THE HUNTINGDON GLOBE, A DEMOCRATIC FAMILY JOURNAL, DEVOTED TO LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS, &C.
THE GLOBE.
Circulation=the largest in the count✓.
GIOTIVIITI&DOED, L?LL
Vi i ednesday) April 15; 1857
DEMOCRATIC NOMINATIONS.
FOR GOVERNOR,
Hon. Witt. F. PACT ER, of idycoming.
FOR SUPREME NUDGE,
non. ELLIS LEWIS, of Philadelphia.
FOR CANAL COMMISSIONER,
NIMROD STRICKLAINTD, of ehoster.
NEW ADVERTISEXTENTS.—F. E. L.C.Xt, County Treasurer,
calls upon the Collectors of Taxes to be prompt in making
their returns, as there are no available.funds in the Treas.
ury.—Notice, by Executors of John McCahan, dec'd.—
Notice, by Administrator of JohnCreorge Mosser, dec'd.—
J. K. Rhodes, of Newton Hamilton, offers a tide-water boat
for sale.—Moses Strous advertises his new stock of Dry
Goods, Ready-Made Clothing, &c.--Levi Westbrook an
nounces that ho has just opened a new and splendid stock
of Boots and Shoes.—lleidrick & Horning, of Philadel
phia,, advertise Gas Fixtures, &c. For particulars, refer to
the advertisements.
APPOINTMENT OF COUNTY TREASURER.—On
Saturday last the County Commissioners ap
pointed FRANKLIN IL LANE, Esq., County
Treasurer, to fill the unexpired term of A.
B. Crewit, Esq., deceased.
TIIE COUNTY SITERINTENDENCY.—A late
number of the Shirleysburg Herald strongly
urges the election of Mr. ALBERT OWEN.—
We have also received a communication from
an intelligent citizen of Cassville, speaking
of Mr. OWEN as a gentleman of amiable qual
ities, talented and industrious, and is anxious,
as every friend of the Common school system
should be, to have Mr. 0. continued as County
Superintendent. Samuel L. Glasgow, Esq.,
and Robert McDivit are also candidates for
the office.
x'"'=On motion of A. W. Benedict, Esq.,
GEOIiGE M. HOUTZ, Esq., was on Monday
13th inst., admitted an Attorney of the sev
eral Courts of this county. Mr. Hot= pur
sued his studies in the office of Messrs. Scott
& Brown, passed a highly creditable exami
nation, and. will doubtless make his acquire
ments both honorable and profitable to him
self in the Western home he intends seeking.
We call the attention of our readers to
an able and suggestive article, in another
part of this paper, entitled " Election of
County Superintendents," taken from the
editorial columns of the "Pennsylvania School
Journal," for April. The suggestions it con
tains are important and should be read by
every director and the community in general.
SE?' BEFORE You LEAVE TOWN call at Mr.
PRETTYMAN'S DAGTJERREAN Rooms at the
Pennsylvania R. R. Station House, up stairs,
and have your likeness taken. It may be
too late if you put it of until another time.
You will only know the value of a correct
likeness, such as you can have taken by Mr.
Prettyman, after you return with it to your
family and friends.
Aar COLON has just received, and has now
for sale, at his Book Store, the largest lot of
the most beautiful styles of Wall Paper ever
brought to the interior of the State. His se
lections are from the largest manufactories
of Philadelphia and New York, which ena
ble him to sell at their lowest retail prices.
It must now be apparent to every one, that
papering (which will last for a dozen years
or more) is much cheaper and better than
white-washing.
The triennial convention of school di
rectors, to elect a county superintendent for
the next three years, will meet in Hunting
don, on the first Monday in May next. The
official notice to the directors will be found in
our advertising columns. The present com
petent and worthy incumbent has been an
excellent and faithful officer, discharging with
commendable energy the duties of Superin
tendent without fear, favor or affection. As
in many other cases we know of, he has given
his valuable services during the past year for
a meagre pittance, altogether too low to be
an equivalent for the time and labor bestowed.
He should, in strict justice, be elected, and
his salary increased to a fair compensation.
A HANDSOME PRESENT.—Last week Mrs.
PETER LIVINGSTON, of Barree township, en
tered our sanctum, and presented us with a
large roll of "just such butter" as she is
able to make, and which is much superior to
any we have been able to buy at any price.
Barree is a great township, and the women
folk are a leetle greater,—they have hearts
as big as mammoth pumpkins, and the best
of all, they are filled with kindness towards
the printer, ourself in particular. Mrs. L.
has our thanks for her kind remembrance of
us, and as soon as we get upon a farm,
(hope it won't be the poor-house farm,)
try to return the compliment.
XtEr ANDREW Hop.m.Ns, Esq., editor and
proprietor of the Harrisburg Patriot & Union,
has been appointed by President Buchanan,
Receiver in the Land Office at Nehama, Ne
braska.
In response to a card of invitation
from
. Gov. Pollock, Col. Curtin, Speakers
Taggart and Get; and numerously signed
by influential citizens of Harrisburg, MAX.
GREEN, Esq., has consented to deliver one
of his Lectures on the West, in the Hall of
Representatives.
£ The Democratic State Committee are
to meet at the Merchants' Hotel, Philml.el
- on Monday evening next, the 20th inst.,
at 7 o'clock. By order of C. R. BucKet,Ew,
Chairman.
The National Democracy.
During these changing times, says the Ba
ton Rouge Advocate, when political earth
quakes are scarcely more sudden and. inex
plicable than the social disorders and. diseas
es of the day are dangerous, it well becomes
the sound and ever-faithful old Democracy to
keep a vigilant eye to the land-marks of its
organization. Isms of almost endless variety
are rife among us, and disorganization is the
chief feature of parties that once claimed im
mutability from the inherent nature of things.
Schisms have worked out the disintegration
of a once formidable antagonist to Democra
cy—the old Whig party—while yet its prin
ciples were fresh and cherished by its foun
ders. Know Nothingism assumed to be its
successor—Nemesis avenged the base as
sumption, and the outraged gods -were propi
tiated—the bloody monster fell at the first
well aimed blow, gasped out its miserable
existence in the cess-pools of its own crea
tion, and was heralded to the grave of infa
my by the execrations of an indignant pub
lic opinion. Black Republicanism, too, will
have its day, and then wend its way down
the current of events to be forgotten, or only
be remembered for the corruption of its lead
ers and the amazing hallucination that
hounded on its followers to a violation of the
laws of the land and the compact of a com
mon brotherhood. It is surely and speedily
destined for a place among "the things that
were," if humanity yet harbors a beam of
that justice and patriotism which have pre
served our country from external and inter
nal foes all through the momentous transac
tions of its existence.
Standing out in peculiar and marked sig
nificance in the history of our country, ap
parently exempt from the common mortality
of political organizations, burning with the
unquenched fires of youth, throbbing with
exultant, robust life, brilliant with future
hope, confiding in the prestige of past tri
umphs, alive to the great demands upon it
of posterity, the Democratic party may well
enlist the attention of the philosopher, the
love of the patriot, the sympathy of freemen
everywhere. Its history is that of the Re
public ;—together they have grown—togeth
er they exist—together they will work out
their destiny. Let us guard them against
innovation and injury from open enemies
with the same zeal that we would rebuke
and crush out their pretended friends.—
Combinations, even in our own State, may
be, and doubtless are, being formed to bring
the Democratic party down to a level with
the fags and factions of those that exist around
us. These can only be defeated by sleepless
vigilance and by keeping the objects and
principles of our organization continually
before the intelligent, honest masses of the
people. Convince them that it is in reality
based upon great National principles, seek
ing the accomplishment of objects co-exten
sive with the whole Union, and united only
by the "cohesive force of a unity of concur
ring individual opinion." Inculcate deeply,
and more deeply, the conservatism and re
publicanism of its cardinal features, thus
perpetuating its systematic organization and
unity of purpose.
Much depends for success on party drill,
but it is not true, as often asserted by our
opponents, that this distinctive feature of
Democracy is the result of personal influence
to force men into party traces, nor from a
bending of the party to subserve individual
interests. The exact reverse is true. The
Kentucky Statesman expresses our views in
saying that the Democratic party has been
enabled to maintain its perfect unity, its in
divisibility and effective harmony in every
movement, from the single fact that its action
was ever the working of a general principle
held in common by all, thus enabling its
members, entertaining like general views of
government, by the operation of their own
minds in the application of principle to the
proposed measures, to define the exact posi
tion the party would assume upon any new
issue. The very fact, historically true, that
the Democratic party has ever maintained a
strict regard to its cardinal principles, has
bowed to no fanaticism, pandered to no
popular delusion, submitted to the leadership
and control of no man, and yielded to no
temporary tide of opinion, is the real secret
of its power to concentrate its whole strength
upon any movement.
The Democratic party is not an Order.
The object of its existence is not the advance
ment of personal interests, except so far as
such may be involved in the common pros
perity and general weal of the Republic. It
holds no affection for its members, except so
far as they are worthy exponents of political
principle. The integrity of the party is in
volved in that of no man, except so long as it
knowingly recognizes an unworthy represen
tative. The party will live and flourish and
grow in power and influence while the Re
public endures.
SERIOUS EpinEmrc.—The Oswego (N. Y.)
Times speaks of a new epidemic known by
the name of " brain fever," as truly alarming
throughout Madison and Onondago counties.
It adds:
" A gentleman who has lately visited the
former county, informs us that in some local
ities the people arc leaving in alarm and dis
may. Persons are attacked with the remar
kable malady very suddenly, soon become in
sane and die in a few hours. We do not
know that any have recovered when once at
tacked by the disease. Duane Brown and
Richard Thomas, Esqs., two prominent law
yers of Madison county, have fallen victims
to it, and we are told in some of the villages
deaths occur daily. As yet there is no ra
tional explanation of the disease."
Sale of the Main Line
A bill providing for this object was report
ed, on Wednesday Ist inst., in the House of
Representatives, by the Committee of Ways
and -Means, under a resolution, passed by a
large majority, instructing the committee to
prepare a bill for the sale of the Public Works.
Its leading provisions are contained in the
following synopsis carefully made up by the
Harrisburg correspondent of the Ledger:
" It provides that immediately after its pas
sage, the Governor shall advertise a notice in
the Philadelphia, Pittsburg, Washington,
Baltimore, Boston, New York and Harris
burg papers, that the Main Line will be offer
ed for sale at the Merchants' Exchange, on a
day to be designated by him, not more than
40 days after the passage of this act. Any
person or persons, or railroad or canal com
pany incorporated by the State, may become
the purchasers, for any sum not less than
seven and a half millions of dollars. If ne
cessary, the Company purchasing may in
crease their capital stock or borrow money
and issue their bonds to any amount not ex
ceeding 50 per centum above the amount of
the purchase money. In case individuals
purchase, the GovernorfP empowered to in
corporate them. No biTwill be received un
less the bidder deposits in the hands of the
Governor $lOO,OOO in cash or State bonds as
a forfeit. If the highest bidder fails to com
ply with the act, the Governor may, if he
thinks proper, tender the Works to the next
highest bidder. If the Pennsylvania Rail
road Company become the purchasers, they
are required to pay $1,500,000 in addition.
The whole purchase money to be paid in five
per cent. bonds of the Company, payable
semi-annually; said bonds to be a lien upon
the Main Line; ten per cent. whereof shall
fall due on the first of July, 1890, and the
remainder in ten equal annual instalments
thereafter. Upon the execution and delivery
of said bonds the Penn sylvania Railroad Com
pany and the Harrisburg and Lancaster Rail
road Company shall be released from the
payment of the tonnage tax now imposed ;
the Pennsylvania Railroad Company also to
be released from all other taxes imposed by
, the State. The purchasers of the Main Line
may purchase or lease the Harrisburg and
Laneaster Railroad, or construct a road from
Harrisburg to any point on the Columbia
road. They may extend the Columbia road
to the Delaware river, and alter the route of
the same. The purchasers are required to
keep the canal and railroad open from Holli
daysburg to Philadelphia, and so much of the
Western Division as lies between Blairsville
and Pittsburg until the Northwestern Rail
road shall be opened for business from Blairs
ville to the Allegheny River, and furnish mo
tive power for the use of transporters. The
purchasers may lease any portion of the Canal
for a period of ten years, subject to the same
conditions."
HUNTINGDON JOURNAL VS. LANCASTER CIT
IZEN.—The Huntingdon Journal, in the height
of its impudence, undertook to assail a num
ber of " American" papers who oppose the
Black-Republican-Abolition State ticket—the
Lancaster Citizen among the number—dub
bing them "uninfluential," " unimp6rtant,"
"without influence," "fighting for the high
est bidder," and so on. The Citizen, after
quoting the Tournes squirt, raps them over
the knuckles just so:
" The above is from the Huntingdon Jour
nal, a little 8 by 10 apple-butter, bedaubed
sheet, with about twenty-five subscribers and
less readers, and supporting two half famish
ed editors with no sense in their brains—who
steal almost all they publish, now and then
giving a line or two of editorial which gener
ally libels some decent individual or individ
uals.
The reader can now place his own estimate
upon their balderdash. If each theft that
they have committed from our columns for
the last three years would confine them to
jail 6 months they would remain there and
die, aged 100 years easy."
Ha! ha! Mr. Journal, that editor knows
you 'like a book.' You waked up the wrong
passenger.' You feel bad at hearing so much
truth ? Well, we'll say a kind word.' We
are unwilling that injustice shall be done you,
bad as you are. The Citizen is certainly mis
taken in regard to the number of your sub
scribers. Your list numbers two hundred
and sixty-three paying subscribers, all told ;
and then, by throwing out those obnoxious
patent medicine advertisements, which no
other editor in the county will publish at any
price, and also all those other advertisements
that have been dead a year or more, and of
no possible advantage to the advertisers, you
can compress the contents of the Journal into
a little 8 by 10 sheet.' What a saving of
paper and cash that would make ! You
might not then be forced to do apple-butter
job work "20 per cent. cheaper." There
now, we have endeavored to relieve you; bat
should you continue to feel bad, before reti
ring to-night take, each of you, one hundred
of Brandreth's pills—to-morrow morning you
will be quite ckfirerent things!
Judges of the U. S. Supreme Court.
The names, residence and time of appoint-
ment of the present Judges are as follows:
CIIIEE JUSTICE.
Roger B. Taney, Baltimore, Md., .1.836.
ASSOCIATE JUSTICES.
John McLean, Cincinnati, 0., 1829.
James M. Wayne, Savannah, Ga., 1835.
John Catron, Nashville, Tenn., 1837.
Peter V. Daniel, Richmond, Va., 1841.
S. Nelson, Cooperstown, N. Y., 1845.
Robert C. Grier, Pittsburg, Pa., 1846.
Benjamin R. Curtis, Boston, Mass., 1851.
John A. Campbell, Mobile, Ala., 1853.
Aer=The exploded Bank of New Castle, is
one of the institutions warmed into life by
the Know Nothing legislature of 1855. The
Cashier is a brother of the Waggonseller
who became notorious this winter by his
vote for Gen. Cameron for United States
Senator. The applications for bank charters
before the present legislature are between
fifty and sixty, two-thirds of which will
prove no better—if granted—than the New
Castle Bank. We are pleased to find that
some of the opposition even are changing
their views on Banking, and becoming
alarmed at the extent of the mania. A little
more experience will awaken them entirely.
—Lebanon Advertiser.
Acceptance of Ron. Robert Jr. Walker.
The following is the letter of lion. Robert
J. Walker to the President, accepting the
Governorship of Kansas. Almost the entire
press and public believe that he is fully pos
sessed of the abilities and requisites neces
sary for the proper discharge of the duties of
that difficult post, and the most satisfactory
results are anticipated:
WASHINGTON, March 26, 1857.
MY DEAR Sin :—I have, at your request,
re-considered my determination, as an
nounced to you, declining your tender of the
office of Governor of the Territory of Kansas.
In view of the opinion now presented by
you, that the safety of the Union may de
pend upon the selection of the individual to
whom shall be assigned the task of settling
the difficulties which again surround the
Kansas question, I have concluded that a
solemn sense of duty to my country requires
me to accept this position. lam brought to
this conclusion with an unaffected diffidence
in my own ability, but with a. fervent hope
that the same over-ruling Providence which
has carried my beloved country through so
many perils, will now attend and direct my
humble efforts for her welfare, and that my
course will not be prejudged by any portion
of my fellow citizens, in or out of Kansas.
I understand that you, and all your cabi
net, cordially concur in the opinion express
ed by me, that the actual, bona fide residents
of the Territory of Kansas, by a fair and
regular vote, unaffected by fraud or violence,
must be permitted, in adopting their State
constitution, to decide for themselves what
shall be their social institutions. This is
the great fundamental principle of the act of
Congress organizing that Territory, affirmed
by the Supreme Court of the United States,
and is in accordance with the views uniform
ly expressed by me throughout my public
career. I contemplate a peaceful settlement
of this question by an appeal to the intelli
gence and patriotism of the whole people of
Kansas, who should all participate, freely
and fully, in this decision, and by a majority
of whose votes the determination must be
made, as the only proper and constitutional
mode of adjustment.
I contemplate no appeal to military power,
in the hope that my countrymen of Kansas,
from every section, will submit to a decision
of this matter by a full and fair vote of a
majority of the people of that Territory. If
this decision cannot thus be made, I see
nothing in the future for Kansas but civil
war, extending its baleful influence through
out the country, and subjecting the Union it
self to imminent hazard.
I - will go, and endeavor thus to adjust
these difficulties, in the full confidence strong
ly expressed by you, that I will be sustained
by all your high authority, with the cordial
co-operation of all your cabinet.
As it will be impossible for me to leave
for Kansas before the second Monday of
May next, I would desire my appointment to
take effect from that date.
Very respectfully, your friend,
ROBERT J. WALKER.
James Buchanan, President of the United
States.
INSTRUCTION'S TO Gov. WALKER.—The Cab
inet have definitely agreed on the instructions
to - Robert J. Walker, Governor of Kansas.
They proceed on the princple of recognizing
the statutes of Kasas as valid. The principal
business with which he is charged, is to see
that the people have a free, independent and
uninterrupted expression of opinion, and the
exercise of suffrage concerning the affairs of
the Territory, in carrying out the provisions
of the census and registry law, and that for
the election of Delegates to the Constitutional
Convention. The troops heretofore employ
ed in the Territory are to be removed, and
others not engaged in the former difficulties
are ordered thither, but it is not apprehended
that there will be any use for them or the
militia. The administration have resolved
that the laws shall be mainained, and have
full confidence in Mr. Walker's ability to
carry out their instructions.
SENSIBLE REMARKS.—The Pittsburg Com
mercial Journal (Black Republican) of the
30th of March, in commenting on the ap
pointment of Gov. Walker and the probable
Kansas policy of the administration, re
marks :
" What more do the Free State men of Kan
sas want, than protection in the exercise of
their political rights, and security in person
and property ? These are now guaranteed
them in the appointment of Mr. Walker.
" Let the Free State men, then, take care
that nothing is lost by capricious or cowardly
refusal to go to the polls and speak the rest
through the ballot box.
" If ever there was encouragement to emi
gration to Kansas, it is at this moment, when
the prospect of tranquility and security to all
is unclouded."
BAs the white-washing season is com
ing on apace, we publish the following for
the benefit of our tidy housewives who are ever
ambitious to make everything about them
look "as clean as a new pin." It is said to
be an excellent recipe for a wash :
To MAKE A BRILLIANT STUCCO.- White Wash
for all buildings, inside or out.—Take clean
lumps of well burnt lime, slacked. Add one
fourth pound whiting or burnt alum pulver
ized, one pound of loaf sugar, three quarts of
rice Hour made into a thin and well boiled
paste, and one pound of cleanest glue dis
solved as cabinet-makers do. This may be
put on cold within doors, but hot outside.—
This will be as brilliant plaster Paris, and re
tain its brilliancy for many Tears. The east
end of the President's house in Washington is
washed with it.—Cincinnati Chronicle.
WASHINGTON, April 3.—Mr. Howard, the
reporter of the U. S. Supreme Court, has an
nounced that a volume containing the, deci
sions and opinions in the Dred Scott case,
will be published in two or three weeks.
New COUNTERFEITS.-s's, 10's and 20's on
the Tradesmen's Bank, New York City; 10's
on the Freeman's Bank, Boston, Massachu
setts ; s's on the Blackstone Bank, Uxbridge,
Massachusetts ; s's on the Jamestown- Bank,
New York ; s's on the Exchange Bank, Prov
idence, Rhode Island ; l's on the Bank of
Commerce, New London, Connecticut. A
new counterfeit $5 bill is in circulation on
the American Bank of Rhode Island.
leotion of County Superintetdents.
This may possibly be the last number of
the Journal that will meet the eyes of Direr;-
tors, before they assemble to elect County Su
perintendents for the next three school years.
The proper performance of that duty, so as
to effect the original design of the liberal and
far-seeing Legislature which established the
office, will be of incalculable benefit to the
State ; and the contrary will be equally inju
rious. It is, therefore, our design, as one
amongst the thousands of - Pennsylvanians
who have been watching the workings of this
new feature in our educational system, with
intense interest, frankly to state the conclu
sions to which our observations have led.
Three years ago, few directors or others
had any clear view of the necessity, nature,
mode of operation or probable results of this
office. The natural consequences were, in
the first instance, numerous mistakes in se
lection and compensation. These have been,
we think, erroneously attributed, both in and
out of the State, to a settled purpose to de
feat the office, out of general hostility to the
system itself. In a few cases this feeling
may have had its influence; but in most, the
action complained of really grew out of mere
want of knowledge of the nature of the office
itself, and an honest belief that such an ad
dition to the expense and the working ma
chinery of the system was wholly unnecessa
ry. Whatever may have been the cause,
however, it is certain that, in 1854, the duty
of selecting county superintendents was so
performed as to produce one or other of the
three following results: Either,
1. An incompetent person was chosen, who,
of course, failed, no matter what the salary.
Or,
2. A competent person was chosen, who,
in most cases, failed or was greatly crippled
in his operations by total inadequacy of sal
ary. Or,
3. A competent person was selected, with
adequate salary, who fulfilled the just expec
tations of the friends of the measure.
From this it would appear that fitness in
the person and adequacy of compensation
are the elements—the essential conditions—
of success. Of course, as in all other com
plex affairs, there are instances that appear
to conflict with this conclusion; but on close
inspection they - will be found rather to con
firm it. For example; one superintendent
may have been so well qualified for the sta
tion and so devoted to the system, that he
discharged its duties at a most shamefully
inadequate salary.. But who will argue from
this that it is the right of the public to impose
such a burthen on private means or individ
ual patriotism ? Or, it may hare been that
all the conditions appeared to be secured—
both adequacy of salary and "skill and ex
perience in the art of teaching"—yet failure
ensued. Yet who will condemn the office of
county superintendent, because, here and
there, a good teacher may have made a poor
superintendent? Many an able lawyer makes
a miserable judge; few of the most success
ful practising physicians are qualified for the
professor's chair; and so, a capital teacher of
boys may not succeed as a teacher of teachers,
and the administrative officer of a complica
ted school system.
It would be no difficult task, at the present
juncture, to run over the whole State and
show the correctness of the conclusions just
stated. Cases of full success or of entire
failure, or of partial failure or success might
be instanced, in strict accordance with them.
But it is neither proper or necessary. What
we have to do with now, are general results.
These are so plain that he who runs may
read, and require no announcement of the
facts on which they rest, from us.
Taking it for granted, then, that experience
has fully justified the wisdom of the Legisla
ture in requiring the selection of a fit person
and the payment of a sufficient salary for
this office, two questions arise:
1. Who is a fit person for the office?
2. What is a sufficient salary ?
In answer to the first question, it may, in
the words of the school law, be replied that
fitness consists in
1. "Literary and scientific acquirements."
These are both indispensable, and the degree
of them should be considerable. in every
county, schools of every rank and grade—
from the lowest primary to the high school,
with its full round of branches—either are
or must soon come into existence ; and to dis
charge the office properly, the superintendent
must he qualified "to examine" all the teach
ers, "to visit" them, and to "give such in-
structions in the art of teaching and the
method thereof in each school," as the con
dition and grade of each shall require... How
can this be done, except by one who schol
ar enough to teach the teacher of the highest
branch taught in the highest school in his
county?
2. "Skill and experience in the art of teach
ing" is another requisite and is also enacted
by the laws, not only skill to know but prac
tice to do. It is no doubt true that, in some
instances, the office has been well filled by
persons of no great, or possibly, of no actual
experience in the art. This is owing to the
known fact that some men have naturally in
them so much of the elements of the teacher,
and such a love for the work and the cause,
as to supply to a great degree, all other de
fects. But the exception only proves the
rule; for the instances of failure for want of
this element have been too numerous to leave
the question doubtful. The safer and the
legal rule is, in all cases, to require this "skill
and experience."
But mere learning and professional skill
are not sufficient, unless, as the law and the
necessity of the case everywhere intimate,
they are accompanied with the power to make
them efficient. Hence,
3. Ability to impart knowledge and give in
formation publicly, as well as privately, is in
dispensable. Since the passage of the act of
1854—in addition to the public meetings for
the examination of teachers, and the public
visitation of schools in the presence of direc
tors and parents thereby described—the hold
ing of district and county institutes, associa
tions and meetings for the improvement of
teachers, and the delivery of public lectures
and addresses for the furtherance of the sys
tem and the explanation of the law, have be
come so general and are found to be so bene
ficial, that they may now be regarded as an
integral part of the superintendent's duties.
All these occasions impose the duty of ad
dressing the public; and the officer who does
not do it; no matter what the cause, fails in
his duty. The ability, therefore, to speak in
public, should be embraced amongst the re- -
quisites of fitness for the office.
4. Energy of character and love for the
work, are the last essentials that need be speci
fied. Without these, the highest degree of
scholastic attainment, of professional skill,
and of power of expression will fail; for the
great moving forces of the required charac
ter will be wanting. With these present in
a large degree, even .a medium of qualifica
tion in other respects, may succeed.
MMIEMWM
Amongst the qualifications necessary to
this most important office, it is, of course, not
deemed requisite to speak of temperance,
honesty industry; nor of ,common sense,
suavity of manners, or knowledge of human
nature; These are requisites to
. the safe and
efficient discharge of. every public tenst; the
one in question being no exception to the
general rule, bit rather deirianding them in
greater degree than most others. Ina word,
and aside from special requisites, the,nearer
the character of a county superintendent ap
proaches to that of a Christian gebtismdn,
the greater will be his acceptance and sue:
cess.
The answer to the question, What is an
adequate salary? will depend mainly on the
locality ; and the experience of the past three
yenrs will, in many cases, modify past adtiori
on this point. Many of the conventions fixed
the salary in 1854, under a total or very ma
terial misapprehension of the nature of the
office, the amount of service required and the'
degree of good to, be effected. Now, in many
parts of the State, all these points are clearly
comprehended, and the action of directors
will no doubt be different. No one who
knows the people of Pennsylvania will, for
a moment, suppose that injustice will be done
in regulating the compensation of those who
are found to be the most useful, most labori
ous and most important of our public agents.
The actual amount must, as just remarked,
depend on the circumstances of each case;
still certain general principles are indicated
by the nature of the office and the wants of
the schools, which it may be useful to elicit.
The first point to be determined is, wheth
er the whole, or only a portion of the officer's
time will be required for the full discharge
of the duties of the office. This will w holly
depend on the number of schools in the coun
ty. If they are materially over 100 and
should be increased, then the best policy and
the course most productive of good, will be
to pay for and require his whole time and
services. In such cases, more than half the
year may be most beneficially devoted to
school visitation,:which to be effectual, should
be full and frequent. The rest of the year
can be profitably devoted to the improvement
of the teachers in one or more institutes of
greater or less duration, to the officer's own
improvement and to the preparation of his
reports, &e.
In smaller counties a less portion of the or.;
fiver's time will be needed, and the salary
may be in proportion ; but in all cases enough
should be given to secure his whole time and
efforts to the service of the schools while in
operation, and to the improvement of the
teachers during a portion of the recess.
The only other general principle to be kept
in view in arranging the salary, is that of
making it large enough to command the very
best professional talent within the reach of
the convention. For reasons already given,
no other should be thought of.
The man, then, whom law, experience and
the wants of the system demand for county
superintendent is: A practical teacher, who
is also an accomplished scholar, and a ready
public speaker; with sufficient love for it io
undertake, and energy to peKform the great
work before him; and the salary should be
sllflicient to compensate him, as far as money
can, for the efficient discharge of .so great a
labor.
Wherever such a man is found, he should
he selected. Wherever he has already :been
found, lie should be retained.
At the present time it may be proper to re
call to the attention of conventions to elect
county superintendents, that section 40 of
the school law of Bth May, 1854, confers
upon the State superintendent of common
schools, very considerable powers in refer
ence to the commissioning of the persons
elected. The words alluded to are these:—
" If objection be made within thirty days to
the issuing of such commission, the superin
tendent of common schools may require such
evidence, under oath or affirmation, in regard
to the election or qualification of the person
elected county superintendent, as he shall
deem necessary, and shall then issue his com
mission to the person properly qualified, who
shall have received the highest number of
votes."
Under this provision it is competent for
any citizen, and it would seem to be his duty,
to make objecticn to the commissioning of an
unqualified person, and to set in operation,
for the good of the system, in this respect,
the powers vested in the State superinten
dent. in view of this fact, the true course
for directors in their convention will be, to
vote for none unless such as by learning and
professional skill, are fully qualified to dis
charge all the duties of the oflice.---Perrsayl
vania School Journal for April.
Indian Outrages in New Mexico.
Information has been received at the Inte
rior Department, confirmatory of the painful
rumors that have been circulated respecting
the fate of Henry L. Dodge, United States
agent for the Navajo Indians, in New Mexi
co, who has been missing for some time past,
and who, it was supposed, had been captured
and confined, or killed by the Indians in that.
Territory.
Major Kendrick, commanding at Fort De
fiance, sent out a command to search for Mr,
Dodge, dead or alive, and his corpse was dis
covered at a point about thirty miles soutirof
the Zana, and towards the head-waters of tho
Gila river.
Mr. Dodge being a groat favorite among
the Navajos, and devoted to their interests,
renders this wicked and wanton act of infi-
delity and cruelty inexplicable. The writer
states that the Indians `• struck off the band
that fed them, and, Joel-like, smote the ben
efactor of their race."
It is stated that so soon as grass is ma ,-
ciently advanced to sustain horses, 1000 troops
will take the field against these Indians, and
chastise thorn, so that they will learn the Luis.
eries of retribution upon treachery and mur
der.
The victim of this cruel att is the son Of
the Hon. Henry Dodge, the venerable and.
distinguished ex-Senator from Wisconsin.
NEW POSTAGE TREATY.—The new postage'
treaty with France took effect. By it the
postage on quarter ounce letters from' airy
part of the United States to any pare of
France, is fixed at 15 cents—pre-payment
optional. By the same treaty, letters to and.
from Belgium, Holland, Switzerland, Sardinia
and the German States, except Austria, are
sent for 21 cents—Russia, Poland, Sicily,.
Malta, Greece, Alexandria, Jaffa, Bcyrout,
Tripoli, Messina, Smyrna, Constantinople,
&c., for 30 cents—Sweden and Norway for
33 cents; pre-payment in each case optional.
Letters for Spain, Portugal and Gibraltar,
are sent to Behobie; postage 21 cents--pre
paid ; and for China and the East Indies, to
the end of the English East India steataship"
routes, for 80 cents, prepaid. •