AMERICAN VOLUNTEER. JOHN B. BMTTOJf. Editor & Proprietor. CARLISLE, PA,, JAN. 12,1860. TBB CODim CONTENTION. In another column will bo found tho full proceedings of tho Democratic County Con- vention.. Tho Convention lacked but two de- legates of being full, and was composed of„tho —good-and-Bubstautialmenof-our party; — Thtr proceedings were harmonious, and tho best bf feeling prevailed. It will bo seen that the Delegates to tho State Convention wore ap pointed without instructions, which, wo feel . . satisfied, was tho proper course to pursue.— The resolutions' submitted to tho Convention by Prof. B. ,K.‘ Borns, chairman of tlio Com mittee, are strong and to tho point, and wore adopted with but one dissenting vote. 1 It will bo soon that T. P. Blair, Esq., of Shippensburg, was appointed Senatorial, and tho editor of this paper Representative Dele gates to the State Convention. For tlio very flattering vote wo received, wo bog leave to ~ return our thanks to our friends who eupport ed«s. MILITARY PARADE AX OIIDKCBIOWN.-uCa last Saturday, our neighboring village of Ohurohtown was the scene of one of the finest '■ military displays that has been ■witnessed in our County for years. The battalion consist ed of the following Companies: One half of the Permanent Party from the Carlisle Bar racks, under'. Ist Serg’t Kerin - , numbering about 42 men; the Sumner Bifles from Car lisle, Capt. Konx j National Bluesof Mechan iesburg, Capt. Zi.vs; and the Quitman Guards Of Churchtown, Lieut. Eechevin'e ; the whole being under the command of that able and offiicient officer, Major Messixgeb, who dis played upon the occasion the,conduct of the. experienced tactician and the courteous gon , tlpman. The troops all evinced by their con duot.their perfect acquaintance with military discipline. But the “observed of all obser vers” was tbo company of United States Cav ,,alry from Carlisle Barracks, who attracted' the attention of all by.thoir fine soldierly bea ring, their precision and celerity in evolution, ■ by their, uniformity and regularity of all their movements. If these may bo taken as a fair sample of the “ gallant braves” who wear the stripes of Uncle Sam, well may our country be proud of hor regular array. But where all did well it would'bo invidious to make dis tinctions. The Sumner Bifles testified by their* conduct that they enjoyed the command . of able officers, and justified the.opinion as to the soldierly merits of Capt. Kuii.y, with all - passers who’ know him. *. The Mechanicsburg Blues fully, sustained their previous reputa tion for military skill and order, and tho • Quitman- Guards and their Commander arc ‘ too-well known to, need one word of praise at our hands.. -IVe cannot refrain, however, from, expressing our admiration at . the courtesy and kindness with which they received and entertained their guests. ' . Clerking Sales.— As the time is approach ing when numerous public sales trill take place in the. various parts of our county, .vre .would call the attention of those interested, to the card of our townsman, Mr. Samuel 11. Gould, who will be ready at all times to act in the capacity of clerk at thescsales- Mr. G. is admirably qualified'for this .position—is -quick, correct, and writes a beautiful hand.— Having clerked for his father (Wm. Gould,) for. many years,'ho hits become an adept in his profession. ■ His toms are moderate, “.to .suit, the times.” JOS?” The Chambersburg Valley Spirit has changed hands. Messrs. Dechert and Cooper' retire, haying sold the entire establishment to Messrs. J, Geo. Kipper and Geo. If." Mongol. Mr. Cooper' 1 will continue to occupy the edi torial chair, assisted by Ur. Boyle, in the lo cal department. The Spirit is an excellent paper and has our best wishes for success. The Shooting Season. —According to tho act of Assembly approved tho 2lst day of April, 1858, for the preservation of game and insectivorous birds, the time for shooting, trapping,, or destroying in any other way, .pKcasants, patridgos, woodcocks, or rabbits, run out on the Ist instant. Any person found violating tho provision-of this law is liable to pay a fmo of five dollars for each and every oflhnco. Persons ottering game for sale are also liable to be fined. It is to be hoped that this excellent and judicious law will bo fully enforced. J3®" We return our thanks to Gov. Packer, for Bonding us an early copy of his annual Message. IVo are also under obligations to Dr. Crawford, of tho Senate, and to Messrs. Power and M’Curdy, of the House, for their kind attentions. Congress. —No organization yet, nor any likelihood of any within this month, unless a very great change shall soon take place in the disposition of members. Short, sharp speech es, very disgraceful to those who make them, and very expensive to the country, seem to be tho standing order. An Accident. —The Shippcnaburg News of the Ttb.inst..says\Vo regret to state that Mr. Thomas Himes, residing near this place, mot with serious injuries from being tramped upon the face by a horse, a few days since.. ' It appears that lie was in the not of throwing a buffalo robe on the back of the animal, which the horse was not accustomed to, and vary much disliked, when, by d sudden turn, throw him upon the ground and trod upon him, inflicting a serious wound upon his face and the back part of his head. Wo are pleas ed to state that ho is itv q fair way to recover. Editors Rewarded,— The chief clerks of both branches of the Pennsylvania Legisla ture are editors. Russell Errctt, chief clerk of the Senate, is the editor of the Pittsburg Gazette.' E. 11. Rauch, chief o’ork of tbo House, is the editor of the Maiich Chunk Ga zette. There was no opposition in caucus to either of these gentlemen. Doings in Congress.— “No Speaker yet!’’ is the substance of the nows from Washington this week. The Senate, having power to do but little independent of the House, is doing that little as leisurely as possible, while in the House the tiresome routine of balloting for a Speaker without success, is repealed. ■ <6f,lt is said that six hundred thousand pairs of skates have bee.n sold in New York during the present season, OOFEBSOR'S MESSAGE. i On our first page will bo found the second annual Message of Qov. Packer, to which wo would invito attention. ■ It is a plain, forcibly written document, and -is encouraging in its statements in regard to the State finances. The last year’s receipts into the Treasury, including tho former balance, have amounted to §4,718,377 ; the expenditures have been $3,879,054; leaving a balance 0f5839j323 on the Ist of December, ■ 1859. The amount of -public dobtpaid off-during the thirteen months ending December Slat, 1859, has been 5,1- 009,282. Tho present debt, funded and uu od, is $38,478,961. This good result, the Governor claims, is chiefly due to the sale of tho State eauuls. lie anticipates a still more rapid reduction of tho debt from this time forward. The amount of securities hold by tho State against tho several corporations that purcha sed the Canals, is a little over 511,000,000, which the Governor deducts from tho actual aggregate of tho State Debt, and thus reduces it to about 527,000,000. If we could bo sure that those bonds would be ultimately paid, wo would have more confidence in tho Governor’s calculations. The Message gives an encouraging account of the progress of the Suubury and Erie Rail road. It states the amount paid by the Penn sylvania Railroad Company as tonnage Tax, . up to the year 1858, and shows that tho , amount withheld and awaiting the Supreme , Court’s decision as to the validity of the tax, is 5246,743 80. From what the Governor says on this subject, we infer that he will (as be should) refuse his sanction to the scheme for the repeal of this tax, which will doubt less bo brought before the Legislature, at its present session. The Governor gives a favorable account of the Common Schools of the State, and makes some judicious suggestions for improving the operations of the system. The Farmers’ High School and State Library are commended to the liberality of the Legislature. The exist ing laws relating to banking are pronounced defective, and the Governor declares that he vrill them, approve of any increase in banking corporations. The necessity of a reform in the mode of receiving, keeping and disbursing the public revenues, is urged. IJut the Governor’s re-, commendation that all checks issued by the State Treasurer, shall bo countersigned-by the Auditor General, docs not go half far enough to meet the defects of which ho justly complains. JCothing short Of the adoption of the Independent Treasury system, which has stood the test of successful .experiment by the National Government, will accomplish the: needful reform. The benevolent institutions that have here tofore been fostered by the State, are com- in ended, to a continuance of the Statens bounty The practice’of special legislation on subjects that might properly be brought under excisi- ng general laws, is condemned; The tariff question is briefly alluded to, and the recoin- meudations of .the President, .in his Message 1 of last year, arc substantially adopted.’. . 1 The Governor goes a little out of the way. to' put in a short paragraph on Kansas and'Pb- pular Sovereignty, but his remarks are gene ral, imd in good temper, and do hot appear to have any other object than to let him' down gracefully . from .the position into which ho needlessly placed himself last year.. The concluding paragraphs of the-Messago, are devoted to some comments on the Harper’s Fcrry insurrection, which sooth to have, boon called for, by the letter of Governor Wise.— The position of Pennsylvania, in- regard to. that affair, and her relative duties toward her sister States, are sot forth in .a manly* .truth ful, and proper manner, and the views the Governor expresses will moot the hearty con currence of every patriotic citizen. Upon the whole, there is much to commend, and very little to except to, in, the Message, and, with out further comment, wc turn it over to the favorable consideration of our readers.' A New Order.—lVo understand that sev eral ladies are making arrangements to organ ize a lodge of “ Daughters of tho Forcst’”in bur borough.- The objects sought for by the now organization are, in a measure, similar to those of the “ Daughters of Temperance,” embracing the benevolent and beneficial char acter of the order, without reference to tho temperance principle, though at present the larger portion of the membership are connec ted with the Daughters. The now order had its origin in Philadelphia, where already there are twelve tents, as they are termed. Gubernatorial, —'A largo number of tho citizens of Washiugton county have addressed a communication to Col. William Hopkins, of Washington, requesting' permission to bring his name before the Democratic State Conven tion as a candidate for Governor. Ho has.ac ccdod to their request. The Genius of Liberty, published at Union town, Fayette county, strongly urges the nomination of the Hon. John L. Dawson, as tho Democratic candidate for Governor of Pennsylvania. The Right Rev. John N. N oumann, Bishop of tho diocese of Pennsylvania, fell dead on Thursday afternoon, while walking in Vino street, below Twelth, in Philadelphia. His body was- removed to his late residence, at Eighteenth and Summer streets. It is sup posed that an affection of the heart was the cause of death. Special Election Ordered. —The Speaker of the House of Representatives has issued his writ to the Sheriff of Dauphin county, di recting him to issue his proclamation,, for the holding of a special election in Dauphin county, on Saturday, the 21si! ins/., for a member of the House of Representatives, to fill the vacancy occasioned by the death of Marks D. Whitman, Esq. 8S?“ Edward Burke, a farmer, residing near St. Louis, Mo.,'Was carousing with a party on Christmas night,-in a shanty, on the St. Charles road, when a fight arose, and Burke was mur dered, John Barry and John Boland and his wife, were arrested, charged with the crime, and held for trial. 0“ The amount of gold produced from the mines of California from the year 1848 to 1858, a period of ten years, $448,000,000; while, during the six years from 1852 to 1858, the diggings of Australia have yielded $410,- 922,000; making together a total of $858,922,- poo. Why Congress is not Organized. Congress, with an Opposition majority of about thirty members, says the Democratic On ion, has wasted an entire month in unavail ing attempts to elect a Speaker, At this time the chances of an election appear to bo as; remote as at. the commencement of the session. The urgent necessity of an immedi ate organization to relieve the public credi tors of embarrassments assumed in behalf of the. Government, appears.to have no influence upon the Republicans, who are determined to force Shcrmiln upon the House at every ha zard. The Democrats cannot, under any con ceivable circumstances, assist directly or in directly in procuring the elevation ol n man who stands before the country with such a re cord. Every patriotic impulse demands that evoiy expedient shall bo exhausted to prevent his election, and seizure of the influence and patronage of a position third in dignity and importance-to that of . President of the United States, to bo used in fortifying the power of tire party that has boon detected in the social crime of disseminating the Helper abomina tions. The Democratic members of Congress stand before the country acquitted of blame for. using cveiy lawful and parliamentaiy means to prevent the election of Mr. Sher man. The southern Opposition are compelled by the influence of th’oir'amstituenta to op pose the candidate of the Republicans. They dare not at this time assist In the election of a Republican Speaker, however much they may desire that such an event may happen; and of all men that the Republicans could present, John Sherman is the one they are most bound to oppose. Yet the Republicans insist upon forcing Sherman upon the House. They know that he is peculiarly obnoxious, and that he.never can obtain the votes of a majority. But he is the ouly man that suits their partisan purposes, and they would ra ther wait and struggle a while longer at the expense of the country, than give up the re mote prospect of securing the patronage of the House to be used in the election of au ir- repressible conflict President. The Republi cans could organize the House at once by coming to forms with the southern Opposi- tion, bid it is-a fad icorlhyof note that the Re- publican party is so thorouyhly and intensely sectional that if r fuses id unite with the Sin ttlern Opposition purely because that Opposi tion comes from the Southern States. And not only do the Republicans refrain from voting for a southern Opposition member who could bo elected Speaker, but they select from among their number a man who represents the most ultra and objectionable revolutionary Repub- lican doctrines, and declare that they wil have no other man. They stand alone, make no movement towards conciliation, steadily refuso to vote for a southern enemy of the Democratic party, cling to the most repellent man of their own number, and to crown all seek to cast the responsibility for.this protrac ted struggle upon the Democratic members, as if they could bo expected to draw Sir. John Sherman out of the mi. o. On the other hand, tho Democrats have shown a real desire to secure an organization. [They have not declared that Mr. Bocook, and only Mr. B joeck, should bo Speaker by then ■consent, but they .have tried every man who seemed to have a chance of ah election. They have even voted for conservative Opposition men, and thus shown a willingness, to forget parly for the sake of securing nn organiza tion. But to all such advances the llepubli cana have replied that Mr. Sherman is the on ,ly man, that they can support, happen what may. Well, they have a right to pursue this course, but they have no right to make others bear the responsibility of their obstinacy. It is. proper, in order- that this question may be'placed in its true light, to boar in mind the reasons why no Democrat, and why no con servative momber of the Opposition can abate one iota of Kis exertions to prevent the choice Of Mr. Sherman, who seems to come up’to the Republican standard So exactly that no other man North or South will suit that party.-, The chief objection to Mr. Sherman arises out of his recoin n- nd tioupf Helper's book, tho sentiments of which ho refused, upon the .floor of Congress, when interrogated upon .the subject, to repudiate. The recommendation which he, with other leading Republicans signed, states that “ no other volume now before “ tho public, as wc conceive, is, in all respects, “ so well calculated to induce the minds pf its “readers a decided and persistent repugnance “ to slavery, and a willingness to co-operate in “ the effort to restrain from the shameless ad “ vances and hurtful influences of that porni “ cious institution.” ■ The public are already tolerably familiar with the character of this work, but tho fol lowing extract from page 149 is illustrative : “ So it seems that the total number of actu al slave owners, including their entire crow of cringing liokspsittles, against whom we have to contend, is but three hundred and forty seven thousand five hundred and twenty-five. Against this army for the,defence and propa gation of slavery, we think it will he an easy mattery-independent of negroes, who, in nine cases out of ten, would he dclighfed’with an op portunity to cut their masters’ throats, and without accepting of a single recruit from eith er of the f-ee States, England, France or Ger many—to muster one at least three times as large, and fur more respectable, for its niter extinction. Wo hope, however, and believe, that tho matter in dispute may bo adjusted without arraying those armies against each other in hostile attitude. Wo desire peace, not war—justice, not blood. Give us fair play, secure to. us the'right of discussion, the freedom of speech, and wo will settle the dif ficulty at the ballot box, not on the battle ground—-by force of reason, not by force of arms. But wo are wedded to one purpose from which no earthly power can ever divorce us. We arc determined to abolish slavery at all hazards— in defiance of all tho opposition, of whatever nature, which it is possible for the slnvocrats to bring against us. . Of this they may take duo notice, and govern themselves accordingly.” - Now, what party is most to blame for the unorganized condition of Congress— the one that supports, and continues to support, and refuses to support any other man than Sherman, who endorsed such sentiments, or the party that resists his election by their votes, and by tolling commentaries upon his position? Let the country judge. OCT* The Hon. Neal Dow, of Portland, Me., had a narrow escape from a terrible death on Wednesday, the 4th inst. While walking across a rafter in his steam tannery,' ho fella distance of sixteen feet and struck upon a boiler, narrowly escaping a vat of scalding hot water. lie was picked up insensible, but is cow in a fair way of recovery. Speech by the T(ce President. Tho Hon. JohnO. Breokbnridgo, Vice Pres ident of the United States, recently delivered an able speech at Frankfort, Ky., upon na tional affairs, Mr. Brookonridge, as a, prelim inary topic, recurred to the history of Territo rial legislation, and justified his vote in favor of tho repeal of tho Missouri Compromise lino, and in support of the Kansas-Nobraska bill. Tho transition thence was easy to an indorse ment of tho views of the United States Su premo Court upon the rights of slavery in tho Territories; tho Bred Scott decision in tho I eyes of tho Vice representing the full consummate flower of Southern rights .under the Constitution. "With that decision ho regarded tho Territorial issue as.settled. Tho Territories, whether North or South of tho erased lino,-will be.pooplod by slayohold ing or non-slavoholding communities, with out regard to political or Federal influences. In regard to the present condition of na tional politics, the toho of tho, Vico President was dispondent. .The great danger to tho Union lies, he asserted^ iu ihe existence bf a Republican party, whoso principles, avowed throe years since, have long been abandoned in the heat of anti-slavery feeling, and others involving direct war upon slavery, not only in the Territories, but in the States substitu ted. To sustain this charge, Mr. Breckin ridge quoted from Mr.' Seward's Rochester 1 speech, and from Helper's Compendium; al luded to the Republican approval of the latter compilation; and confessed that he saw no hope of salvation to tho Union, so long ns the Republican organization continued to exist The only redeeming aspect of Northern socie ty is the existence of fragments of the old IVhig party, loyally devoted to conservative measures. In conclusion, Mr. .Breckenridge exhorted the South to keep itself strictly within constitutional obligations, and in that connection denounced the efforts of those who were laboring for the restoration of the slave trade. The Presidenct.— Who will bo the nomi nee of the Charleston Convention ? This is a question not easily to bo answered just now. If wo may judge from the sober indications reflected through the press, we should point to the Hon. John C. Breckinridge, ns the most prominent person ■so far named. It may be that this is only, an expression of our own feeling and preference in the matter. If so we are not alone. Every day brings new and fresh indications of popular desire centreing in the choice of the gallant Vice President as the standard bearer of the Democracy in the coming campaign. His high character, mor al worth and excellence as a citizen and a statesman, point to. him as the man for the ■times. In this State there is strong and abi ding friendship for Mr. Breckinridge. The Trial of Stepheus. —lt has generally been supposed that Stevens, one of the accom plices of John Brown in the Harper’s Perry, affair, had been handed over to the federal au thorities, and was to be tried 'in the United States Courts. It seems, however, that this is not ,so. Ge’tirge Sennott, Esq., of Boston, V wroto u, Vcrtsideut for information, on t"hq subject,' and from Ats -1 drew that-“ the authorities of 7 Virginia have definitely settled that ho is to i bp tried in Charlestown," and that the trial t will probably come off in the present month, - though that is not certain Rktaliatokv Laws, —lt is proposed in some quarters to meet the non-intercouso compacts which the Southern people are endeavoring to form, by agreements among, our Northern merchants and manufacturers to sell no goods to the South' except for cash. None of the Southern non-intercoufso party could object to this upon principle, while it would proba bly have the effect they profess to desire, of driving Southern traders fo other markets where they could obtain credit. A short ex perience of such mutual incivilities might pos sibly open the' eyes-of the ultrnists of both sections to tho advantage of toleration. Pittsburg Municipal Election.— The mu nicipal election in Pittsburg, on Tuesday, of last week,-resulted in -the complete suc cess of the whole Republican ticket, and a largo majority of Counoilmen. Mr. Errett, the new Clerk of the State Senate, was elect ed Controller, thus being chosen to two offices on the same day. He is a great deal more lucky than the majority of office-seekers. Another High-Life Elopement —The peo ple of Malden, Canada, hare been quite exci ted of late oyer an elopement in high life, the parties to which.wore a prominent physician, Dr. Carrier, and a highly accomplished young lady, named Maggie Dougherty, daughter of a retired British’ army officer.. The Doctor leaves a wife and child after him. The young lady lias been his patient for some time, and only a day or two before the rascal was paid a considerable amount by Captnin%oughevty for his professional services. Both families and their friend? are, of course, in the greatr ost affliction. .Whore the guilty parties have gone is not known.. llaiid on Rails.— Tho Pittsburg Journal soys: “ The severe frost of the post three or four days has been quite disastrous to the rails on the different railroads loading from the city. The Pittsburg, Port Wayne and Chi cago road has boon the greater sufferer, al though the loss is not by any means heavy. The track of the Pennsylvania road has also suffered to some extent. The only important injury to the roads however, Trill bo the de tention of trains which will occur from the snapping of the rails.- Attempted Assassination, — As Mr. Ben jamin D. Williamson, a merchant of Peters burg, Yu., was returning from a party to his residence, last Friday night a, week, ho was knocked insensible by a blow in the head from a briok. Some friends coming up, found him lying in a state of stupor, and took him to his residence. Their coming up had, doubtless, saved his life. The Maine Defalcation.— Wo learn from the Portland Argus that the defalcation Of B. D. Peck, the State Treasurer of Maine, hod been anticipated for several days. It may amount to $lOO,OOO. Neal Dow is one of his bondsmen. The Argus'esye ; . 14 IT'! 1 he recollected; that Mr. Peck went into politics from the pulpit of Casco Street Church in this city.. He was for several years editor of the Temperance Journal, and become Treasurer of State on the accession to power of the Republican party in 1856." CoDgrtss— The Tariff* . The various questions which have orison 1 during the tedious dohato which has boon kept . up for a month past, are not without intoros • and importance to the country. On Friday last the tariff question was brought up, and although manifestly it hud no connection with tho olootion of Speaker, it was discussed at length. Messrs. Killmgor and Campbell attacked their. Democratic col leagues from Pennsylvania for their votes for Mr. Bocook, alleging that ho was a free trade man. Mr. Montgomery replied, in an able and spirited speech to put’ the matter right. Ho gave tho charge that Mr. Bocook whs a free trade man and in favor of a direct taxa tion'a most emphatic and positive denial, and asserted, that ho was in favor of a revenue tar iff by which incidental protection could bo afforded to American labor and industry. Mr. Montgomery then proceeded to review tho history of the tariff question, and demon strated that the tariff which reduced the duty on iron from thirty to twenty-four per cent, was passed by a Republican Congress* over which a Republican Speaker presided. The debate was a protracted and spirited one, and most ably did Mr. Montgomery stand up for tho interests of Pennsylvania and those of American labor. The attack upon Mr. Mont- gomery was a prepared one, and his replies were off-hand, but eminently appropriate and judicious, although he had neither time nor preparation for reflection, Tho people of the State, and especially those of tho Western portion of it, owe much to tho Congressman from the twentieth district for his able defence of their interests. On the same day, Mr. Montgomery, by the introduction of a resolution for- the appoint ment of a temporary speaker, in order that the deficiency bill might be passed, and the contracts for the. mails and other public ser vices paid, entirely relieved the Democratic party from the odium of postponing the organ ization of the House. . The mail contractors having.clnims against the government are clamorous for payment, and with reason. ’Mr._ Montgomery proposed the election of Mi - . ,Corwfti as speaker for twenty-four hours, in* order that provision could bo made for the payment of those claims. These men have been really badly treated, and Mr; Montgomery demonstrated the fact that the Republicans wore not serious in their pretensions of friendship for the contractors, for . when his motion was announced, designed as it was,- to save these honest and innocent men from impending consequences of delay in Organizing the House, the Republicans were not only fierce but tumultuous in their oppo sition, and would not even consent that the motion should bo read. ’This shows who arc the friends of tho contractors, and relieves the Democratic party from all-censure on this ac count. 1 Tho crowded state of our columns prevents us from reproducing. Mr.- Montgomery's re marks upon tho tariff? as wo should like to dp.. His course, however, must meet with a hearty approval from the Democracy of his State. ■ "Democratic State Conventiokof Illinois. 1 Tho’ Democratic State' Convention met at Springfield on Vfcdnesday week. . lion.‘John Moore acted as Chairman. Delegates to the Charleston Convention wore elected. Reso lutions wore adopted, re-affirming the Cincin nati platform in the words and in Die spirit in which it was adopted; utterly repudiating such new tests as tho revival of the slave trade, or a congressional slave code for the territories; denying that slavery derives its validity from tho constitution of the United States; declaring tho position of the demo cracy of Illinois to be that of President Bu chanan in his letter of acceptance; denying the intorportntion which the Republicans gave the Dred Scott decision, that it denies the right of people to regulate the slavery ques tion to suit themselves; deprecating the foray of John Brown into Virginia, and attributing such invasions to the teachings of tho Repub lican party; instructing the delegates to vote for the re-adoption of the Cincinnati platform, and declaring their determination to abide by the decision of-tho’Charloston Convention. Tho Convention also instructs its delegates to use all honorable means to secure the nom ination of Hon,'Stephen A. Douglas' fOf. the Presidency. , . Got*. Letcher’s 1 .Message. —The first* mes sage of Gov. Letcher to the Legislature of Vir ginia was sent in on Saturday. Tho relations of. the Free and Slave States constitute the burden of thomqssago. Admitting that the large majority of the. Northern people are loyal to the Fcderal Compact,' he recognizes a dangerous minority, whoso power for mischief needs repression, and declares that it must be repressed. To this end he proposes a Ge neral Convention, to take into consideration such amendments of the Federal Constitution as. shall place tho rights of tho South boyond question. Should tho North decline to fur nish those additional guarantees, then lot the Convention determine tho conditions upon which tho two sections of tho Union may peaceably separate. In tho meantime ho pro poses to despatch a commission of the most dignified Virginians to visit the several free States where the Fugitive Slave Law is nulli fied by special laws, to demand tho repeal of such enactments. A Welcome Cannon Shot. —During the firing of the salute on Jackson Square, New Orleans, on the 23d nit'., one .of the shots had a wonderful effect, for it not only restored hearing but speech to a young man who has been deaf and dumb for the past three years, the result of severe sickness. He was born m Quebec, but subsequent to his misfortune went to Now York, and then made his way down there. About mid-day ho wqs praying m the St. Louis Cathedral, when ho suddenly hoard a cannon, the noise being accompanied with ;or producing instantly a cold rushing sensation through- the cars, a choking sonsa turn about the throat, and a fooling as of something breaking in both places. Ho reel ed out of the church, and heard another shot but literally “could not behove his own ears.” A third shot satisfied him, and also that he could speak, so ho burst into tears. His name is Joseph Wells ; is a six-footer in stature, an intelligent young man, and speaks, as before, both French and English. Mail Robbeii Killed, —The mail iu Green . a 1 count y. Va.. was attacked, a few days since, on Spring. Mountain, by two men, when the mail rider drew a pistol and shot one of his assailants dead. The other instantly fled. THE AFFAIRS OF ITALY. Tho newspapers are filled with the Presi dent's message, and accompanying documents, and for a few days public attention will bo de voted to plotters at homo,, rather than abroad; nevertheless tho “state ofLlareign politics is so interesting, that we venture 1 a brief reference. thereto. By the lust advices from Europe, it appears that Louis Napoleon assents to the appoint ment of Buoncompagui as Regent of Central Italy, followed up, as it has been, by the con centration of Parma, Modena and Romagna, has shaken -the confidence of the popple in the good intentions of the Emperor. The tone cf the meetings which the clergy, are getting up in Ireland and France, would seem to indicate that the Pope now relies upon the conserva tive element rather than the fidelity' of tho-j “ eldest son of the church." . This Congress will consist, of course, in tlft first place, of the five “ great powers,”— Francoj England, Austria, Prussia and Rus sia, whose right to regulate and rango Eu rope has been, ever since the treaty of Vien na, .at least, a well-settled privilege. As, however, the main subject of discussion will bo the re-organization of Italy, Sardinia and Naples, the two leading Italian powers Will have to be admitted,to, a share-in the procee dings, and with them must come the Pope, for [ a portion of his dominions are at stake I The Pope’s admission renders necessary a large accession of the Catholic clement, and Spain, at least, and perhaps Portugal, will bo invited to assist in watching over the interests of the church In this Congress the Catholic powers Will oppose tho severance of Bologna from the States of the Church. They regard tho Pope as something more than a more prince'. His territory is not the mere territory of a secular prince, but is “ the patrimony of the church.” It is the domain which Catholic Christendom allots for his support and to maintain his dig nity, and which it is desirable for tho world should remain intact. The Protestant portion of the Congress of Nations regard the question simply as one of temporal government. They take tho ground that the, Pope derives his ti tle to his temporalities from precisely the same sources as Victoria of England or Francis Jo seph of Austria—from successful wars, alli ances and treaties, and not from tho Apostles, The question which the Congress will have, to decide in regard to Italy,is oho of groat in terest to the Christian world, and the progress of its discussion and its final settlement will be watched with great interest in this conn try. Gubernatorial Appointments.—Among the appointments to bo made by the Gover nor this-Winter, the principal are, State Li brarian, Superintendent of Common Schools, and Reporter of Decisions of the Supreme Court. Tho present venerable Librarian, Rev. Dr. Do Witt, who has made a faithful officer, will doubtless bo fc-nominated. For School Superintendent, H. L. Esq., tho present Deputy Secretary of the 1 Commonwealth; is .named,. . Ho was Deputy Secretary under Gov.. Bigler,’when tho State and School Departments wore one, and had Charge Of the latter during that admimnis tratibn—performing its duties in an able and faithful manner. For, Reporter to the Su preme Court, Ira. C. Mitchell, Esq., of Belle fonto, is mentioned. Those nominations are made to the Senate, and require the confirma tion of that bfldy. An Indian Kills a Bear and the Bear Kills the Indian. —The Eau Claire { Wis.) Free Press says: On Tuesday of last week an Indian hunter encountered a huge bear near Beef River Station, and the affair proved fa tal to both. , The Indian shot the bear, woun ding him severely, and then rushed up, ex pecting to dispatch him vvith his tomahawk. Mr.-Bruin “looked horns” with Mr. Indian, and a struggle for life ensued. The conflict must have been a terrible one, as the bcliger ents were both badly maimed. They were fcund a short time after, lying a few feet apart, dead. Abolitionist's ordered to' leave Ken tucky.—On Friday last, thirty T six persons arrived in Cincinnati, having been ordered to leave Madison codnty, Kontupky, on account of their Abolition' feelings. They wore the neighbors and co-workers of the Rev. John G. (Fee, a Kentucky Abolitionist, whose lectures at the North have attracted some attontion.— Among the exiles are Rev, *J, It. ’Rogers, prin cipal of a'scbooFat Berea, and his family: J. D. Reed and family; John S.' Hanson and’ family; Rev. J. F. Boughton; E. T. Haynes, and S. Life, carpenters ;—Toney, a natlfC of Tennessee; John Smith; a : native of Ohio • a farmer, who hiis lived in Kentucky some years. It appears there has been much ex citement in the county since John Brown’s Harper’s Ferry raid, and that the parties above referred to left in consequence of resolutions passed by a large county meeting,- giving them ton days to depart the State or abide the con sequences. Rev. Mr. Fee is among the num ber ordered to depart. . ‘ JUS?” The Republicans of New York propose holding a Union meeting within a week or two. I'hoy did all in their power to discredit and cast ridicule upon the one hold there sev eral weeks since, hut so rapid has been the advance of patriotic sentiments, that oven they have caught the prevalent infection. It would be much more appropriate for the Republi cans to hold meetings for the purpose of testi fying. their repentance for past transgress ions. . . fi®“On the night of the 28th of October, the store of Win. Carlin, in Cassapolis, Mich igan, was entered and robbed by three biir glars. Mr. F. IV. larzaloro, who attempted to arrest them, was shot dead by John Stearns, one of the burglars. Two of the fellows were arrested in a couple of weeks, but Stearns re mained at lafge until last Monday night a week, when he was captured after a desperate resistance, near Wellington, Ohio, by Deputy Sheriff Lotis, of Cass county,, Michigan, and taken to Cassapolis for trial. Growth or Allentown.— Sixty-five now buildings wore erected in the borough of Al lentown during the past year. O' John B. Gough is working wonders for the temperance cause in Ireland, large au diences flock to hear him everywhere, and in m^aaaa 6 th ° whiak y metropolis of the North, 2000 persons have signed the pledge. Di. Cummins, Of Dr. Gumming, who is tho groat Scotch p re or of London, and so welljtimwn by his writing this country, an English review gives the f o u 0 *! personal idosorlption, 1 " His singularly handsome person, bis htiiu ■■ flow of pootio thoughts, his striking talents on I? burning seal, combine to make him one of tho' interesting speakers of tho flay. Dr. CninmCf very small in person, not exceeding five f oot [ n *« five inches in height,, with n slender and ernr n figure. His face is one of the most beautiful 1 1 * over seen, for ho ia altogether too diminutive uu! culled strictly handsome. His hair is of a jot hi v with a soft waving curl upon it; bis complexion - ... sembles alabaster, with a deep damask colour' p ie forehead is high and finely formed, and his eye',!’ ■'/! concealed by invisible spectacles. His nose oquili but very largo; and tho lower part of bis f aC o i, perfect ns that of some Greek statue, with tin, tion of beautiful teeth. . Altogether ho is What I'S’iiiftl countrymen call a very ‘ bonnie ohtci,’ and llonotifijp really bo incomparable were ho only magnified 1 'SI' His manner is very unnssummg; ho .never himself forward, but remains behind the other suit rewf ors. While silent ho has ail the meekness of ainl K’S tile child, but when ho spoaks ho displays all (1 vigor and energy‘o£a young oaglo.” ■ Leap Y£ak.—Tho ydah 1860 hah been wuj. fjj| ’ ly set apart for the benefit of that class of ]p % dies who are anxious to enter the state rfl'| ' matrimony, but who have' not had the gooj M fortune to entico sotno’luokless wight into th( S meshes of their not. A contemporary savi - on and-aftor-the 29th of rebnjiniy,‘iB60 I te,|| ladies will bo fully, authorized- to 66mmen«fe| • making love to any gentleman they may dcccittj worthy of their hands, hearts and fortunes] :;- It will devolve upon the ladies to invito tb> fi gentlemen to parties, concerts;,balls, and olh-; ■' or places of amusomoat, and it will also bc i ’ £ their duty to furnish the gentlemen, with cap ‘ triages, if the weather be boisterous, and (at see that they have "secured seath’ in a pica Jan saut part of the hall. And, above all, ladies, So it will be your duty to pay the bills. We • doubt not pur tailors and milliners can fur- pr msh you with’work sufficient to earn whatevi t? cr little sums it . will require ,to meet current and should you bo, obliged! ™' to take in wishing Once in a while, to both ends meet, you should do so cheerful!;, |;|| This year, Indies, you, can rule the roast. Is|i You will, of course, improve an opportunity |p| so temptingly placed before you; but takof|| our advice and rule with Dohot|®|| allow yourselves to bo ruled by that class of||,®.| females which Shakspeare has immoralized aj "Shrews” They will give you no good od.Kjg vice. ■ ■ ■ '. rtf; 1 A' away a few 1 . moawnW-c the railroad depot, a few days ago, wo sanit'ch; young wife bestow a parting kiss full u;k r the mouth of her husband—and such a kissl-,ed She was going to visit her friends down (1* ■' pa road somewhere, ; to be gone but twowedr, ; tltj and if that "kiss, loud, ringing, earnest, trod D'. clear, didn’t embody tho concentrated of two weeks’ ..affection, may wo—och-honf,fcj|| wo never expect to. If Sidney Smith—tin immortal Sidney—could ’but, have witnessed pah that “buss,” lib would have gone into an cc-f||| stacy of huge delight. Hear what ho says oi M kissing: AVemcin favor of a certain degree of shyness when a kiss is proposed, but il -*j| should not bo continued too long; and when 0S the fair one gives it let it bo administered j|| with iedrynth wid energy. Lot, thoroho in .it. If she closes her eyes and sighs immediately after it,-the offout is greater. SliCjgji; should ho careful not to slobber q kiss! Wjjjj give It as a humming bird runs his honcy-suokle—deep but delicate! There much virtue in a kiss when well AVe have had the memory of one wb in our yopth, which has lasted us tweniy •?? years, and wo believe it will booms of the la* fed things wo think of when we die. . ;fR Never Despair; —Man should never dcs pair of his resources or his race, lie fre quently does little or nothing, because ho doe: not manfully attempt, enough, ’ We are von sure (and, indeed, tiro experience of every day adds to tho proof,) that tho true extent of hii powers has never yet been developed. lie. himself, is quite as much confounded at-iiij own achievements, when ho makes them, ai any of the spectators. He is usually forced to j his best performances by what ho vulgarly! calls necessity. We might easily find anotfw* word and origin for the impulse which Jio Vaj?! obeys ifit such momehts, and by which he par-' formsi Though his reason, trembles to ad-* Sggh vaheo, his blood bound'S‘tp i lhe t 'cdnsuimnatioii of the unusual tasks. Verily, we too much underrate this instinct.' .What is it but the God within him,'throwing aside’the'" shackles 'y : 'd[Ji of clay, thd idipedimehts, htfd donblshnd fcari of poor earthly reason, and lim'rying him ward—lie blind the, while—under the ring guidance of an immortal soul I - feisy —— ; ’ stt REPnlaLrcANisM.—Republicanism,'' ding to its supporters just now, 1 is sound theory but “insane*’ in' practice,' The mail who professfes its principles, who sympathizes with Jblin’Btown afid hisrdid in Virginia 1 , is p;fo, a patriot and a Christian; but the man who acts them out is an"“insane” tfaitor and a inj murderer 1 That is tho plain logic of treatment which Brown now recctvesfromhis \ party friends.■ ’ ,ra| I® _ Accepted.— The Legislature of Virginia, ty> : ; joint resolution, has accepted the flag ted to that Commonwealth by the citizen! i- > Philadelphia, viewing it ns an evidence of % devoted patriotism of its donors. a, ;! Bv ... , , .fat 3“lt is- stated at "Washington that French mission was some timo since the Hon. C. J. Faulkner, of Virginia. excepts, the nomination will be sent in .bom after the Senate shall regularly convene nto TW the holidays. aT Two men named Francis Singer and Andrew Maxwell, wore killed on the Penn* sylvania Railroad i last Saturday evening*" Both wore horribly mutilated. The daughter of a late 1 ■, physician of Philadelphia has gone into aeon*’ ' ■ vent, taken the veil, and given to the institu- j. tion her whole property, amounting to s6o,*. 000. •' fe ;: 11 5 The Thaw.—Tho change in the temperature the warm rain bn Saturday have relieved tho of a groat deal of ice. Sleighing is effectually up, and the weather at present quite moderate. Printing Office Sold.—The printing mator!** of tbo.JJflr£« County Democrat office have been wU ' at Sheriffs sale,.. They were knocked down at kt prices, to various purohasors.This is,the ooncci*j gjj., started by Lauman A 00. Quite a number of tho medical student recently loft Philadelphia, have returned Burned their studios, declaring that their dopa^ ll **; t, vawi was intended merely as a Chrfijpius joke. • it is expected, will return sooni ’ ‘ I§i 4 1% rf- P ! thi ■ ne $ J>4 "G* .<& of tal