THE VOLUNTEER
John nVoruMlm, Editor and Proprietor.
OAItI.ISI.Bi APIUt 18. isaa.
Presidential Elaotors.
• KNATOfiIAL. -
GEORGE vr. WOODWARD. ofLuiernc.
WILSON M'OANDLESS, of Allogliony.
additional district.
ROBERT PATTERSON, of Philadelphia,
■; "DISTRICTS.
1. PETER LOGAN, Philadelphia.
9. OGOROE 11, MARTIN, Philadelphia.
3, JOHN MILLER, Philadelphia.
4'F W< BOCKIUS, Philadelphia.
siR. MoKAY, Jr. Delaware.
6. A. APPLE, Bucke.
7. N. STRICKLAND, Cheater.
8. A. PETERS Lancaster.
9. DANIEL FISHER, Botha.
10. R. E. JAMES, Northampton.
11. JOHN MoREYNOLDS, Columbia.
19. P. DAMON, Tioga.
13. H. C. EYER, Union.
14.1JN0. CLAYTON. Schuylkill.
15. ISAAC ROBINSON, Adama.
IG. HENRY FETTER, Perry.
17. J AS. DDRNSIDE, Centre.
18. MAXWELL MoCASLIN, Greene.
19. JOSEPH McDonald, Cambria.
90. W. S. COLAHAN, Waehingloo. .
91. ANDREW- BURK, Allegheny.
92. WM. DUNN, Mercer.
93. JOHN SIMoCALMONT, Clarion..
94. GEO. R. BARRET.Cloarfiold.
ron CANAL COMMISSIONER,
WILLIAM: SEARIGRT, o! Fayette,
The eery lengthy letter of Mr. Bonham haa com
pelled us to omit many articles intended for to
day’s paper. -
(jj-HoniJsm.. X. M’Lsnshan, irouie of Repre
sentttivss, Washington, will acoapt nor thanks for
tbo receipt of a bound copy of the* document "Cora,
raerce and Navigation.’V .
Coubt.— The April term of our Cbnrl of Quarter
Scseion, dec:, commenced in this piece on Monday
last, before Hot). James H. GaanaH, President Judge,
and his Aiieooiate Judges, Woodbobn and Rvrr. A
'number' of pally criminal cases have already been’
disposed of, none of them, however, pbsaeaelng snlli
cten interest to make them worth reporting.
Tub Democratic Slate Central Committee will
meet at the Merchants' Hotel, Philadelphia, on
BatuVday neat, the 17th inel., at 4 o’clock, P. MV By
order of the Chairman, William L. Hirst, Esq.
Lama raoH Mb. Bonham.— ln another column
wo publlih a letter from Mr. Bonham, in answer to
our remarks UaUaeek on the iu'.ijecl oTtho applies
lion that is being made by the Bank of Pennsylvania
lobe released from laaal'ion.lo which wo invito at
tention. '•
Mhxer, Eiq., of Bloomfield, Per-1
ry county, ha* been appointed Aid to hi* Excellency
Gov. Bigler, with lb* rank of Lieutenant Colonel. A
T#ry meritorious *ppololmenl. Tb* lop of the mor.
niog to you, Colonel.
Appointment sr Gov. Bigler.— Maj. Samuel Crop,
of Carlisle, to be Aid to tbo Governor, with lh* rank
of LleulenenlColonels
Tbl* is * well deserved* compliment to Maj.
Crop, wh'ol* well known for hie rolliup knowledge
and *oldler like bearing. 110 it at present the Brig
odoTnspeotor bfiKi/cllvislon, and i* highly popular
with military men. Soon alter tbo Mexican war
broke out, he offered the services of himself and tbo
company ho commanded to tho Government, bnt the
Regiment was full, and bis wishes war* disappoint
ed. Wo congratulate Col. Crop on tbia mark of Ex.
ccutlve confidence; and we congratulate onr excel
lent Executive alao In selecting a roan for this honor
who is, in every respect, meritorious and worthy.
DcatA or Mm. Bonham.—After our paper had
been nearly worked off last Thursday morning,
wa received intelligence of the death of Mre. Bon*
iiAHi the estimable Wife of J. Ellis Bonham, Esq.
She died, suddenly, at Harrisburg, on Thursday
morning last. We sincerely sympathize with her
husband; relatives and friends, who have been so
deeply afflicted by this heart-rending bereavement.
Taxing Monet at Interest for Borough Pur
poses.—Wo are glad to learn that the bill -introdu
ced by Mr. Bonham, to lax money at interest be
longing'to citizens of Carlisle, for borough purpo
ses, has passed both Houses, been signed by the
Governor, and is therefore a law. We have,- for
theldst two years, been.using what little Influence
we bad, to procure the passage of this bill, and
we are rejoiced that U has at length become a law.
The present Council for the borough will have,by
the operation of this bill, some $5OO added to their
treasury. The late Council, on the contrary, had
near $5OO to refund, fax collected on money at In
terest, but which was afterwards decided to have
been illegally collected. The law Just passed
will make it a legal, and we may say a Just tax, in
future.. ~
Tus Ntw Town Council*—'The New Town Goan.
ei\ of Carlisle held their Aril meeting el the Council
chamber on Saturday evening, end organised by tbe
election of Col. Armstrong Noble aa President, and
TnouAi J>. Mauor as Secretary. -The following
appointments—all Whigs, of course—wsre then
made, afler which the Council adjourned :
TVroiurar—Jacob Shrom.
High CenafaMe— Jacob Shilling.
MarkH flfsiler—James Posllowalthe.
Strett Committioner —W. B, Matthews.
DANK OF PENNSYLVANIA.
We elated In our leal that this Institution was ap- i
plying to the Legislature to be exempted from tho i
tax laws to which other banks are subjected. The |
application of the Bank was taken up In the House i
on the 7lb loll* and negatived—yeaa 35, nays 43.
Mr. Bonham waa not present. Mr. Henderson vo.
ted in tho negative. On the annunciation of this
vble,t disinterested influence was immediate brought
to bear.upon the Houae, and a motion to re-coneidor
was made and carried, by‘the following vote—yeas
46, nays 41.
On Saturday, afler a day's diseussalon of the or
iginal bill, aa amendment was proposed, which pro.
sided thai'tha question and amount at Issue should
be left to lbs hands oflhe Court of Common Piece of
Dauphin county, where It now is, and that the Jour
nalsof’lbe two House* of tbs LegiaUtare of the
session 01*39 and *3O should be given in evidence,
tnd that, If It ahull appear to the Court from tho ex
aroloatlon of thoss proceedings, that it waa the In
tention of tbe Legislature to exempt the Bank from
inch Isl, then tbe judgement to be In favor of the
Bank, and vice versa. This proposition was agreed
to by the frlendi of the bank, ami the bill ns amen
ded was adopted—yeas 48, nays 40. (
The bill will noyr go to the Senate, where, we hope
It may receive the fate It deserve*, and be defeated.
We shall aspaot tha Senator from this district, Mr.
Bailt, to oppose Ui passage with all hit energy.
Hcaltm or Ma. Clay.—A Washington letter 117 a
tbal Mr. Clay, afior pafclog through a stags of 1
oncporsglng. Improvement, begin* to sink *gaioJ
»nd|lo yield to tho prostration or hi* physical ener>
Tie*. -
-»|if' declared
CTTh* N«w York olljrDemoouU h>« dooi
rorGotiiCut,;
GLOKIOUS NEWS!
Tho recent elections that hate taken place, "show
which way the wind blows," end Is ominous of tho
downfall of whlggery. The days of huinbtiggery
are pssl,and (ho ‘'sober second thought" of tho
people has shown a result whleh gWci joy and
gladness to every lover of his oountrya The demo,
oratio party can never bo put down—fraud and deoep.
lion may triumph over (bo true principles of demo*
oraoy for a season, but
•'Truth crushed to earth will rise Rfoin."
Thus will it ever be, so long as the principles of
democracy remain pure and andetiled. The people
were deceived into the support of ftdurl principles in
1848, and suffered themselves to bo led astray by
false promises, but (hey now see their error—they
now see and ftel the difference between a dem*
oeratio and federal administration, and are rising in
the majesty of their power in suport of democratic
men, and democratic principles. Lot the glorious
work go on—the people are waked op to their true
position, tod will never stop in the good' work until
every vestige dr federalism is scattered' to the four
winds of heaven; *"i
Below we give the result in Connecticut and
Rhode Island: —— ■
CONNECTIOCT—ALL HAIL I
In. this Slate Federalism is routed, horse, foot, and
dragoons— Skvhork, the Democratic candidate for
Governor, having a majority over all the other can*
didales, and a large majority of Democrats being
elected to the Legislature.. The .Whigs attempted
to make capiat! out of the Maine Liquor Law, having
generally committed thertselves in lie favor, and
tlTctr candidate for Governor pledged himielf to sign
such a bill, if it passed (he Legislature. But tbs
Democrats mot them boldly tipon their own ground,
tod achieved a triple victory over Whiggery, Free.
Sollism, and the new offshoot of both, Anli-Liqaor-
RHODE ISLAND.
Another Democratic Governor*
The election for Stale officers was recently held in
Rhode Island, and Allen, Democrat, was elected
Governor by over four hundred majority. The wbole
Democratic State ticket, with the ctcption of Lieut.
Governor, was elected by tho same majority. Tbo
legislature is Whig. Good for Old Algerine Rhode
Island! A-few mere such victories will place her
with Connecticut,>in the Democratic ranks;
THE PRESIDENCY.
Missouri.— Missouri has appointed delegates to
tbs Democratic National Convention, and instructed
them for Oen. Cass for President. This is tho fifth
Southern Statu the friends of Goh. Cass count upon
as certain. The first four are Louisiana, (delegates
instructed,) Tennessee;Kentucky,and Maryland.
INew York. —A letter dated Albany, April 8, says
—The Democratic State Convention, to day i.oml.
oated Horallo Seymour, of Ullea, and John B. Skin
ner, of Wyoming, Delegates si large Ip represent
the State in the Baltimore Convention, without In
-1 structions. They are Maroy men.
Maryland.— At a caucus of tho Democratic
members of the Maryland Legislature, held oh
Tuesday evening, resolutions were adopted, asserting
that Gen. Cass is tho preferred candidate of the Dem*
orate of Maryland for lhc.ncxl Presidency.
Tub Compromise Measures.— Tho vote of tho
House of Representatives on the subject of tho com
promise measures is highly satisfactory, and we hope
will prevent any future efforts from being mado to
revive agitation on the subject. *
We find in the Union a sectional and political an
alysis of the vote* given on the resolutions offered
by Mr. Jackson end Mr. Ilillyer, of Georgia. Tho
resolution offered by the former waa in the following
words:
’ ** Resolved; That we recognize the binding effica
cy of Ihe.Compromtiei of the Constitution, end be*
lieve it to bo Ibe-lntentlon oflhe people generally, ae
we hereby declare it to be oura individually, to abide
such Compromises, and to sustain the Jaws necea*.
sary lo.carry them out—the provision for the delivery
of fugitive slaves, and the set of the last Congrees
for that purpose, included; and that we deprecate
all further agitation ofquesiiona growing out of that
provision of the. question! embraced in tho acts of
the last Congress known as the Compromise, and of
questions generally connected with the institution of
slavery, as unnecessary, useless, and dangerous.
' The resolution presented by Mr. Ilillyer roads*
follows: • .
“Resolved, That the series of sets passed during
the first session of the 31 el Congress, known es the
Compromises, are regarded sis a final adjustment,
and a permanent aeufement of the questions therein
embraced, and should be maintained and* executed
aa such."
Mr. Jackson's was adopted by the folllowlng
votet
Jjfirmatite, Nrgoffes.
Northern democrats 35 Northern democrats 33
Southern democrats 30 Southern democrats 11
Southern whig# 33 Southern whigs 1
Northern whlge 7- Northern whigs 30
Total 101 Total
Mr. Ililtyer'a resolution wm then adopted, by tho
following vote r
Affirmative, Negative'
Northern demoeiati 36 Northern democrat! 30
Southern democrata 89 Southern democrat! 16
Southern 30 Southern whiga 1
Northern whig* 10 Northern whig! , 37
Total
Tbo veloce of Gov, Diolkr hata not only received
the commendation of the partisan press of tbo Stale,
bat elicited the applause of moat ofour neutral jour,
nata, Amonf the Uttar number tbo Sunday Z?ii»
patch deoUrea that be deserves tbo thanks of all par.
lies, for the fearless stand which he bft taken against
the extension of corporote monopolies. The spirit i
which seeks to confer special privileges upon certain
partnerships, In derogation of general righto, Is anti
republican and anlt.domoeraUo. A Wrong rein should
be placed upon every scheme which ellempte to grant
to a company that which private oltlsens dare not
aek. Every veto which Gov. Biotta has pot upon
apeeisl laws which a corrupt Legislature hat endeav.
orad to piss, has been honorable to him, and showed
that the people have confided the executive duties
to safe hands. The day will come when It will be
wondered that suoh gross violations of public rights
as have been attempted lobe spoured to various cor.
porations by charter, ehould have over beoq conn.
Idnanood j and the alpdent of history will marvel that
(he people of (hie State ao long permitted suoh a
gross and unjust syalsm loflourlsh.
Taaosov in Kbntuckv.—An affray occurred In
Clay county, Ky., on the 97th ull., between Stephen
Robertson end Qrehem Dowling In which Rob*
ertson we* stabbed slightly. Bowling was shot In
thefabdomeu, and died In about twenty four hours.
Eli Dowling, who Interfered, was shot in the left
breast, and bis wound will probably prove fatal.
Robertson shot four limes, two of the shots striking
aa he Intended, the others slightly wounding a man
and boy who wero lookers on.
Dow, the author of the Maine Law, was
defeated at the election for Mayor of Portland, on
Tuesday, by Albion R« Parris, the Democratic can*
dldalo. The vote stood—Parris, 1,800 j Dow, 1,406.
The Democrats also elected a majority In both
branches of council.
(CTThe Union man of Augusta, Gao., have reiolr.
ad not to lend delegatee to the,Dilllmore Convention.
from (ho n«put»lleanaml Aijui.
FIFTY MILLIONS A YEAR I
STARTLING EXTRAVEGANOB,
When suohi Whig as Truman Smith, Senator
from Connecticut, aays—“ho verily behoves that oof
ruptlon and oxtravoganco have increased just about
in (ho tamo proportion •• the inoreaao of our sxpen
dlturci—more dial one hundred per cent*'—ainco
! whiga oamo Inlq power, it ia surely lime for (lio
Democrat) lo apeak put In thunder lonoa againal (ho
dominion of that part/, and cal) upon the peoplo'to
ojeot them from power. Senator Smith aoknowl
edged that “twenty five mllllono a year,” under J{lok
•on and Van Daren, was denounced by them r ae
recklessly extravagant, but now we have 950,000,000
a year •• (ho government expendilolea,or just twice
the amount expended by Mr. Poik'a administration
/or ordinary purposes.. Twenty five millions a jeer
for Tour year*, Amount to a hundred millions of dol»
lart, or nearly forty million dollars mure than the
entire coat of tho Mexican war—all of which has
been uaeloealy and unnecessarily squandered by (he
party in power. Truly, this ia every dear price
which the people have paid for not dealing Geo.
Case to tho Presidency in 1648, end no wonder diet
so many Whigs, who bad ailently noted this whole*
aale extravagance, have sought admission into tho
Democratic ranks. These deserters from that cor
rapt end profligate party, as described by Truman'
Smith, one of (heir own leaders, will rapidly increase
bb the following facia from a letter of tho Hon. Chat.
H. Peaslee, of Now Hampshire, to bis constituents,
shall bespread before (he people of the country.—
We invite the attention of every reader to what be
•aye, and particularly to tho few linos he quotes from
die Hon. Truman Smith. Speaking of the expen
ditures of (he government, Mr. Peaslee, says:
In this connection, and seen authority for any
statements which ought not to be questioned by
Whigs, 1 give an extract from a speech recently de
livered in the Senate, by Hon. Truman Smith, of
Connecticut. In speaking of the increased extrava
gance and corruption of our government, though
himself a strong Whig Mr. Smith uses the following
language:
“ When I came intoCongrcea tho received opinion
among momben was that the expenditures of the
Government should in no event, exceed about twenty |
one millions or dollars per annum; and I remember
very well that tho expenditures by Gen. Jackson’s
and Mr. Van Boren’s administrations, of about that
sum, was, what is usually denominated the Harrison
campaign, held up a contrast with the expenditures
of the administration under John Qulnoy Adams, as
being perfectly enormous and in the highest degree
corrupt. But what now is the slate of things 7
These expenditures have been carried from twenty*
one. millions up to about fifty millions of dollars:
and it is a painful duty/or ms to diseharage when I
say, what I verily believe, that corruption ex
travagance- have increased juat about in the same
proportion as the increase of our expenditUrrs—more
than onehundred per cent, Jt is high time thatpub
lie attention should beealled to this matter."
Thu whole cost of the Government during the
year of the Mexican war, under Democratic Admin*
islratl'on, was only $59,451,177—ab0ut $11,000,090
more than that of last year in a time uf profound
peace. Our pnbtio debt, principal and lnUVesl,ls
upwards of $134,000,000; but still the Adminlstra*
(ion says nothing about reducing It. With them a
public debt l»a public blessing. England has a large
public debt, and our English copyists think we must
have one. jNol an intimation is heard about reducing
our yearly|expcnies; (which wo have seen are-almost
$50,000,000;) on tho contrary, other schemes sro on
foot to make bad worse. All this the paopla see is 1
wrong.
The people arc dissatisfied with the Executive
weakness and indecision, (be latiilods and debility,
and what Is of greater moment, the subserviency to
British and foreign interests, which have character*
ized this Administration. They do not wish .nor
expect anything bot a manly and prompt enforce,
ment of our rights, and only ask that foreign nations
shall be taught to remember, that the fljg of stars
and stripes, like tho eoglox of Romo, when her great- j
ness overspread tho world, la a proud symbol of aj
Power nowhere to be violated with impunity. But
time will not allow mo to dwell open the weak and
pusillanimous conduct of the Administration in cur
foreign affairs.
Tho people are beginning to see, too, that under
the present Federal Administration, there has been
too much plundering of tho Treasury; too much
Gardnorism and Galphinism; too much corruption
land bribery among men in (he high places in the
Republic ; 100 exclusive, an administration of our
national affairs upon those seven principles, which
form the basis of the party in power—namely the
five loaves and tho (wo fishes, (hoy have stfen the
Oalphin operation carried out under the Taylor dy.
nasty, whereby a member of tho cabinet received
from tho national Treasury ONE HUNDRED AND
TWENTY THOUSAND DOLLARS FOR HIS
OWN USE. They liavo loan (ho Gardiner opera
tion oirricd out under the Fillmore Administration,
whereby they have good reason lo believe that a
member of the cabinet got upwards of ONE HUN*,
DRED THOUSAND DOLLARS from (he peoploV
Treasury, for hie own private purposes. They have
seen (bo allowance by this Administration, of lbs
Barron pension claim, by which friends of those
wtio are invested with power have illegally and im
properly received thirty thousand dollars, on a pen*
elon olatm which had been long before adjusted aod
settled'undbr the half pay law. The Ghiokesaw
claim, by which eminent bankers In this city, rd
celved from the Treasury ono hundred and twelye
thousand dollars, of a fund belonginglo a tribe pf
Indians, known as th? Chlokasaws. The Hargous
claim, under which eight hundred thoosand dollars
was paid from the Treasury, when in fact those most
conversant with (ho claim, are of the belief that Mr.
(Targotis could not justly demand more thin eighty
thousand; and for carrying which claim through tho
counsel employed, received one hundred end twenty
thousand dollars, and, as Is believed by most, a
member of (lie oabinel received thirty thousand as
counsel fees for hie services. The people have heard
of the Mears claim, and the Leggel claim, by which
other large amounts were pllkigod from the Govern*
mcnlby speculators, whosften(imes have bought up
theao demands for merely nominal sums. Thcsoara
some of (he reasons among others why the country
everywhere, fs so dissatisfied with (he parly In pow
er—the spoils party, only hold together 11 by the co
hesive power of public plunder.*' A resolution in
troduced by Mr. Fuller, ofMaine, hts recently pace. :
ed the House of Representatives, calling on (he <
Secretaries of the different departments for a list of
(ho claims allowed since 1848, which will undoubt
edly ‘ present , some startling facts. Tho 1
mass of our people feel that under tho existing *
Administration, (he Executive power, the power ofi I
the General Government, la advancing with rapid I
strides; that the morale of our Government are be.l
coming more corrupt; and (hat unleea this down-1
ward tendency it speedily arreeted, our liberties will)
be lost. 1 use these last words with a full apprecle.
tion of their importance and significance—"our
Isber/sew uiU b$ lott. u History is full of examples
illustrating 'and enforcing (his great lesson,.that
extravagance and corruption will ruin any nation.—
The.little Stales of Greece, while they remained
virtuous, and ardent lovers of llbortv ware an over*
match' far all Aala. They aflsrwaros yielded lo the
power of Maoodon, but It was not until the gold of.
Philip had penetrated into (ho heart of Greece, that
his steel could triumph on the fatal field ofCbes. |
rones.
64
ToUl
Fatal Election Riot.— A despatch from St. Louli
•tatss that on Monday night, after the city election,
while the friends of the mooeaaftil parly were pan.
ing Wlokineyer’s German tavern, corner of Seventh
at., and Park Avenue, gone were fired from the |av»
ern, killing aix peraooe and wounding lateral others.
An immenae excitement arose. The mob rushed
Into the building,demolished its eonlenta and then
set fire to It. Two other German houses werA’doa.
troyed. The crowd ware alio fired on at (he corner
of Park and Carondelet Avenue, and a fireman wae
mortally wounded. The house from which the shot
came was destroyed by the mob. The military ware
obliged to guard the office of the German paper
Anxtigtr dss Wrstsns, throughout the night. The
next night order was restored.
Statute or Gin. Jackson.— The Legislature of Lou*
Islana have passed an appropriation offtOO,ooo for
the ereOtlon of a bront statue of Gen. Jaokeon on
Jackson Square, In New Orleans.
CALIFORNIA NEWS.
The Creionl City arrived at Now York on Tues
day night with a million a'nd s half of gold dust*
and 240 passengers, among whom are the four dele
gates to tho Whig Nations! Convention. Tho yield
of gold ie sat’d tu bo slightly diminished. The
woalhor continued delightful and (he spring crops
were sprouting luxuriantly. Crime ieonthe Increase
especially In the cities, and the numerous defalcations
ofpublio officers aro chronicled. Tho political news
is ofsomo interest. Tho Democrats hold thoir Con
yention at Sacramento, on tho 23d of February, fur
the purpose of electing delegates to tho Baltimore
Convention. No Instructions ore given to tho dole*
-gates.chosen, but (hey are claimed to be in favor of
Mr. Duchanm,cxcopt one,who goes for Goo. Houston.
A resolution in favor of Judge Douglass wss indefini
tely postponed, by a vote of 145 yoaa to 115 nays.—
Another Convention Is to bo hold in June lo choose
an oloolprial ticket.
The \Vhlgi held (heir State Convention at Sacra
mento oh (he 271 b February, lo choose delegates to
(he National Convention, and prepare for the Novem*
her Campaign. The delegates are cninstructed, but
ills said, aro favorable to Mr. Webator.
The Death, Penalty*
An Important bill paased the House of Represen
tatives of this Slate on Thursday last. Tho bill pro
vides (hat hereafter, no warrant for the ozooution of
any convict by hanging shall be issued within one
yesf after (he sentence of death shall have been
passed, and that, after that period, if no cireumttan.
ces shall have come to light to render doobtful tho
correctness of the jury in the matter, the Governor
shall then Issue hh warrant for such execution—
from the time of conviction to the lime of execution
the convict shall be confined-in one of the peniten
tiaries of (ho Commonwealth, for safe keeping.—
Upon the rendition of a verdict of "guilty of mur
der in the first degree,** against any person charged
therewith, in any Court of this Commonwealth, it
shall and raey be lawful for the jury rendering the
same, in their discretion, to rccomend the person so
charged and convicted to the mercy of the Court;
and every person duly convicted of murder in the
first degree, whom the jury su convicting shall recom
mend to the merdy of the Court,shall bo sentenced
to undergo an imprisonment in. one of the State pen
itentiaries, as tho case mjy be, and to bo kept in
separate or solitary aonfinemoni, at labor, for a peri
od of not less than fifteen nor more than fifty years.
WIIXGGBRT XNNBW YORK.
. Ths two factions of Whlggery in New York, the
‘•Sliver Grays" and "Wonjly Hoads," still continue
to fight like cats and dogs. The Loohport Courier,
t Fillmore paper, employs this beautiful language in
•peaking of "Woollies
, " No man regrets more than Goa. Scott the base
uke which it being made of hit name by a clique of
heartless demagogues and acoundrtlt in this Stale,
I for the only purpose of defeating Mr. Fillmore."
1 The Albany Evening Journal, & Scoti paper, re*
I torts ae follows:
" The Courier has recently beon purchased by
twoyoang gentlemen balding places in the Post
Ofßoe Department at Washington. This edict
against the "heartless'scoundrels of this Slate," who
prefer Gen. Scott for the Presidency, may
be deemed ‘otficlal, by authority.'
The Syracuse Journal . makes the following cm.
phatio declaration i
•‘ We aay the Whigs of (his Stale will not vote for
Mr. Fillmore because of bia compromise associa*
lions." x
The Rochester American replies \
“ The sooner it is understood hero and elsewhere,
that such >s in fiol the ground.upon which a clique
of quasi abolitionists, claiming to bo whigs, oppose
Mr. Fillmore's nomftiation, the blitter. It is of course
quite Idle to expect the support of such men for any
other candidate who standi on tho same ground ; and
it is absolutely certain that no one who does not oc
•copy tho same compromise position, can bo noini*
nated. 'These considerations are .worthy of atten
tion." *
Ft is perfectly manifest that the vote of New York
will uot, under any circumstances, bo oast for a
Whig at the next Presidential election.
The Liquor Bill Defeated*
The Maine Liquor bill wax defeated in the House
qf Representatives on Wednesday last. Tho bill
was on second reading, and the vote on the first sec.
lion stood—yeas 46, nays 50, as follows:
Yeas— Messrs. Acker, Appleton, Benedict, Blaine,
Broomull, Chandler, Dungan, Fiffe. Gibbs, Gilford,
Gillis, Gosslcr, HamjUon, Hart, Harris, llubbclt,
lluplol, James, of Chester, James, of Warren, Kelso,
Kilbourn, Kingsley, Lsughlin, McClusky, McCone,
McConncl, McKean, Mactayj Madeira, Meloy, Mor.
town, Meylcrl, Millerjof Aloghcny, Miller,of Phlla.,
Painter, Penney, Rod, Rhoads, Ross, Sharron, Shu
gort, Smith, Souder, SpringsrrTorbetl, Wise—46.
Nats— Anderson, Dyer, Bigelow, Black, Blair,
Bonham, Brock, Craig, Dangler, Ely, Evans, Flani
gan, Follmer, Freeland, Frolz, Gabs, Goodwin, Guf
fey, Henderson, Herbert Hook, llunseeker, Kean,
Craft, Lsndis, Lowry, Leech, Lilly, MoGrtnnahan,
Mollinger, Myers,, miller, of Northampton, Mott,
Mowry, O’Noll, Pownall, Relfsnydor, Relley, Ring*
er, Rubieum, Schell, Seltser, Shoaffor, Sohull, Slew*
aid, Thomas, Wagner, Walled, Yost, Rhoy, Sweater.
—5O.
This ws suppose setlfos (his question, fbr (he pres
ent session. Tho.vole in opposition would have
defected tho bill in a full house. There were but
four members absent.
Tub Wcatukr.-—While we grumble in (beae parts
•bout the Inclemency of the weather, wo might “go
farther and fare worse." • The Boston papera elate
that it hae come upon them " with A severity rarely
known.'* The snow haa fallen In Boston and vicinity
to the depth of qearly <lOO feet on a level, and In tome
places tho drifts are from throe to eight fuel deop>
and "both the city and (he country is decidedly the
moat wintry yol oedaaiohed by any of the numer<
oua and severe storms of this remarkable season.”
The,Boston Transcript says, “the highest tides of
tho year are now tunning, and the docks are full to
overflowing In some sections. Some slight injuries
by ebaflog were sustained by vessels at (ho wharves."
Suicide.— Jacob W. Smith,of Solinsgrove, Union
cocnty, Pa. committed auidlde, by hanging himself
In the garrel'of hia house, In that place, on Thurs.
day afternoon leal. For many years the deceased
was engaged In mercantile pursuits in Selinsgrove*
and was much esteemed as a oitlsen. Formerly; he
was a German Reformed Minister, and wae paator
oCaiirga congregation in that Durough, The cense
of thU rash act is unknown. Mr. Smith waa about
‘ 50 years of ege, and baa left a wife and several chil*
dran.
Powia or Imagination.— Elijah Buns, of Penn*
aylvsnli, killed a rattlcana kc In Ills field, without any
injury I* himself, end immediately after put on his
son's being of one color. He returned
to his heose, and on attempting to button hie' waist*
coat, he kiiind, to his astonishment, that it was much
llls imagination waa now wrought to a
high pilch, anfrhe instantly conceived the idea that
ho had been Imperceptibly bitten by the snake, and
was thus swollen by the poison. He grew sudden*
ly very ill,sndtook to hie bed., The fkmily in great
alarm and oonfuaion, summoned three physicians,
and the usual remedial were prescribed and admtnis.
tered. The patient however, grew worio eveiy min.
ute, until at length hie son came home with his falh.
er's waistcoat dangling about him. The mystery
waa soon unfolded, and the patient, being relieved
Rom his Imaginary apprehensions, dismissed hla
physicians, and was restored to health.
The Duehanan Rifle Corps Is the name of a now
military company just formed at Lancaster, Pa. ‘
Tho Bank of Pennsylvania.
Letter twin Mr. Bokhara.
« House or REPRESENTATIVES, } 1
Ilarrhburgt April 13, 1853. 5 i
J, IJ. B ra/fon, JStq i 1
Dear Sm—l haveread, wlihßomolnterobt, your
strictures on my course in rotation lo the Dank of
Pennsylvania, In your last paper. 1 may bo in
error, Cor no man's) judgment ie Infallible, but I
have dons what 1 believe to be right In the matter,
and in which this bank complains, that there is an
attempt to tax her dividends contrary to the terms
under which elm received her charter. 1 hold that
the Commonwealth should bo just to ail persons
under the protection of her laws, and comply with
her own engagements when they have been fairly
contracted, and that her having made a bad bar*
gain, is no ground for its non-performance. Now
persons to whom the Commonwealth is under this
obligation are of two kinds, natural persons, and
artificial persons, the latter being those which are’
the creatures of her own legislation, of which class
the banking institutions of the State constitute a
large portion.
The question at issue between this particular
bank and the State, is a mixed question of taw
and of fact. As a question of law the Common
wealth has, without doubt, by virtue of her sover
eignty, an inherent right lo tax all property within
This righl-she may exercise at all
times in taxing the capital stock, of a bank, and
all properly belonging lo a banking institution, lo
whatever extent her law making power may deem
advisable, or in accordance with sound policy.—
Bill the taxlng the dividends of a bank presents
another issue, as that is taxing the franchise or
grant, which she has already parted with, and has
no longer funder iher control, unless she has ex
pressly reserved the power In the grant itself, or
the bank does some act which amounts to a forfeit
ure of the franchise, in which case it reverts, to the
Commonwealth, and the bank no longer exists if
the Legislature sees proper to so declare. That
this is so, we hsfve the authority of the highest le*
gal tribunal of the land, the Supreme Court of (he
United Slates, as. decided-in the case of (he Ap
peal 7l(x Court vs. Gordon, 3 Howard, U, S. Re
ports, page 113. The Supreme Court in that case
say, “that,the charter of a bank is.a franchise
which is not taxable as such, (that is, no further
demand can be made 4br the grant) if a price has
been paid for it, which the Legislature accepted.
But the corporate property of the bank is separate
• frj»m the franchise, and may be taxed unless there
i is a special agreement to the contrary.** .
This was not Hie point in issue in the case de
cided, but it is a very important principle evolved
: in the discussion of the taxing power, and is most
dislin&lly and emphatically enunciated. It settles
i most conclusively that when a hank has once paid
, for her franchise, a consideration which the Legls*
lature has .accepted, that no other claim can be
* made for the franchise, unless it be reserved in the
1 charter*. All the prnppfty of the bank, and
personal, is taxed ns the property of individuals,
i and by.the act of 11th June, 1840, the capital
r stock is taxed, and these taxes ate paid without
dispute.
‘That the above decision of the Supreme Court
of the United States U in accordance with the law
as understood in Pennsylvania, U very manifest
from the fact that the Legislature have at different
times, (hat Is, in 1614,18*34, 1825-6, IB2C-7nnd
1838-9, when granting charters to banks and im
posing a tax or annuaLpayment out of the divi
dends, provided, that “if any.of the annual pay
ments shall not be made within two months after
(he first Monday in November, or if no dividends
shall have been declared and made duringthe pre>
ceeding year, (he charier of the bank so neglecting
to pay or declare, shall from henceforth be abso
lutely null and void, and of no effect whatever.”
See Smith's Lawsfor act of 3tstMarch 1814,pages
165, 166, Sec. 10—tho provisions of which act arc
followed by those above enumerated. It was thus
enacted that if the banks withheld the annual tax
or payment on (heir dividends, which was imposed
as a pari of the consideration of (he grant, then (he.
grant was declared void. The language is plainly'
this—pay'the consideratibnannually and you ahafl
enjoy the grant, If you fail to pay, the grant shall
cease. This is merely paying the price of the
franchise, and not the payment of a tax on the
franchise itself. The difference is observable in
. case of a failure (o pay the lax imposed on (he cap
ital stock, for that would not result in a forfeiture
of the chartered privileges.
There Is nothing rn the charter of the Bank of
Pennsylvania subjecting her to the payment of a
tax on her. dividends, (hough she is of course sub>
joet to the general laws of the State taxing her
capital stock and other property, such as real es
tate, &0., which she may possess.- Neither is
there any thing on the face of her charter express*
ly exempting her from a tax on dividens.
This leads us, therefore, to tho question of fact
In the case, as to whether the Legislature did so
intend to exempt her. If the Legislature did so
intend, and she so received her charter, then the
i State is bound by the bargain.
The hank was chartered as a financial measure,
at an extra session of the Legislature, called to
§ ether for the purpose of raising means for the
tate to carry on her system of internal improve
ments, at a time when her finances were embar
-1 rassed, and it was the understanding that the bank
* was to loan'the Commonwealth four millions of
dollars, and to take the loan at five dollars and a
half premium on every hundred dollars, at a lime
. when the State bonds wore under par-~whleh
would amount to a bonus of two hundred and
. twenty thousand dollars—and if the Slate bonds
t were at that time two per cent, .below par, which
was the fact I believe, it would make eighty thou
’ sand more, making in all three hnndrea thousand
dollars, which the bank paid for her charier, grant,
or franchise.
ll was also the understanding, dial ilia bank waa Han.tckar, Huplct, Jamej, (Cliaatar,) Jama., ( War.
lo act as loan commissioner for the Stale In Eu. 'anJKilboorn.Blngslay, Lilly, M Connei, M’Kc.n,
rope, for the purpose of negotiating loans in order "JTu' smm ' .’x, '
loan at ti e premium slated and negotiated other n.ibln.m.Sh.affi.r.Shigcrt,Thoms.,Vo,b!tl. Wage’ s
bonds in Europe according to this understanding. „ cr> wi ,„ nhey Sptak'r- 48. ' ■
Nine, while there no Cipro., caemplion ofnlio N*YS—Mei.r., Bigelow. Bl.ek, Bl.lr, Cr.ig, Deli
bank Irom a teiellon on her dividend. in Ilia char. Dungnn, Even., Filfc. Follmer. Freel.nd. G.be,
lor, there i. an eiproSl requirement in 'he Blh sec. Gi ,, bli e „(, ey< l| erl)er ,. Hook, Leughlin,
lion of tbopol, that she isluloan the Slue *4,000,000 Leech, M’Clu.hey, M'Cono, M'Gran.h.n, Meloy,
.151 per cent, premium on hand., bearing five per Mcyorl Mott, Rcif.nydcr, Rellcy, Schell, Shares,
cent interest; and slag by (he Oil) section, one million Souder Steward Yoal.—3o. . k
of dotlari a year for three years at live per cent ~ V ..’. , ' ‘ ...
intere.t, in lieu of on eight per cent Ux on her divl- . Yo “ hn " '? Ih ? 1 ' h “
deed., which had been prevlou.ly propced. Penn. h "* 1 ,0 b ,° « l,en nk ,° r "S*
Law. 18211-30, p.g. 88-1). By the act of 35th "°“ ld bo given an Indl.ldua , Now' Slr lhe
March. 1834. twenty four bank, were chartered and' bhlury of our legi.lalion I. dir.etly Iho re»er.c_ to
required to make, a loan to the Stale at 5 per cent. »' b " l feui «nppo.c-and It frequently' happens that>
tnloreit, but none of (hem were required to make a l| ll, ® ad of merely allowing leallinony to be-reeeivedg
loan and pay a premium upon iho amount, but all of | be Jogkl'ituro Interfere! when suits have beer*'
them fortbat reaoon were required to submit to a tnx Instituted by the Commonwealth, and relieves the
on their dividend! by the express’ tenna of their Indlvldta-il defendant entirely. But the other day an
i ohartera. There la nothing In Ihe charter of the «ol waa puaaed relieving sureties, n a cate In court,
Penn’a. bank, lo compel her load at loan commie growing out of equiUble.oansiderotione. OrUuiiißt'
1 tinner in Europe for the Stole,yet (hat waa aa clearly *? a,urfl ara elal, n* f»r damage* In lavor of Indlvldvale
the undemanding at iho time ah* waa cluttered aa a * a,n, ‘ the Slate, which are allowed at every session
that her dividends werelo be exempted from taxation ‘ ba I lake It that the Stale will not
and aha did ao act for many yean and negotiated wron fr ,n J Individual when he preaente an cqui(ab|e
moat of the loan* made there for (ho Stale. Under cs,lm ,0 1,10 Leglalaturo. So that In that particular
■uch olrcumatencea therefore, It aeema unnocnunlabfy J OO * r# wlde, J mistaken In your facte, and of court*
tlrtngo, if the Stale Intended to tax the dividends of * n vour conclusion*,
title bank, (hat U waa not ao atatod In the charter at Wh “ ! effect be gl* en lho Courl
the lime It waa granted, when that very subject mon y io ®h ■* propnaed to bo allowed in the t oaee'
waa under consideration, ann for the additional of ‘ho Ponnaylvanlaßank, is entirely uncertain.—
reason, that nearly all the charters granted by T,, ° coart niwy 10-*k upon It aa of t very.lnferior
the Bute from 1814 down, haa imposed that tax « r " de * With that wo have nothing Mo. ie It right
or expressly reserved the power todo ao—and Gen. j ahould be excluded entirely T
Purvlanee In hia argument before the Senate Com* It Is sometimes a matter of remark, that on all
mlllee elated expressly that “this Institution woe not questions where a bank is one of the parties, there
made subject in (ho dividend (ax impoaed by the acta! is n class of persona, who, influenced by their pro
of 1813,1694 and *2s,** Now this la a moat prog- judloes and passions, will oppose the bank, wheth
nant and significant (act, for these seta arc all broad nr right or wrong, btenute it to'a Bank, and for no
iln their tormv, and (ha act of 1835 expressly j more potent rcaaon. I maintain that a bonk Is en*
provide, that ••the aevern! bank, of this enmmon. titled lo even handed Justice as much aa any olher
WS' ? f tM °?. P*r‘on, under the laws of the land, and that when,
thelrdivldenda,shall hereafter pay intotho treasury” arA **..11.M. r„ <i. r.lv.
&o. But yet the bank of Pennsylvania waa not U,or ® " ro oonarteratlona tn M« favor
included, .nd yet Ihe.e l.w. were gen.r.l In their C'°'*lng nut of cither express or imj.l led contrcotcj
eppllo.tlon, end Ineluded ell h.nk. not exempted by '"Y “ ,lm,ld b " W' b f'>"Y cnnlod Into efleot. JC
l.w. If Cilia h.nk wee exempted by it. ehxrler, then '»■ Oommonwenlih is nut fairly nnd Justly entitled
It could nut be reached by subsequent legislation. If • apprehend that elie dove not want it.
not exempted it would have been aubjeot to the tax o ‘ ber coorcc ‘o be observed by a sovereign >
laws in exialenee when its charter was granted, or Stale, would bo disreputable nnd disgrace It Intb*
st all events would havo been reached by (ho aol of °f the world. Necessity may sotnatimes bo
1635, as the language of that sot Is broad and urged as an oxouso for n faithless observineo of
oondailve. But on the contrary (bli power was contracts, but it Is a miserable excuse, snd the his
never stismptsd lo be exercised over the dividends lory of Pennsylvania legislation hat furnished
of this bank, until 1850, twenty ytOft after tbtf
oliarlfli was granted.
It la no argument to any, as Mr. Pnrvinnco (fof
whom personally and professionally 1 entertain d
high respect) line paid, and whoso remarks on that
subject before tho Oommllleo on Finance of lh(f
Banale, you have embraced In your article—that
llio State herself hold a portion of this atock, (iWcf
fifths 1 believe,) up until 1843—for that was n</
reason why tho other threo fifths of tho stock shoultf
not bo taxed on Its dividends if the power existed*'
Out the power was not claimed until seven years' .
after (ho Slate had sold all her slock In thin bank*
When claimed in 1860, It waa oven then as art
aftoMhoughl, by virtue of the aot of 1848, which -•
subjected all banka to.a tax on their dividendtf<ufiV
less expretsly exempted. The history of the not
of 1848,1 happen to know nil about. The section /
imposing this (ax was offered by Mr. Darsie f .a -
Whig Senator from tho county of Allegheny, .as •
part of an omnibus bill, and was intended to reach
a bank chartered in Philadelphia, at that eesslon,
which tax had been inadvertently omitted when
the charter was granted. That it was not deemed
applicable at the time to the Bank of Pennsytva- ‘
nia, by the Accounting Departments of the Govern
ment, Is manifest from the fact of their not having
made (he claim on that bank; although it was made
on others, for two years afterwards—and it was .
then first suggested to them-by Mr. Hart, a Whig
member of the Legislature at that time from the
city of Philadelphia, aa an experiment, and who
has so slated on the.floor of the House, in debate
on this question during the present session. ' It is
not at ali improbable that the suggestion came
originally from rival institutions in the city, of
Philadelphia, who were subjected by the terms of
their charters to a lax on their dividends.- < •
The accounting officers, however, deserve great
credit for their vigilance in endeavorlng-to bring '
all (ho means into the treasury, which can be
reached, at a time when the Commonwealth needs
them. But it must be recollected that those State
. officers who were, conversant with the history of
the legislation of the State, at the time this. bonk
was chartered, Jmye passed from the stage of pub
’ lie life, and new men who are hot thus.conversant,
have taken their places, and it is not to be won--
dered at, if mistakes under such ctrcumslances.oc
cur in making claims of ibis kind. . An. instance
| of this kind was manifested in the casaof the claim
‘ for taxes on the Delaware and . Hudson-. Canal
Company, made by Mr. Purvlantfe, while he waa
1 Auditor General, whiclt claim amounted losome
' eighty thousand dollars, and after a good, deal of,
' expense was Incurred in prosecuting it, it. was .
! eventually decided by the Supreme Court, within
the last two years, against the Commonwealth.*—
* It may he considered exceedingly doubtful wheih
* er this claim against the Bank of Pennsylvania
1 would ever have been urged, had-not the bank it
-1 self presented a claim against the Slate f«r com-
I pensalion for clerk hire, &c,, in keeping tho Irans
* far books of the Commonwealth, ami other books
’ necessary to be kept as the depository of the publle'
* funds of the State, Id which capacity she baa been
' acting to a greater or lesser extent, ever since alto
* has had.a legal existence.- •
I . You have referred to the decision-of the SupreHie
-1 Court of this Slate delivered by Judge Belli in l the -
ease of the Commonwealth v». (lie .Gaston Dank.— ’
Thai caseisnot poralell whlt.-thist for in tlieMih ;
section of the charter of (he Gallon Omk. piaaed i
April 7lh, 1835, (he-Stale expressly.reserves -the ;
power Jo.make all auch requisitions as lo bonus, Or
increase of lex dividcr.de, lo be paid lo the common*, i.
wealth* aa a consideration fur (ho privileges granted, >
ea now by hw ere demanded, or aa the Legislature
may el any lime hereafter impoee.
That this ease Is not such a*oneas dial presented
in the case of (ho Easton Bank, is made the more
meoirest from an opinion given by Judge Bell him
•eir, under date of March let,-1853,' Wherein “ho
explains (he difference. I herewith enefose yon that -
opinion, and hope you may find' room for It in'yoar .
columns at no distant day, salt is quite conclusive .
on this sobjoot. It is true that in thennO casehe •
gave his opinion as a judge, end in the other ae-e
lawyer, bnt that could hardly detract from lie value
on so grave e subject. ‘ ».
. I think 1 have shown.most conclusively in my- 1
argument on this subject in the legislature, which 3
argument hue not yet been published,-that thie
bank is not liable to the lax on now
claimed. But whether ormot, let the courl deler
mine. As a measure of compromise between the.
Slate and the bank, in order that no injustice might
be .done to either party in determining the qdeeiTort.
of fad in iesne, as .to the intention of (he Legists*
tore, which granted this charter, and as.to the eon- .
tract entered into between tho parties, I. offered an'
amendment, to the bill pending in the House, which
bill was lo expressly exempt the bank, from ible
tax. It was offered as a substitute to the whole
bill, end is as follows, with some slight modifies- .
lions, which 1 made before the vote was taken: -.
•• That in Hie cise of th'o Commonwealth sgainsl
the Bank of Pennsylvania now pending in the Cqurl. ■■
of Common Pleas of Dauphin county, andthat may.
be hereafter, insliluled in said Court, (ho journals ,
of the House of Representatives and of the Senate,,
ond official proceedings of said House, for (he years
1829 and 1630 are hereby made evidence (o explain
the intention of the Legislature, it the lime, the said
bank was re.chartered; and if ll ahalt appear (b tho
court upon inspection of the act of incorporation in '
connection with the practice of the Government, and
tho journals and official proceedings aforesaid, (hat
it was the intention of tho Legislature to exempt Ihef *
said Bank from payment of lax on dividends, that»
then, and in (hat ease, the third aeotion of (he eel
• (u which thia is a supplement shall not he construed:
to extend to tho president, discolors, and company,of,
of the Bonk of Pennsylvania.” . , u .
On this proposition (here were bn Its passage
through second reading 46 votes in Its favor, apdbul
30 votes egainat if. Of them In Us favor 25 ware ,
Ooinocrfrs and 91 were Whigs—and of those against'
it 11 were Whigs. The yeas end nays are as
fullowa:
Yeas.—Messrs, Anderson, AppUlon, Benedict,
Beyer, Bonham, Brnomall,Chandler,Flanigan,Fralx,
Olllit, Goodwin, Glosser, Hamilton, Hart, Huhbel,