THE HUNTINGDON GLOBE, A DEMOCRATIC FAMILY JOURNAL, DEVOTED TO LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS, &C.
THE GLOBE.
Circulation- 7 Mo -large# in the county.
113121V1EDC351, P 2.,
Wednesday, June 17, 1857.
suawomAt.Txe NOMINATIONS.
FOR GOVERNOR, .
lion. NV/ P.I.C.X.E.R, of Lycoming-.
FOR CANAL COMMISSIONER,
LIDIDUR.OD STRICICIAILNII, of Chester.
For SUPREME JUDOS,
Hon; "WILLIAM STRONG, of 'Berks.
TI-I.OIVIPSON, of Erie.
Democratic County Committee.
The Democratic County Committee of 'Huntingdon coun
ty is requested to meet on SATUIWAY, Juno 27th, at 3
o'clock, p. m., at the Itiotel of JOHN S: in -flunting
don. A fell attendance is requested, as business of vital
importance.to the party unicorn before the committee.
WM. COLON. Chairman.
.rsThe COmmittee, its appointed by the Chairman, last
year, is as follows .
Perry Owens, llirniingham; Thomas Bell, 13arree ; John
Porter, Alexandria; William Taylor, Clay; Caleb Green , .
land, Cass township . ; G. W. Speer, Cassville ; Hugh Seeds,
Franklin ; P. 13. Wallace, and E. 13. Petriken, Huntingdon ;
A. Jackson Fee, Henderson;Dutton Madden, . Brady; Sam
uel Eby, Mount 'Union ; Daniel Isenberg, Shirley top.;
J. G. Lightner, Shirleysburg,; Samuel Bollinger, Cromwell;
Wm. Templeton, Orbisobia; .Jacob Hunt, Esq., Dublin ;
Samuel McFeters, Tell; Jacob Cobert, Springfield ; David
Berkstresser, Tod; Itobert Oakman, 'Union ; Jacob Long
enecker, West; Thomas- Ozburn, Jackson; Jacob Harn
came, Porter; John B. Hunter, Petersburg; J. Tandevan
der„ Esq., Walker; Jacob Grove, Penn; Henry Zimmer
man, ; James Chamberlain, Warriorsmark.
Shipments of Coal.
The Shipments of Coal from
_Broad. Top
mines for the Ni-eek ending Thursday, June
11, were 2,369 tons. Total for the season,
30,782.
The Globe and the Plunderers.
We learn that some few individuals who
claim to be Democrats, affect to be dissatis
fied with the course of The Globe in the issue
now before the people : whctherthc Public
Itaprovements shall continue to be misman
aged by the agents of the State or sold to the
best advantage. We have examined the sub
ject to our entire satisfaction,—have come to
the conclusion that we are right, and are de
termined to "go ahead" at all hazards. We
know from the character of the men who are
now loudest in. opposition to a sale, that they
would never permit a bill to become a law un
der which a sale could be effected, so long as
they could see an opportunity to fill their own
pockets. Deny them the privilege of ever
receiving a cent from the public treasury—
the taxes wrung from the hard earnings of
the honest yeomanry of the State—and they
- would immediately be for a sale, at any sac
rifice.
We are opposed. to making the question of
a sale of the Main Line e. party issue ; but,
if dishonest, intrigueing party leaders will
force the issue . upon the voters, wo will not
feel ourself responsible for the result in this
county. ' •
We are determined to expose corruption
no matter in what party it may exist. We
have ever been with the people, and with
them we shall continue, advocating their in
terests, as long as we arc sustained by them.
Taxpayers, Read 1
Henry S. Mott, President of the Board of
Canal Commissioners, in his petition to the
Supreme Court, praying for an injunction to
restrain the sale of the Main Line of the Pub
lic Works, states upon his OATH, that:
" The canals aforesaid " are 283 miles in
" length, requiring heavy expenditures for
"yepairs and expenses and have not for
" many years yielded income sufficient
" to pay the cost of keeping them in nay
" igable order."
Hence (as holder of three shares of Penn'a
R. 8.. stock, purchased since the passage of
the sale bill,) he prays the Court to prevent
the Pennsylvania Company from purchasing
said canals
The taxpayers will ask themselves :—" Is
it more to our interest and the interest of the
State, that we continue to submit to being
heavily taxed, year after year, that a set of
dishonest scamps may grow rich upon our
hard earnings, than to sell, or give away that
which will never, while in possession of the
State, assist to pay our State debt, or pay ex
penses of keeping in repair ?"
BROAD Tor COAL.—" Susquehanna," a cor
respondent of the Philadelphia Inquirer, has
been. visiting the manufacturing establish
ments of the city of Lancaster. In commu
nicating the result of his visit, speaking of
the Locomotive works, says :
" Their Anthracite coal costs them $4 50,
and their semi-Bituminous or Broad Top
$3.87. They are gradually abandoning the
use of anthracite, and resorting almost en
tirely to the semi -bituminous, because they
lronounce, after satisfactory experiments and
ong use, that the latter is stronger, produces
greater heat, and burns up much more cleanly
than the former. Indeed I found that an ex
tensive cotton mill in the city was proceeding
to act upon the same idea."
This coal, unsurpassed for mechanical pur-
Voses, is gradually and surely working its
-Way into public favor and general use. It
needs only to be tried to be appreciated.
CELTZRATIO - X COALMONT.---The " Broad
Top Rifle Rangers" are preparing to celebrate
the approaching anniversary of American
Independence, at Coalmont, in this county.—
A magnificent dinner will be given on the
occasion, and we anticipate " quite a time."
Tickets 75 cents. Those -who go—and all
peaceable, orderly, and well disposed persons
are invited—should procure their tickets at
an early hour. Go and celebrate the Fourth
at Coalmont
467. The late high waters have done exten
sive damages along the line orthe canal.--
tYe that the Petersburg and Crooked
dams have both been again partly swept
Democratic State Convention
The members composing the Denao,cratic
State Convention, met in the Hall of Well:wisp
of Representatives, on Tuesday, thiVoth;:Of
June, and were called to order at 10 o'clock . ,
A. M., by Pumpr joimsoN,
who laid before the Convention the call of
the State Central Committee re-assembling
the Convention, and the letter from Judge
Lewis declining the nomination for Judge of
the Supreme Courts which wore read.
'Mr. IT. B. Wideiir moved that the Con
vention now proceed to the nomination of
eandid4tc , S for Judges of the Supreme Court,
which motion was agreed to.
- - Nomination's Were then niaile as follows,
viz:
Mr. Webster nom. George Sharswood, Phila.
" Wright " Wm. Strong, Berks.•.
" Marshall " James Thompson, Erie.
" Forney " . Wm. A. Stokes, West'd:
" Blackburn " P. C. Shannon, Allegheny.
" Searight " - Joshuaß. Howell,Fayettc.
" Young " Thos. S. Bell, Chester.
" Burke " H. Hepburn, Allegheny.
" Brawley " Gaylord Church, Crawf'd.
" Bonsall " Abra,.S. Wilson, Mifflin.
" • Hipplo " C. W. lliggins, Schuy'l.
" M'Cormick" J. W. Maynard, Lyeorn'g.
" Campbell " Joel Jones, Philadelphia.
" Clover " J. S. M'Calmont, Clarion.
" -Bucher " S. Hepburn, Cumberland.
The following ballots were then taken:
MST BAUM
Geo. Sharswood, Philadolphia . - 47
Wm. Strong, Burks lii
.
James Thompson, Erie "S
Win. A. Stokes. Westmoreland county • - .08
Hopewell Hepburn., Allegiteny county 00
Samuel Hepburn, Cumberland county 12
P. C. Shannon, Allegheny county 14
Thos. S. Hell, Chester county 113
Abraham S. Wilson 10
Mr. Church 6
Joshua Howell.,
- Chas. W. Higgins, Schuylkill 3
Joel Jones, Philadelphia 2
The whole number of totes cast were 131; necessary for
a choice 66. There was no nomination.
The names of Messrs. Samuel Hepburn, Howell, and
Jones were withdrawn.
SECOND BALLOT.
Strong
Sharswood
Thompson
Stolcos
Hepburn
Shannon
Bell 10
Wilson 9
Church 4
Necessary to a choice, 65.
Hon. Wm. Strong. of Corks county, having received 75
votes, was then de , dared nominated unanimously.
The name of Mr. Church licts withdrawn.
TIIIIrD lI.ILLOT
Sharswood
Thompson
Stokes
Hepburn
Shannon
1 ell
Wilson
"Necessary to a choice, 0r.. , -.-no nomination.
The name of Mr. Shannon was withdrawn
FOLMTII BALLOT.
Sharswood oG
Thompson 39
Stoles 25
Hepburn 31
Bell 3
Wilson 4
Necessary to a Choice 65. 'No nomination. The name or
Mr. Bell was withdrawn.
BIZTLI BALLOT.
Sharswood 04
Thompson 49
Hepburn , In
Stokes ' 17
Necessary to a choice 65. No nomination. The name of
3:Tr:Stokes was withdrawn.
ELY/INTL( BALLOT
Sharslrood
Thompson
liepbarn
Necessary to a choice 65; no nomination
EIGUTLI BALLOT
Sharswood....
Thompson ....
itcpburn
Necessary to a. choice GG; no nomination.
I=
Sliarscvood
Thompson
Ilephurn 15
Whole number of rotes cast 128; necessary to a choice
Hon. James Thompson, of .Erie county, was then declared
nominated.
Mr. CEssx..t, Chairman of the Committee
on Resolutions, reported the following:
Resolved, That the Judicial character of
Pennsylvania has derived additional lustre
from the eminent abilities and learning of
Judges Lr.wrs and BLAcK., whose successors
we have this day nominated. That the one
who retires to private life carries with him
the respect and esteem, both of the profession
with which his duties associated him and of
the people whom he served, and while ive did
regret to lose the other from the Bench, we
express our gratification that his eminent
abilities have been brought into requisition
in the National Cabinet.
Resolved, That we fully approve of the
policy of the National Administration, as
thus far exhibited, and have undiminislidd
confidence in Its distinguished head, and in
those associated with him in the conduct of
public affairs.
Resolved, That the prompt and decisive ac
tion of the President of the United States in
defence of the elective franchise in the city
of Washington at the recent charter election
in that city, merits and receives the sanction
of all order-loving and law-abiding citizens.
Resolved, That in the. eminent public ser
vices, the high
,moral worth and the sound
legal learning of War. STRONG and SAMES
Tnoarrsox, the nominees of this Convention
for Judges of the Supreme Court, the best
evidences are furnished of their fitness to dis
charge the responsible duties to which they
are about to be called by the people.
Resolved, That the principle contained in
the recent decision of the Supreme Court of
the United States, in the case of Dred Scott
vs John F. A. Sanford, in regard to the poli
tical rights of the Negro race, meets the hear
ty acquiescence of the judgment of the Dem
ocratic citizens of Pennsylvania, and is as
much commended to the whole people of the
United States by the force of truth and pa
triotism as it is equally binding on all by the
highest sanctions of law.
Resolved, That in the opinion of this Con
vention, the last Legislature, whose general
course was so repugnant to the feelings, pol
icy and principles of the Democratic party,
that it cannot be held responsible for any of
its acts, demonstrated in an especial manner;
its total want of respect for the right of the
people to demand from their government a
safe and sound currency, by the enormous,
indiscriminate and unnecessary increase of
the banking capital of the State.-
Resolved, That the passage of the act of
the late Legislature entitled "An act to pro
vide for a sale of the Main Line of the Pub
lic Works," was a wanton disregard of the
best interests of this Commonwealth and of
the principles of sound legislation. That
whilst in name it purports to be a sale of
works which cost the State nearly twenty
millions of dollars, it is intended to be in re
ality, a gift of those works to a corporation;
that in permitting the abandonment of a large
portion of said works there is a great sacri-
flee of the interests of the people, especially'
of those in the western part otthe State; that
the_hill contains none of thosafeguards fot
the future.management . of thei , line proposed
to be conselidated which are t'equired for the
protection of the traded and eq,tierzerce of the
State, and thatin•:the: entire- - etemption and,
release of the Penn4lvania Itailroad Compd.
ny from all taxation upon its capital stock,
business and property forever, is established
a dangerous precedent of doubtful constitu
tionality, and an odious distinction between
a powerful corporation and the tax paying
citizens of the State.
Mr. YEAGER moved that the resolutions as
reported be adopted, which was agreed:to
unanimously. , •
Mr. SCOTT offered the following:
Resolved, That the aetio'n - Of this Cenven
tion condemning the bill passed by the last
Legislature, for thesale of the Main Line of
the Public Works, because of objectionable
I features in some of its details, is not intended
as a declaration of hostility to the policy of
I a sale upon any terms.
Mr. CESSNA called attend , - to the fact that
a resolution had been adopted at the morning
session requiring- that all resolutions should
be referred to the committee on resolutions
without debate. -
Mr. PORTER addressed the convention de
claring that if aught was added to the reso
lutions from the committee, •as unanimously
adopted, it must be something much stronger
upon the infamies of the - Main. Line Bill:
Mr. WraonT expressed .his gratification at
the wording of the resolutions,
I+ l H. SCOTT moved that the resolution be re
ferred to the committee with instructions to
-report forthwith.
MeMANus moved that the motion and
the resolutions be indefinitely postponed,
which was agreed to. • .
Mr. SCHNABEL read extracts from Monday's
Pennsylvanian, and delivered an energetic
address which was severely denunciatory of
that Journal, and much applauded.
On motion of Mr. IVIcMAIgus, the thanks
of the Convention was tendered to the Presi
dent and officers. •
The chairman announced that he had ap
pointed Ales. McKinney, of Westmoreland
Co., and John Weidman, of Lebanon Co., to
fill omissions made in the original appoint
ment of the State Central Committee.
75
....56
....32
~..20
....26
On motion, the Convention adjourned sine
From the Pennsylvanian of June 12.
Two Opinions , of the Main Line in Con-
The readers of the Pennsylvanian—which
yesterday contained the resolutions, passed
by the State Committee, held at Harrisburg
on the ninth-instant, and, also, the applica
tion of llEsay S. .MOTT, President of the
Board of Canal Commissioners, to the Judges
of the Supreme Court, for an injunction to
restrain the Pennsylvania Railroad Company
from bidding for the main line—doubtless
were startled by the bold and Tronderful con
trast between the declaration - of 'the CoUven
iioll on the one part, and the declaration of
the President of the Canal Board on the other
part, on the value of the Public Works au
thorized to be sold?
w 5
It may be, that the 'opipion. embodied-in
the resolution of the State ConventiOn; is but
the reflex of the rushlight opinion previously
borne around by thu:Carail CommisSionets
and their erriployees,•amongtbe Delegates;to
explode their magazines 'of representative
patriotism, and se turits.'iletonations over the
State; for, naturally enotigh, Delegates called
together from private pursuits to 'nominate
candidates for Judgeships of, the- Supreme
Court, could know very little of' the merits of
the question of value of tite
_public 'works, and
would, consequently, be most likely to absorb
and exude any opinion artfully promulgated
from the Canal Board. This opinion, so de
rived and so expressed, as will be seen, put
the value of the Main Line at an amazing,
high figure, in - order.that, through the action
of the Convention, a feeling of dissatisfaction
towards the law might be sown abroad over
the State, to fructify and, in its ripeness, grow
into a popular opinion, strong enough for ex
pression through a decision of the Supreme
Court.
35
But while it was thus necessary to enlarge
the measure of value among those who, for
the time, constituted the official organization
of the great Democratic party—for the osten
sible purpose of saving the State-L-it likewise
became necessary, as it appears, that a coun
ter opinion should be avowed for the ostensi
ble purpose of savity , the Pennsylvania Rail
road Company; for it will be observed that
while the Convention declare that,• to sell the
Main Line for the limitation fixed in the law
----nine millions of dollars—" is intended to
be, in reality, a gift of those 2vorks to a COT
p orali on," Mr. MorT, President of the Canal
Board, on the other hand, as.a stockholder of
the Pennsylvania - Railroad Company, appeals
to the Supreme Court, ostensibly to restrict
the Company from delivering "to the State
the bonds of the said Company, to the amount
of nine millions of dollars, in liquidation of
the purchase money" for the Main Line of
Public Works, inasmuch as such delivery of
bonds would be to hi 4 "manifest injury and
detriment" as a "stockholder" of said Com
pany!
Thus much by way of preface, now to tho
opinions:
Extract of the resolution passed by the
Democratic State Convention:
"That the passage of the Act by the late Legislature,
entitled " An Act to provide for the sale of the Main Line
of Public Works," was a wanton disregard of the best inter
ests of this Commonwealth, and of the principles of sound
legislation. That whilst in name it purports to be a sale
of works which cost the State nearly twenty millions of
dollars, it is intended to be, in reality, a gift of those works
to a Corporation."
Extract of the application of HENRY S.
MOTT, President of the Board of Canal Com
missioners, to the Judges of the Supreme
Court:
" That the Canals aforesaid arc two hundred ana eighty
three nitres in length, requiring heavy experulitures for re
pairs and expenses, and have not for malty years yielded
121C011te Sufficient to!pay the cost of keeping them in naviga
ble order."
Surely, in our advocacy of the sale of the
Public Works, we have never-detracted from
the value of the Main Line, as does the Pres
ident of tho Canal Board. And now, since
the statement is made by , the head of the Ca
nal Department, that "for many years" the
divisions of the Main Line west of Columbia,
have not " - yielded income siffficient to pay the
cost cf keeping. them in navigable order," we
are well assured that the law authorizing the
sale will be judged aright by the people, even
if it be clamored against by those who have
cared more for the control of the Public Works
than for the revenues of the Commonwealth.
We give notice, therefore, that we are un
dismayed by the action of the Convention,
believing that the delegates themselves will
he amonr , the first to realize that, by e.xceed
ing the duty which called them together, they
were led into the cmuraission of a very fool
ish act. ,
tract!
Ercint the ,Tontgornoty county Democratic Watchman.
'Sale of the Public ViToFks.-
Mn. konon : ,
Believing that no newspaper huffersin value
o f . fle - Community, in iritereSt ter. its - readers,
dr
,in'proftt to its editor o:idifors; by consid
ering questions involving:even:; "differen,
ces of honest opinion, ram iridiced to offer
you a few lines on the subject 'heading this
article.
On Wednesday, the 18th of May, the daily
papers contained.thisTaragaph
The Canal Commissioners transmitted to the Senate, a
letter from Idr. Mint, who estimates that the damage done
by the late floods on the North Branch Canal, Ilia require
an additional appropriation of $30,000 to repair. •
- The flattering pictures drawn year after
year ofthe'future productiveness of this work,
compared .with the small amount, of money
necessary to complete it, induced me to look
upon the enterprise with favor. The annual
appropriations for the past five years, exceed
inc, in gross amount double the original esti
mate; the imperfeetion.s of the part of the
work once pronounced completed, and the
money necessary to,finisit other parts Which
'were to have been done for certain, three
y.ears ago,—have pretty effectually dispelled
the charm, which designing, interested, one
sided pictures had thrown around my sober
senses. Time, and close observation effect
many changes in the Minds of men. It is an
"old saw" that fools change their opinions
never.
• The conclusions at which I have arrived rel
ative to the advantage of the State continuing
in possession of any of ihnpublic works, are
the result' of a number of years' close watch
• ing of their' practicaloperations. There is
now 'not the least' shadow of doubt remaining,
that it is the interest of the tax payer to get
rid 'of them all at the earliest practical mo
ment, for their _market value. Their not
:Value-win be increased one-half in the hands
of individuals, by virtue of the change in the
'method of doing the business, and the revis
' ion - of Toll Sheets 'Which 'would necessarily
' take place. - I say their market value, because
I can conceive of no more definite term to ex
press the conditions on which Ihey can be
-sold. No one can expect - any corporation or
company of individuals to pay more than
they are worth ; and like most other commod
ities, they will bring what they are worth,
when offered on terms consistent with the ex
tent of the purchase money required and na
ture of the business, out of which the pur
chasers are to look for a compensating return
of profits, and not sooner.•
The Bill recently passed by the Legislature
and signed by the Governor, I fervently hope
will effect a sale of the Main Line. The
amendment made by the Senate, requiring
the
,payment of 5.100,000 annually of the
purchase money, met my most cordial appro
bation. The bill, as it existed before, putting
off pay-day until Hp, I looked upon as en
tirely unbusiness like on the part of the State,
and much more liberal than the circumstan
ces of, the case required, and would have been
sufficient to condemn. it, in my judgment.—
The action of the Senate, also, in refusing to
extend the credit of the State to the amount
of $3,000,000, which was originally connected
with the measure ; to the Sunbury and Brie '
Rail Road, I also regarded with unqualified
aversion. Considering the sad experience of
the State in- her. "Public Improvement" in
vestments, I' could not conceive how. the
friends of the proposition could expect it to
receive a decent reception.. But now all is
right on that_point. •
I haie examined the official statements of
the receipts and' expenditures of the State as
given in the Auditor General's Report, suffi
ciently often on points connected with the
net revenue of the Main Line, to be well sat-;
isfiea with the correctness of the assertion,
that, instead of its being a source of revenue
to the State, more than a million of dollars
of the hard-earned 'taxes of the people have
been expended, during the past ten years, in
keeping it in proper working order, above
the amount of tolls received from it. "Is it
possible ?" exelai r ms the weary follower of the
plough, • or the care-worn merchant, as he
hands over his annual tax. - A true bill, gen
tlemen, I have every reason to believe, though
I have not compiled' the figures myself.—
" How, then, can you expect any one to buy
them ?" Suro enough : but just put that
question to those who talk about "giving the
works away," even when a bill is passed un
der which all knowing ones know they will
not sell. I would like them to answer it ; for
that answer, if a true one, will throw some
light upon the subject, which the mass of the
community are interested in having harrowed
up, occasionally, out of the political morass,
beneath which it has long remained buried.
Whether the present bill will effect a sale
of the works, I have my,doubts. But - if the
legal advisers of the State administration are
satisfied that the security offered by purchas
ers is " good and sufficient" beyond a doubt,
for either sum mentioned, ($7,500.000 to a
now company, or 0,000,000 to the Penn'a R.
C 0.,) the people of eastern Pennsylvania,
(excepting those living along the Columbia
Rail Road,) should agree upon a day of gen
eral rejoicing over the consummation of a
sale.
" But if they have been worth nothing to
the State, bow can you expect them to sell ?"
again asks the critical reader, who can com
pare one idea with another. I have already
said the Main Line would be worth double
the money in the bands of a private corpora
tion it is to the State, but it is worth treble to
the Pennsylvania Rail Road Company over
any other party. Why ? Because if the P.
R. R. Co. purchases, it involves a relief from
taxation equal to 5 per cent. interest upon
$8,000,000 of the money they are required
to pay. The tonnage and other taxes have
not amounted to that sum the past year, but
it is estimated that they will amount to that,
or very nearly, the present year. Without
this lever to work upon, the 'State would be
in a hopeless condition concerning the Main
Line. But as I have before stated, there are
large sources of revenue to be derived by
that company over what the State receives.—
Let me explain where and bow.
The profits of the business on the public
works is divided between two parties. The
State furnishes the Railroad and Canal, and
keeps them in repair; also, the motive power,
lock-keepers and collectors, and charges a
certain amount of toll. The other party, the
Transporter, furnishes cars, boats, ware hou
ses, and conductors to their cars, S c. This
latter party gets his freight at as high a rate
as possible, and all he makes above the Slate
Toll and his expenses is his reward. On the
through business to Pittsburg, there are few
parties left to compete with the P. R. R. Co.,
although the State has been paying money
out of the Treasury, in order to continue
them by making the toll exceedingly low.—
For instance, the State gets, for furnishing
the great bulk of money in the investment, a
toll of eighteen or twenty cents on a barrel
of flour carried from Pittsburg to Philadel
phia. The transporter, daring the summer
'season, gets probably an average of seventy
five cents :per bbl., thuS leaving about fifty
five cents for his labor and expenses. Not
withstanding this, they break down in com
petition' With a consolidated company, where
six:per. cent. income ruler, instead of 'slo,ooo
houses to live in, and family expenses corres
pondingly high. The Penna. R. R. Co., takes
in a barrel of flour at Pittsburg, at seventy
five cents—(when the canal closes it is always
advanced to one dollar.) Now that part of
the labor done - by . the transporters, on the
State Works, for . which ~they receive, from
two-thirds to three-fourths of the' whole
freight, costs the Pennsylvania, Company (or
any other one) from one-fourth to one-third.
For that part of the investment for which the
State receives about twenty cents, a Railroad
Company, doing aprofitablc business, should,
as they do, receive at least fifty cents. That's
the difference.
The same features exist in the local trade
all along the line. In this, the transporters
are. many. Any one who thinks he can make
a living for himself and his family, by run
, niti,e , a car, on the Railroad, has the privilege
of doing so. 'ln this way the number of cars
and agents on them and the number of per
:sons who put cars on the road, and pay
their agents and make 20 or 30 per cent. upon
the money invested in their enterprise, is
multiplied to the fullest extent. Of the total
amount of freight paid by the business men
or consumer of goods, an equally small frac
tion goes into the coffers of the State, as from
the "through goods"—that is freight carried
to Pittsburg, and points' more distant., Here
again the Penna;ll.*R. Co. has an opportu
nity of making several hundred thousand
dollars, more than the State can ever receive.
Conjoined with exemption from taxation,
these strong business considerations, induces
the hope that said- Company will become the
purchasers under the present bill of Sale.—
Nine Millions is a large sum of money, but
the works aro worth the sum to it while they
are not worth, in net revenue, - nine cents to
the tax-payers of the State. If every one
could only be made conscious of this latter
fact, they would be likely to give their,Rep
resentatives specific instructions upon the
subject, at every nominating convention. If
that Company still refuses purchase under
the liberal terms effered, we do hope the
State will adhere with Itornan firmness to the
tonnage and other taxes, to be relieved of
which, efforts, ingenius and energetic, are
annually brought to bear on the Legislature.
The works, with tho tonnage tax off, are ru
ined to the State—will have no market value.
These taxes are the sheet anchor of hope.—
But for them, the people of the State might
as well make up their minds-to give the Main
Line away. With. this lever preserved, if
they get no money from the works they get a
snug sum from the party that has caused their
financial death. But it is not pleasant to have
all the tonnage taxes used zip, lskezeise in their
managenzent.
I think the payments from the Penn'a R.
R. Co., if it becomes the purchasers, should
have been equal each year at least, to the
tonnage tax. No objection could have been
reasonably made to this.
In order to take away objections of favor
itism, a proposition to sell to anew Company,
on more favorable terms might have been
offered.
' I have since writing the above, noticed the
letter from one of our representatives, Mr.
llille,gas. I once made up figures in the same
way and come to like conelusionS, but have
outgrown the habit, owing to a sincere desire
to see the taxpayers rid of the burden in
question.
Probably on some future " rainy day" I
may refer to this subject again, if you con
sider these thoughts worthy of publication.
PRO BONO PUBLICO.
From the Pittsburg - Democratic Post
Reading Papers out of the Party.
The folly and childishness of young men
who have occupied the chair editorial of a po
litical paper for a month or two, and who,
with the fresh exhuberance of youthful am
bition and vanity, attempt to "play politics"
somewhat as children " play school," is thus
admirably hit off in a recent number of the
Pennsylvanian. We have seen idle boys at
tempt to put chalk marks upon the backs of
boys larger than themselves, and laugh in
high glee at the performance until a retalia
ting kick brought them to a realizing sense
of their own position. The attempt to read
out old established party organs, which are
entitled to consideration for their consistent
advocacy of Democratic principles through
long and laborious years, is just as idle as
making chalk marks on the juvenile's jacket,
and in this instance has met with a similar
retribution, most genteelly administered. We
copy the Pennsylvanian's article:
Tho Harrisburg _Patriot d Maims a short time since took
us to task for our course in advocating the sale of the
Hain Line of the Public Works, and wound up an im
mense collection of words with reading us out of the
party! • We have riot adverted to this direful calamity
before, for the same reason that we have not warned our
friends to prepare for the blotting out of this world by
the tail of the cornet; but yesterday a friend suggested
that we owed it as a duty to our readers to let them know
the misfortune that has befallen us, that they, may pre
pare our obituary notices and consign us to the tomb with
decency. If the Cincinnati Convention, or the Democratic
State Convention, bad condemned us, we might have sur
vived the blow and recuperated; but when a journal of
such tremendous authority-, such vast circulation—
amounting, it is said, to over three hundred—a journal
whose editorial corps is so widely celebrated for its learn
ing and ripe experience—the principal having traveled
the world over and arrived at the green old age of at least
twenty-one; when such an autority condoms us, we
tremble for the future! The threatening motto of our
Harrisburg luminary, "noli me tangtre," stares us in the
face, and wo aro afraid even of defending ourselves; so we
"touch /dm not," lest he might totally annihilate us!
Xl&'The June number of the PENNSYL
vA.NIA. Samar. JourucA.r. has been received.—
We notice quite a number of interesting
communications on various educational sub
jects. The present No. closes the fifth vol
ume. During the past five years of its pub
lication, the JOURNAL earned for itself, and
fully supported, a high character for guard
ing and advancing the educational interests
of our commonwealth. That its sphere of
usefulness may continue to widen is our
earnest hope.
" Wnwr SuAnows WE AnE,"—Within the
last two weeks, three distinguished men have
been called away by death, viz : Senator
ADAM'S, of Mississippi, Senator BUTLER, of
South Carolina, and Senator BELL, of New
Hampshire.
JJv'Tlie Norristown Gas Company has de
clared a semi-annual dividend of three per
cent.
'What is tlie Difference.
Two years ago a bill passed the Legisla
ture directing the Governor to sell the Main
Line of the Public Works 'at auction., Its
main features were—a minimum of seven
and a half millions,: Of dollars, 'and if the
Pennsylvania Railroad Company- purchased,
an additional million, in censideration of
which that Road was to be forever released
from the • tax upon its trade. It also, con
tained a provision that the entire-line of "the
Works was to be kept navigable, There
was no clamor' about this bill. The GOT
erno had the'Main Line - littifked at the Ex
change at the -time fixed by law,; but could
not get a solitary bid. The interestshostile
to a sale knew that it was so clogged that no
party would buy. , Now what is the differ
ence between the - bill of "'55" and the bill
of .".'57," and how are the -interests of the
State so prejudiced? The. mininaum is the
same, seven and a half Millionir as it was
under the former bill, and if the Pennsylva
nia Rail Road Company„purchase, a -million
and a hiqf in . addition,' to be released from
the tonnage and other State taxes. The rate
of interest is the same as under the bill of
"55." The time of payment in the last bill
is more extended than in the bill of "'55,"
but as the forfeiture of the whole . line is a
consequence of the failure,to pay the interest
or any of the installments, no one can find
much fault with this. By the last bill the
western portion of the Main Line may be
abandoned when dm party purchasing shall
have furnished a complete substitute to the
people along it for getting to market. The
bill requires the completion of a railroad from
Blairsville to Freeport, before navigation can
be suspended upon the Western Canal. This
gives the people on, and in the neighborhood
of the canal an unbroken railroad communi
cation with Pittsburgh and Philadelphia.—
And, it further requires that the party pur
chasing, if they conclude to abandon it and
complete the railroad from the points we have
named, shall lease or give away the Western
Division to any party who will take it. Who
is hurt here? Dew is the interest of the State
compromised ? The million of dollars . to bo
paid under the former bill if the-Penns-give
nia Railroad Company purchased, for 'the re
lief of the Tonnage Tax, has been increased
in the late bill to. a - million . and a half dol
lars, and that Company to be released from
the Stale tax only, upon her bonds, dividends
artd.reat estate,, This tax,. independent
_of
the tax upon her trade in 1856, did not reach
$85,000. Twenty-four thousand dollars of
this was a tax upon her indebtedness—a tax
that no other corporation in the country pays.
Throwing this off, we would have $61,000 - as
the amount of her annual tax. Sell the Main
Line for Rine millions, and the branches for
six, and you strike that $61,000 down more
than one-third. You get it to a figure that
the additional half `million will nearly repre
sent. We look upon the sale of the branches
as certain if a sale of the Main Line is effec
ted. Where then, is the material difference
between these two bills? It really consists
in the works not being clogged with a, require
ment to keep the whole of the unprofitable
portions up. And yet, in order that justice
may he done and no facilities be withdrawn,
it requires a large expenditure to be made to
protect the people from wrong upon those
portions of the line, before the party 'par
chasing can suspend navigation.
We confess we cannot see who - is injured,
save those the enjoyment of the patron
age. We have compared the two bills care
fully, and above, our readers have the result.
We do not wish to depreciate the property of
the State, but the fact that the Main Line
has, from the day of its completion to the
present time, been a dead drag upon the
Treasury, no , honest, intelligent man will
deny. But one party can buy the Main
Line under the. conditions of the bill of '57,
at the one-half of seven and a half millions
of dollars. No real bona, fide capitalist
would invest his means in it at any price.—
If the Pennsylvania Rail Road Company
should buy, it will be for the purpose of get
ting relieved of a burthen that the Company
alone has imposed upon ber,—a btirthen isr
the shape of a tax upon her trade, that will
soon drive a large portion of her business to
Baltimore and New York. This is no politi
cal question. No man should bring to its
consideration the feelings of a partisan.—
The sale, at . the price and the terms, is a
great financial measure, and let it be so con
sidered.—Penn.sy/vaniart.
Democracy.
The etymology of this word—the strength
of the people—bespeaks favor among the
masses. It is of the people, and they are of
it. It makes a man sovereign, his being the
only right divine. It opens up the broadest
vista of liberty, by clothing him with the
mantle of popular power. It is opposed to
exclusive conservative aristocracy and all
bearings of monarchical tendency. It is the
parent of progress, the handmaid of reform,.
the twin brother of freedom. To the tyrant
it is odious, to the hypocrite dangerous, to
truth and honor friendly. It hails from the
harbor of happiness and flings its banner be
fore the breeze of independence. The oppres
sor fears it as a
. plague. The trampled on
invoke it as a blessing. When all other forms
of political creed are swept off
,the pages of
human record, Democracy will remain—the
triumphant monument of mind, the great
patent of liberty as a legacy to nations, the
foe of tyranny, the guardian angel of truth,
it will survive the crash of empires and live
in the hearts of millions as the only political
divinity to be worshipped. .
The system of Democratic government is
most beautiful in its structure and benevolent
in its operations. It is supported bythe pro
foundest researches of philosophy, by the
sublireest teachings of religion, the purest
piety, the deepest virtue, the firmest faith,
the brightest hope, the most extensive chari
ty. It gives.to each the right of all. ' Each
man is estimated a unit, the sum of which
makes up the whole. What is the right of
one is the right of all. -it confers no titles ;
it bestows no immunities. It makes each
accountable for the whole, pledges the pro
tection of the whole for the good of each.—
The man that is born in insignificance and
bred in the corner, may, by a continuance in
well doing rise to the centre of glory and.
honor. Merit is the only avenue to success,
and the sons and. daughters of the rich, by
the neglect of virtue, by indulgence in vice,
will sink into merited insignificance. The
man in office may be removed without a rev
olution, while vacant seats are open to the
emulation of all. We can conceive of no
form of government so directly calculated to
promote the happiness of all mankind as De
mocracy. It needs only to be understood in
theory and adopted in practice, by a people
qualified to test its qualities, to secure the ad
ministration and support of every philanthro
pist throughout the world.