aScAN VOIMTEER.
JO® B. BEATTON, Editor S Proprietor,
"“CARLISLE, 'pa.. MARCH 30, 1864.
Democratic State Ticket:
GOVERNOR:
WILLIAM BIGLER,
OF CLEAUFIED COUNTY.
JUDGE OF THE SUPREME COURT.
JEREMIAH S.BLACK,
OF 80MRB9ET COUNTY.
C'VN-U. COMMISSIONER:
HENRY S, MOTT,
OF PIKE COUNTY.
[UT'TVe return thanks to His Excellency JonK
Bigler. Governor of the State of California, for
a neat pamphlet copy of his eloquent Inaugural
Address, delivered 7lh of January, 1854.
The Nebraska Bill. —This important meas
ure has boon referred to the Committee of the
Whole in the V. S. House of Representatives.
This is regarded by its enemies f 1.9 an Indication
that it will be lost in that bodv. The better
opinion, however, is that the discussion will be
prolonged, and that in the course of time it will
become a law.
llicn Winds.—Wo hour, ns usual, of some
damage from the high winds that have prevailed
during the past two weeks. In some places
fences were blown down, in others bams, while
not a few ancient houses and stables were more
or less dilapidated.
TlMHijuTioN to Nebraska. —According to
S(. Louis papers, emigration from the northern
and western Slates, has sot in strong for the
Nebraska territory. The fight in Congress
about slavery, does not seem to deter the liardy
pioneer from seeking a home there, while the
prospect of gov eminent protection gnes impulse
to enterprise.
w v- -
TitK 1 loin- or .bin \ Caliioi n. —The Keo
tree C.) ('himm states (hat Fort Hill has
bivn pnreba-.<l hv Col A I*. Calhoun, from
Ins mother. Mu Flonde Calhoun, relict of the
laic Ilmj. .1. C. Calhoun, and will be mimed ia-
Hy on-upied b\ him. lie returns to Ins native
Slate with an ample fortune, accumulated on
the fruitful -oil of Alabama, and hereafter the
visitin' to the saemi precincts of Fort Hill will
bo entertained hy the son in a manner worthy
ol >o distinguished a father.
trT-Tbo I'mhibitun State Committee, at a
meeting in Harrisburg on Monday, adopted a
resolution in t.w ~r m lidding a Prohibitory State
Convention in Harrisburg, on Wednesday, the
Tlhol June next .to nominate a Pmbibiiorv State
Ticket.
-U is said that no
TitK < I IU iMlTli I ITY
apprehension an eno named at Washington of
a rupture with .Npain m coii'-equonce of the
B'aek Warrior nlluir It is thought that the
dillicultv will W settled honorably to Ijolh par
ties.
The Ci i.iurAi. Protest.— The debate which
occurred in the Tinted States Senate. on the
prescti'afton of the great petition of 3050 cler
gv-nicn and college professors, is to be published
in full eiiibiacing the speeches of Messrs. Hous
ton. Kvcreii. S’wnrd. Mason, Petit, Butler,
Douglas. Ac It make® an interesting episode
in Coiici iv-munl annals.
Til I ■ iui * rM'.s in Mu. -Soi i ?
\< i k ''Mi s * M i‘ 11 ''n ii. j.riMile v mrccs th.it
- i.t\ M.ir-'y • Ims iii-trm t. il Mr Smile, our
Mmi'tcr at Madrid, to make tin 1 demand lor in.
dmiiiity ami iqi<il<>g\ m Uic imisl fterentjilot y
manner; .u.'l should lilt* Spanish government
liciiUitt*, i>r i-iii <>ll il•» n-ph . under pretence nl
wait-mg l<>r iM.-rii nii'-n (>oin ll.nunn.Mi Soule
i-t.i !..«>• ii-i iam in coiiiiiiumt-aiinjr the fuel to
Winhiugti.ii, u li-'ii om government will proceed
iiiKl.inU'i lo Mockade m n Cuban port.
Hi. uiiof M \ i--K lli-nmi: -Maj. S R. llou
utk, First \ -i'iaul Tost-Ma-'ler General, died
at his nsidetice m Washington city, on Thurs
duv of lasi work, after a protracted illness. —
His disease win consumption. V e sincerely
regret the death of thi« estimable man ami el
111-lent pullin' otliei-r It was our pleasure to
l>e p<Tonally acquainted with him. and no one
will accuse us of exaggeration when we say that
as a pullin' olllcer in the PoKt-olllee Department,
the < im ermm nt never had his superior if ever
his equal. He wus honest, prompt, energetic
ami obliging, and a gentleman in demeanor.—
In his death the tiovermnent has lost a most
valuable otli-er. and the community in which
he lived a worthy and highly esteemed .citizen.
Peace to his ashes.
Disasters on’ oi u M kstek.v Rivers. The
St. Ixmis Evening News says that during the
two months, January and February, twenty
three steamers were sunk, burnt or blown up
on the Mississippi river ami its tributaries, and
two destroyed by lire on the Savannah—invol
ving the Ins'S of near two hundred lives, and
mure than a million dollars worth of property.
The records of the present month will greatly
swell this fearful list of mortality. Within the
last few days we have received accounts of the
loss of the steamer Caroline and J. L. Avery
upon the Mississippi, and the Reindeer upon the
Ohio river—hurrying, in all, one hundred and
lift ecu souls, without warning or preparation
Into eternity.
{•nr Portraits of eminent Americans now liv
ing t Including President Pierce and Ida cabinet:
with Biographical and Historical Memoirs ol
their Lives and Actions. By John Livingston,
oftheNew York Bar. Complete in one volume.
Thia volume contains 650 pages, octavo, with ,
00 lino steel portraits mode from daguerreotypes,
expressly for tlio work. The engravings alone
have cost over five thousand dollars.
The portraits arc all engraved from dapier--
ecotypes. In the floest style of the art, and are
undoubtedly correct. We can vouch lor the
remarkable (IdcUly of tho likenesses of those
persons will, whoso faces wo are larall ar. This
truly national work 1. creditable to the ahll y
and enterprise of Mr. Llvlagslon. and should
edorn every public and private library in Uio
country. Ills plan Is to -‘no creed or class con
fined,” but embraces clergymen, lawyers, doe
tors, soldiers, statesmen, Ammeters
manufacturers, and fannera-ln short, dl, “£
gl.Uhocl diving representatives of J do P a^
. ■ meat of American society. To espatlsto on the
K Wao'fflfmcU a work would he superfluous, ns K
||jl«|m.nd itself to Universal favor. .
THE NEBRASKA BILL AND THE HABBISBUBB
TELEGRAPH.
The week J)r«utotta to the fcsscmloling of the
late Federal State Conventtart, to nominate Can
didates for Qovembr, Canal Commissioner, and
Judge of the Supreme Court, the Harrisburg
Telegraph , the organ of that party at the scat
of Government, volunteered a few words of ad
vice to the Delegates.!© whom had been entrust
ed the delicate duty of nominating the ticket.—
On the subject of Senator Dougins’ Nebraska
Bill, the Telegraph advised that the Whigs
should r ‘ keep hands off,” and remain os neutral
as possible. But we shall quote the Telegraph's
own language. In that paper of March 15, (the
day of the assembling of the Federal Conven
tion, ) we find the following:
“ The Nebraska Bill, which has recently passed
the Senate, and is now awaiting the action of |
the House, is creating an unusual excitement
throughout the country, and bids fair to uproot
all party lines. The late Locofoco convention
was aware of the difficulty this question was
liable to create, and therefore refused to take
any action upon it. Now as every thing is “ fair
in war,” wo think we should not hastily commit
ourselves upon a question which the masses of
the people do not yet understand. We may nomi
nate a candidate for Governor whoso views upon
this question may be obnoxious to the masses)
and we cannot a convention at this time,
p able to tell what the views of Ike people are upon
this question. Time has not been allowed them to
examine it. There is one thing we hope, that the
'.onveniion will not take hasty action upon this
question , but will be governed by policy and the
wish of thepcople
Such were the Telegraph's views, such its
advice to its party friends, before the meeting
of the Federal Convention. Well, the Conven
tion met, and. os a large majority of the dele-
gates composing it were free sorters and abol
itionists, of course the Nebraska bill had to he
denounced in unmeasured terms—the advice of
the Telegraph was disregarded by the Conven
tion, and the following resolution was adopted
as part of the “ "Whig platform
“ Resolved, That the provision In the Kansas
and Nebraska Bill, now before Congress, which
effects and repeals the Missouri Compromise, is
a deliberate breach of plighted faith and public
compact, a high-handed attempt to force slavery
into a vast territory nTtw free from it by law, a
reckless renewing of a quieted agitation, and
therefore meets the stern, indignant ami unani
mous condemnation of the Whig party of the
Commonwealth ol Pennsylvania.”
We expected, as a matter of course, that the
Telegraph, aflcr having used the language wc
havequoled from its columns, would havcindo
peudendence enough to maintain its position—
wc exported to see it administer a mild hut
pointed rebuke to the Convention for having
failed to adopt the plan and take the advice it
had volunteered. But. the Telegraph, apamel
hkc, “ backed water,” and instead of defending
its own position, actually applauds the Conven
tion for pursuing the very opposite course of
that it suggested. If this is not sycophancy
double-distilled, we know not what is. Just
see how that dignified sheet speaks of the rebuke
it received at the hands of its own parly friends.
We now quote from that paper of March 18. fits
first issue after the adjournment of the Federal
Convention.) Speaking of the “Whig Plat
form,” adopted by the Convention, it remarks :
“ Uponthe Nebraskaand Kansas Bill of Scnntoi
Douglas, the platform is clear and plain, and
meets the hearty approval of the citizens of Penn
sylvania, now so indignantly aroused at this base
attempt to renew the agitation of o quieted ques
tion in violation of sacred compacts. Nut like
the cowardly Locofoco Convention which shirk
ed this Important measure, it denounces it in
proper and unmeasured terms. But this dodge
of'the Locofoco Convention came too late to save
the Party from disgrace. That Convention
passed n resolution approving of (he course of
Senator Brodlitmd, who voted for this Bill In the
Senate on the ever memorable Saturday morn-
ing. By tins act tin l I.ocofoco Parly of Penn
sylvania stands committed in favor of this mea
sure. and every attempt to U bv Coventor
Bigler or his satellites will only expose their
weakness, their bipocrisy and their villainy.”
-The New
Now, as the Trlfirraph is so fond of applying
vulgar epithets lo the Democratic party, for
having as il says. 11 shirked” this ipieslion, will
that immaculate sheet inform its renders what
side of the question it occupies 1 One week the
editor says •* the people do not understand the
question,” and therefore appeals to his parly
friends not to commit themselves for or against
the measure. The week following he thinks
the people do understand it, and the editor hear
tily approve* of the resolution of the Conven
tion in which the measure is condemned * This
is, to say the least, a humiliating position for
the Whig organ to occupy.
And yet. notwithstanding Iris own equivocal
and awkward position, the editor of the Tele
prnph thunders forth indignant anathamns at
the late Democratic State Convention for hav
ing pursued the very course he recommended
the Whig Convention to pursue! What the
editor thought to be the right course for his
own party, he considers “ dishonest and cow
ardly” in the Democrats. How characteristic
of Federalism —a want of fairness, honesty and
manliness, is now and always has been the
principal features of that miserable pie-bald par
ty. They adhere to no policy, and have trim
med their sails so often, for the purpose of satis
fy ing abolitionism, frecsoilistn, native-American
ism, and a dozen other isnu, that they have
now no platform they can call their own. Every
plank of the old whig platform, ns recognized
by Clay, Webster and Fillmore, have been aban
doned, one by one, and the once great whig
party is almostif not entirely extinct. Hcqtucs
cal m pace.
A word in conclusion in regard to the taunts
of the Federal press because of the course of
the late Democratic State Convention in “ dodg
ing” the Nebraska question. Wc say boldly |
and emphatically tliat the Democracy of Penn- ;
sylvnnia are in favor of the Nebraska Bill, and
we feel authorized in saying also, that a very
largo majority of the Delegates to the Democrat
ic State Convention wore ready, had an oppor
tunity been allbrdcd them, to have endorsed the
measure by their votes. It was the President
of the Convention, and not the Convention itself,
that refused to entertain the motion to endorse
•the Nebraska bill. Wc condemned the course
of Judge Shannon (the President of the Convcn
i tion,) because of his arbitrary course, and in
doing so wo feci that wc spoke the sentiments
of nineteen-twentieths of the Democrats of
Pennsylvania. Wo desire no “ dodging” in a
Democratic Convention—wo prefer boldness and
decision on all great national subjects. W o aro
ready and willing to join Issue with the Whigs
and their allies, the abolitionists, on this ques
tion, without the least fear as to the result.—
Xher? area few " National Whigs” who despise
tbo trading course of their party, and who aro
ready to Join the democracy to •• crush out”
abolitionism wherever it may exhibit its hydra
head.'; . • •
Tan New To* Central Railroad Company,
have prohibited the sale of spiritons Uquofs at
the victualling stations.
CLERICAL PRESUMPTION, *
It ia a matter of history, that whenever tho
clergy have dabbled in politics, it has been, (with
a few honorable exceptions,) in bad taste, With
little knowledge, arrogant pretensions, dogmat
ical manners, and against the rights of tho pco-'
pic and republican government. They have
always been tho stoutest defendersof despotism,
and tho last to yield to enlightened reform.—
Such has been especially true wherever they
hod political power, by a meretricious union
between Church and State. The most, zealous
opponents of all liberal movements in England
at the present day, whereby the people of that
country might bo elevated to the standard of
freedom, are the lords spiritual and the clerical
influence of that country. In every advance to
, reform in tho British Parliament, the clergy
have been the most stubborn in opposition, and
the last to yield to the necessities of the times
and the rights of the people. They have always
been clogs upon the wheels in all the advances
towards free government. When Franco was
struggling against feudal despotism and kihgly '
tyranny, the priests of that country defended
the powers of the Crown and justified .the cruel
despotism which ground to the dust on honest
1 an confiding peasantry, until by repeated in
dignities that peasantry rose in their might, and
the bitter waters thus pent up swept away the
mounds of priestly and kingly arrogance, and
landed the nation in the broad plains of avowed
j and open infidelity.
Thc framers of our own admirable Coftstilu
tion feared this danger and wisely prohibited all
connection between Church and State, provid
ing that “ Congress shall make no law respect
ing an establishment of religion,” well knowing
from the history of the past, that the purity of
religious doctrine could only be preserved by its
defenders being set apart and excluded from all
contamination with the turbid waters of politi
cal affairs. It was thus done, in the spirit of
our Divine Master, who enjoined upon his fol
lowers “ to render unto Ctcsar the tilings that
are Ciusar’s.”
The wisdom of the framers of our Constitu
tion in thus separating spiritual and temporal
affairs in the administration of the government,
has been abundantly verified in our own politi
cal history. Certain ambitious divines, at dif
ferent critical periods in our own government,
have endeavored to mould public sentiment in
favor of arbitrary laws, quid to breed discord,
turbulence and disunion, and to speak in a tone
of arrogance, ill suited to the precepts of our
holy religion. They have shown a greedy grasp
ing after political power and influence, detri
mental alike to the principles of enlightened
freedom and our republican institutions—anti
patriotic. and endangering the stability of the
Government itself.
In the reign of the elder Adams, the pulpit
fulminated in fiery indignation at those wno
were displeased at the alien and sedition laws,
or expressed any disapprobation of the manifest
monarchical tendencies which characterized his
administration. As indicative of the clerical
sentiment of that day, we ne<*d only refer to
the remarks of Dr. Parrish m 1708, as being a
type of the whole class of clerical agitators :
“ Your public characters, said he, are your
own choice. Watch those ungrateful souls U
murmur about taxation and oppression, the bu
dons of government and religion. They hav
fellowship with our enemies—they are traitors U
(rod and Christianity. Be jealous of those who
declaim against alien and sedition laws. They
probably have a hankering after lying and rebel
lion themselves.”
Vet this political and clerical doctor and man
of peace, cried aloud for war with France.—
••Cursed be he that keepeth hack the sword
from blood.” was his fanatical cry in 1799.
Such clerical medlars have an instinctive ten
dency to sustain Federalism when in power,
and to aid the same element to obtain power, m
opposition to Democratic men and Democratic
measures. Hence the cry for submission to the
black cocdodc Federal tyranny of 1798. Hence
the cry for war with revolutionized & republican
France in 1799—and the cry for peace and low
ing our necks to the yoke of haughty Britain m
the war of 1812. The same Reverend Doctor j
Parrish who cried for “blood” in 1 1 99, declaim-}
ed against blood in 1814. and then denounced j
the Democratic Administration of Mr. Madison I
and those who sustained the war with Great
Britain; in the moat unmeasured terms. I
“ Let every man,” said he, “ who sanctioned
this war by his suffrage or his influence, re
member he was tailoring to cover himself and
his country with blood;” and in denouncing
the Democratic party of that day. lie said; “A
new language must he invented before we at- ,
tempt to express the baseness of their conduct,
or describe the rottenness of their hearts.”
The Rev. Dr. Osgood said of the war of 1812: 1
“If at the command of weak or wicked rulers, i
they undertake an unjust war, each man who 1
volunteers his service in such a cause, or loans j
his money for Its support, or by his conversation, ,
his writings, or any other mode of influence, en
courages its prosecution, that ham is an accom
plice IN THE WICKEDNESS, LOADS 1118 CONSCIENCE
WITH THE BLACKEST CHIMES. 11RINOS THE GUILT
OF BLOOD UPON lILS SOUL. AND IN THE
SIGHT OF GOD AND HIS LAW IS A MUK
! DEREK.”
We might fill our columns for weeks with
such theological stuff, in denunciation of the
war of 1812. The pulpit groaned with treason
to the country. Those who arc curious in such
matters can consult the pages of the “Olive
| Branch,” by Matthew Curoy, where they will
■ bo surprised to find the many and damning
' evidences of the want of patriotism among the
1 clergy of that period, and their sympathy with
j Great Britain.
Again they fulminated against the admission
1 of Texas, the war with Mexico, the Compromise
I of 1850 —and now they arc waging a holy wnr
| fare, “in the name of Almighty God, against
| the “Nebraska bill !”
I Some three thousand clergymen of New Eng
land have forwarded a manorial to the Senate
: of the United States on this subject, of a most
remarkable choraotcr. It is as follows;
« The undersigned, clergymen ol different re
ligious denominations in Now L nglftnd, horoby,
i„ the name of Almighty God and In his pres
ence, do solemnly protest against the paowgo of
what Is known as the Nebraska bill, or any re
peal or modification of existing legal proh bi
llons of slavery in that part of national do
main which It Is proposed to organize Into tho
territories of Nebraska and Kansas.
Wo protest against It as a groat moral' wnmg.
as a broach of faith eminently litfurlou# to «ho
moral principles of tho community, and e«b™r
aWo of all confidence In national engagements ?
as a measure full of danger to tho peace ana
oven existence of our beloved Union? and ex
i posing us to tho righteous Judgments of thq Al-1
mighty.
1 And your proteatantß, ns In duly bound, will
1 over pray; Dated at Boston, Massachusetts, the
j first dky of March, A. D. 1864.”
I Thus tho clergymen speak of a bill embody-,
linfe thfl.great principles of popular sovereignty,
and the right of the people to regulate their own
domestic affairs, and which has received the
sanction of two-lhirds.pf the. Senate of the TJ.
States. The bill Introduces slavery nowhere,
but throws the subjeotout of Congress for the
people to settle for themselves... The clause re-,
lating to slavery,-as it passed the Senate, is m
these words: ■ - '
«It being the true Intcrcst-and moantag of ;
this act not to legislate slavery into nnylemtory
or State,nor to exclude it therefrom , but to leave
tho pcbplo thereof perfectly free to-form end
regulate their domestic institutions in their own
way, subject only to the constitution- of the
United States.”
Yet this true DemhCratih principle, thisesscnco
of the Democratic creed, is denounced by these
New England clergymen, under their sign man
ual at Boston, Massachusetts, “in the name of
Almighty God,” and os “ exposing us to the
righteous judgments of the Almighty.
By what warrant do they thus speak ? Do
-they find it in Ilia Holy AVord ?—or hare they
had a special revelation on this subject? Priestly
tyranny has in all ages committed the moat
heinous crimes “in the name of Almighty
God." It is easy to huddle together and cry,
“We arc the people of the I-ord—we arc tho
people of the Lord.” But whence comes this
infallibility on the Nebraska question, and the
right to speak in His name and to denounce His
judgments 1 la it secret, or traditional, or to
be found in the open pages of His Holy Book ?
Whence conies their warrant T The intelligent
people of America will not now he satisfied with
mere assumptions. They are either speaking
truly in His name or uttering the most horrid
blasphemy. Whence, then, their authority ?
How comes their knowledge on this question so
much above the range of the h nowledge of other
men, when in the common affairs of life, and
especially in political mailers, they are gener
ally notoriously ignorant ? Ho they even agree
upon the fundamentals of religious doctrines?
On this subject an able contemporary, the Bos
ton Post, remarks:
“ Have not eclefdastical councils been as note,
rious for their dogmatism as their turbulence ?
It was this feature as to them that prompted Dr.
Ely, a distinguished Prcshjlerum dome to re
mark, in deploring this dissension, ‘there was a
jubilee in bell every time (he Presbyterian As
sembly came together.’ Tins was said as to the
members of a single sect. Suppose an assembly
of all the sects represented b\ these three thou
sand protestants • in the name <>t A (mighty Ciod’
should be held: uh.it serf <>l a jubilee would
there be in Satan's kingdom Mien ( Would nut
the devils have a carvinul f And are such to be
allowed the claim of infallibility I"
We were gratified to see the spirit with which
this presumptions momunal was received by
Senators clothed with the authority of the peo
ple. It is a good omen, that weare many years
removed from the bondage of priestcraft, which
is equally ns detestable as the bondage of king*,
craft. They have tried Imth m the old world ;
may it be a long time before they shall obtain
a foothold in the new. On the presentation and
reading of the memorial, Mr. Douglas said :
“I hold it in our duty to impose the conduct !
of men who, either from ignorance, or wilful
false knowledge will aviil llicmsi-lvcs of their
sacred calling to arraign the conduct of Senators
here in the discharge of tin ir duties. 1 hold
that this Senate Is as capable of lodging whether
our action involves moral turpitude; whether it
involves the subversion of morals; whether it
subjects us to the judgment of the Almighty, ns
are these political preathors, who do not under
stand the question. It la evident that those men
know not what thoy are talking about. It is
evident that they ought to ho rebuked, and re
quired to confine themselves to their vocation,
instead of neglecting Uidr holy religion and vio
lating Its sacred princlnfcis* and truth and honor.
and getting upo document hero which fs offen
sive, and which no gentleman enh endorse with
out violating all the rules of courtesy, propriety,
and of honor.”
Mr. Mason said:
<> In their character OB ministers they have the
temerity to threaten tho. Senate with the venge
ancc ami judgments of the Almighty, whom they
profess to servo. Such language was not res
pectful coming from any petitioners. But min
isters of the gospel as such, were unknown to
the constitution or to our forms of government,
ami find forbid they ever should be known to it.
It was tho wise policy of our fathers, imd it has
been the universal desire of the people to keep
ministers of tho gospel, as such, and the govern
ment os wide apart as possible, and the wisdom
of that policy was made manifest to-day by the
paper now lying on tho table. Thu History of
the world lias shown the evils of recognizing
i ministers of the gospel as tunning any part of
I our government. In all countries, and in all
i times, when vested with power they proved the
| most arrogant of all others. On this occasion
i they come here, and in the name of the Almighty
(jod, they invoke his vengeance upon us for onr
action on a political measure. Let three thou
sand citizens of Now England, nr three hundred
thousand, or all New England come here, and as
citizens of the United States, and protest, as is
their right, against any legislative action, and
their protest will he treated respectfully. But
these men do not come here as citizens. They
come here as ministers of (Jod."
Mr. Butler said:
“ He had always entertained the highest respect
for ministers of the gospel. Mis respect was so
high that ho would almost submit to their rebuke
(or an act performed in hi* official capacity.—
But that respect was for them in their appropriate
and sacred calling, ami when they abandoned
their duty, descended from their high position—
when thoy forgot the religion o< the Lamb, and
mingled with the waters ol the turbid pool of
political strife, his respect no lunger continued,
i Those memorialists have quitted the pulpit, and
| have taken their place in the political arena, and
■ they speak as viceregenls of God on earth, am:
) presume, In his name, solemnly to pronounce
I upon the Senate, the judgments of the Al
; mighty.”
Mr. Pettit said :
“The Senator from Sorith Carolina said In
had grunt respect for clergymen, so long as the!
robes were unspotted, and they did not dahhl
in the polluted waters of the pool of politics.-
He would Agree with tho Senator if he thong)
the pool of politics was any more polluted thu
tho stagnant waters of the pool of contradictory
theology, in which these clergymen lived. He
believed the pool of politics far more pellucid,
clean, healthy and beneficial than the stagnant
waters which surround tho contradictory creed
and dogmas of those men no two of whom could
ogreo upon any particular point of theology—
The Senate had an officer chosen for his ability
and Information, who was a brother clergyman,
whoso duty It was to expound divine law to tho
Senate, and ho would, therefore, If the motion
be In order, move to refer this memorial to tho
Reverend Henry Sheer, chaplain of tho Senate,
w[th instructions to inquire and report to tho
Senate whether tho Nebraska bill was In viola,
tion of tho law of God, and whether tho Senate
wan In donger of having Invoked tho Judgment
and condemnation of Heaven by passing it.—
rLoud laughter.] If Mr. Sheer decided in the
affirmative, ho would bo willing to revoke his
action and would use his best endeavors to in
duce tiio House to send tho bill back to tho Sen
ate.”
Mr. Douglas again said:
„ What was this assumption of the name and
power of the Almighty, hut an attempt to oßtob.
lish in this country the doctrine that the clergy
have the supremo right to determine and pro
nminco the will of God on all subject*, and par
ticularly In relation to the political action of
rnmrroflß 1 It was'an attempt to sot up theo
cracy. It was an attempt to put the
of the country in the hands and under the con.
trol of the church. No bolder attempt than this
was over made by the church Iri tlflßwostdoapo.
" ho rT^
they must receive, as tha Divine Will, wha
they receives from the church. If thla preten
sion of. thd clergy bo now aAnctioned, rff, Ques
tions muat be referred, to th,o clergy for approval
before Congress shall' .act. The memorial pur
ports to speak, in tho name of the Almighty, and
in that hatno protests against thp bill. It tells
Congress plainly that the gates of Heaven are
closed, unless wo obey tho behests of the Abo
litionists.
We had supposed that all such clerical dicta
tion would be confined to New England, which
in so many respects has followed the ideas of
, Old England. But in this, we are sorry to say,
we have been mistaken. A remonstrance has
| lately been forwarded to the House of Represon-
I tativ.es of the United States, by " ministers of
the Gospel residing in the cities of Pittsburgh
land Allegheny, and vicinity, in the State of
Pennsylvania,” against the “Nebraska bill,”
now before Congress, headed “Remonstrance
|of the Clergy of Pittsburgh against the Ne
braska hill," and couched in nearly the same
' language as the New England memorial: pro
fessing to speak “in the name of God and re
ligion, in the name of humanity and liberty ,'for
the honor of our country and its influence over
the world.” This looks badly for Pennsylva
nia. But such agitation in this Democratic
State must ever bb local and harmless. Such
sentiments find no favor with the mass of our
people, and it is a pretty bold venture on the
part of the clergy on popular forbearance.
In the mean time, the agitation of the aboli
tionists proper proceeds os usual, in the pulpit
and out of it. Henry Ward Beecher, of New
York, Theodore Parker, of Boston, Dr. Elam
Smalley, of Worcester, and others, in the pul
pit, and Mr. Giddings and others in Congress,
and Mr. Grccly and others in the public press
of the day, pray for the dissolution of thcUnion,
and denounce the Constitution of our common
country.
King George the Third once called Tx>rd
Chatham “ a trumpet of sedition.” a term ex
ceedingly applicable, but for far different rea
sons, to the political clergy of the day.
New Hampshire Election. —The State elec
tion in New Hampshire, took place on the 21st
inst. Owing to local causes, the usual Demo
cratic majority has hecn considerably
but as the Whigs have been confidently pre
dicting a total defeat for us, we si ill have aright
to claim the result as a Democalir victory. Col.
Raker, (Democrat) is elected Governor by a
clear majority of about 1,400. The Senate is
Democratic by 8 majority, and the Concord
Patriot claims the election of 100 Democrats to
145 of the Opposition to the House. It con
cedes. however, that several members, claimed
os Democrats, were elected in opposition to regu
lar nominations. We may lose theU. S. Sena
tor who is to be elected next year, but this is
by no means as certain ns the Whigs are trying
to persuade themselves to believe.
SriT for Damages.— The Rochester Dcm
rrnt says that a daughter of Mr. William R.
Smith. ofMacedon, married clandestinely a man
named Bennett, and she was forcibly taken n-
way from her husband, on the public highway,
by her father and grandfather. The husband
instituted proceedings against the girl’s rela
tions, some time since, when the jury failed to
agree. He again commenced a few days since,
a suit against the Smiths on an action for dam-
ages in the detention of his wife, for loss of
services: and, after a protracted trial, recovered
a verdict of £1,260 damages.
Extraordinary Divorce Case. — A very
mge divorce case is now before the Legisla
;of this Stale. S* rah Elizabeth Ross peti-
is to be divorced from Benjamin C. Ross.
The lady, at the time of her marriage, was
insane. Mr. Ross was aware of her condition,
but married Iter because her father was very
wealthy, and she not likely to live long ; or, in
plain words, because he expected to make mo
ney by the transaction ! The lady has since
recovered her reason and her health, and declares
upon her oath that she was not conscious of
ever having been married. The evidence fully
makes out that Ross inveigled her into mar
riage, by taking advantage of her imbecility,
and without the knowledge of her friends.
.—We learn that Colonel T. B
.nwrcnce, son of the Hon. Ahbot Lawrence, of
Boston, and attache to the American legation
in London, has U-en united in wedlock to Miss
Matrimonial
izabeih Chapman, the accomplished daughter
the lion, Henry Chapman, of Doylestown,
Rucks county, Pennsylvania. Col. Lawrence,
it will he recollected, a few yearn ago. married
Salhe Ward, the belle of Louisville, hut wan af
terwards divorced, and she married Dr. Hunt.
What seems remarkable, Miss Chapman and
her father went to Kurope in the same ship on
Ixmrd of which was Ur. Hunt and his wife on
their wedding tour.
IluoAi) Tor Coal Rkoioh. —We loam from
reliable authority, that the Railroad from Hun
tingdon. where it connects with the Central
Railroad and Pennsylvania Canal, will be fln
mshed ibis year to the town of Hopewell, the
present termination of the mad. This town is
located in the heart of the Rrond Top cool and
mm mountains, and will contain the machine
shops of the railroad company ; and, from all
that we can learn, is destined to become a brisk
ml thriving business place. It must be the
focus of a very large trade, the main road being
supplied with coal, mm, produce, &c., iR
point, by numerous internal railroads and pub
lic highways. During the present summer there
will be several furnaces erected in the Immediate
neighlxirhood : two hotels are now going up,
and three stores and a number of dwellings will
be completed.
ItT* Ward and Gibson, accused of the murder
of Mrs. Sccrist, in Westmoreland county, Pa.,
were acquitted on Tuesday week. On a for
mer trial they were convicted, but Judge Bur
rel, with a firmness that did him honor, granted
a new trial, which ended as wo have stated. —
The people of Westmoreland county seem con
vinced of their guilt, but the evidence seemed to
leave plenty of room for the reasonable doubts
of which the jury appear to have given the ac
cused the benefit.
Effects of tub Galb.— The high wind on
the 18th was felt over a wide extent of country.
At Albany. Immense damage was done; fifty
buildings were unroofed, and unnumbered chim
nics blown down. A complete panic prevailed;
workmen (led from their shops, and many per
sona injured, yet none killed. All the trams
and boats were delayed. At Boston, the galo
blew down the Court House chimney, killing
'one and wounding others. At Norfolk, several
small Boats were upset in the harbor, and three
lives Ipßtf
James Pollock’s Tote,
James'Pollock, the whig candidate for Gov
ernor of Pennsylvania, whilst in Congress, in
1840, voted against a proposition to pay the
infantry ten dollars a month; and tho dragoons
twenty dollars, under the hill to employ ayol
untcer force of fifty thousand men during tho
continuance of the Mexican war. We have
looked at that act of James Pollock with more
than usual anxiety, to learn tho motive by
which ho could have been governed, in first vo
ting for the war, and afterwards voting not to
pay tho volunteers a reasonable and just com
pensation for their patriotic services, upon the
blood-stained plains of Mexico. Throughout
our commonwealth, that perfidious act will
justly and properly call down upon his name
the condemnation of a generous and enlightened
yeomanry. Here wc might rest satisfied that
no effort of political party, how powerful soever
the same may be, can purge the stain of James
Pollock’s vote to do injustice to the families of
Pennsylvania volunteers, who left home, parted
with families and friends, to defend the honor
of our common country, upon a foreign soil.—
! So says the Harrisburg Unton.
The Empire of Mexico.
It is currently rumored, the Ledger says, that ,
if the Gadsen Treaty passes the Senate, and is
ratified by the President, Santa Anna will dis
pose of the first million of dollars he receives
under It, in procuring officers from Spain to drill
Ills troops and assist him in placing his Empiic
on a solid basis. His plan of government Is that
of old Imperial Rome. He seeks to establish a
Prtutorian guard, composed of officers and men
attached to his person by motives of self-inter
est, and through this body of picked troops to
bold the people in political slavery.
Whether he will succeed or not permanently,
will depend on the degradation or virtue of the
Mexican people. A military dictator, raising
himself to power by a successful coup d'etat,
may, for a time, defy a nation. But, sooner or
later, the people will unite against him, if they
have a heroic spirit; will fly to tho •" sacred
right of Insurrection 5” and will either drive out
the usurper or die In the glorufus struggle. If,
however, either through wantof courage, or from
long habits of subjection, or from a mad devo
tion to a popular name, they submit to their sell
elected tyrant, then they do mil deserve to bo
free, and arc unworthy of sympathy or regret In
their chains.
It cannot be disguised that the Homaic na
tions, as they called, are more apt to succumb
to tyrants than the races of the hardier North.
In part, this arises from a want o( intelligence,
but in a greater part from a want of nerve.—
There are but two paths to liberty, one through
Industrial pursuits, the other thorngh war and
privation; and in both Southern people are
comparatively defective. If the Mexicans were
as hard-working and as economical as the Yan
kees, they would soon acqnrie a wealth which
would make them respected and feared by their
rulers; and if they could light like the old
Northmen, and especially hear the fatigues of a
campaign, they would assert their rights at the
point of the sword. Perhaps they are not with-
out something of this latter quality. Their war
ol independence exhibited very considerable
traces ul It, and it may not lie all gone yet.—
Time will show. A resolute band of patriots
could even yet save Mexico from a tyrant.
UTERI' FROM EUROPE.
The steamship Pacific arrived at New York on
Thursday afternoon, bringing four days’ later
intelligence from Europe. Two columns of
Russians had met and fought each other in the
dark in mistake, some hundreds being killed
before the blunder was discovered. Small skir
mishes with the Turks were taking place. The
Greek insurrection is no longer formidable. —
England and France are engrossed with their
warlike preparations. The Spanish insurrec
tion is suppressed. Mr. Soule is said to be in
high favor with the Queen of Spam Russia
has prohibited the export of grain from Odessa
ami the sea of Azoff. and tins has strengthened
the grain markets in England. A report was
m print that the RusMuns had captured Kalafut
and massacred the garrison, hut it was not be
lieved. There are rumors of a misunderstand
ing between England ami Spain, and the recall
of the English Minister from Madrid. The
Alfghnns are attacking Candahar, and the Khan
of Khiva has taken refuge in Bokhara, and sum
moned the neighltoring nations to take part in
the struggle against Russia.
The Morning Chronicles Vienna correspon
dent telegraphs that new proposals have been
received from Nicholas. Russia offers to vacate
the Principalities the moment her the
preliminaries of pence is signed. The terms of
the olfer are not more favorable than the lost
overture which the Conference rejected. The
British courier, be* ring the summons for the
evacution of the provinces, is already on the
route to St. Petersburg.
Dii. Oahdineh. —This man who has created
so much excitement in the public mind within
the past few days, was engaged to a young lady
0 Miss Locke —who has manifested the deep
est attachment for him. The shock produced
by the news of his conviction and death was
very great, and she is suffering severely from it,
—so much so, Hint fears arc entertained of the
consequences. It was rumored that she had
followed his example, and committed suicide by
taking poison ; but she is still living, and is free
from the suspicion of having taken anything to
produce the convulsions she has suffered.
Rodiikuy.— ■One of the most nttraciouH rob
beries says the Washington Union . that wo have
over heard of, was committed in our city, on
Thursday. Miss McNeil, daughter of Gen.
John McNeil, deceased, and a niece of President
Pierce, was met in one of the public streets by
a ruflin, knocked down, and robbed of her
purse, containing about s3o,certill cates of stock,
amounting to about $2OOO, and a valuable dia.
mond pin. The blow was so severe that she
was rendered insensible, and while in this con
dition was robbed. Wo understand that she
was much injured, but arc glad that her injury
is not dangerous. This bold robbery took place
about 3 o’clock, P. M., in ono of the public
streets, and the robber succeeded in making his
escape.
Cannon Ordered. —Santa Anna, it is said,
has sent an order to Messrs. Ames, the great
cannon manufacturers of Springlleld. Massachu
setts, for two hundred guns of from ten to Ilf
teen pounds calibre each, and that tho payment
of the order, which of course, includes tho sup
ply of a vast amount of amunition, musketry,
revolvery, &c., is to bo mode contingent on tho
passage of tho Gadsden treaty.
Rev. Mr. Lloyd fell dead in tho pulpit of
a church, near Montgomery, Ala., on Sunday.
nnb Itiasors.
Nebraska Expedition. — A Nebraska expo,
dition Is being organized in' Chicago. Over
one hundred persons have signed tho roll, and
it is expected that many others will join. Tho
expedition is to be under tho leadership of Capt.
Gipbs, and is to start about the' Ist of April.
What Next?—Among tho patents issued
from tho patent office during last weok, is ono
to 0. V. Aradnt, of Dansville, N. Y., “for im
provement in devices for preserving hens’ eeca
in tho nest.”
Revenue Board.—This body, after a session
of several weeks, adjourned stne die on the 23d
inst., having transacted much business of in
terest.
(£7* Means of escape from houses on fire Imre
recently been adopted by the police of London.
They have stout canvass sheets prepared, which
are stretched beneath the house on fire, and in
to which tho persons in the building throw
themselves end are caught. The canvass es
cape has been tried, and has given the greatest
satisfaction ns to its utility and safety. Per
sons who could not be persuaded to descend a
fire ladder have leaped into the canvass without
hesitation.
{£7** The jury in tho case of Shaw, tried on
tho charge of murdering Murplvy, in Baltimore,
have rendered a verdict of murder in the second
degree.
(£7” The tusk of a Mastodon, or some other
enormous aniftal of an extinct species, was ex
humed near Cincinnati a few days since. It
was discovered in n sand-bed, thirty feet below
the surface. It measured six feet two inch) h
in length, and was in a state of good preserva
tion.
• (£7* Mr. Boot]i, tb? editor and proprietor of
the Milwaukic Free Democrat, has been arrest
ed on a charge of obstructing the enforcement
of the fugitive slave law in the ease of Joshua
Olovcr, in Wisconsin.
X7=- Smithy O’Brien, who has been pardomd
by Queen Victoria, will return in autumn to
his native land.
Children* of Drunkards. —A petition was
introduced into the liOgislaturc a few days sin?o,
by Mr. Hills, of Erie, asking the passage of a
bill making provision for the children of drunk
en fathers ! What next ?
[tT* Judge M’Clurc, of Pittsburg, has declar
ed the Pennsylvania Sunday liquor law uncon
stitutional.
QT* Judge Vomlcrsmith, of Lancaster, who
was supposed to be implicated in the late pen
sion frauds, and who left the neighborhood very
unceremoniously, lias been apprehended at Key
West, Florida.
XT* The Western Texan, of the 2d instant,
says Col. Stem, late Indian agent for (Ins Stale,
was killed by a party of Indians a few din-,
since, about four miles from Fort Belknap,
while riding out in a buggy with another gen
tleman, who also shared the fate of the colonel.
The particulars of the uufortunale affair we are
not informed of.
XT' The legislature of Georgia has passed a
law to punish the keeper of a faro bank, or oili
e,s gaming table or house, with imprisonment m
penitentiary from one to five years. Such a
law should exist in every Slate in the Union.
Thk Fisheries. —The Denton (Md.) Journal
says the fisheries on the nver in that neighbor
hood have been doing a fair business, for the
season, during last week. Considerable quan
tities of both herring and shad, which sold m
the early part of the week freely at SI per
hnndml for the former and 37i cents per pair
for the latter.
Knuusti akd French Soldiers. —lt is said
that the British and French soldiers, except for
a short time in 1794. have not fought under the
same banner since the wars the Crusades. —
The rivalry that will exist in the allied army to
exceed each other in deeds of daring, will make
them terrible to their Russian fo\s.
[C7* The recent freshet in the sonthem conn
try extends over ft great portion of North and
South Carolina find Georgia, many towns in
each being flooded, and the railroads living bnd
ly damaged. It will require at least a month
to repair the damage.
(Ty* A negro, who had killed another while
wrestling, was convicted of murder in tin mc.
ond degree, at Spollsylvania Court House. Vu .
on the Gth instant, and was sentenced to trans
portation.
X 7- The Captain General of Cuba has made
an appropriation of 522,089 to be deioltd to
the erection of a suitable monument in honor of
those soldiers who fell in defence of Cuba against
the attacks of Gen. I-opez.
XT* The three dollar gold coin, authorized hy
the last Congress, will be issued as soon as the
dies now in progress are completed.
A Man named Doolinshot a Mrs. Elmore, rI
Owl Prairie, la., the ball taking effect m htr
shoulder, producing a serious hut not fatal
wound. Ills excuse was that ho mistook her
for his wife.
W. IT. Macfarland, says the v
andrin Gazette, him purchased Montpelier, ike
former residence of James Madison, the •Hh
President of the United States.
(£7* Not only the peasantry in some parts of
France arc sufiering for want of food, hut star
vation prevails in the large cities. The Parisian
papers arc silent on this subject.
I£7* Ex-President Fillmore left Cincinnati on
Wednesday, en route for Dayton. Madison.
Louisville, Ashland, New Orleans and Cuba.
(£7» The total amount of salaries paid annu
ally for services in the several departments u
Washington, is $1,331,000.
town elections in Maine, it is snub
have resulted generally in the choice of men fa
vorable to the enforcement of the liquor law.
[|-y* Largo flocks of wild geeso passed ovet
this place last week.
I£y* A negro was hung by Lynch law, last
week, in Virginia, near the North Carolina line,
for having in his master’s absence, outraged
and murdered his mistress.
ICy* Qcn. Thomas D. a brother of the
late Vice President King, died at Tuscaloosa.
Ala., on the 24th ult.
A Present. —President Pierce has been pre
sented with a barrel of sugar cured Palmetto
hams, by a citizen of Cincinnati.
Lieutenant P. Bodisoo, tho nephew of the
late M. liodisco, who for some time past ha*
been an attache of the Russian legation in tins
country, has been ordered to return to St. Pe
tersburg by his government, and will leave the
United States by tho Ist proximo.
A Quick Transit. —The Panama
that the agent of tho Vanderbilt independent
line, passed from Aspimvall to Panama in f' m |
hours and five minutes. This is tho quickest
trip ever made across tho isthmus.
In Phnnsylvania, according to the census
of 1850, there was ono clergyman to every 8-
inhabitants, one lawyer to every 024, and oia
physician to every 528. Heaven protect us •
The Texas Legislature, at its late sc^ 10 ','
passed a law submitting It to tho voters °f f ■
county tho question of license or no license
tho sale of intoxicating drinks.
A Mail Carrier between Western
annon, Va., has been arrested on it h
robbing tho mail. Tho road was strey ™V. r
fragments of letters he had torn up. H'S
and other parties implicated have also w
rested. , -«A4 000
OCT* Tho Black Warrior had on board * • o(
in specie, nine hundred and flfty-four
cotton, flfly-oight packages of
27 passengers. All obrntocatod at HR"
oopt tho pMflongora.