IBY JOHN B. BRATTON. “our country—may it always be right—but right or wrong—our country” AT $2,00 PER A AMERICAN VOLUN r j aJ evitable’ necessity which I Co]ltCSt.6(l Elt.&llOIl ir r rom the cause. ■ " rnßidsnED every Thursday ' iro’’ s to be remembered that those WAGGONER DECLARER _ rtm „ ' „ Ar A I ./prove and applaud the acts of , JOHN BBA .vor j. murder perpetrated within the On Thursday last, T on 4 ' /irginia, are not the most dangerous had reforod to him TERM' .ipi» -s of the Constitution and the Union. , c . - ! Subsciption.—Ono.Dollar - tor -ie, crafty men, who, passing by duties in odvnnce; Two Dollars i .0 obligations, habitually appeal to section- t/OMinissio [and Two Dollars and Piff red al prejudices and passions, by denouncing the Gorgap the year. These terms w ~er’ institutions and the people of the South, and sior [bvory Instance. Nasal- thus inflame the Northern mind to the pitch > [#U arrearages are paid , fo'' "tF™ of resistance to the clear provisions of the fun PAbVERT.SEUEETS- 4' ""d 01 : P“hl v Lt exceeding one -‘O, who do not t ? XtS ’ a(ldro , Bao< | {*> tho , B ° .prejudices nr [limes for One Dol’ /am 1, 0 f Blons > pass local laws designed to O’- [Additional insert’ ,p : A vS? 1 stitutional obligations, are reall’- [jproportion. , tb /Stitution ot the -whether they believe it or not I- Jon-PniNTiy jG i are hurrying us upon swift" [pamphlets, B b . datums?” Could wo Your reprobation of ' Paccuraoyo..' .dOffi hftVe promptly an- teachings which inspi- .at’ f’ ‘I 0 ? . ar 9 too re - will, I ain sure, 1- I- ,-d te<> incpnsidcrablo mnum- eame3t that n 0 . | wild and extravagant in the You will sb' ['. a purpos.es which they avow, to K i ve to fel’ / the cause of eye'll serious consid- f eK ; s i a t’ | much less of. apprehension and dis- • I .de. p I • /ow is it to-day ? How is it, to be to-morrow, | i 0 ,nen patriotic hearts wiU-beat in unison ’ j .ir 1 the old Cradle of and patriot!' I s’ ' will repeat the sentiments npddoctrin' | P' -i were enunciated there more thane’ I, A v ° ago, while the men of Yirgtnie I, er ing their crude but trusty' I /S 8 .ach aide of fdially to protect their’ | r- ouilt of. wood, have now been rathle’- | ■*' .ere covered with of al! laiv, human e I t there the roadway Massachusetts | * vere bare, so that any, of our f r H underneath could.' see 1 overhead, Mr. Frazer's ' . u I . the position in a moment., , op I. dies out of a field close by, and! p 8 po that he had brought for o’- ./Ose, fastened them to the pu 1 ’ aey hung like shelves to the r g .e flood, one at each side of ♦’ | about twenty yards. from ’ ’ I -s plan : Two of his men w' I on each hurdle, whilst he ' I boat that was conceal r jS U arch of the bridge, ’ I watch the heap o f | -r them be placed, r | did do so. ; n exchange I -ier shouted, or any of I rise. the gr’ I .ning, then,” said aD p I ,i of trouble to' mak' I .other replied sulkil- I ouble?” Tominqu’ I .iy father answer |“ .at you are driv’- | ok, and lot me ' I you a hundred ’■ . please.” a “ You know Bp worth more *’ p . “ A hu v b d one. : r “ r [cy father’s jna was tried !fo , ho was r f rat and -they ■pa . If you' j a ii o name • | got /.w was - Ith .rfors [pc .awyer Ulr. .on w' pher> .mo f Icnmc o k Kpul .v -■ay .or Biiof' ■no Kve 800 Kdaf fever Bine Ron teivi Sljiou |edr fat Hr m It <kV i AMERICAN VOLUNTEER. PUBLISHED - EVERY THURSDAY MORNING BY JOHN B. BRATTON. TERMS SuDSCirnON.-r-Ono.Dollar and Fifty Cents, paid i advance; Two Dollars if paid within tbo year; id Two Dollars and Fifty Conte, if not paid within ie year. These terms will bo rigidly adhered to in rory instance. No subscription discontinued until ll arrearages are phid unless at tho option ,of the liter. Advertisements —Accompanied by the cash, and )t exceeding one square, will be inserted throe mos for One Dollar, and twonty-flvo cents for each Idltlonal insertion. Those of a greater length in roportion. , Job-Printing —Such as Hand-bills, Posting-bills, ampblets, Bluußs, Labels, Ac. Ac., executed with jcuraoy and at the shortest notice. ftortical. SATURDAY NIGHT. , BY AQNES B. EMERSON. Worn toiler, going homo to night; Spying far the glimmering light That, whoro tho door stands half ajar, . Seems unto thee-a polar star, *. Guiding thy lonely, carc-wreckcd heart Into the heaven and the mart Where love's sweet offices are done For smiles and kisses; every one More dear and holy, being bought, Than they had over been for nought, ' Aye, haste thco! bond thy weary atop, Not this way, neither that, but keep Thy heart-helm firm and true to homo, For lo l a soft voice murmurs, u Como l ,f And she, to whom thy love is given, Has mode for thco’u little heaven,—- A little universe of love, That only waits oh thco to move In all the orbits of its smiles That make thy heart their centre; wiles That bring a light into thine "Whoso far reflections but arise To awake a repetition full in force, And thus thyself becomes the source. Go, enter to thy joys to-night* . Worn toiler, seeker for the light, And wait the morrow’s rising morn, • As peace and-glory to bo born.- . So may grim Death's night-shadows obmc, And find thee happily at home; , Not waiting in an awful foar, Not listening with a deafened ear, As though the dreary shadows fell .To bear thee to the gates of hell; But as one weary with the life, * With all its toiling and its grief, And ready to day down with death— . As one that goes to sleep in faith Of rising to a Sabbath's sun, — . .To joy and happiness begun. 3SWIaiMUO. TOM ROCKET, The English Highwayman. Tom Rocket was a highwayman. No one. •cr christened him Tom, and his father’s imo was not Rocket. When ho was tried nr his life in Warwick assizes, ho was ar ligned as Charles Jackson, and they were irticular about names then. If you indicted man as Jim, and his true name was Joe, he off; and when the law was altered, so that icy could get such errors right at the trial, !ople, .leastwise lawyers, thought that the •itish. constitution was being pulled up root d branch. But that’s neither here nor no.- 1 cannot tell you how it was that he lie : to bo known, as Tom* Rocket, and if I IdJ it would not have anything, to do with story. For six years he was the famous )f in the Midland counties, and for six years one knew what ho was like. He was a la fellow, was Tom; ho never came out ex )t when there was a good prize to be picked , and ho had his scouts and his spies all ir the place, to give hiin information about *ty, and warn him of danger. But to ;e by what people said, ho was “on the I”, at half a dozen different places at once iry day of his life; for you sed when any 3 WHS robbed, of his property, or found it ayonient. so to , account for it, why ho laid upon Tom Bockot its a sort of excuse for ing it up easily, because jiou see no one /uglit of resisting Tom. So.it wits, that all •is of conflicting descriptions of his person t abroad, that ho was an aWfully, ,11 man, and had a voice like thunder; an the'r, that he whs a mild little man, with lock eyes And light hair/. Ho was a fiery j»t man; With blue eyes and black bait* With dome; he had' a jolly rod face—“he was pale as death—his aose was Roman one day—Grecian dr snub the next His dress was all the col ors of the' rainbow, and .as for his horse 1 that Was of every shade, and breed that was ever heard of, and of a good many more besides that have yet to be found out. Ho wore a block half mask, but some how.or other it was always obliging enough to slip off, so as to give Cfieh cffhisyiQtims a full view of his face, only no' two of them coilld 6'ver agree as to what it was like. , My father was a Gloucestershire' man. ■ Ho stooefesjx feet three in his stockings, and mea sured thirty-six inches across the cliost. He could double up half a crown between finger and thumb, and was as bravo as a lion. Ho i many a time and oft, when any one talked of the dangers of the road, set his great teeth together, shake his head, and say he should like to see the man that could rob him on the highway; and as I said bbforo, ho did see him, and it was Tbm Rocket. My father was a lawyer, and was at the time 1 have mentioned, engaged in a fifcat tithe case that was to be tried at Warwick spring assizes. So, shortly before Christmas, ho had to go ovor to look at the evidence.. There was lid. cross country coach, so ho redo; and be ing, as I have said, a bravo man, he rode alone. Ho transacted his business, and my poor mother being ill, and not liking to leave her alone longer than he could help, no set out to rido home again about half past nmo o’clock that same evening. It was as beauti ful a winter’s night as over you were put in. His nag was a first-rate hunter, os dooilp as a dog, and fit to carry his-weight over or past anything! He had a brace, of excellent pis tols in his holsters; and ho jogged along, hum ming a merry tune, neither thinking nor caring for any robber under the eun. All of a den, it struck him that tho pretty bar-maid of an inn just out of Warwick town, whore lie bad stopped to have a girth that ho had hr koh'.patohcd together, hod boon very busy witn those self-same' pistols j : and suspecting tnnt she might'have been tampering with them, no drew the charges'and reloaded them careful ly. This done, ho jogged on again as before. He, had ridden about ten miles, when ho come to a wooden bridge that there was in those days over tho Avon. Just beyond it »ose a selfish hill, at Rio top of which was a sadden bond in tho road. Just as my father Jcpohcd this turn, a horseman suddenly.'""* - cd round upon him, and badohim “ Stand and deliver!” It was Tom Rocket I In a second my father’s pistols were out, cocked, and snapped within a yard of the highwayman’s chest; but, one after the other, they missed firbl The pretty bar-maid —a special favor ite of Tom’s—was too sharp to. roly upon the old dodge of drawing the balls or damping the charge; she thrust a pin into each touch-hole, and broke it short off. “ Any more ?” Tom inquired, as coolly as you please, when my father’s second pistol flashed in the pan. “ Yes 1” shouted my father, in a fury, “ one for your mob I” And seizing the weapon last used by the muzzle, ho hurled it with all his might and main at Rocket’s head. Tom ducked; the pistol flow over the hedge, and my father, thrown out of balance by his exer tion, lost his seat, and fell heavily upon the grass by the roadside. In less time than it takes to say so, Tom dismounted, seized my father by the collar, and presenting a pistol within an inch, of his face as ho lay, bade him he quiet, or it would he the worse for him. “You’ve given a deal of trouble,” said Tom, “so just hand over the purse without any more ado, or by G—d! I’ll send a-bullet through your skull, just thereand he laid the cold muzzle of his pistol on my father’s forehead just between his eyes. . It isbad enough to have to look down the barrel of loaded fire-arms upon full cook, with a highwayman’s finger upon the trigger; but to have the cold muzzle placed upon your head—ugh! it makes me creep to think of it. My father made a virtue ot necessity, and quietly gave up his purse. “ Much good may it do’ you,” ho said; “ for there’s only' three and sixpence in it.” “ Now for your pocket-book,” said Tom, not heeding him. . “ Pocket-book ?” inquired my father, turn ing a little pale. “ Aye, pocket-book f” Tom repeated;. “ a thick black one; it is in the left-hand pocket of youi l riding-coat.” “Hero it is,” said my father, “you know so much about it that perhaps you can tell what its contents are worth!” “ I’ll sec,” Tom replied, quickly taking out and unfolding half a dozen legal-looking doc uments. , “ They are law papers—not worth a rush to you or any one-elso,” said my father. “Then,” Tom replied, “I may tear them up,” and he made as though ho would do so. “Hold! on your life!” my father;shouted, struggling hard hut in vain to rise. “ Oh, they are worth something, then,” said Tom, with a grin. “ It would take a deal of trouble to' make them out again,” my father replied sulkily— “ that’s all.” “ How much trouble ?” Tom inquired, with a meaning look. “Well, my father answered, “I suppose I know what you are driving at. Hand me them hack, and lot me go, and I promise to send you a hundred pounds when and whore you please.” “ You know very well that these papers are worth more than a hundred,” said Tom. ‘-■“A hundred and fifty, then,” said my fa ther.” r .“ Go on,” said Tom. . . “ I toll you whatit la, you scoundrel,” cried my father, “ I’ll stake five hundred against them if you’ll lose your hold, and fight me fairly for it.” Tom only chuckled. “ Why, what a ninny you. must take mo. for,” he said; “why should I bother myself fighting for what I can get without ?” “ You’re a cur, that’s what you are,” my father shouted in. fury. Don’t be cross,” said Tom, “It don’t be come you to look, red in the' face. Now at tend to me,” he continued in an altered tone, “"do you see that bridge? AVell, there’s a heap of stoned in the centre, isn’t there?; — Very well, if you will place five hundred gui neas in gold, in a bag amongst those stones at twelve o’clock at night this day week, you shall find your pocket-book and all its contents in the place two hours afterwards.” “ llow am I to know that you will keep your word?” my father replied, a little softr ened by the hope of regaining, oven at so hea vy a price, the papers that were invaluable to him. . ; . “ I’m Tom Rocket,” replied the robber; se curing the pocket-book upon his person “ what I mean I say; and what I say I stick to.— Now, got up, and mind," ho-added, as my father sprang to his feet; “my pistols don’t p*pHs , ;' "j ahnll iivb’foM’foifii&atiSi.” rifjtfather muttered, adjusting his disordered dress. “ Shall I help you to catch your horse ?” Tom asked politely. ‘'l’ll never rest till I lodge you in jail,.” said niy father saVagoly.’ “ Give my compliments to your wife,” said Tom, mounting his horse. “ Confound, your impudence," howled my father. “Good night,” said Tom; with' a waVe' of his hand, and turning sharp round, ho jump ed his" horse over tho fonco, and was out of sight in; a moment.’ , It was not quite fair of my father, I must own; hut ho determined to set a trap for Tom Rocket, baited with tho five hundred guineas, at .the bridge Ho posted up to Lbndon, saw Bradshaw; a famous Bow street runner/ and -arranged that h 6 and his men should come down and help-to catch Tom; but just at tho last moment,- Bradshaw Was detained oh some important, government, trial, and so another runner, . Frazer,, a no less celebrated officer, took his place. , It was settled that the' runers should come by different ,roads, and all meet,at a wayside inn, about five miles from the bridge, at eight o’clock, P. M., on tho day my father’s pocket book was, to. bo returned. An hour after wards, they were to join him on the road three' fields further oh. 'Their object, you see, in taking this -roundabout course, was- to baffle Tom’s spies and accomplices, and To get so-’ ouroly hid about the appointed spot, long be fore the appointed time. My father was a little late at tho place of mooting, but when ho arrived there, ho could see no one about except a loutish-looking countryman in a smock frock, who was swing ing on a gate hard by. “ Good night, maister,” said tho yokel. “ Good night to you/’ said my father. “ Can you toll me who this yor letter a for V said tho yokel, producing a folded paper. My father saw in a moment that, it was his own letter to Bradshaw. . , “ Where did you got that?” ho said quiok ly ’“ Ah,”, replied the yokel, replacing it in his pocket, “ that ud bo tbllins. Be yor ox- PC “ t wliat’if thaif to you, said my father. “ Oh, nought,” said the yokel,■“ only a gen tleman from London —” - - “ Ha!” cried my father, “what gentleman Y “ Will a name beginning with F suit you ? asked tho yokel. “Frazer?” Tho word fell involuntarily from my father’s lips. „ , , jumping down from his scat, and changing his tone and manner in a moment. “ I’m Frazer, sir, and you’re , Mr. Sandigor, as has been robbed of a pocket-book containing valuable papers; and we’re going to catch '.Com Rock et as has got it—that’s our game, sir. All right, sir, arid now to business." “But where are your men?” my father asked, when Frazer had explained the reason for his disguise. ** All right again, sir,” said tho same run ner—“ they willjoin us. We have not much time to lose, so please to lead the way.” So my father led the way, followed by Fra zer, and by the time that they came in sight of the bridge, they had been joined by four Lon don officers, in different disguises, and from different directions. One appeared as a tramp, one as a pedlar, another as a gentleman's ser vant leading a horse, and the fourth a soldier. No one could have guessed tjiat they had met before, much less engaged to gether in a prc-concerted scheme. My father gave Frazer great credit for tho dexterous way m which he, had Collected his forcCs. . The bridge upon -which the money was to bo placed, consisted of two arches across the river, and was joined on either side by a long sort of causeway, built upon piles over mea dows that in the winter tune were generally covered with water. It so happened that the very next morning after the robbery, a heavy rain set in, and soon the floods were out, so that there Was no way of getting on the bridge but by going along the causeway, which ex tended a distance of a hundred yords, sloping .down gradually to the road, oh each side of the river. This causeway was built of. wood. At some places the timbers wore covered with earth and stones, but at others the roadway had worn out and they were bare, so that any one looking up from underneath could - see who was passing overhead. Mr. Erasers sharp eye took in the position in a moment. ; He got two hurdles out of a field close by, and’ with some ,ropo that he had brought for an other purpose, fastened them to the pullies, i so that they hung like shelves to the roadway and the flood, one at each side of the bridge, ! and about twenty yards from it. This was his plan : Two of his men were to be hidden on each hurdle, whilst he and my father in a boat that was concealed beneath the main arch of the bridge, unseen themselves, could watch the heap of stones where the money was to be placed, and the stolen pocket-book left] in exchange for it. As soon as Tom Rocket, or any of his friends, removed the bag in which the gold was packed, Frazer was to whistle, and his men were to climb from their hiding places and secure whoever it might be. ' If he leaped over the railing of the causeway, and took to the water, there was the boat in which to follow and capture him. Mr. Frazer was very particular to practice his allies in springing cjuickly from their place of concealment, and impressing upon them and my father the necessity of all acting to gether, keeping careful watch , and strict si lence. “ And now, sir,” Mr. Frazer said to my father, as a distant clock chimed a quar ter of twelve, “ it is time to get our places and to bait the trap,'ad please hand me the bag that I may mark it; and some of the coins, so’ as to bo able to identify them, at the trial.”— Ho had made tip his mind toliaU moator Tom this time. My father gave him the bag, saw him write upon it, and make some scratches on about a dozen of the guineas, and then my father lot himself down into the boat, in which’ho was immediately Joined by the runner. “ It’s all right,” said Frazer, in a low tone. “Do you think ho will come?” whispered my father. . '■ . “ Certain,” replied Frazer, “but hush! wo must not talk, sir, time’s up.” For throe mortal hours did my father sit in that.boat, and the runners lay stretched out on the broad of their-Jjaoks upon those hurdles, watching for Tom Rocket to come for his mo ney ; and for three mortal hours not a sole ap groached the bridge, not a sound but the wash of the swollen river was heard. By the time that the clock struck three, ray father, Who had been nodding for the last twenty minutes, fell fast asleep as ho sat covered up in his cloak, for it was a bitter cold night; but was very speedily aroused by hearing Frazer cry out that they were adrift; ... Adrift they wore sure enough. The rope that hold them had been chafed against the sharp corner of a pile (so Mr. Frazer explain ed) till it broke, and , away went the boat, whirling round and round in the eddies of the river, fit to make any quo giddy. So strong was the stream that they wore carried a mile and a half. down it, before they could get ashore. .My father was for returning directly to the bridge, and so was Frazer; but, some how or other, they lost each other in the dark, and when my father arrived there, having run nearly all the way, ho found, to his groat sur prise, that the officers had left. He rushed to the heap ,of stones, and there the first thing that caught his eye was his pocket-book— the money was gone / , Lord, hpw he did swear 1 Determining to have it out with the runners for deserting their posts; ho hurried on to the inn where they had mot, and wore to pass the night. Ho knocked at the door. No answer. He knocked again louder.’ No answer. Ho was not in the very best pf tempers, as you maj 1 gupss; so ho gave the door ff big kick.—- In it flew, and a sight met.his view .that fair ly took his breath.' Tied into fiVp chairs, hand’ and fool, trussed up like so many Christ mas turkeys, with five gags in their mouths, and their five pair of eyes glaring at him owl ishly, sat the real Mr. Frazer and liis four Bow street runners; Tom Rocket had managed the'business at the bridge himself! • How he' managed to got scent of the plot, -and to seize the officers, all together, just at the nick of time, my father never could find out,’ and no one knows to this day. . Upon examining his pocket-book, my fath*’ or found all his dooiunonts, and. a paper on which Wore’ written those words: “By destroying these writings, I cotdd have mined you. In doing so I should, have injured your client, whom 1 respect. For his sake I keep my word, though you have played mo false. Ton Rocpet." Ifcro Mr. Josh paused, and smoked for some time in silence. “ And what became of Tom J” asked one' of the company/. , “Well,” roplicfd Mr. Josh, “after haring boon tried throe tildes, and getting off upon some law quibble'bß each occasion,-he who had robbed the worth of thousands of pounds, and escaped, was executed at Nottingham! for stealing an old bridle I” jJSay* Trade increases the wealth and glory of a country; but its real strength and sta mina, are to be looked for among the cultiva tors of the land. In their simplicity of life is found the simpleness of virtue—the integrity and courage of freedom. These true genuine souls of the earth are invinioble; and they surround and hem in the morohantile bodies oven if these bodies, which supposition 1 t<v tally disclaim, could be supposed disaffected to tie caußO of liberty. —Lord Chatham, CARLISLE, PA, THURSDAY,' DECEMBER 22, 1850; letter from Ex-Presldent Frankliu Fierce, Concord, |N>, 4l,, Deo. 7, 1859. Gentlemen : I amhonorcd by the reception of -your letter of the 3d instant, informing mo that “it is proposed that citizens of Massa chusetts, -who honor and cherish the Union, ■who mean to mnintabi the Constitution of the United States, and faithfully to carry out all its repuircments and obligations, assemble in Faneuil Hall, on Thursday, the Bth day of December instantand inviting mo to be present on that occasion,. ■, Twenty-five years ngo.ono would have asked involuntarily, upon reading a letter like that before me, what are the dangers'which threat en the Union; where are the mien who do not honor and cherish that ;Union, who do not “mean to maintain the'Constitution of the United States, and faithfhlly to carry out all its requirements and obligatfona ?’’ Could wo not then, each for himself, have promptly an swered—the dangers, if they exist; are too re mote, and the men too inopnsiderablo in num bers, and too wild and extravagant in the principles and purpos.es which they avow, to make them the cause of even serious consid eration, much less of. apprehension and dis quietude. -J How is it to-day ? How ib it, to be to-morrow, when patriotic hearts will-heat in unison in the old Cradle of and patriotic lips will repeat the sentiments apq doctrines which were enunciated therd moire than eighty years ago, while the men of Virdnia were prepar ing their crude but trustytweapons, not es pecially to protect their owfcbordersj which have now been ruthlessly iiwaded in violation of all law, human and diyinj), but to come to Mossachusetts and mingle Jheir blood with that of our fathers in defencpof tho common cause 1 ■. ■ ■ t.J . Undisputed requirements of the Constitu tion,; affecting the, rights, the security of life ahd property, of the sons ofVirginia’s revolu tionary men,-are set at naught. Lessons 'in culcating- have.been scattered broad'casl-fn ourcommu 'hity,'aihd'have -borne thOifrifrlhis, not merely in the,Exhibition, of an instttiwtionary spirit, but in ,an actual invasion of cluster State by ah armed organisation, the; of which aro nqt didgnisdd, TWs'is’ Jfhe in vasion; andUhß.overt acts and mur der, ate'Openly justified ahq&pplauded at InrgC meotings of mCn and w|imon in your midst; .; \ ;>!. ■ This trnth, but not disheartening. It may bd woll thatcircumstancts have occur red to arouse us from our lothhrgy, and to compel us to open our dyes, as if from, the de lusion of a dream, to the nearness and . mag nitude of impending lt,is com paratively safe, to look, dangers, m the face, and meet them on the advance^'bht fatal .to ho appalled by them. i J;. ' E-' I repeat that .the aspect it confessedly iB, still is cause I behove there. are in Ndw-Englahd; and throughout the Middle and'^Sfthwestern I States, multitudes of conßoientiOh|and patri otic tj^ia.^rno who n tion, drawn in blood, OT the teachings to Which they have listened, - and to which they may have given tholni assent, will pause, long enough at least, to tgke counsel of intelligent .reason. ' You, upon thdiqlljdf where the first blood;, of(the-' shed, and where Washington took oopmiand of the army in one fpetiods of our country’s history,-‘dthmot gazqlietlessly on the gathering' clouds; not. bow tamely before the coming, storm. Wegnay all have regarded with too much indifferenootho swel ling tide of reckless 4imaticlsm,';but we are not too late to breast it now; ,\lf honest men, who really think tho Union worth preserving, will stand forth in the maje|tyjU'hd strength 'of patriotism and law, and Amhjmnited pur pose nnd becoming energy; they can and will roll that tide back, to the dismay and discomfiture of all conspirators against the public peace and tho integrity of the sacred bond which holds us a united people, I am glad to perceive that your meeting is to bo composed of citizens of various parties. The high resolve, and the solemn duty to which I have just adverted, rise above the range of thoughts and motives which ordina rily connect themselves with political organi zation and party success. If. we are true to ourselves; if we revere the memory, or ap preciate the services of our fathers, we shall forget, in the exigency of this crisis, that there is, or ever has been, such thing as party in the ordinary acceptation of the term,, At all events, wo will forget it, until, through our'steady, united efforts, we see tho authori ty of the' Constitution vindicated, and the Union reposing again securely under its old foundation. ' _ You are right in assuming . that this is no time for hesitancy; no _ time for _ doubting, halting, half-way professions,' or; indeed, for more professions of any kind. -It is' a time for resolute purpose, to be followed by decis ive, consistent action. Shall the fundamental law of tho land bo obeyed, not with evasive reluctance,* but in goodfidelity ? Dave we the power to enforce obedience to it, nnd will we exercise' that power? If so, then may we continue 1 en joy the multiplied and multiplying- blessings of the peerless inheritance which has been transmitted to ps. If otherwise, fanaticism has not mistaken the significance- of its em blem—the National flag pith, "the Union down.'! , lhat has waved through three for eign wars, with the Union ‘tip ; cheering tho hearts of bravo men, on sea land, wher ever its folds have unrolfed in the smoke of battle I How many of our countrymen, as they have seen it floating from the mast-head in a foreign port, or giving its ample sweep to tho breeze over a consular office, have proudly nnd oxultingly exclaimed: “I am an American citizen, and there is the ensign which commands for me respect and security wherever throughout the" wide' world I may roam, or wherever I may choose temporarily to' dwell !■’ ’ How one would shut his cyos and cover his’face in sham’o and sorrow, if lie be lieved ho* wore' destined to see tho day when that flag will float no more, - And yet, if agi tators and conspirators can have their way, it must go* doio'n ill darkness and blood.; In a Bopublro like' ours, 10w aloho upholds it, and when that loses its power, all human power to save is lost, If such overwhelming disaster to humanity is to overtake us, I, for one, will not try to peer through the darkness and blackness, or to foreknow the end. ■ Lot us not calmly and deliberately, without passion and without acrimony.. Let us take no hasty or narrow view of the causes which hfivc produced the dangers we would meet, niid if possible avert. It is not tho recent in vasion of Virginia, which should awaken our strongest apprehension, but tho teachings, still vehemently persisted in, from which it sprung, with the inevitable necessity which evolves the effect from the cause. So, again, it is to bo remembered that those who boldly approve and applaud the acts of treason and murder perpetrated within the limits of Virginia, are not the most dangerous enemies of the Constitution and the Union. Subtle, crafty men, who, passing by duties and obligations, habitually appeal to section al prejudices and passions, by denouncing the institutions and the people of the South, and thus inflame the Northern mind to tho pitch of resistance to the clear provisions of tbo fun damental law, —who, under plausible pre texts, addressed to those prejudices and pas sions, pass local laws designed to evade con stitutional obligations, are really and truly, whether they believe it or not, the men who are hurrying us upon swift destruction. Your reprobation of ethical and political teachings which inspire this line of conduct will, I ain sure, be pronounced in tones so earnest that no man can mistake their import. You will show, on your part, readiness to give to fellow-citizens of other States such just' legislation by Congress as shall provide for the punishment, not only of actual invasion, but for the sotting on foot of armed expedi tions; and thus do what you may effectually to secure, by constitutional enactments, each State against violence from any other. I shall hope that your meeting will awaken a spirit, which will lead Massachusetts and Vir ginia to grasp again, the hand of. affectionate sympathy and support—of love and honor—as they did in 1776; when, as the elder and more powerful of the colonies, they made up tho is sue of blood against tho power of an unjust Parliament. Why should it not bo so? Is there any cause of alienation on our part, which did not exist at the formation of the Government ? When have the people of the South invaded our,territory, slain our people, or conveyed away our property ? Why should not the authority of New Hampshire honor and cherish the authority of Mississipi ? Are they not each sovereign, but yet are they not bound up together in the endearing bond of a common country ? To establish upon a firm footing these relations between all the States, what is required but cordial, loyal, manly re cognition and enforcement, in spirit and in act, of all tho requirements of the compact en tered into by tho fathers who have passed to thoirreWard ? Can it be that there is, among any.'large: portion of our people, North or South,‘settled purpose to accept the benefits, but, deny tho burdens of the Constitution ? Have all sentiments of patriotism and honor perished together ? If that time has come, or. you discern its approach, then; indeed, should you; who desire to live under this Constitu tion, expounded by the august tribunal into whose .charge our fathers gave its exposition, :raise the voice of warning, and save, if it be possible, the voice of woe; But it has not. borne, and it is still in your power to say it ehall not. There is no inevitable, irresistible .impulse hurrying it forward. I deny, in the name of all that is most sa cred. and precious in, our inheritance that there is,bn. element of “irrepressible conflict” between..^WSputhorp ,and Northern of.thidlhdpTaderatiSn.; The doctrine is as un- J ’lti'r-can u tradioted by the unbroken experience of the first; fifty “yearSof our history. It would have boon the price of the loss of reputation for life to have uttered it while the men who fought the battles of the Revolution, and framed the Constitution'fpovoyet alive. No! It has not come, and with the blossing-of God upon the exertions of good and patriotic men, it will never bo nearer. I have faith in ' the power of your efforts, my fellow-citizens; faith- that your example, in this relation, will bo, followed and your ac tion imitated, not only in other parts of Mass saohusetts, but by citizens of other States, who appreciate the. blessings which the Con ’ stitution has conformed upon them; and who, come what may, intend, on their native soil, and with their childi-oh around them, to claim its protection and uphold its authority. I have faith, above all, that the continued favor of the God of our fathers, who watched over our feeble political beginnings, who preserved us through the innumerable perils of the struggle for nationality, will yet make the wrath of man subservient to the peace and durability of this Union. With thanks of your remembrance of me on this occasion, and regrets that it is impossible forme to meet you at Fancuil Hall, I ani, gentlemen, very truly, your friend, Franklin Pierce. All About a Pig. —People who are fond op tracing events of great magnitude to com paratively trivial causes, may experiment some satisfaction in reading, the following in cident, which led to the Sau Juan difficulty, and the appearance of the venerable Lieuten ant General Scott on the const: ■ An American resident of the Island shot a pig belonging to a British resident. The lat-; tor made complaint to Governor Douglas, who sent his son to arrest the offender. The Amer ican declared that ho would not bo arrested, but that he wouldtcompromiso by paying the owner of the pig twice its value. This was not acceded to, and ho finally told the Gover nor’s son that if he made a forcible attempt to arrest, he would shoot. This was the first act of the drama which promises to en( i > n what diplomatists call an imbroglio, to l)e_ fol lowed, doubtless, by important nogociations between special ministers, and able letters from Secretary Cass, and a solemn conference at some Zurich or other, and then the reduc tion'of everything to a peace footing. ’Squire W.’s Mistake. — A correspondent of the’ Mob.le Tribune tells the following story: Old ’Spuiro W. is an honest, jovial, soul,- with few religious scruples—fond of a hearty laugh or a good joke at the time. Ho relates theiollowing on himself as an actual occur rence: “Oho niglrt, boys, I had nn awfully Strange dream. A long ladder like Jacob’s, reached from the ground toward the ‘good place,’ and it was on this ladder that I wont up. . When I reached the top, I found a space of seven or eight foot intervening between the last round and the celestial gate. I could see within and catch glimpse's of the finothingsinsido.' Peter stood at the entrance; ho loaned over, readied out his hand, and told m'o to mako'a'jump. I did jump, beys, and got One of the d : lest falls you over heard of—for I -found myself sprawling on the floor, having jumped out of bod, while 1 was trying to jump into heaven.” “Tibed of the Neobo Question.” — A sub scriber writes to the Pittsburg Journal, a Re publican paper, saying: “ I am an Old Line Whig, and vote the Republican ticket;,and I want to'say to you, that I ain' about tired' of, the negro question;' I think it is about time to attend to white men,' and lot the negroes alone'. I perceive it is impossible' to do them any good, and if wo would succeed Os a par ty, wo must drop the darkies.” Sensible “ Old Line Whig” that/ The Contested Election Case. WAGGONER DECLARED ELECTED, On Thursday lost, Judge Graham, having had reforod to him the report of JJossrs. Quig ley, Croft, and Line, who had been appointed Commissioners to investigate the right of Mr. Goroas to hold the office of County Commis sioner, filed his opinion. It will bo seen that Mr. Waoooner has boon declared elected by two majority. . The following is Judge Gra ham’s opinion. 11l the matter of the petition of sundry citizens of Cumberland County, complaining that a false return had been made for the candi dates for County Commissioner, &c. OPINION OF THE COURT. This proceeding originated upon the peti tion of fifty-six qualified electors of Cumber land county, accompanied, by the oath of two of the petitioners, setting forth among other things that full returns were made by the pro per officers of the general election hold in Oc tober last, and by said returns it appeared that for the office of County Commissioner James H. Waggoner had 3079 votes, and John D. Gorges had 3083, making a majority for John D. Gorges of four votes. The petitioners further represent that upon an inspection of the marks on the tally list of Monroe township, one of the election districts of said county, as rcturucd'by the proper offi cers, a certified, copy of which is attached to their petition, it appears that the number of votes cast for John D. Gorgas was 172, whilst, the figures annexed to the end of said marks indicating the aggregate vote cast for John D. Gorgas was 177, being five votes more than the correct counting of the marks would amount to—that this error of five votes changed the result, and ejected John D. Gorgas by a ma jority of four votes, whereas by a correct count James IF. Waggoner'was elected by a majori ty of one vote. In answer to tills petition, John D. Gorgas admitted that there was an error in the count of the tally list in Monroe township as repre sented by petitioners, but that the tally list ho believed was erroneous, and that ho did re ceive 177 votes in Monroe township, and asked for a recount of the ballots. Respondent among other things, further sta ted in.his an.swer that he had just cause to be lieve that the returns from the election districts of Mifflin, Borough of Shipponsburg, East pennsbprough, Silver Spring, North Middle ton and Lower Dickinson, were false .and er roneous and prejudicial to him, and that there were more votes returned for Commissioner than were respectively given in said districts. Upon , the presentation of respondent’s an swer, verified by his oath, a recount of the ballots in the aforesaid districts was ordered, and Commissioners appointed for that purpose. The Commissioners after counting the ballots in the districts where a recount was directed ■ and adding them to the voles returned from the other districts, report the votes for James 11. Waggoner '3080;.. and for;John, D, Gorges votes, Thoy furthor-report, t/jtot of those votes thus reported, two were for ■•*J. D, Gor ges,” one for " James Waggoner,” three for “ J. Waggoner,” and one for “Waggoner."— One other ticket for John D; Gorgas was found in the Mori rod box, which was not counted by the Commissioner#; It was foiind in another part of the boi front that in which the tickets counted by the Olcctiofi officers and placed on a string had beep deposited; This box when produced by Esquire Hull, had not been Clo sed, but the apporture's for depositing the tick 2 eta wore loft open, and Esquire Hull stated that ho had received the box th'.o morning af ter .the election from the landlord at whose house the election was hold. To include this in the count of votes polled, we have' to pre sume that the officers, of the election, acting under oath, had performed their duty so neg ligently or improperly as to omjt or refuse", to count all the votes polled, for it is conceded this ticket was not counted by them. It was not placed on tho string with the votes counted by them, but found in a different part of the box in which there is no evidence that any votes wore deposited by the officers of the elec tion. The Commissioners wore therefore rihtg in not including this ticket in the count of votes polled.’ ■ It remains to bo considered whether tho Commissioners were right in inoludingin their report two votes for “J. D. Gorgas," one for “ James Waggoner, throe for. “ J .Waggoner,” and one for “ Waggoner.” ' Tho counsel for respondent contend’ that tho tickets having tho name “James 11. Waggon er,” printed thereon and erased, and J. D. Gorgas written in place of Mr. Waggoner’s, were properly counted for Mr. Gorgas; but that those having tho name of John 1). Oor gas erased, and the name “James Waggon er,” “J. Waggoner,” and “Waggoner" writ ten in tho place of Sir. Gorgas, should be ro- ■ jected. ; . . Tho not of Assembly giving jurisdiction to 1 Courts in coses of contested elections directs, thnt the “ Court shall in judging concerning : such elections, proceed upon the merits there of.” In every case of this kind -to which wo have referred, passed upon by our Courts, this direction of tho act is cited, and tho' riding principle has boon to carry into effect the pen pular will, where the proceeding is (fntainted with fraud, and is marked by honesty of pur pose and intent. Thus ire Boiloau’s case; 2 Parson 605, Judge King remarks—“ln all cases in which tho irregularities in conducting an election arc not of a ■flagrant character, wo are required to look into its good faith and in tegrity, and if they are manifest, wo are not to defeat the oppression' of the popular will because' of som'o slip in the minor details,of tho election, which does not prevent our ready ascertainment of what that will truly is, Tins is thd.spirit of the act of Assembly giving us this delicate jurisdiction—a spirit in entire harmony with our popular institution's.” And in conclusion of the snnto opinion tluv same Icdrnod and eminent jurist says—“ While the Court would not hesitate itt sotting aside an .election whore they are convinced that in con ducting it, tho laws of tho Commonwealth have been' infracted, yet they certainly will, not exercise ingenuity to find causes-, for such an adjudication. On tho contrary, every fair presumption ought to be made in favor of po pular elections, and tho leaning over should be to sustain them, whore this can bo done i consistent with a faithful and independent i maintenance of their purity. In the case of the contested election lor I ro thonotary, &c„ in Clinton county, reported in 3 PonnnfLaw Journal ICO, Judge Woodward, now one of the Justices of the Supremo Court, rulcd.that ‘‘Prothonotap, Register, nccotdoi% &a ” was a sufficient designation of Jr 0 ,,* 1 ' offices of 'Trofchonotary, Clerk of the Court of Over and Terminer, Orphans’ Court, Quarter Sessions Register of Wills, and Recorder of Deeds." The act of Assembly provided that in Clinton county those six offices wore to bo held by the same person, tod each ticket shall designate on tho outside, the offiocoroffi ccs, arid 1 ott the . inside thb name of per son voted for to fill silch office ori offices.” The learned Judge after referring to tho net of Assembly requiring-,tho Cbilrt in such, cases to “proceed upon thd fiierifs thereof!-' remark ed: “ The officers in charge of thb election know the law which lifts..associated these six offices, and it is not, necessary that the voter should write otit for .their guidance tho exact legal title and description of the several dffi cea.” , ... ...... Tho elections in this county are held, under tho provisions of a. special act passed 27th of February, 1849, Pam. taws, page 89, .which provides “that it shall be lairful-,for the quali fied voters of thb coiintids of Adanis, York;. Cumberland,” &c., from and after tho passtigd of this act to vote for all cdndtdaics for the va rious offices to bd filled at any election on one slip or ticket. Provided, the office for which any candidate is voted for shrill bo designated as required by tj)o existing laws of this Coid monwealth.” Under the provisions of this riot the candi dates for tho different offices are printed off. one slip, and where a voter wishes to vote for , a different candidate from, the printed name on the party ticket, he erases tho printed panic most generally by pencil marks and writes another name over or under or at the side of tho name erased. This is done very frequent; ly by using the initials of tho first nanio and also by writing only tho last name of the can didate, Thus in onoof tho slips-or tickets .from tho Shipponsbiirg box, now before us; which we are asked to reject because tho name. “ John D. Gorges” is erased and “Waggoner” written at the side, of the eras lire. We find, tho two next printed names erased nndothors written in pencil. For Prosecuting Attorney (which ought to bo District Attorney, if wd are to bo governed by technicalities) the prin-t ted name “C. P. Ilumorieh” is-erased and “ Gillolan,” tho name of tho opposing candi-’ date written in pencil; and for Director of the Poor the printed namo “W. 11. Wood burn” is erased, and “Gracoy” tho name of the . op posing candidate substituted. It js also stated by the Commissioners who counted thd Ship? pensburg box, that in counting they found probably fifty or sixty slips having tho printed name of one of the candidates for Assembly erased; and tho name “ M’Curdy” substituted in writing. But tho election officers properly returned these votes for “John M’Curdy” as [he. was tho only candidate of tho name of M’Ourdy, and in the same way returned thd votes on which they found the names “J; , Waggoner," “ Waggoner," “ Gillelan,” and .“Gracoy,” for James H. Waggoner, J; D; Gillolan, and William Gracoy. _ _ • No more Certainty is required in deaigtiat ing tho person voted for, than in designating the office for which ho is intended. Our act of Assembly provides “ that it shall bo lawful for the qualified voters of Cumberland county to vote for nXVcandidates for the various offices to bo filled at any election,” &c. Who are candidates for office within the meaning of this not of Assembly? We understand -by the’ term candidates as used in the act, persons' nominated op named by their follow-citizens in conventions, public meetings, or by public notice or.announcemont, for a particular office: Lor offices.; Or; persons who announoe thom- yolunteorcondidatost . It is part of thd political history ,ot thW County, that thd candidates nominated by the. respective political parties for County Com* 7 missiondr, word James II; Waggoner and’ John D. Gorges; No other candidates word nominated, no' others rtririoiincod, no others* voted for. Arid of over six thousand vote's polled, they are all returned by the', dlfc'c'tiori * officers for one or the other of those two can didate's; Tho election officers id all the dis tricts in which the ballots word counted by order of Court, had no difficulty in determin ing that by “ J. D. Gorgas” was intended John D; Gorgas, who was a candidate, and that by “James Waggoner,” “J. Waggoner,” and “ Waggoner, tho. voter intended James ,H; Waggoner, who was tho only candidate' of tho namo of Waggoner; . In like manner they re turned the votes for M’Curdy, for John ;M’- Curdy; for Gillolan, for J. D. Gillolan; and for Gracoy, for William-Gracoy; ■ In this they acted in accordance with the’ not of Assembly; being governed by the merits of tho case,'(Or no intelligent and unprejudiced mind could doubt that those ballots were intended for the candidates whoso names wore on them al ! though the names wore not written out in full.* If then tho popular will is not to bodisro-' garded and sot aside upbumcre’techriicnlities;. „ If wo are not to treat theLelection ns if it had ’’ not been. hold. If wo are' rfc'quirod by the law giving ur jurisdiction, to decide this case ~ upon its merits and not upon fine' spun then-', - rios and technicalities. And if a majority of tho voters have by their ballots expressed' their preference for James 11. Waggondr ( al though some hove designated him by. the name of James Waggoner; others bj v J; Wag goner, and ono other by thfi namfi .“ W/ig gonor,” we can entertain nd doubt that by those names; written tfpbh' th'6’ ballots, thd electors intended to designate Janies 11. Wag goner and no other person, lie was tho only candidate kripwn by the name of Waggoner; and it would ho a striiine'd presumption', in deed to' say that those four or five electors',i'u tonded. to vote* for some othorWaggoner.no one knows who. And this far-Totchod prev „ sinnp'tion wd are adked to mnkd, for tfid pur pose of sotting aside the popular will, hop cstly, and wd consider, imderstandingly_ fix pressed.’ . But oar Courts say “they certainly will not exorcise ingenuity to find causes for such an adjudication; On tho contrary, every fair presumption ought to bo mado in favor of popular elections.” This caso is.lnorc clear of doubt and uncer tainty than the Clinton county case before* cited, when it was hold that Prothonotnry,. Kegistor, llcoordor, &c., designated with suffi cient certainty the additional offices of Clerk of tho Court of Oyer and Terminer, Orphans’; Court, and Court of Quarter Sessions, because tho election officers know that under the act of Assembly tho six offices wore hold_ by one, person. Our act of Assembly authorizes the electors to vote for "candidate*," and tho pre sumption is tho election officers know that Jamos 11. Waggoner was tho only candidate for Commissioner, of tho name of Waggoner., Tho name “J. Waggoner” or “Waggoner' would designate more certainly the only can-. didato to wliom tho name would apply, than • tho character, “.to,” would designate the of fices of clerk of tho Court of Oyer & Tonmncr,; Orphans’ Court, and Court of Quarter Ses sions, ns ruled by Judge Woodward m the Cn Tho°docw o°f ,’tho Court is that James rf.* Wacgonor was duly elected County Commis sioner of Cumberland- County, at a fionopil r election hold in and for said County on th«',V eleventh day pf October, 1859(_ And that tho clerk oftho Court of Quarter Sessions certify ! this dqoroo to tho' Commissioners of Cumbpr- « land County, thoUho snidJamca 11. Waggon-, u ,. or may tnko’up'on himself tho dUlicsp-Sf said' office.' By tho Court, J. 11. GUAHAM’, Present Jndye: Disagreeable—the feather. .NNUM, M. 28.
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