r 3 rt THE MURDER. OP X)R. PARKMAN. The New York Courier and Enquirer, speaking of the evidence in relation to the murder of Dr. George Parkman, says: The circumstance by which Dr. Parkmen'e body is said to have been identified, strong as It seems to be, is made stronger by another 'feat whict comes to us on good authority. • It is stated th:;,•, 'some_ years since Dr. Parkman was aubjecte;', to a • surg i ca l op. eration, and that upon the 'needless and limbless trunk . found in the nett of Professor Webster's apartment, there v; as a sew which was identified as the mark of that operation by the surgeon who performed it. This is a striking incident; and may fairly be classed among those "miraculous organs ! by which, under Prridence, Murder almost always Ands a voice. Surprise has been expressed that a chemist should have resorted to the knife and, fire to dispose of a body, when he could have- destroyed it, utterly by chemical agents in much less time. Whatever hearing the fact may have on the guilt or innocence of Professor W.", we understand that the supposition is groundless. There are few things in the-world so hard to destroy as the human flesh. Its dissoluthkn would have required gallons of acids, instead at the small quantity usually kept in laboratories. Nor is it easily consumed.by fire. An immense quatftity of fuel was always of necessity used, when dead bodies were burned, instead of buried; and a friend learned in such lore, as well as in much that is far more valuable, informs us that the burning of a martyr was always an expensive process. In con suming the head, limbs, and • all the parts of the body by which it could be supposed to be recogniza ble, and throwing the shapeless and marklese re mainder where it would be least likely to come to light, the one who killed Dr. Perlman pursued the only feasible course that seemed to promise conceal ment. There is one remark we desire to make, though with no desire to prejudge . the case of Professor Webster. It will he remembered that Colt,- very soon after his arrest, drew up a written statement, alleging that Adams canto to his room in quest -of money due to him--that be used insulting language and was provoked by the reply into seizing Cult by the throat—that in the struggle Colt seized a hatch et and inflicted a fatal blow without:any other motive than self-defence—and that the natural fear of pub lic censure end of the law overpowered 3first im pulse, which was to make ti full disclosure, and led him to the efforts to conceal the body •which was afterwards brought up with such damning force against him. This statement tvas withheld by his counsel, not only until the tria had commenced, btt until after a Week of most haresing investigation, in which the evidence of every successive point was resisted with desperate energy, and after the patience of the Bench, the Jury, and the public had beenwoll nigh exhausted. The testimony had been perfectly clear and perfectly conclusive. It was the most wonderfully perfect and irresistible chain of circum sundial evidence ever known, and left no room fur doubt in the mind of every man who heard it that Adams had been killed by Colt. Then, and not till then, Colt's counsel allowed the confession to be in troduced. The efli‘ct di it wee precisely the reverse of what would have been natural under other cir- curnstances. In spite of protestations that it had been made at an early day, the universal suspicion was that, after the evidence had proved the prisoner guilty,•the confession bad beep devised as a Vick to procure sympathy. Its effect sms exactly opposite. And we only repeat the opinion of some eminent legal authorities, when we express the' belief, that, if Colt had been allowed to aimless the , killing of Adams' when he desired to do I so, before the trial, and hid ;lien called upon, the ,prosecution to prove the homicide to have been murder, he would have been acqu;ited. Now, so far as the public can form a judgment, the case of Prof. Webster is wonderfully analogous to that of Colt. There seems to be reaon to believe that al chain.of circumstantial evidence, equally cotnpaet and equally strong, Will trace the homicide, of Dr. Parkman to the room and the hand of "Pro fessor Webster. It is, of course, a matter for. his counsel to consider, whether the same management is expedient which led to'so ftital result in -the case of Colt. A statement of:facts from Professor Web ster v a' n i ..e.o444teea i wblingu or 21.,,,tt t",e , ill Dr. Parkman, and the homicide was acci 11iltal or in self-defence, the Confession of the fact should not be withheld until it shall have been ren dered superfluous. The Louisville Journal of the '27th inst. says': A distinguished gentleman of Cambridge, writing to his friend in this city, says that he believes Webster is thoroughly innocent, and,that he is the victim of a terrible combination of .cirdumstances. In !con versation with the writer of this letter, Dr. Webster stated that the tin box, which has been regardee) with so much suspicion, was made, like many others that have been previously made for him, for the pur pose of sending to his friends residing at the Azores. The bundle of fish-hooks was made also for his friends in those islands, and was designed to be used in dredging for agassiz. The bundles of faggots were grape-vine trimmings, which he prepared 'to burn, intending to make an analysis of the ashes, with a view to findiog out how to apply manures to the grape roots. You nom't SAY so.—Tho•N. Y. Tribune comments on the chances for the next Presidency f and says: "The struggle after all Is only for the empty honor of which shall be the nominee of the party. (Gen. Cass or Mr. Buchanan by the' democrats) the re election of Gen. Taylor bcipg , regarded at a f ired fact." I 1 The most appropriate comment which suggests itself on the above, is the folluiving extract from a NVashingtott letter of Hon. Jour Wirxrwonin to the Cliicago Democrat; Henry Clay, U. S. Senator, is the most po - pular man here this winter. Whereever he goes, there is a crowd offer him. Of all the old Politicians ego makes the least impression on', him, and he takes the same delight in mingling with the, masses that , he did twenty years ego. Of the Whigs out of office his friends ero ten to one over those of Gen. Tay lor, who is very fast loosing hie popularity. I have a good chance todmow him. this winter; and politi co aside is well calculated to have more warm friends then any man who has lived since the days of An drew Jackson. As the unpopularity of the adminis tration increases, it 'begets a sympathy for him; and the whig rally around him as the embodiment of whig principles and all but cry he is not tem years youn ger. JOHN MITCHELL, Tug IRISH PAtrattrr.--/eteres tinp;.lhcidents.—lN'e ci;,) the following strange para graph from the Dublin Freetzan's Journal, respect ing the exiled patriot on the occasion of his arrival at the Cape-of Good Hope, whither he had been sent by the English Government' from Bermuda: "Private letters have reached town, which . 4 . ive some details of tile arrival and reception of John Mitchell at the Cape of -Good hope. The exiled patriot reached there just at the time the good peo ple of the Cape were in insurrection against j the "Saxon" convicts querion. John, Mithell wus:one of the 'convices" and to him it was a boon of no or dinary! value to transferred from a climate injurious to his health, to one in which his damaged constitu tion might become-renovated. The good people Of the Cape, however, had learned the lesson of resis tance from their own Mitchelle, and were in full ac- tion when ours arrived. - They refussed to admit the "convicts:" but 'v.hett they learned that John Mitch ell was in the bay, a deputation of the leaders of the Cape "rebels"--We beg pardon, heroes, for they sue ' ceeded—waited on the authorities, and offered to re ceive Mitten as a "free settler." The authorities. we presume, thought, that there were Mitehells enough there already, and refused to accede to the proposal of the deputation; and John Mitchell is now again at sea, a wanderer on the ocean, and an exile from his home, The peCuliar circumstance's dense ore just'of that class to olict a trait of Mithell's char acter. He suffered from the success of the "insur gents ? " but lie, left their harbor with an exultant heart, crying, "Bravep men of the Cape'!" A Lucar FELT-m.l—A young Irishman by the Paw of Sullivan, who ran away from his home at Bangor, a few years sifice, and shipped for a whaling voyage*ltas - knit returned . from California with $60,- DOO. lie made the most of hie money as a boatmaft at San Francisco. 3Ys first' inquiry was for his aged parents; who were to poor to Pin the fatted calf for him; on his return, but he will have it killed for them. FROM winausßußo• • Conteondenee oldie Pennsylvanian. • HAnatsanae i ,Jan. 1, 1850. This afternoon the Senate met, end after a few r e relithinaries proceeded to ballot fur a Speaker, but without any ono being elected until the eighth bal lot was called for, (to be 'pure VALENTINE BEST, of .Coltimbia county, could. if he had wished, brought, about an election on the previous ballot,) but assu rance not being doubly sure, as tie had kept no tally; he did not come to his own rescue—on the glorious eighth ballot, though,,he came gallantly up to the work, and very, courageously voted for VALE:mem Bus; of Columbia county. It coat him an effort. He became very pale, and looked as if be wanted to whistle for want of thought, to keep his courage to the sticking point. Ile could not vote for himself, after all the Federal and Antimasonic Senators had voted for VALENTINE BssT, and the Democratic Senators had dorie likewise for their own nominee, J. PORTER. BnAwnur, until he discovered, very un expectedly, although at the head of the list, that by voting with the Fedeiali,ta fur VALENTINE BEST, It could elect Mr. BEST, when he requested the Clerk to call his name, accordingly his ballot was for himself. I suppose that Mr. Bawl . thought that "near is my shirt but nearer is my skin," and that as' charity negins at home, he would appropriate to himself the Speaker's Chair, and did ao. 1 send you the names of Senators, and their ballots; print them, and recollect that all who voted for Mr. liner ~were Federalists, except Mr. BEST, who voted with them for Mr. BEST. Here are the names: For Mr. BRAWLRY—Mesgro. Drum, Fernon, For syth, Frailey, Fulton, Guernsey, Ives, Jones, M'Cas lin, Mublenberg, Packer, Shimer, Sterrett, Streeter For Mr. Bed—Messrs. Best, Brooke, Crabb. Cunningham, Darsie, Frick, Haslett, King, Konig, macher, Lawrence, Mtilone, Matthias, Sadler, Sau key', Savery, Stine. Walker-17. For Mr. Streeter-41essra. Brawley, Hugus-2. As the above ballot fixed matters, Mr. Breve wad conducted to the Chair. - lie then made a few re marks, thanking Senators for the 'honor they had conferred upolt him, entirely overlOoking,himse/f in his thanks—in fact a great Miersight, fur without his:own vote he would have been no where, at least never in the Speaker's Chair. The speech deliver ed, was written and read by him, so that all the ar rangements have Wen going on for some time, and were concluded finally this morning. For several ballots Mr. Ilssx scattered his vote around on Messrs. STRFiETER, DRUM, and others, to create the impression that Mr. BHAWLIir, the'caucus nominee, was objectionable; but this was all' gaintnon, as the written speech is evidence best to show that he reserved his eighth and best for Mr, 13stsr, and had entered into seine arrangements with the Federal ists. What they are is of course unknown. To morrow I will develop something which you shall hear of, then on next day the Clerks, &c.,] will be elected, and the committees announced, prObably it will be discovered what consideration the 'Federal ists will get. Mr. BUST has received his. Per haps having turned his coat to-day, he may wheel about to-morrow. PAXTON. Ilirtatsramo, Jan. 1, 1850. The House of Representatives convened at 12 a'clock M. and was called to order by the Clerk. The Secretary of,the Commonwealth being intro duced, presented the returns of the election fur rep resentatives, held in the several districts , of the State, which, on motion, of Mi. Meek, were opened and rend by the clprk. On.motion of Mr. Porter, the House then pro• ceeded to the election of a Speaker with ttie ing result: Mr. McCeltnont had Mr. Cornyn, Mr. McCulmont having recceived a mai the votes coat, was declared and to be the ted Speaker, and being conducted to the ch the following neat address: To preside over the deliberationa'of the I Latices of this Commonwealth, is an honor a map may be justly proud. But when the character of this Ilousie4or ability and, and my own inexperiece, my pride and gra i l this mark of your confidence must neceal mingled with feelings of deep humility. 1 40..coniumbravveewtiese_Kle bay?, 9 t cur. - riappuyi - riowever, tTlis relTeetn with it, also, the hope, and the assurance, 1 constantly receive your generous aid and, Rendering to yourrny most since thanks for t you have conferred upon ine I will now al -duties of the office. IfAttru . surtio, Jan. ' , 1850. This morning, Mr. Freiley, of Scliqylkl, offered in the Senate, a resolution of considerable ii i portance to several interests, instructing the Finn ce Com mittee to inquire into the expediency of a I w impos ing a tax, fur State, County, School, and oad pur poses, upon all stock owned in all companies or bo dies politic, organized for carrying either Imerchatt dize or passengers, and upon all ships, steamboats and canal boats used for these purposes. This is intended to reach all companies, and to tax all stocks, just as bank or other stocks are now by law made to furnish revenue to the Comidonwealth—bitt as it is merely a resolution of inquiry, Mr. Frailey might 'as well have embraced churches and cemeteries in it, -as there are millions invested in these institutions, :now exempt from the burden of taxation, although especially protected by law. It seems bu just, that they should bo mado,to do something to relieve our overtaxed Commonwealth. Nothing else 1 4 impel'. tanco took place, as the latter portion of the session was taken up in the reading of the Governor's Dles sage. The II ouse did not do more than elect Officers, so that agony, to some, is over. -To be sure, Mr: Meek submitted a series of resultithlns, in favor of non-in tercourse with the Austrian Government, ibut they will come up again in a day or two, when.! suppose gentleman willhave an opportunity to display their talent for speaking, there not being much to do .at the commencement of the session, time might as well'bespont in that way, as in any .other. Aug trio must stand frouunder. - Pennslyvania is goingt to.speak. LAIIIIIB OM Ja n. 4, 185 Q. The Senate met at 1 I o'clock. After the Speaker announced the standing committees, and the trans action of some unimportant busiess, Mr. Parker rose to a question of privilege. He alluded to the appointment of the standing committees of the Sen ate, and Said that he had received a direct insult from the Speaker, in that, the latter had neglected to make him chairman of the committee on appointments, which had been created on his own motion. His language was very severe, and orginated a discussion of great length, which was continued 11 Messrs. Crabb, Walker, Freiley, 'Minn, Forsyth, and others, almost up to the hour of closing th - b mail. A motion made by Mr. Crabb, to postponethe furth er consideration of Mr. Parker's motion, to be ex cused from serving on any of the standing commit tees, wally prevailed by a vote of ,Yeas-17, Nays —1(1. Severe: other bills were presented on various lo cal subjects. On motion of Mr. Crabb, the Senate adjourned. Awry', TIIAOEDY.-A rumor of an awful tragedy near Xenia, reached us this morning It is said that p Tilr. Armour, a farmer, resid;ng within a few miles of :Xenia, was known to have in his possession, some two or three -thousand dollars. Two Indivi duals, on one day last week, arrived in the cars from Cincinnati, and immediately proceeded to Armour's , for the ‘ 'estensible purpose of pochasing the premises. They induced him to accompany them through and arround the farm, and upon arriving .at.a.strip of woods, lie was brutally murdered by the assasins, who immediately started for the house. Mrs: Ar mour the wife, seeing the strangers returning with. mit - her husband, become alarmed and instantly con jectured their design. Shersecured the treasure of her husband anti locked herself in an adjacent room. The two.entered and searched the house, but being unable to find what they desired, discovered the in °hut sleeping in the bed; which they concluded had been abandoned by its mother, through .fright.— They thereupon, throw it into the fire, with the hope that its cries would attract the attention of the moth er, from whom .they might ( m i nt a confessiOn as to the deposit of the money. Mrs. Armour, strange to say, managed to resist the impulses of a sympa tizing mother, and' retained the place of her'conceal ment. The robbers at length abandoned the search as hopeless—and took the return train to Cincinati. We are pleased to add that the piepertreitors were captured; end safely lodged in the Cincinnati jail. Crie.Volthi oll*tier. SATURDAY MORNING. JANUARY 12. 1850 rrw. are indebted t• Judge Thompson for Congres sional. and Messrs Walker. of the Senate. and Reid. of the Ilonse. for Legislative, favors. 117 For Editorial. a communication. end various news items, see outside. By the by. several errors crept into our outside which were not seen until' a portion of the Edition was worked off—among others, in the communi cation`headed "Our Railroad's." in the second para graph. rend "22d section" instead of "241 section." A COMPLIMENT.III the standing committees of the l House of Repreisentatires, we notice that our member.l Hon James , Thompson, is chairman of that on the Judiciary. Such a designation is , aliko complimentary and just. No man in Congress, probably, is dotter quali fied to ail with credit to himself and the country this po sition. In Importance that committee is one of the first. and Mr Speaker Cobb was truly fortunate in his stiliition of o Chairman. Our faVorito weekly. "Tuts Roue Jounssr.." h i as commenced the New Year admirably. The two hist numbers are perfect gems; or. louse the language of the ladies, "loves of papers." Why there:are not more ta ken here, in place of some of, tho trashy weeklies we wet of. is past our comprehension. No lady. with the least pretension to fashion, should be without it upon het centre table; and as to those who make no such preten sion, they should certainly aubscribe for it, as, like them selves, it is entertaining without affectation, and solid without being egotistical and frivolous. • Como ladies. wo are determined the "Journal" shall have a wider circulation among you than heretofore, so give us( your names. Wu sent for a copy last week for a friend of otua--hoW many shall we send for next? Comuto.-r-Wo learn that the "Marvin Family," new band of vocalists. who have met with the most un bounded success in the Eastern part of New York, will visit our city in a few days, for (ho purpose of giving one or more of their entertainments. For particulars, time and place, bills will be duly distributed. ' lialVe aro waiting patiently for dint proof that Judge Thompson "did vote for the proviso one session', and against it the next." It strikes us that an Editor' so well fortified by tho proceedings of Congrpss, as him of the Gazette professed to be, should not be so backward in giving it to the world; especially, too, when it resolves itself into a question of his voracity. RAIL ROAD DAMAGES, vs. "FAIR PLAY.".--A cammu nication will be found iu another column over the signa tore of." Fair Play," in regard to railroad damages. Wo have inserted it because we believe in the moat latitudi narian doctrine, of free discussion, and .not because wo concur in either its tone or temper. In 'regard to the rights of land owners to exact full remuneration for any damages they may sustain from the company by tile construction of tho road accross their lands, we never had 'a doubt; and if wo have not boon misinformed !in regtird to the matter, the company is perfectly willing to pay all such demagog. Micro then ,dons the shoe pinch? We think wo see. The company is willing to pay fair damages—as much, or more perhaps than the lands appropriated would sell for, taking all the circum stances into the case; but is not willing, because it hap pens to; be an incorporated comps y , and therefore sup posed to have no soul, to pay unf Prince—or, in a word, to be speculated of eV. This is tho whole. ques tion in a nut-shell. Now, the question is whether such cointnunicatious as "Fair Play's," will have tho effect of convincing, or compelling, tho company to submit to ex horbitant damages, or stimulate it to rettistance? So Par ai our judgment is concerned, we think it will tiave• the latter, if any. 39 rity of all uly elec air made 'tepresen of which consider intvg,rity titudo for isarily be One word more. It is alwaYs customary—and the customi2llgged.one . ;—for ‘ LlAse r site r U f i gl n imirdvg y bj et a to n opein its combs to a reply, then a resort to a cotempo rarY publication, is eminently prope'r and just.— In this case, this rule is peculiurly applicable, as it is prat y evident that not more than one in tetT of those ./who r ad the Oldercer ever See the Commercial, and we presume the same proportion will hold good towards the Obserre i rby those who road tho Commercial. If all our corespendents would recollect this, it would save. us much trouble—not that we are unwilling to insert the favors ef our friends, but it is cart tinly a waste of em it-Mahlon to shoot into a ilock'ofPigions with a rifle, when one can. just as well, for ought No know, use a shot-gun! preceded lion brings that I will, I support. the honor f ziorrie the GOVERNOR'S MESSAGE.-41d Gave:mar sober as. John ston Drunk!—lt is scarcely necessary to say much in re gard to Gov. Johnston's massage, given iu our last. Our readers have probably road it, and formed their own opinions, boforo this, of its merits. So for as it is con finqd to the legitimate affairs of the State, wo find no particular fault—it is perhaps well enough! But whoa the Go'venor. towards the close, travels out of his Way to gct l at the Tariff question, he shows that the bottle of Monongahela on his executive table has had to suffer.— For instance, tho opening clauso of his messago roads as followri; The Legislative branch'ef the Government, meets un der circumstances calculated to produce deep emotions of gratitude, The events of the past year cannot fail to af lord assurance of the continued mercy of the Almighty Father of the Universe, and of the blessing He has dis pensed to the people of this Commonwealth. While in other parts of our country, and sn distant lands, pestilence has made fearful ravages; leaving in its track the wretch edness of destitution and the tears of crushed affections; a healthful climate, In the disposal of a 4ghteous Provi dence, bas.preserved.theaitizetis of the State compara tively free from the miseries of the destroyer. During a period of war, famine and civil cqmmotion •in the old world, bringing in their train, desolation and want; blighting the hopes, paralyzing the industry, and ruining the prosperity of the people; our beloved Commonwealth, in union with others under the Notional Constitution. has enjoyed the delights of peace. and her • citizens, in the exercise of industreat pursuits, hare found contentment and competence. To the Author and Guardian of our being. whose benificence•caused all things to work to gether for our good, our reverence and gratitude are espe cially duo. The Governor was undoubtedlysober when ho wrote that paragraph, but in what state was Johnstol when he wrote this? - "In relation to the policy of the National Government on this subject, (Protective Tariff) the manufacturer. 1 the artizan , the agriculturalist, and the-laborer, feel litre, that their business and pursuits, are elevated or dep eas ed. as protection is a ff orded or withheld. In the hi tory of the past, they are furnished with lessons for the future. The ereats of the past season hare .afforded eonUusire eridence, in the closed doors and deserts* buildings of do mans factories; in the distresses of the laborer, and the general depressianof pr ofi table induilry , of the intpera nre necessiiyfor a system, of laws which will ,sustain against foreign competition, the employments! of our citizens. When profitable investments, and useful cap ital ore stricken deem—when surplus produce finds di minished prices; and whon•labor i I s depressed. and in dustrious operatives aro thrown out of employ/trot:— neither party dogmas, nor local interests, nor sections jealousies, suould prevent a united and. energetic -rev , in our National Representatives 'to restore - tho ge oral prosperity.. I It la an old saying that liars should have good mem ories, and it would be well ifeuch protection advocates as the Governor, was blessed in the: same way. What mockery—nye, what down-right falsehood—to ■ay •that •the "legislatiie branch of the Government meets under circumstances calculated to produce deep emotions of gratitude." if the "doors of manufactories have been •closed,"—if there is a "general depression of profitable industry."—if our "surplus - produce findsAtilhinisheil prices,"—if "profitable .investments and useful capital are strickettdown."i—if "labor is 'depressed, aad indua.l •trious operatives are:thrown out of employment!" And, how can all this be if, airtholGovenor says in the first paragraph. "our beloved Commonwealth, in union with, ethers under the National Constitution. has enjoyed the delights bf peace, and her citizens, in the szornsa of in. &stria pursuits, Aare found contentment and compe tence!" Aye, how! What consummate humbugery then ilooirthose two paragraphs, when,placed.in juxtaposition, show! Humbu g ery, too in the Governor of a great state like Pennsylvania! ERIE. PA. , CALIFORNIA POLITICALLY..—Th news from California is important and intere though full returns fr i om the State were not r the Empire City, enough tame* hand to to announce emphatically that California Is all over—froM the "Benton mint drops" Tittle soil, to her constitution; and from her conatit servants selected to execute her laws and re in the Congress of the nation. Notwithstand ministration has ondeavofed by every .possibl secure an ascendency in this new State, havi the immaculate T. Butler King. of Georgia, as ry, or school master, to teach the emigrants t ca t e chism, it is pretty clearly ascertained the denten was sent upon a bootless errand, an returning as a United Suttee' Senator fro Of the Pacific, he will realize, and' most just) ofithe old adage, that "there ie Many a slip i cup and the lip." Our readerialre probably this political missionary of "Zachary WYash n signed a seat in the lower house of Congree stem of Georgia, for the purpose of enabliag tle people of California the benefit of his ti ~ !:u1 experience upon the floor of the United ; tot What disinterested benevolence! An . I should not bo appreciated!—Mat the peopl nie, ungrateful ingrates that they are. ahoui all this sacrifice for their benefit, and return , ' !id l ers a majority, and a largo one, too, of Democrats. who will see Mr. Thomas Bug "kingdom come" politically. before they w i t Senator! But it it-,even so. Without ti military exploits. this political mon ntebank ci his chief at Washington, rido into power] party" humbug. The "peoples' ticket" among the adventurous spirits who are set cific coast. New States upon the Atlantic contihent are always Democratic, and the first election in California—her constitut unity untutimously—both proclaim, la -:i Melts age, that such will bo the film with thes., _ in embryo upon the Pacific. There is rea l ,son as wet as sound philosophy fur this. In the now 'states wealth I , is moro equally divided, and consequentll; the people. stand, ono, towards another, on a footing of more perfect equality. Time changes this to a greater r loss extent. As =Milt' accumulates aed concentrates in the hands of the few, the arietocatic tendencies of poor, frail hu-, man nature begin to matt l ifest thenisolvse, by tho rich sacking to become richer through the instrumentality of special privileges and class legislation. The republicans of California understood this; and hence, in training the fundame4al laws . of their State, had the wisdom to pro hibit, as iar es - possible, all such legislation: ELOQUENT ALNL. Tamr.„—Since President TAYLOR was installed into office, says the Petersburg lirputlican, with great force, ono of anise melancholy events which bring a whole nation to tears, and fling around its remo test circumference the afflicting emblems of a - sineoro mourning, has occurred. The hand, whose generous, cordial grasp most probably gave him the first salutation after his installation, heal been chilled by death—the heart that boat responsive to the welfare and the glory of his country. and that prayed as fervently for its uninter- rupted prosperity as over heart did pray, has ceased to answer to the joys or sorrows of man—the last and no t tho least illustrious of his many honored predecessors has died; but. in vain we look fur any faint allusion to the sad disaitter, in this his first message to the Congress of tho nation since its occurrence. No mention of the event—no syllable to record the mighty upheaving of the national hot, the u intermit lamentattn which fell front the Nation .lips when its oar fi rst ca gilt the news that Janes K. out was Aped: ' I But, we bog anion for intindueing a theme so painful and melancholy in connection with a document which is more suggestive of laughter than of tears. YES. 1..F.T TIM! SEE To Ir.—alto Lartrasterian very truly and forcibly says that among the moat important duties that will devolve upon the Legislature of the pros ent year, will bo that of acting upon the amendment of tha Conatttatinu.Droviding for the election of Judges by the last Legislature. If the same amendment bo agreed to by a majority of both houses of the Legislature at its present session, and afterwards ratified by the votes of tho people, it willibecome a part of tho constitution.. - We not only think that this chane is generally desired. but that it will wtrk bettor than the present system. At any rate, we desire to see the yea on brought fairly be fore the people, and are opposed to II trickery and un derhand-means for its suppression o' postponement. In this veiw, it is hoped that the advocates of this truly re mfblican amendment will not permit ny, even the least, chs nge in its phraseology from that agreed to last session; fo thereby it may be deferred • wh lo year.lif nut ratta il g , ther defeated. Lot them carefully ea to it! Lova sr FIRST Strinv.—ln this erer and unroman tic age, it has become very genera opinion that the, so called, "love at first sight," of w ich wu read in nov els, is naught but a beautifir vision of the poet's brain, but wo occasionally find in our iptchanges incidents which go far to show that such is not the fact;—for In stance, tho New York Sun records the following. es hav ing taken place in Brooklyn, and as a fact: "A lady and gentleman saw each other at church. and wore mutually smitten by Cupids darts. The 'adv, who is very hand some,i• remarked to her sister that f alto ever married, it would be io the person who thus had won her heart; and the gentleman being possessed ofa full share of the go a-head-itivoness so large an ingredient in the American character. at once sought and obtained an introduction last Wednesday. when ho popped the iinestion. was ac. copied. and with the consent of the parts was married on Saturday. Their honey-moon is as bright and hope ful as if years had been spent in The courtship. It shows that romance still lingers in this sober age." Pnoannss OF -TON Anr.—An-exchange paper tolls of a young lad who recently ran away from home and wont to a tavern, where ho was found by a friend with a anger in his month. "What' made you loavo homo ?" said his friend. "Oh, confound i 4" said ho, "father and mother was so saucy that I couldn't stand litany longer, and I quit 'cm." 11:71Vo have boon - furnished with the following state ment of the allotment of work on the Lake Erie section of Railroad, authorized by law to bo constructed by rho Franklin Canal 6tnpany. , Sections. k• To whom Alloted. No. 1. 2. 14 and 2G. John Galbraith & Co. 3, George Hope. 6, 7.9, Buskirks & Co. 4, 13, 20 and 24, 43rashoar & Co. . 1 5, Phillips, Sullivan & Co. 8. Shaw & Sulltion. 10 and 11 ;decker & Rust. , 12, 22 and 23, Samuel M. Lane &Co. 15 and 18, Casey & Fagan. , 17 and 18, Homer Hart & Co. 19. Josemialt Iluitkirk & Co. gl. 0 Brian & Millar. 25, J bit Fitzpatrick & Co. I llg'Cook's Eagle Saloon is one of the best fitted up es tablishments of the kind ever openel in Erie. It is cer tainly worth one's time to visit it, if for nothihg el/be to see to what perfection such an establishment ca be brought. When once there, if you are an epicure, cell for some of-the many excellent dishes heels up to tickle the palate!' of his customers. 'end our fiord for it, y,..4 will call again. SPI:CIL Anusirsitr.—Now York city has ern. J 4, $4,000,000 of Specie. and has received $20,000 leaving a balance of rocoipts over the Oports of : 4 000,000 during the last year.—Buralo Reputilic. This is the way the Tariff of '46 drains our country o the precious metals. We wish whig protectionists to take particular notice of this fact. It is significant. saa to ir Aaar."—Abbe Kelly is on here war-hone again. At a late Abolition meeting in Massachusetts, she denounced the Church, and mourned over "the rap idly bleaching out of the complesion,of dreslaves." She believe, that Adam end Eve were as black as the aced spades; and she is thoroughly persueuled,that there is no redomptibn for mankind, until they are restored td their original color. his said she rises black paint herself, and proposes at an early day to sport a . whoolly wig.— Go it Abby! we'll hold your bonnet. _ political • tin. Al ceived by enable as omocrotic in her tion to her resent he, og the Ad meetly to ig dispatch- Mum filsoss—The first place wo stretched after teas• ng Chagrea. was the village of Congo, distant ten miles. consiata of about twenty huts. built of BanboO, and thatched with the long leaves of this' Palma Real. We made our supper on Chocolate, hard bread and Cocoa sugar, thou - smoaked out cigars, danced at a fandango, and went to cheep on , our Buffalo robes spread on the ground fl oor of our hovel. Meanwhile onr negro rowers occupied themselves in playing their overlasting gamo of monte. • It rained hard during the night, and the next morning tho river was cor.sidorably swollen, so that our boatmen worn unwilling to prOdeed„ saying. "Rio atilt, mocha agua;" their object being to drink and gamble at every village and ranch on tho river. Wo , waited pa tiently until rifler breakfast, then took. them by the oars, led them down to tho boat, and compelled them to take miaaiona• i oir political that gen ioetoad of the shores r. the truth etween the aware that gton" re from the 1 1 aim to otTor mat talent !States Sen n], then, that o of CaWor ld disregard rito the legit' , lain-spoken ter King, in 111 sleet him me eclat of !bold not, like !on the "no- their oars. They now propelled us sulkily along ten miles, without a single stoppage/to the villf.go of Bodo- I nos. Here wo fared sumptuouslyrthe Atealdo and his wife furnisliing . us good chocolate. rico cooked with gre-. ted cocoa. oasted plaiutains, hard bread and broiled mon, key, washed down with a bottle of good Claret, which iro had fortunately brought from Ilavano. In consideration of our comfortable quarters and good fare, we concluded to spend the' romminder 'of the day in overhauling, airing bpi' drying our clothes, and luggage. Then we laid down and slept until midnight; when we arose, stirred up our sable rowers, took a cup of chocolate, and wended our way "by the; light of the moon." Slowly and laboriously wo glided along against tho strong and impetuous cur rent, laughing and singing scraps of poetry and song, until we presently emerged from the deep shade of tow ering toes, overhanging foliage, and clustering flowers, and rounded an angle in the river. tiiiintoan large, and .luminous rt: l s l the sun, burst from under a dark. heavy and sombre colored cloud, so bright, so clear, so transparent, it seemed almost-to touch the earth, and to reflect the , as "no go" ling our Pa filope of our result of the on, adopted t l ho stronges t ipso that aro Tr heat as wit as light, rendering every object as distinct and clear as day. We gazed with delight and Otonish menit, at the granduer, magnficence, l and gorgeousness of tho scene, and oven our ignorant and simple minded boatmen exclaimed, "Bonita tuna„beautiful moon." e had not proceeded many leagues, however, before the scone was entirely changed; lowering clouds obscured the sky, and forked lightnings rent the air. The windows of heaven were opened, and torrents of rain descended in a perfect deluge; our songs wero hushed. our coals and robes werd called into requisition, and without murMur ing, wo grinned and endured it. When day dawned wo found we wore twelve miles advanced on our journey; then wo.were pleased and delighted, with our moonlight ride. Tho next night we spent at a ranch five miles below the villago orGorgona, and fared badly. We made our supper, howevei, on our noverlfailing hard bread and cla ret, to which our boatmen added, roasted bananas, and a portion of broiled guava, tthich we found agreeable and palatable. Then we spread Our robes on rho ground doer of the shanty, and slept soundly. Wo made an ear ly a art next morning, and reached Gorgona in limo to P artake of an excellent breakfast, at the table of the Al cake. consisting of coffee, hot rolls, beef stake, potatoes and fried pleintains, cooked up in';regular Spanish style, hot as pepper and gatlick could make. Daring the dry season. this villago iltands at the head of canoe naviga tion, and alistatit from Chagres fifty-two miles, and from Panamatiwenty-throe; it contains three hundred bamboo huts, andprobably a thousand inhabitants. The railroad -from Panama will pass through this place, thence to its termination, at a point called Havy Bay, four miles be low Chagres. A store is kept hero by an American. from Now York, a gentlemanly nod intelligent follow, and during the winter a hotel is to be erected by a gen tleman from Now Orleans, to be called :"The Panama Railroad Hotel." An old stone church, gaing to ruin, stands in one corner of the town, and according to report its Padre has no horror of Polygamy. This was All Saints' Day. and prayers were said for the repose of the ing artnit(' the: ru'ile ci4;llwaT2.; just emerging from the door. Wo had ac interview with the Padre. whom wo found polite and - agreeable: once, ho said, his church was rich and flourishing, now his people were few and poor—that in June last, 41te cholera hail ibreltew.vt. and carried off five hundred of their number. Several Americans bad also died there. Many adieus were exchanged and the Padre\ vanished. Hero our Boatmen transferred our baggage from the Batteaux, to a light canoo, in Which they propelled us up to Cruces, distant' six miles from Gorgotitt,l and twenty two from Panama. For the II first twenty mile!, above Cha g res, the soil on the bank; of the river is entirely al a deposit of trees, sand, and leaves on a sulastra tuM of dark yellow sand. Ahove 'Hei;munos, rocks first make their appearance. and khe banks become high and abrupt.. the river. contract; its breadth,' the current be comes swifter and more shallow, the water clearer and purer. Fish cart be caught in abunidance at all seasons, but not a single shell of any'description is to be found. We have soon hugh alligators basking in the sun, and the Guano, and several species, of Licerta running along the shores. Cruces stands at the head of Crm° navigation during the wet seanon, front Chagrea distant, fifty'-eight mites, from Panama tvrenly-tw l o. It . is situated on a high rocky bintl", completely encircled by lofty - ienges of mountains. It l eoniains about two hundrod of the usual bamboo holm- es, placed in twelve rows, with narrow streets interven ing. There is an American and a Frehch hotel here where yuu can procure boarding. and i a snore in a ham mock. at two dollars a day. Two forwarding houses. which transport baggage to Paname..at eight dollars per hundred, and five percent com Mission, and a small stone depot, for the safe lodging of gold and silver cros sing.the Isthmus. ' An old church built of stone and brick, cemented together and stuccoed with shells. stands lo n the aunimit of tho hill; once it was enclosed by a wall and was of considerable architectural styli), and beauty. Ou a long po l o in front of the entrance hang three or four old bolls, cracked and broken, though I sufficient to call the simple devotees to worship. Serbral old brass canon of Sp i ll's!' manufacture lie on the green, inscrib ed. "Ultima ratio regoum," , and "Pluribus nee Impar, A. D. 1757." Numerous creases, and images of tho Sa viour. and Saints wraughi in wood, and cast in wax, Filled_ k lvt\ the niches. Alen, women and children of every no and color. kneeled in groups on the ground; decked the gayest and moat tawdry attire, while the Padres were burning incense. eprinklinglholy-water, and muttering prayeribefora' tile altar. Preaently the orchestra, corn- posed of two violins. a flute and a: banjo, accompanied by the voice of the leader, struck np a wild strain, and the mongrel crowd joined in the chorus. It appeared a strange scope to be enacted in a temple dedicated to the service of the Almighty, and as we gazed.on Ably flutter ing. gay. and babbling assemblage. we thought how much more real devotion and less hypocricy, there might be among that ignorant herd, than among the vast mul- divider', congregated in the gorgeous temples iu our own lend. The concluding prayer showed the goodness and kindness of the.. Padre's heart, and dileredit to his , pro- fession. Ho prayed for all the Americans present, who , did not understand their langusgei for all those who wore traveling through their country, and besought his people to treat l theru as friends and christians, that they might have a safe and prosperous journey, and a speedy return to.their friends. their home rand their country. The assemblage was now dismissed, and the day was finished in testing the speed of theirlittle Spanish ponies, on the lawn below the town. We engaged muleteers to trans port our baggage to Panama, and were to start early on Monday morning. San rise came. hut no muleteers. Tho treacherqus scoundrels refused•to r , unless at ono half advance l , Upon the price agreed upon, We then engaged cargadores, or negro carrier*, who with a Bert of frame work, carry on their backs trunks , and , packages" to the amount of one hundred rounds. It is almost iinnossible to convey you any idea of the condition of this toad. It is the most'abominable and villianous of all pads; in fact It is a misnoinen to call it a road ut all. It is muddy, and rocky, billy, and swampy, wkwling round through Going to California. Correepondenceof the Eric Cibterver. PANAMA: NEw GRENADA, Dac.B, 1819 the gorges and defiles of 010 mountains, semolina, scarcely broad enough to place a single foot in @marlin, at others expanding out wide enough to admit four mutts abreast. Most of the distance was once paved with FOUrill stones, but the rush of - mountain torrents for years, lies washed it nearly all away. leaving nothing but a des? and narrow path, through which you pursue your wind. log coursi?l We arrived however at Panamei in due lea. son, and. were much eurprieed at its ancient nd dilapi. dated apPerirance. It was built chiefly from the ruins it 1 the old . city of Panama. which was captured and seek by the Buccaneers. and afterwards destroyed by an eanl . quake. It is now nearly submerged, and scarcely any r - mains of its former grandeur and magniqcence are .6, . ..ble. Immense Wealth is supposed to be buried thee . but the jealousy of the government prohibits any subm - rifle exploration. Tho present city is purr randed by s i high wall built of hewn stone, cemented together wi ‘ shell mortar which in time becomes as solid its the em.k itself. Tho number of churches is astonishing; a w ,_„ ' „. uno in all; thirteen' are partly or entirely in rein., e thi,, service is performed in only eight. ?Souks and Priests aro also very numerous. who with their broad brimind hate', and long flowing black robes present.% singui , i f 1 appearance in the 'streets. 'As in all Spanish countries, they will preach ora Sunday morning, and in the afte - • noon attend (ho cock-pit, bull-fight , or Monte -tab ri, The number of the population le probably six-thousand, mostly of the mixed race; few of pureCastilian blood/in left. The Governor of_ the Province is a gentleman 1 0 intelligence, and of affable manners; has traveled through the United States and speaks English fluently. fie ef. presses great friendship for the Americans, offers them land, and desires them to settle in his province. Tile place is already fast becoming Americanised. The mails shops and stores are being routed out, and superseded In Americans, who left home for California, spent all th 6 funds and have been compelleeto go to work. The nit. tives are ignorant and indolent; nature out of her exhaini i t less resources furnishing them every thing they requai, but the climate is so debilitating 'and enfeebling, er r Americans in a few generations would degidnerate. Wo expect to sail today, so adieu, MEDICO. RAILROAD AND LAND DAMAGES Fur •the Erie Observer. Mr. Editor:—Repeated reference having beea ina.s to the skiject of Railroad and Land Damages in sere al numbers of the Commerriial Adeeriiser lately4aLing to th in strong terms the rights guaranteed to companies, ,y acts of Assembly, in lay ing out and constructing railroildt in Pennsylvania, and believing it to be the design of he Editor to influence theowners of lands upon nloch es Frio and North East read has been located to cote If with (ho wishes of said company, I have thought it at improper to suggest a few points in favor of the oppo its side of the question; and. moro especially, since the e m. pally has declared through its authorized agents, ac uez under the advice of strong council, that the right of a: .l company to enter upon and occupy any land on winch the read may be located, or which may be necessary for the us e of the company, without either paying or so or. ing the owners for their damages, could met be centre. vetted. Now, if kUCII is the fact, it ja high time that the ()timers of valuable farms, many of which will he gri.aCy mutilated and cut up by the road, and othererke dra• ranged,aiteliperiemeently injured.should be made ”gar. ted with their liability, and lfully informed in relatioel to the rights of the company in the promises. But that l i the Legislature nover have, or ever intended to confer 166 extrav font privileges upon tho company' is as main eat from the plain language of the 6th section of the set of intorporation (pamphlet laws of 1812, page 269) as It IS certain that the Constitution (Art. Stli, Sec. iholi ) scores each and every individual in the Commonwealth, ago oft the dangers of being thus despoiled by their represe .e. 1 tives. That the state' has full power to construct It it. i t roads and Canals, and fur that purpose eau confer uwa incorporated companies the right of way over any lalicif in the Commonwealth, no well informed individual pre sumes to doubt; but it is equally certain and well Raced that the owners of such lands must be first paid, or seck 1 7- ed, fully and limply for any daknage that they may el, sus tain. Such is the plain and uileonivne.e .... e .e.,- of every chaster grante u 11.7 Lho Legislature. at least I: ca 1830, in relation to damages (fugl have carefully so m ined every such charter .) Never in a single in.tane (and upon this point I challenge the Commercia%\ i n/ every individual interested in behalf of the coinpan); bus t he Legislature, in granting the right of way, authorded 9ompanies to enter upon lands for any other purpo,e te to surrey, mark open the ground and locate their ro e,. until they shall have first paiii or secured, in the manc pointed out by their charters, the owners fully for th ir datuaems. The same Tula has uniformly been adopte , in the state of New York, and I believe in all the Ni England states. The doctrine ruling ti' • far from being new or strange, is well sr opinion, well understood by the was a tiine when tho riglit of the citaffile appropriuto t l lands of individuals,a d thereon construct' railroads al c a nals, was questio ns in high places. • Many of our bal l I have doubted he right of the Legislature to Cl3}l fer upon incorporated ompanies the right of way unle. l they should 'first ob • the consent of each iudirkbial j 'Amor of land: and indeed such would appear to be, a d is undoubtedly in conformity with .the broad principlil governing the right of property; and nothing hut the pa l l' amount necessity of such impropmente, and the utter 'impracticability of obtaining the right of way by any (Ai• or means, has finallysettled the question as before stst , od, yielding at the same time full compensation to 111 owners of the soil. But, says the council for the Er and North East RailroarEcompany, we acknowledge our liability to pay to the land owners the -damages that inky subsequently be assessed in the manner pointed out id our charter, but it is incumbent on Th e pert of owners to adopt affirmatively such method in orderto ascertain Ito measure of their damages; while they elaina full authr ity, pending such_ assessment of damages, to cut and carve as much as they please. Bat what assurance here owners that the damage finally assessed will ever be paid? Granting that the company has the right it claims. wh l at assurance have those accross whoso lands a ditch 30 t deep may be cut, or a high embankment made, or t e merohant end mechanic whose very shops and stor i es have been invaded, and who may thus be deprived of che means of subsistence, • that their damiges will ever ja3 paid?. It is not a sufficient answer to say that the colt; pony is abundantly 'ablo'and willing whenever the delt-, ages shall be determined. Ido not believe the rights 1 31 individuals depend upon such uncertain tenures, for, 1- •though this company may be abundantly responsible, net other companies may be notoriously irresponsible; I. • sides..the final ability even of the Erie and North E t rail road company to pap its liabilities, May require sorts better assurance than that its officers are already mini! under the central, and subject to the dictatiOn of the own er of the Erie Dank. Personalty, I entertain no hostifi t ty towards this company—on the contra 7 I wish it he moat complete success HO long as it respe(thi the right of individuals. The value of my .own premises I am f t 11l f persuaded will be more or Jess enhanced bye the ro l a; and besides, I wish the cot:wank aft success Upon higher , grounds. Tito wants of the public require Its early ea pletion, and eiceptlthe disitatisfactioeengendered by grumbling about compensation for the right of way., hest state of .feeling presaila. Let - the company, ail come up fairly to the cau l k and meet the land owners" reasonable grounds. and there will be no difficulty is i ding the right.of way, damages. Cost of keeping sp f i e coo, &c.. to the full satisfaction of all concerned. Bu i l the company is determined td insist on the claim 7CCOI ly set up, ,it may look Air any 'amount of trouble. 'i, ingenuity of the Commercial will avail nothing, hall the contrary wee to render laud owners more, obat-At To accuse dhem of stupidity, and vague notions of et obligations to God and' State authority, in order t 0 .4 tame the doctrines put forth in behalfef the company. I. only serve to disappoint those who thus underrate till intelligence. Tu talk about G per omit reservations' State grants for public high-ways, and. tho next moat( flatter the company with the prospect of 50. per cent. 4 vidonds under a charter from the state guarantoeieg i most extraordinary and Qexclusive rights, is, to.say I least. In bid contrast.. . FAIR MAT A d Efl g., I um question, A tiled mud, in q nerally. Thti 53111 the
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