and speakers to recruiting meet ings, or ns they wero called war moot ing, for neatly a month, aud frequently went with him to uld lit recruiting his company which when full was attached to tho m Hog. P. V. Snco.vi). When tho draft was mado under tho Stato law In 1802, tho Dor ough of NowColiimbtis In which I llvo Win exempt. pitr quoin wni 1 1, and wi) nun in,ino military Mirvii'u iw voiim leers leaving n credit for Now Culuin bus Borough of four men after filling all calls mado for Volunteers. In 180.') New Coluunilms Borough was enrolled with Huntington Township and our credit was absorbed with tho deficiency In tho township. Tho draft was order cd and tho Borough being nttached to tho Township wo could do nothing to wards filling our quoin with volunteers Somo six or seven wero drafted who all reported and paid their commutation or went into tho army except two, ono of them was stricken off and tho other belonged to tho 1 13 Reg. P. V. lTndcr tho next call In tho winter of 1S01 tho quota of New Columbus Ilorough was two. A meeting ol thoso liable to tho drnft was called. I offered a resolution that each ono liable to tho draft should pay twenty-fivo dollars each to ralso funds to pay local Bounty oft27o.00 to each volunteer, which passed. I drew up a subscription nnd signed twenty fivo dollars, (subsequently Increased It to 130,00, to mako up tho deficiency which was moro than any ono clso paid. Tho men wero procured, nnd our quoto filled. Under tho next call our quolo wns filled by my offering a resolution beforo tho Town Council which passed to lovy a tax to pay bounty to volunteers which wns levied and enough collected to pay $300,00 local bounty to volunteers to fill our quota, tho last of May 1801. Under tho next call for 000.000 tho quota of Now Columbus Borough was four. I offered n resolution beforo tho Town Council, which passed authoriz ing tho Council to Issuo Borough Bonds payable In one, two, and threo years to ralso money to pay $:!o0,00 bounty to each volunteer. Tho soluntcors wero engaged and promised $125 local Boun ty each, leaving $."r)ll to ba raked among 15 or 20 men liable to tho draft and somo not nhlo to pay anything. Hero my ef forts to fill our quota with volunteers wero about to fill. I the.i proposed to thoiO liable to the draft to gut tho men ready to start to Scranton on Tuesday morning tho !!0th of August and ralso all tho money thoy could and I would advanco tho rest. Tho day arrived and to make up tho deficiency I paid six hundred nnd twenty-eight dollars. John Bogert & R. S. Hlugliam went to Scranton with tho Volunteers on the 30th day of August ISO 1 and returned with tho Provost Marshall.? receipt the satno evening before I loft my office. Tho next morning August 31st 1S01 1 was arretted nnd fcent to Fort Mifilln where I am now confined a citizen prisoner, without knowing what great crimes lam ncesucd of." Senator Buckalcw's Speech. Wo publish on our outside tho able speechofSenatorBuckalewin opposition to tho dispersion of tho Sinking Fund. Senator Bucknlcw was tho author of tho clause of tho Stato Constitution by which tho Sinking Fund was created, and ho ought to know, If any man liv ing does, what was meant by tho lan guage employed. IIo shows very clearly that iho bill recently passed is violative of tho Constitution of tho Commonwealth. No ono who reads his argument can fall to bo convinced of tho perfect soundncssof his position. If tho Supremo Court is allowed to pass upon this bill it will bo declared unconstitutional, and tho securities in tho Sinking Fuud will not bo dispersed among tho corporators who own tho projected railroads. Tho danger Is that Governor Geary will not sign tho bill until General Irwin, the newly elected Stato Treasurer, Is ready to transfer the securities at moment's notice. From prominent Radical sources comes the r umor thatGen. Irwin, tho reform can- d Idato of tho Express nnd certain other Republican papers, is deep in a plot to perfect tho contemplated swindle. Nothing buttho complicity of Governor Geary In tho contemplated schemo of rascality can prevent tho bill from being tooted beforo tho Supremo Court of tho State. A fair test will show whether tho arguments of Senator Ducktilew are sound or not. Wo aro convinced that the Court would coincide In his view of tho fundamental law of tho Common wealth. Tho only danger is that it will bo prevented from being carried up by tho action of tho Governor and thoStato Treasurer. Lancaster Intelligencer. Connecticut's Answer to tho 2Vth .Amendment. Tho majority for Governor English, In Connecticut, will ho 7-18, n Democrat ic gain over last year of l.loO, nnd over the Presidential vole of 3,703. In thoSenato tho Radicals havo only ono majority, and tho Democratic rep. resentntlon In tho Legislature is larger than it has been for sixteen years. Connecticut has beon tho first Stato to hold nil election sinco tho proclamation of tho ratification of tho fifteenth amend ment, and her judgment upon that In iquity Is emphatic. Shu rebukes tho partisan Congress which forced tho measure upon unwilling States nt tho point of tho baypnet. She rebukes tho partisan Legislature which less than a year ugo, In facoof tho oft-repealed de claration of tho peoplo of Connecticut, voted to ratify tho nmcndincut. Tho result of Monday Is nn Index of tho popular tempor. Though tho major itles nnd gains may bo small in tho smaller States, yet they aro express Ivo of tho drift of public sentiment In thoso communities. Hundreds In Con necticut hnvo tho samo algnlfleanco ns thousands In Now York and Pennsyl. vuula. Tho majority by which Con necticut repudiates Radicalism is qulto as pregnant with moaning ns that which marked tho change of party power In this State threo years ago. Coming, ns tho Connecticut victory does, so closely! upon tho narrow escape of tho Radicals! In New Hampshlro and tho heavy and uniform gains of tho Domocrats In tho Now York town elections, It is manifest that tho power of tho Radical party Is on tho wano throughout the country. World. MoNiton, La., March 31. J. II, Wes- nor, Sheriff of Wnshltn Parish, was murdered hero last night by n party of fifteen or twenty armed men, who camo for tho purpo?o of releasing n man named Beaver who wns in custody charged with murder, Tho mob also killed O. Johnson, (colored, )vho was a wltno.-.s against Beavor. After ro leasing Boavor tho mob not firu to tho all door, to provont tho escape of tho other prisoners, and then retired. Disporsion of tho Sinking Fund. ."! KEMABKS OP HON. CHARLfcS R. BUCKALEW, In the Senate of Pennsylvaiii,on Wed nesday evening March lilh, 1870, t.oi the Hill (ofacllllalc, the construction of certain llailroads by exchanging the Securities in the Sinking Fund for new and inferior obligations, Mk. Spuakku: I tnko early occas ion in tho progress of this debate to stato briefly my Joasons for voting against this bill. As my voico Is not In good condition, I shall bo compelled to solicit thcludulgonco of tho Spo.tkcr and of tho Scnato, whllo I attempt to stato thoso reasons. Thoy aro threo In number: tho first is that this bill takes out of tho sinking fund no less a sum than six millions of dollars, put thcro under a provision of tho Constitution of tills Commonwealth, and pledged to remain tliero until It shall bo taken therefrom for tho purpose of being ap plied to tho payment of tho public debt, aud to bo applied to no other purpose whatever. My second objection to this bill Is that it Impairs tho security of tho Commonwealth for tho final payment of this debt which Is now owing to us from tho Pennsylvania Railroad Com pany. Wo aro to dlschargo that wealthy and powerful corporation from all re sponsibility to us upon tho bonds which wo hold against her, and aro to lake, In stead of thorn, tho bonds of n railroad corporation whoso road Is not yet con structed, and whoso futuro prosperity nnd solvency U problematical, and about which wo havo no certain infor mation. Wo nro, therefore, to give up our demand against a solvent debtor, a powerful corporation, whoso futuro sol vency Is reasonably certain, and wo tiro to tako tho bonds of it corporation whoso road Is unbuilt and whoso futuro is un known. Mn. Or.MSTHii. Tho construction of tho road Is to bu guaranteed before tliero Is any delivery of bonds. Mil. BuuKAr.HW. I am coining to that. Tho Senator need not apprehend that I shall stato tho claims of this bill unfairly, because I havo no hostility against tho improvinent imposed, nor havo I against tho gentlemen who nro particularly interested in its construc tion aud In tho passago of tho hill. Wo aro to havo guarantees, howover ; and what aro thoyV Why, thoy aro theso: tho Pennsylvania Railroad Com pany, and tho Philadelphia t Erie Rail road Company nro to guarantoo to tho Stato that tho road shall bo built within threo years from the passago of this bill anil that during that period of time during tho construction of tho road tho payments of Interest provided In this bill shall bo inado by tills corporation whoso bonds wo tako. Now, sir, 1 un derstand that to bo the whole scopo of tho guarantee. But from tho time when tho roadshall bo fully constructed, however imperfectly that may bo and wo havo no guarantee that It shall bo well dono from that moment all claim and security which tho Commonwealth holds against tho Pennsylvania Rail road Company will bo entirely dis charged, and wo aro to look to this now corporation alnno. Successive pay ments after 187 1 uro to bo made of $100, 000 down to 1S90, and other portions of tho principal aro to bo paid in 1801, 1S02, nnd 1893, nnd tho flnnl payment in 1S91. I repeat, then, that my second objection to this bill is thnt it impairs tho securi ty of tho peoplo of Pennsylvania that this debt of six millions of dollars which is duo to them shall bo paid ac cording to tho terms of tho contract which liua been made. Lastly, Mr. Speaker, this bill postpones tho pay ment of this money, and postpones it In a very material degree. In 1801, we mado a contract with tho Pennsylvania Railroad Company, by which wo dls charged her from tho payment of ton nago tax, for tho payment of which she was llabio by her charter, tho contract extending back into former times, bo yond tho recollection of many persons now in this chamber. A condition wua imposed upon that corporation, when tho road was constructed, that she should jiay duties to tho Commonwealth upon tho business sho did, ns u sort of protection to tho Stato against tho com petition ofn now railroad Improvement with tho public works that had been mado and wero owned by tho Common wealth. Timo passed on until 1S01, when tho Pennsylvania Railroad Com pany camo forward and agreed to pay 8100,000 per annum, upon her Indebted ness to tho State, until tho year 1890, When tho remainder tliocomparatlvely small part orthu principal which would be still duo was to bo paid. Now,thcn, by this bill, you extend Its payment for thrcu or four years. But, what Is moro material, you postpone tho payment of tho principal which would bo paid by tho Pennsylvania Railroad Company under tho law of 1801; you postpono tho payment of a great part of It until tho year 1890, ho that tho Stato cannot ren llzo tho monoys duo to them, and thoy cannot bo applied to tho public indebt edness, under tho sinking fund laws, ns soon as they would bo if this hill should not pass. In other words, assuming that nil theso moneys will como Into tho treasury which I lusist Is not cer tain under this bill It is unquestiona ble that tho payment of tho debt duo to us and to becomo duo is to bo postponed by this bill, and postponed very greatly without any consideration whntover. Wo aro to release tho Pennsylvania Railroad Company from nn obligation which I supposo to bo worth hundreds of thousands of dollars, and perhaps millions. Of courso tho commercial valuo of such an obligation Is ono which I am not competent to estimate. I say that that corporation Is to bo discharg ed from that obligation by tho terms of this bill. All claims nnd demands agaliiat her nro to bo extinguished by this bill; our securities against her nro 10 b0 l,as3C" vor to tho Jeroey Sli 1lnoCrcckltl5ufrilllllllro'd Comr to bo passed over to tho Jersey Shore, ;any nnd tho Pennsylvania Railroad Com pany Is to respond to that corporation horeafter, and not to tho Stato. Why should wo surrender theso? Why should we dlschargo this obligation against a solvent company, perfectly ablo to respond to us, and ono that wo may suppose to bo perfectly willing to keep to her contract of 1801 n contract for a valuable consideration Involving a Just demand upon hor under tho law ? I do not propose to enlarge upon tho Improvidencoofthls measure. I tako It for granted that this now road load ing from Buffalo Into tho forests of our northern counties aud to bo connected with tho Philadelphia it Erie railroad nt Jersey Shore, nnd to obtain connco lions In short, with nil tho central and enstern Unas of railroad which havo been constructed In our Stato, Is lo be, and will he, nn Important nnd valuable feeder to tho Philadelphia A. Hrlo, tho Norlhorn Cenlrnl.nnd tho Penusylvau loRullroad Companies, and thnt they can well afford to tako upon themselves thu slight guarantees provided by this bill, nnd, In fact, to respond to tho de mand for thnt improvement. They nro directly Interested In its being made, and nny effort or sacrlfico which thoy can mako for tho purposo of securing tho completion of that road will proba bly bo returned to them In rich aud abundant results In tho prosperity of their own lines. Now, therefore, tliero Is no reason, I assume, hi tho uatura of tho case, why tho Pennsylvania Railroad Company should bo discharged from tho obliga tions of tho net of 1801 to tho Common wealth no reason why tho money now duo or to becomo duo to tho peoplo of th Is Stato (bccnusowltcu pnld Into the treasury It Is their money) no reason why payment of thnt money, which Is to bo applied to tho public indebtedness should bo postponed, ns It will be, for lung periods of tlmo nnd for largo amounts, under tho operation of this bill. I repent, I do not propose to discuss tho merits of this measure at length protest again that I am Influenced by no reelings of hostility to this Improve. ment. 1 desiro very much to sco it mado. I would bo willing to mako somo sacrlfico of opinion or of feeling In order to securo this Interesting 1m provemcnt to thccountlesof tho North. Of courso I do uot speak of theso west crn roads tacked on here as adduuda to tho bill or rather as a tail, so to speak, to the main kite; I know Httlo of their merits, nnd ivill not attempt to discuss them, ns I might do them Injustice. J do not proposo to enlargo upon tho lm providence of tills bill, nor to exhibit nny of thoso feelings of antipathy nnd bitterness which spring up sometimes in debato, but which nro innpproprlato In considering a measuro of this mag nltude, nlfecting such vnst interests, touching every man who toils in this Stato nnd who pays tnxes in this Stato, as well as thoso giant enterprises in railroad management which have grown up amongst us,nnd which I grant you, aro among tho proudest nchlovo incuts of our people. 1 turn back to the first and material question. Is not this fund already de voted to a particular object by the Con stltutional nmendmeutof lS57,and have wo lower to tako it from under tho op oration of that amendment, nnd of tho laws that havo been passed in pursu ance thereof and devoto it to another purposo? What Is that amendment? I shall bo brief in stnting it, becauso to stato it is to concludo tho argument: Words added to the mero statement of tho case, aro idlo and to no purposo. By tho amendment which was drawn by mo In 1850, and concurred in by every member of tho then Scnato, it was pro vided that no greater amount of public indebtedness should bo created by tho Stato, or ngainst tho State, than three quarters of n million of dollars, unless in timo of war or invasion a caso which has since arisen, but which wo may nopo may not again, at least soon, arise But that went but a small way, in ol der to hocuro us for tho futuro against tho improvident management of our public nffnirs. Tho amendment goes on to provldo that n sinking fund shall bo established forthogradual payment and extinguishment of the public debt of tho Commonwealth, which was then nearly forty millions, a huge sum nnd n groat burden, which it was desired to liquidatoas soon as possible, thereby relieving tho peoplo. Wo provided In that amendment, (which was adopted by tho peoplo by an olrao3t unanimous vote,) that certain sources of rovenuo nnd certain objects of valuo should bo Irrevocably devoted to that fund. Among other things, tho revenues of tho public works of tho Stale, held nnd owned by thoStato, wero to bo put into tho sinking fund, and then, sir, tho pro ceeds I quoto tho exact purport tho proceeds of thesnlcs of tho public works ns they mlglit bo mado under authority 01 law, wero also to bo paid into that fund, together with such other oblccts of income or rovenuo us might bo desig nated ty law, nnd tho Legislature, nt Its first session nfter tho adoption of that amendment, was to enact a law es tabllshing tho machinery necessary for tins sinning fund and provldo tho prop or agents for Its practical working and management. Aud then, sir, what more? becauso I como now to tho ma torlal clausoof thnt amendment: It was provided thnt no pai t of tho said sink- ing fund should bo used or applied oth- crwlso than in tho extinguishment of tlio public debt. Now, Mr, Speaker, if I wero called ni n.i .. miuu in. 1111.1 HHHueuv 10 wruo n ciauso to condemn this bill and prevent Its passage, 1 do not know that tho English language would afford mo moro apt and coiicltislvo words than thoso to oxcludo all pretence of power In tho Legislature to pass this bill: "No part of tho said sinking fund shall bo used or applied othcrwiso than in extinguishment of tho public debt." Hero, sir, you pro pos'j to uso that fund to build railroads through tho forests of M'Kean, in tho county of Erlo, and among tho hills and valleys of Greene I Tho north, tho west, and thesouth-westarotobo reach ed by statute, and roads nro to spring up there, upon what foundation? by what means? By theso means In tho sinking fund, put thero by constitution, nl Injunction, placed thero by statute, covered there by words as strong ns tho English language contains In nny lexi con over written, and sacred from and un touchable by IcgMati vo power I And yet, sir, this bill is to pass. Theso words I utter hero (which nioslniply.l repeat, words of sincerity nnd not of mnlovo lonco ngainst this mcasuro or ngainst tho men concerned in It) theso words of initio will go for nought. Influences moro powerful than logic, Influences which tho highest nrts of rhetoric can not roach or affect, aro present within this chamber, and exist outside of this chamber, and tho men who nro bent hero to represent tho tollers nnd tho cap. Italists of Pennsylvania will bo moved liko automata by thorn. Tliero will bo recorded upon our en during records an net which, in mv Judgment, Invades tho fundamental law which wo havo taken oaths to bud- port, which will put In peril tho collec tion of theso nine millions nnd n half of public resources ami which confessedly postpones tlio payment into tho public treasury of moneys to becomo duo to It from n solvent debtor, nnd discharges that debtor from n solemn obligation, contracted in lBOI.for full consideration. All theso public considerations, which ottcht to speak triimppl-tonod (o 111, will lm put aside or discharged. And why?- : n , It Is.iTot for 1110, an individual slnnd Ing hero for tho first tlmo In many years, to go over tho recent history of legislation In our Slate, to portray 1110 unpleasant fentures which navo niteii' ded Its progress, to repent horo tho ob scrvnllons which havo been mado con cernlnglt in various porta of our Com monwcnlth, nnd beyond Its limits. I do not think, Mr. Speaker, that much good Is ordinarily dono by denouncing clamorously, nnd violently, supposed corruption In high places of political power. I think that ludiscrlmlnatodo- nuuclatlon docs moro Injury thnn It can possibly do good, for It creates In tho minds of tlio people tho Impression that all government is unsound nnd that human nature is utterly degraded, that our Institutions cannot nnd do not work well, and possibly mny lay tho fouiula lion of opinion nnd sentiment for their ultimate abrogation, for giving them up, nnd for substituting in their plnco other Institutions supposed to bo better calculated for tho government of men who hnvo becomo too base to govern themselves. Therefore 1 think it is not expedient to dilate too much aud too often upon tho evils nnd corruption of public life. When 1 would speak upon theso subjects, I would speak when the speech can bo followed by 11 blow, by punishment which shall teach n whole somo lesson to tho doers of evil. Sir, J am admonished by facts which hnvo re contly occurred thnt this is not u timo to punish or oven lo investignto the conduct of official delinquents. A public officer, who has managed thu treasury ol tho peoplo, and who hvvour Govern or himself Is charged with misconduct (along with others), is nt tills moment contumacious beforo your authority and your lower, and, sir, you nro unablo to call him to account ; you dare not bring him to your bar and submit to him nn open question, in plain language, about his administration of the public moneys ofthu peoplo which ho was employed to manage and administer under tlio laws of tho State. You do not oven insist that you shall havo somo Httlo gleams of truth from 11 witness, througl a committee, so that tho peoplo shall know what has been dono In high pul Impositions. With this fresh lesson in our minds, I think it unnecessary to appeal to high moral considerations ngainst tho passago of this hill. I insist, therefore, mainly upon tho threo irrcat objections beforo mentioned as moro than sufficient to condemn tlio bill and to justify my opposition to its passage. And now, sir, having vindicated my own position, I snail leave to every oilier member tho personal resiionsl- bilityoflils own courso nnd his own voto. NOTI2. It is to bo observed that tho foregoing remarks relate almost entire. Iy to tlio original bill which was confin ed to tho Jersey Shore, Pino Creek & Buffalo Railroad Company, and do not discuss the second section reported by tlio Committee, as nn amendment, on tlio very day when tho bill was calloil up for consideration. But that section Is as much open to observation as tlio flrst.lts material fea ture is tho taking out orthoslnkingfuud of $3,r,0(),000 of bonds of tlio Allegheny Valloy Railroad Company, tlio pay ment of which is guaranteed by tlio Pennsylvania Railroad Company, and substituting in their stoad bonds for n like amount issued by threo companies whoso roads aro unbuilt. Tho latter bonds nro to bo taken wlthoutany guar antee of their payment, similar to that which Is attached to tlio bonds now hold by tho Slate. Their uitimato payment will depend upon tho solvency of tho now corporations and their ability to meet tho demand of thoStato as n sec ond mortgago Hen upon their roads. Congress. Sknati:. March 31. A bill was In troduced fixing upon a day for tho elec tion of Congressmen. Houri:. Concurrent resolutions ex pressing regret, etc, at tho doath of Major General Thomas wero adopted, after which tho Senate amendment to tho Texas bill was concurred In. Among tho bills reported from com mitteo was one establishing n national system of education. FniDAV, April 1. In tlio Senate, yesterday, tho credentials of Messrs. Hamilton and Flnnigau, Senators elect from Texas, wero presented and the members sworn in. Tho House reso lution of respect for 'tlio memory ofthe lato Gen. Thomas was passed. Among tho bills introduced was ouo to incor porate a national instltiitoof tho arts and sciences at Washington. In tho Houso, tho ndmission of tho Toyas members was tho occasion of a long debato.niainly In tho case ofCapt. Connor, against whom Messrs. Butler and Shanks, of Indiana, attempted to bring serious charges. Tho entire del egation, howover, was sworn In. Satuiuuy Aprll,2.-Iu tho Senato, yesterday tho caso of Gen. Ames, Sen ator elect from Mississippi, was finally disposed 01 alter another long debato. Tho report of tho Judiciary Committee, on motion orjur. Sumner, by a voto of forty to twelve, was changed so us to read "Is eligible," Instead of "Is not." and Gen. Ames was admitted to his seat Senator Morton Introduced a now bill providing fur tho enforcement of tho Fifteenth Amendment. In tho Houo, with Ihoexceptlon of tho debato on tho tarlfl but littlo busi ness of general Interest was transacted. Wiin.s-usilAY, April O.-In tlio Sen- ate, yesterday, considerable discussion ensued upon n resolution offered by Mr Cameron, piovldlng for n testimonial to tho first volunteers of Massachusetts' and Pennsylvania, as tho first to res pond to tlio call for troops at tho begin nlngoftho war, Tho Houso Joint res olution In rcforeuco to tho Oneida dis aster, and directing an Inquiry, was passed. In tho Houso, tlio bill In referenco to tho Bureau of Education and discon tinuing tho Frecdmen's Bureau was passed by n voto of 101 to 61. In Com mlttco of tho Wholo, tho debato on tho sections of tho tariff relating to sugar was continued, Monday April, 1,,-Tho Senato on Saturday wns not In sosslou. - In tho Huujo, Among tho bills Intro duced was ono for tho redemption of nickel coins In sums of twoiity.flvo dollars. Tho bill authorizing tho City of Buffalo to tunnel tho Niagara River wns mssed. At 2 o'clock tho consid eration of tho tnrlff bill by sections wns resumed In Commltteo of tlio Wholo. Tho Fifteenth Amendment. 71) the Senate, ami House of Itepresenta tiers.' It Is unusual to notify lliu two houses of Congress by mcssngo of tho promiil gatlon by proclamation of tho Secretary of Stato ofthe ratification of a constllu tlonnl amendment. In view, howover, of tho vnst lmportnnco of tho Fifteenth Amendment of tho Constitution, this day declared n part of that rovcrcd In strcmcnt, I deem n departure from tho usual custom Justifiable. A mcasuro which makes at onco four millions of peoplo voters, who wero heretofore do clarcd by tho highest tribunal In tho laud not citizens of tho United States, nor eligible to becomo so, with tho ns. sertlon that nt tho tlmo of tho Declnrv Hon of Independence tho opinion wns fixed and universal In tho civilized por- lion of tho whlto race, regarded ns nn axiom In morals ns well as in politics, that black men had no rights which whlto men wero bound to respect Is Indeed 11 mensuro of grander lmportnnco thnn nny other act of tho kind, from tho foundation of our frco Government to tho present time. Institutions Ilko ours, In which nil power Is derived di rectly from tho pooplo, must depond mnlnly upon their intelligence, patriot ism, and Industry, I call tho attention, therefore, of tho newly enfranchised race to tho lmportnnco of their striving in every honorable manner to mako themselves worthy of their new privi lege. To tho raco moro favored hero, tofore by our laws I would soy, With hold no legal privllego of advancement to the now citizen. Tho framers of our Constitution firmly belioved that a re publican form of Government could not enduro without intelligence and educn lion generally diffused among tho peo ple. Tho Father of his country, In his Farewell Addrcts, uses this language: "Promot3, then, nsamnttir of primary importance, institutions for tho general diffusion of knowledge. In proportion as tho structure of government givoi force to public opinion, it is essential that public opinion should bo enlight ened." In his first annual mcssago to Congress the samo views wero forcibly presented, and aro again urged In his eighth message. I repeat that thcadop tion of tho Fifteenth Amendment to thu Constitution completes tho greatest civil change, nnd constitutes tlio most important event that has occurred sinco tho nation camo into life. Tho chimgo will bo beneficial in proportion to tho heed that is given to tho urgent recom mendations of Washington. If theso recommendations wore Important then, with a population of but a fow millions how much moro Important now, with a population of forty millions, nnd in creasing I n n rapid ratio. I would there fore call upon Congress to tnko nil tho means within their constitutional pow er to promoto and encourage popular education throughout tho country, nnd upon tho peoplo everywhere to sco to It Hint nil who possess nnd oxcrclso politi cal rights shall havo tho opportunity to acquire tho knowledge which will mako their share in the Government n bless ing and not a danger. By such means only can tho benefits contemplated by this amendment to tho Constitution bo secured. U. S. GRANT. Executive MANsiox.Mnrch 30,1870. Hamilton Fish, Secretary of Stato of tho United States: 'lb all ichom these prcsentens may come. greeting: Know vo that tho Cnnpress nf flio United States, on or nbout tho 27th day of February, in tho year ono thousand eight hundred nnd slxtv-ntnc. nassed n resolution in tlio words and figures fol lowing, to wit: A resolution proposing nn amendment to tho Constitution of tho United Stntes : "Jlesoleed, by the Senate and of House Jlijiresenlatlvcs of the United States of .Imcrica in Congress assembled, two- thirds of both Houses concurring, Thnt tho following nrtlclo bo proposed to the Legislature of tho soverul States, os an amendment to tho Constitution of tlio United States, which, when ratified by threo fourths of said Legislatures. Rlmll bo valid as part of tho Constitution, viz: Articlo 15. fcEOTIOX 1. Tho riL'hts of citizens nf tlio United Statos to votoshall not bodo nied or abridged by tho United States or uy any btnto on account of raco. color. nr previous condition of servitude. Si:c. 2. Tho Congress shall havo now- or to J enforce this nrtlclo by appropri ate legislation." And further, that it nnnoars from official documents on file In this depart ment that tho amendment to tlm rim. stltutioii of tho United States, proposed ns nioresriu, nns been ratified by tho l.egisiiiros 01 tho States of North Carolina, West Virginia, Maine, Wisconsin, tuiuiiiguii, Louisiana, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Connecticut, Arkansas, Illinois, Florida, Now York, Indiana, Novada, Now Hampshire, Virginia, Vermont, Missouri, Alabama, Ohio, Mississippi, Kansas, Iowa, Rhode Island, Minnesota, Massachusetts, Nebraska, Texas, la all twonty-niuoStates. And furlhnr. that tho States whoso Legislatures havo so ratified tho said proposed amendment constitute threo-fotirths of tho wholo number of States In tho United States. And further, that It appears from an official document on fllo In this depart ment that tho Legislature of tlm Stntn of Now York has sinco mssed resolu tions claiming to withdraw tho said rat ification of tho s?ld nmondment, which had been mado by tho Legislature of that Stato, and of which official notlco had been filed in this donartmmit. Ami further, that It uimnnra from nn nlllnl.il document on fllo In this department mat 1110 Legislature 01 Georgia has, by resolution, ratified tho said proposed amendment Now. therefore, bolt known ilmi t. Hamilton Fish. Secretary of Stato nf tho United States, by virtue and In nnr. Biianco of tho second section of tho net of Congress approved tho 20th day of Anrll. in tho vear 1818. entitle,! ua., act to provide for tlio publication of tho laws 01 tuo uiiueii Htatcs, and for other imrboses." do hereby eerllfv flint tlm amendinuiit aforesaid 1ms becomo valid to all Intents aud purposes ns pnrt of tho Constitution of tho United Stntes, In ln;llinnnv ulmi-nr,f T lm,.., 1. ...... ... ,.....U..j .twwu ihhu iiviuuu. to set my bund and caused tho seal of iiiu -iei'uiimuiii ui cmuiu iu uu auixeu, Dono nt tlio city of Washington, this 30th day of March. In tho vear of nnr Lord ono thousand eight hundred and suvontv. and nf fhn I ml I.. H.j enco or tho United States tho ninety-fourth. Hamilton Fibu. , ogisiatnrc, iiuiiKiiAv march, ai . paHstKl to lay nStatoroad from P !! i no biii taxing nationally passed HOUSE. ...... v...., ..nn ouuu onnkR. 'i'k . "I raid bill was Indefinite ...1.hu FllIDAY April, l.-AJolnU , wns reported from tho cm niS"'1' tostlnir niralnst. ,.. "?,nitl to fro I through thlsStato.toconn " ton nnd Now York. Tlioiiit) a " J" llir. tin bill wos then tnken up, ,c " "'"' finally passed. "'c,l,iij iiousn. Vuiiuv Ai.l 1 . . ting tho Gas nnd Wnler tho county of Bradford, lw An net to extend HieVroK? an net rcinung to tlio lasaRe of b i-Tl tho Susnuohnnnn n,i e?fftAlil trlbulnrlcs, to tho river t..i ", of 1 An net to repeal tlm iu.., ". an net, approved the loth it lv j , .' 1800, relating to expends of niui repairing roads In Coni ' i 1 biwiislilii. nnt.ii.iUn ..""WmlI Joint resolutions of n, h J -...ju. vjiuerai wero adopted sunati:. ....... ..... ui uiiu iirginf. ('.,,.. I In l,lu. i...... h o "M V IIMUUOII f VO 1 Willi, HUNATL'. The following Joint resolution for tun .... . . of n Commissioner of Pensions"1."! UliUUILIl'Dt A furtlint unin.ln i . Mbti.i. auiiiiii; in r run.. .i . I tho organization, discipline anj ,J uhitiou of tho inllliiiiof n. r ?1 .......111. ..r i . . vuuiumi ni-uiiu ui i-uiiiisyivanitt.aiiiirovtilJiJ i, ioo i. i-osseu. An net relating to the Hs.m.. dninogeson foreign attachments. r 1 iur. ty mince, iroin tuo Coinmittcei, Finance, reported loint rn.ni.,n. . pay Alexander J. Diamond ii.ow f u. puiise.s in mo cnntrMfmin ,.iu.. I of tho First Senatorial District, PhiJ ueipinn. Taken up and passed. a. mcssago was reeo vo,l frr,,- I Governor nominating George l'.MTiJ land as Superintendent nf s,!mi.I - VUlUlCi'B Orphans' Schools for three yean, J uu ujiupuiuu iromiiiesitliuayof April 1870. Laid on tho table. Mr. Graham mado rennrt fmmiJ commltteo on tho contested elodU ... . caso of Diamond vs. Watt. uwirjJ tho seat to Watt. 1 Mr- Rnndnll asked nnd obtalnnl ImJ to present n minority report to-morroil HOUSE. Tho Sonnto joint resolution n.tid Congress to grnnt pensions to the l mors or tho war of 1812 was taken i and passed. $100,000 are appropriated fur iJ sions anil gratuities. . . . - - .-I Tho conference comiiiittce fixes til amount for thesupport of comnil schools at SoOO.000. ins ead ofi:.jO.M ns passed by tho House. I Tho salary of tlio Judges of the S. premo Court is fixed nt ifl.000 each. I $l,7i0,()00 nro appropriated for 111 payment of tho Interest on the m debt. $o0, 000 is tho amount set npartfl publio printing, folding, stitching ui bindincr. Tho salarv of the chief clerk in 1:1 Rtntn Tris,fnr1nnnnlen IsOtnil ntf! Tho soldiers' orphans aro iiroviJtl forbynn appropriation of?13U,i)wl each quarter. Since tho Morning Patriot lujjoiril tho "Ring" It is virtuously indijiuJ that tho Legislature filled to pasi Hi "Border Claim Bill," tlio pwije" whlchlwould havo taken $1,000,0) fro J an Impoverished treasury. To show til nature of these claims wa aiipeinl aiti samples copied from among; thosefilHj at Ilarrlsburg: Phr.vli.j Molfxor. MeiVmnelUburz: Suit of clothes (black cloth) M Ono Ham. 18 pounds, at i.iccms... Ono shoulder, 1 1 pounds, 121 Sufferer in township of Ayr.NI ton county; 180 days service, for borso improperly pressed in Lni imt uhii. ...iifw .it r.areiit.s ncr day f"' For loss on said borso by reason ol being broken down uats destroyeii Two blankets taken by rebels. j2i; Sufferers Iu Mime township: Half barrel of mackerel ' tannin ies 1 C 1-1. . i" Now hat v" TT 1 1...... .1.11.1 OMIIIltV rn... i..w. in .. .units eacrt. v 1 VU Jltllll-?, IIUUUl i" - . Soap, butter, upplo butter, iw Jimuivuiui Urioof hordo eight days, Pmnnwi imm Anril 1. flW If of .Music rcfJ cd to lease It to tho Star Lecture wj mitteo for au address by Senator i j a . v. . .r.,c.n A nrll 2. At " I UA. A ...... IJ.V.l.) , , a.m. to day, a sharp, wicked tio I partlinlinknncpnrriHl hero. Itiduranj was six seconds; tho direction, 1M south-east to north-west, mntlnn vnrllnnl. TlinrO WHS HO U" I to life, limb or property, but tl ' I Intense excitement for a ion nnnnnntional Ailmonts. .. . ....... .n,lr. WW I ! debarred by c-lrcimntuncM ir""1 , I lu-oesa to this Invisible, but power"" t A 1- rth. nure uir H a viiauuw I iioeus a medicinal invigoriiui"' pa groat object should bo to chooio Hie w , larlty U a jiiolty good guaM"ll'il" , . ,,ied ncrutlnUIUii and Intelligent ns. ,, Hill criterion lIiKletter'nHtomM" ' itl first nmouu tho luvli'orutnw "J ' ,,ni medicine of (he present iM. I"'" . tally In crowded factories where 1 best possible ventilation the iJ J uWJ ulw ayo In somo degree polluted, tu vegetable toulo Is peculiarly ,1',l,l.9 ,J , .............. til.'kLLT ' . I . i.,. .,i .iiini.lfelhul . .,1 turod-or rattier surchargcd-wl"1 '"' j 1 tracts of sanatoun rootl nud ham" Tho plionuacopiula hew il tmciun wim tbeyr The uleoof only siii'- . elll, plaut U present lu cacti. Not M 01 tf biiiM tho three properties of 11,0",'meou tire, and au aperient. A" , ou 'ia uiuuueu iu me Ulnars ' ....-.-- Its medicinal reconimend.ill'"- " I blood depuruut aud an aumi , , oll The ualolul cllect whicn uir " ..tntW-l tlallyexhaustodoritsoiy.eiiW'"?. , til lug produossou lliovlul orgiuli " I rioui.aiu when lo un " " " r hot Is superadded the inephltto vP"f ,pett uaces.lt becomes deleterious aud ui w theeitrome. Tucuaulotho ' ((Mj, even for a fow hours each day ....ntim tallng lullucnoo of a vlll'" " ...mbU) I ...,...,... .i..,..i ..luratlve I" ..,iJ quired. This grand desideratum l ' ' Hosteller's Illlter., which as a """J,,. .1 muoujf olllolnal or advertised mo0'