AMERICAN VOLUNTEER. JOHN B. BRITTON. Editor & Proprietor. CARLISLE, PA., JAN. 24, 1861. a&-Wa return our thanks to our Senator, Dr. CbAwfobd, for sending us documents. ' Cumberland, Fire Company.— At a regular meeting of tho Cumberland Fire Company, held January 19, tho following officers were elected for the year 1861: President —Thomas B. Thompson; ' Secretary— Philip Quigley. . Treasurer—S,. D. Quigley. First Director —Peter Spahr., Second Director —F. Kenner. Third Director —John Davis. Fourth Director —Hiram Gipp. Fifth Director —Alfred Harder. Finance Committee —Augustus Zug, A. J. Reighter, James M. Allen. Committee of Repairs —AVilliam Matthews, S. Stoufor, John Bailey. Look Well. —The grain fields, since the snow has melted, look green and vigorous, and give promise of an abundant harvest. A Prediction. —Most of our weather-wise people predict an unusually early Spring this year. Hope the prediction may prove true. Returned. —Tho students of Dickinson Col lege, who have been spending the winter va cation with “ tho old folks at home,’’ have re turned to their studies. Its Name.— The Harrisburg papers, in giv ing a list of the names of the various military companies which attended tho inauguration of Gov. Curtin, make some strange errors.— One of the Carlisle companies is called by one of them the “ Sumter Rifles,” and by another tho “ Lawrence Rifles." The name of the company (Capt. Kuhn’s,) is the “Sumner Rifles,” so called in honor of that gallant soldier and accomplished gentleman, Col. E. Y. SnsfxEß, of the United States Army. Will those papers make the correction ? Both our Volunteer the “ Light Infantry,” Capt. R. M’Cartney, and the “ Sumner Rifles," Capt. Kuhn, attended the Inauguration of Gov. Curtin. Fine Weather^ —The weather for tho last four or five days has been delightful for this season of the year, the sun bright and reason ably warm. But, the weather, just now, is like a miss in hor teens—very fickle. South Carolina —The latest news from the “seat of war” is unimportant. Affairs at Charleston are in statu guo. But tho Rebel lion is spreading throughout the South, and liyely times are anticipated. Deserve Commendation.— Should our un fortunate difficulties iu the nation be amicably Settled—which God in his mercy grant—the people will. ever remember with grateful hearts, the praiseworthy and persevering ef forts of Senators Bigler and Crittenden.— No men in the Senate have labored as they have. A friend at Washington writes ua, “Messrs. Crittenden and Bigler are con stantly at work, night and day; indeed they scarcely sleep. May their glorious efforts to save the Union bo crowned with success!”— All true patriots will respond, Amen! ■ Legalizing the Suspension.—A bill is now pending in the House at Harrisburg,, provi ding for a resumption of specie payments by tho Banks of the Commonwealth on the sec ond Monday of February, 1862, and relieving all institutions with banking privileges from the. penalties incurred by suspension on the 19th,of November last. Public Opinion. — Senator Bigler has pre sented a largo number of memorials from cit izens of Pennsylvania, praying for the adop tion of the Crittenden resolutions—amongst Others ono from Lancaster county. DOT. CURTIN'S INACAIIBAL On our first page will bo found the Inaugu ral Address of Gov. Curtis. Some senti ments in it, of course, wo cannot endorse, but yet wo are free to admit that it is moderate and conservative in sentiment, and many "of its recommendations are creditable to the bead and heart of the new Governor. He recom mends ,the repeal of all obnoxious laws having a reference to the rights of the South, and ex presses the opinion that Pennsylvania is rea dy and willing to do full justice to our South ern brethren. These sentiments will find a response in all parts of Pennsylvania, except in the Legislature. That body appears to contain a majority of rabid Abolitionists, who are doing all they can to plunge the country into a bloody war. Fortunately, the edicts of the Legislature have little influence either in or out of-tho State, and if the people had an opportunity now, they would hurl two thirds of its insane members from the seats they disgrace. Under the. circumstances, therefore, we honor Gov. Curtin for tho stand ho has taken in favor of peace, Concession, and prosperity. Wo believe he is disposed to do right, and for this wb respect him. From present appearances, the leaders of the Republican party may be said to be uni ted against Mr. Chittenden’s propositions; yet it will be observed that the Legislature of Virginia, like her sisters of Kentucky, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Missouri, will close on those propositions as the condition upon which they will refuse to co-operate with the ppen enemies of the Government. Forney's Press. True enough. The Soutli will agree to the Crittenden' propositions, but the Black Re publicans say “ no,” They will agree to noth ing. No fair man, no man who desires peace and the perpetuity of the Union, can object to Mr. Crittenden's plan. It is fair, magnnni • moua an d just. Its adoption would not only wsltle out difficulties, but would stop the dis cussion about slavery forever 5 business would ZTw *fT' r 4 * TOs P orit y crown the efforts of the American people, Wliy is it then, that the Black Republicans oppose the Crittenden' proposition? Because it would rob them of their political capital—the \ slavery question. The only principle now! held in common by the Republicans is opposi-' tion to slavery. They desire to .keep this question open, so that by misrepresentation they may hold power. AVill the people per mit these political demagogues to go on in their mad career? Will they continue to suffer merely to gratify the place-hunters who op pose all attempts to compromise our difficul ties? We trow not. ■ • "WHO ABB BESrOiYSIBLE!” When: tho names of Messrs. Lincoln and Hamlin were emblazoned on tho banners and floated conspicuously from tho mastheads of all the Republican papers of this and the other Northern States;; and during all the time that it was deemed necessary to have “ Wide-Awakes” and “ lovinoibles” to par ade our streets, carrying torches, and keeping stop to tho music of “Dixoy’s Land',” wo heard nothing schrcely from their papers but sneers at the idea of any trouble following the success of their sectional principles and the election of their candidates. If any Democrat or “ Union party" man dared to express his honest convictions that disunion might follow such an event, ho was derided and laughed at, and his honest expressions of anxiety and fear were spoken of as “ tricks of the enemy.” “ No, no,” they said, “ the South know their weakness too well to attempt any such foolish ness as breaking up this government;” and this was followed up by insulting and aggra vating comparisons between the two great sections of our country, very often based upon false statistics, and always intended to give the Northern people a false estimate of the resources and strength of the South. From the natural alarm of the people of Virginia, consequent upon the John Brown raid, they used every argument to impress upon the Northern mind tho idea that tho Southern people were cowards, and that any amount oi abuse and insult could be heaped upon them with impunity. By moans of such argu ments, or rather assertions, as these, continu ally harped upon, echoed and re-echoed from the pulpit, the press, and the stump, they at last accomplished their purpose, and brought a majority of our Ndrthern people to believe that our Southern brethren were “unworthy sons of worthy sires”—not deserving of their consideration, and beneath their contempt. The Democratic party, because it declared to the people that the Union could only be preserved by giving equal and exact jus tice to all sections; because itdcclared through its preis and by. the lips of its orators, that the doctrines of the Republican party wore at war with the equality of the States, and con sequently antagonistic to the spirit and prin ciples upon which tho Government was found ed, and were therefore dangerous in tho ex treme; because it done this in a spirit of de votion to the Union, it was assailed and charg ed by its enemies with endeavoring to drive the people {through a fear of the desolation of the confederacy,) to their support. How often during the late campaign, did the Republican press ring out with the sentence, “ The Dem ocratic cry of disunion will avail them nothing in, this crisis.” And unfortunately, alas! for our country, this prediction was verified. Thus the campaign was carried on by appeals from the-Democracy in the name of tho Con stitution and tho Union on tho one side, and on the side of Black Republicanism by appeals to the prejudice and passion, that they them selves had created in the Northern mind and heart, by false charges against their Southern brethren. Stimulated by hate, and by the assurance that no evil would ; follow. tho suc cess of their principles, a majority of our peo ple, misled by demagogues, and.disregarding tho advice of reason and patriotism, cast their votes for Lincoln, and Hamlin. But scarcely had victory been declared for tho Black Re publican party, ere the mutterings of the storm that had been predicted, were beard, and now when its terrible and- disastrous conse quences are being felt by all conditions and classes of society; when the republic is shak ing to its very foundation, and wo (in all hu man probability,) are' on the verge of the greatest of all earthly calamities, civil war; now when all these evils, predicted and dread ed by the Democracy, are upon us—evils for which none other are responsible save tho leaders of the Black Republican party—these very men, who are the authors of all our woes, are asking, with cool impudence, “who are re sponsible?” And then, with a shameless ef frontery entirely unpardonable, endeavor to throw the responsibility upon tho Democratic party! The task, however, is a fruitless one. they have deluded the people much too long; they have been false teachers and false proph ets.; their leaders have been,' (iriany of them,) bright lights—hut, alas! beacon lights upon a rock-bound shore, that have served only to allure our gallant ship of State ainid terrible breakers, from whence no human arm, thus far, has been able to rescue her. But their power over the popular mind has gone by forever; the people are awakening, tho scales of passion and prejudice are falling from their eyes, and they will no longer bo led by those lenders of the blind, lost they again fall into tho ditch of error and ruin. “AVho aro responsible?” Well may the Republican leaders ask the question, and wo call upon them, in the name of justice and reason, to permit their own consciences to answer. It is in vain, worse than in vain, for them, in view of the facts that stand out to the knowledge of all the world, to say that they are innocent of this great ciiiME against the peace and happiness of our beloved coun try. They will he held, and justly too,by all coming time, as the. authors of our.present misfortunes. Their hitter and unholy cru sade against the South has yielded its : legiti mate, fruits, in the utter prostration of all,our commercial and national prosperity. They may exclaim, with Macbeth, when the ghost of the murdered Banquo entered the banquet ing chamber, “ Thou can’st not say I did it— shake not thy gory looks at meand yet, if the Union he destroyed, the blood of their country will be upon their hands and hearts; ' “ nor can all great Neptune’s ocean wash this blood, clean from their hands." Far better and nobler would it bo, if the Republicans, instead of vainly endeavoring to shift the responsibility upon innocent ihen, were to come out boldly and acknowledge their post errors, and endeavor to repair, as far as in them lies, the great wrong they have Inflicted upon their country, and upon their own and coming generations. Fighting their Battles over Again.— >- an . “irrepressible conflict” among the Missouri militia that mndo tho late- march to tho south-western border and earner back again. After one duel growing out of it, Cot. J. F. Snyder has now bad his bead out off by tho Governor for saying that tho expedition was all a farce. Tho expedition has cost the State treasury between §40,000 and $50,000 and that is the only substantial result. IS-TAME NO HOPE f “ Lost 1 lost 1" wero-tho exclamations Uttßrod by the venerable Cass, when the news reached Washington that South Carolina bad seceded. He was speaking of the Union, No wonder, indeed, that hot tears trickled down his fur rowed cheeks, as the conviction was forced upon him that the Union was dissolved, and that self-government had proved a failure.— It was a sad thought for tho old statesman, Gen. Cass —a sad thought for all lovers of their country. But, notwithstanding tho expression of opinion by Gen. Cass that tho confederacy was lost, - thousands and tens of thousands of Am erican citizens in all sections of the country, and embracing all parties, assembled in “ Un ion Meetings” to devise, if possible, some plan to restore peace and confidence, and re-unite the Union. ’Atfirst the Republicans took the load, in these meetings—and this was right, for they had created the mischief—and the Democrats joining with them heartily, strong hopes were entertained that a compromise would be effected and our country saved. The South—or at least tho good men of the South made no unreasonable demands ; they only contended for their rights, by demanding pro tection for their slave property in the States where slavery exists; also to have leave to go into the common Territories upon terms of equality with the North, and enjoy their own property, receiving the protection of a com mon Government until they shall come into the Union as n sovereign State and choose their own institutions. Or, they said, they would be satisfied to re-enact the Missouri compromise line and extend it to the Pacific, making all territory north free, and all south slave. There was nothing unreasonable in these demands, and, judging from the strong expressions of opinion in the Northern States, by the Republicans as well as the Democrats, a hope began to be felt in all sections that our difficulties could and would bo amicably set tled. But, Mr. Lincoln at last opened his mouth in opposition to compromise; his strong Abolition feelings would not permit him to do anything or say anything tending to fraternal feeling and conciliation. How unfortunate for our country! No sooner had Mr. Lin coln’s opinions ’ been made public, than the Republican leaders (nearly all of whom are on tho look-out for ofiioe,) changed front, and yelped out “ho. compromise!” Our State Legislature is disgraced daily by blood-thirs ty speeches being delivered by Black Repub lican demagogues and traitors. Sneers, in sults and abuse are heaped upon the South, and the rights of that section. of the Union scoffed at and denied. Like Sempronius, the Republican voice is “ still for war,” and the South is defied. In Congress, too, the same spirit prevails. A few days since the Crit tenden proposition was defeated in tho Sen ate, every Republican Senator (Cameron of this State being of tho number,) voting “no.” Thus it appears the Republicans are determin ed to “ lot tho Union slide.” . They will do noth ing to prevent the awful catastrophe. Forney appeals to them through his Press, and begs them to retrace their steps, and save the coun try; butFoRNEY has no influence now. “ Old Abe, the rail-splitter,” has the dispensing of pa tronage, and the fens of thousands who are looking to him for favors, will shape their opin ions to accord with those of the President elect., So wo go! V What then, Can bo done ? Must this coun try be destroyed, merely because a few thou sand mad-mon at the South and the fanatical and treasonable Abolitionists at tho North, have so decreed it ? Wo confess we have lit tle of no. hope. But yet the people can save the country, if they will. Let them, then act —let them push aside the traitors who dare say there shall be “no compromise.” Let all who are opposed to the dismemberment of the Union, and to the coercive war policy of the Black Republican party, which would drench our country with the blood of our brethren, and which is calculated to destroy every effort for conciliation, and the restoration of peace,, happiness, and prosperity, be up and doing. Lot tho miserable traitors in Congress and in our Legislative, halls, continue to declare there shall bo “no compromise.” No matter—the people are still supreme, and their will must bo obeyed. TUB STATE SENATE AGAINST PEACE! lii tlio Slate Semite, on Thursday, Mr. Gi.v- MEit. a Democratic Senator, offered the follow ing resolution: “ Remixed, That all State enactments, un friendly to the domestic institutions of any of the States, are unwise and impolitic, and should be promptly repealed from the statute book." On the question, Will the Senate agree to the amendment? The yeas and nays were required by Mr. WELSH and Mr. CLYMER, and were as fol lows, viz: Yeas. —Messrs. Blood. Clymor, Crawford, Mott, Schindel and Welsh—6—all Democrats. Nats.— Messrs. Benson, Bound, Finnej';’ Gregg. Hall, Hamilton, Hiestand, Imbrie, Irish, Ketcham, London, Lawrence, M’Clure, Meredith, Penney, Robinson, Sorrell, Smith, Thompson, Wharton, Yardley and Palmer, Speaker —2l—all Republicans. So the question was determined in the neg ative. A Goon Resolution. —The following reso lution was unanimously passed by the House of Representatives of this State, on Thursday last: Resolved, That we fully approve the bold and patriotic act of Maj. Anderson in withdraw ing from Fort Moultrie to Fprt Sumter, and the determination of the President to main tain that officer in his position; and that wo will support the President in all constitution al measures to enforce the laws and preserve this glorious Union. We wish tho House had wont a step farther, and endorsed the Crittenden Compromise, or something else of a similar kind looking to a peaceable solution of our National difficul ties. Virginia as a Mediator.— We have seen nothing reoently which more clearly indicates the position of the border States than the fol lowing resolution, passed unanimously by the Legislature of Virginia: Resolved. That if nil efforts fo reconcile tho unhappy differences between the two sections of the country shall prove abortive, then every consideration of honor and interest demands that Virginia shall unite her destinies with her sister slavoholding States. Thus, in a few direct words, Virginia noti fies tho Northern States that in ease the dif ferences now distracting the country pro not reconciled, she will unite her destinies with 1 tho Smith. And her position is the position of all the border States. They are all for Union m a certain contingency, and against it in I another- MB. BIGLER'S PROPOSITION.. The bill of Senator Bigler, of our own State, providing for taking tho sense of'thq people of the several States, on certain pro-, posed amendments to the Constitution, of fers a complete and perfectly just and equita ble solution of the difficulties which are at present distracting the country. Mr. Bigler proposes that on tho 12th of Febuary next an election of the people of the several States shall be hold to decide, upon proposed amendments to the Constitution. The bill provides, in detail for the manner in which this proposed election should be con ducted, and then gives tho amendments to the Constitution, which are-to-be valid as part of the Constitution, when ratified by.conventions in threerfourths of -tho States held for that purpose. . . ' - Tho amendments provide for a divison of the territory now owned, or hereafter to bo acquired by the United States, by an East and West line on parallel 36 degrees 30 min utes of North Latitude, involuntary servitude being prohibited North of this line, and rec ognized, sustained and protected by all depart ments of territorial governments South of this line, it being the duty of Congress to ad mit such territories as States into the Union, whore they have tho required population. Congress is to have no power to, abolish slav ery, in territory under its exclusive jurisdict ion, situate within the States, and it is made its duty to pay the owner the full value of the fugitive slave, when the recovery is prevent ed by intimidation or violence, or when res cued by force, —the country whore said vio lence . may occur being responsible. for the amount. Congress shall not prevent the tran sportation of slaves from one slave State to another, but the African Slave trade can nev er bo revived, except by the unanimous con sent of both houses of Congress. The President is to hold office for six years, and not to be olligible'to a re-election. Amendments to the Constitution to alter these provisions in regard to, slavery are for bidden, except by the unanimous consent of all the States. .. In many particulars,Mr. Bigler’spropoaition coincides with that of Mr.! Crittenden. It takes the vexed question of slavery forever out of the power of Congress, and banishes it from the field of partisan politics. It gives the decision of the great question of the Un ion to the people themselves, to whom the Union belongs, and loaves them to say wheth er they wish it notv to terminate, or to have its youth and strength renewed and the bonds which bind it together made indissoluble. It is a proposition just to the North and South alike, and equitable in its provisions. The early day. at which it proposes thattho great question shall be submitted to the peo ple, shows the imminence of the danger which threatens the Republic. The majority of the people of the United States)’ South as well as North, would prefer to see the present difficul ty settled amicably,land settled quickly, and Mr. Bigler’s bill affords a fair, h favorable and a statesmanlike way of doing it. The bitterness of. partizan politics, and the pride of personal opinion must be laid aside, and some fair and equitable compromise, like that proposed by ,the Senator from Pennsylva nia adopted, or the Country must ;suffer such disasters as are most painful even to reflect upon. T}io peoplojlook lo Congress at oncoi to agree ilpon some measure to protect the nation frfini ana&hy and civil war, and the Union from final dissolution. Mr. Bigler has presented such a measure, and the representa tives of the people should obey their desire, and let the popular will decide upon it. Who Wants Peace! KEEP IT BEFORE THE PEOPLE that the Republicans will not permit the people to vote on'the only plan of agreement which has the least chance of success,—the Plan of Mr. Crittenden. The Senator from Kentucky is neither a Democrat nor a Republican. Ho can, there fore, have no partisan or personal purpose to subserve in urging the adoption of his propo sition. All the leading-Democrats say they will support it. The Republicans are not ask ed to support it, if they don’t like it, —but they are asked to transfer it from the politi cians in Congress to the people themselves.— 'The people could vote upon it, —“yea,” or w hay,”—in less than thirty days, and the de cision, we have no doubt, would bo in favor of Reconciliation, Union and Pence. But, the Crittenden plan has been defeat ed in the U. S. Senate. A few days since a direct vote was had, when the bill fell by the following vote. Lei the public scan this vote, and then say who it is that shuts the door to compromise and peace, and hurries on the na tion to civil war. Mr. Biqlbr asked for a vote on the Crit tenden resolutions, which was agreed to, and the resolutions negatived—ayes 14, nays 31, as follows; aves —14. Bigler, Pa., Mallory, Fla., Bragg, N. C„ Pearce, Md., Bright, Ind., Rice, Minn., Crittenden, Ky., Snulsbury, Del., Fitch, Ind., Slidell, La., Hemphill, Tp jas, Thompson, N. J., Latham, Calj, Wigfall, Texas. . n|ts —31. Anthony, Republican, Rhode Island. Baker, Republican,' Oregon. Bingham, Republican, Michigan. Cameron, Republican, Pennsylvania. Chandler, Republican, Michigan. Clark, Republican, Vermont. Collamer, Republican, Vermont. Dixon, Republican, Connecticut. Doolittle, Republican, Wisconsin. Dorkee, Republican, Wisconsin. Fessenden, Republican, Maine. Foote, Republican, Vermont. Foster, Republican, Connecticut. Grimes, Republican, lowa. Hale, Republican, Now Hampshire. Harlan,' Republican, .lowa. King, Republican, New York. Sumner, Republican, Massachusetts. Simmons, Republican, Rhode Island. Ten Eyck, Republican, Now Jersey. Trumbull, Republican, Illinois. Wade, Republican, Ohio. Wilkinson, Republican, Minnesota. Wilson, Republican.- Massachusetts. Even Cameron voted no, when he knows very well that the people of Pennsylvania, if allowed to vote at this day, would give a largo majority in favor of Crittenden’s proposition. Furnace ' “ Blown ' Out." —The Montour Iron Works, the largest in Pennsylvania, ex cept one, have been stopped, and about 1000 men have been thrown out of work in the very depth of winter. Tile Magi of Opr Legislature. The Republican Legislature of Pennsylva nia is acquiring an unenviable distinction, add is, besides, greatly injuring.the reputatidn of our State. Governor Banks of Massachu setts, Governor Morgan of New York, Gover nor Goodell of New Hampshire, Governor Woahburne of Maine, and some other Repub lican Governors of Republican States, have recommended the repeal of the personal liber ty bills passed by the Legislatures of their States, and have-declared themselves in favor of proper conciliation'and concession. Thur low Weed has expressed the same sentiments. Various other Republicans, in and out of Con gress, have taken the same ground—and to crown all, Governor Seward; the originator of Black Republicanism, and the Premier of the. incoming-Lincoln administration, has just for himself, and' doubtless for his chief, declared himself in the.same manner. But the Republican . Legislatuae of this State, whdse members claim to be tho conser vatives, par excellence, of their party —Who profess not to love tho negro, and nOt to be iden tified with the Abolitionists, bdt to bo part and parcel of that “ conservative belt” so proudly discoursed of by Republican papers—this Leg islature, either ignorant of the events occur ring all around us, or seized with sudden in sanity, has refused to contribute anything to the pacification of the. country and to the set tlement of the controversy which is now oka ting this Union to its very foundations. On the 19th inst., one Mr. Gordon offered in the House the following resolution: Resolved, That wo affirm the doctrine of the Chicago platform as expressing the sentiments of a large majority of the people of Pennsyl vania. and that we have no reason to ignore it. We DO NOT BELIEVE THAT ANYTHING IN OCR POLITICAL CONDITION DEMANDS CONCESSION ON ODR PART,” Against this resolution not one single Re .publican voted. Immediately afterwards they rejected a resolution of Mr, Armstrong, which had a squinting towards an adjustment on the basis of the Missouri Compromise. ■ Several things are observable in this move ment. The People’s Party, up to the day of the Presidential election, repudiated the Re publican party. They had a distinct organi zation of their own. They also made war upon the Chicago platform, because of its con taining what has been christened “ the Dutch plank”—to them an odious and offensivefea turo. They pretended to be free from all taint of Abolitionism, hnd to be especially pure and holy. Where are they now ? By voting for this- resolution they have thrown off their disguise. They have put themselves alongside of the rankest Black Re publicans, and merged themselves in the Anti- Slavery ranks. With the tune of “Dixey’s Land” still sounding in their ears, they have gone “ whore the good niggers go.” Those Solomons in the Pennsylvania Legis lature have, in this brief sentence —“ Wo do not believe that anything in our political con dition demands concession on our part” —in sulted the many thousands of merchants, man ufacturers, laboring men and other .'citizens' who petitioned them, as they had the right to do, to remove offensive laws from, the statute book of our State, and to meet the present cri sis in a conciliatory spirit. They have placed conservative Pennsylva nia in tlie front rank of Anti-Slavery States, and made her stand in a threatening, offensive and hostile attitude towards the fifteen States of the South.. An Appeal to the People! The following address to the people of the United States, originated with Senator Bigler and John Cochrane, of New York, has been signed by Mr. Crittenden and many other members of Congress. The propositions are those introduced into the Senate by Mr. Crit tenden, The object is to got the approval of the people in order that the proposed amendr ment» maybe passed, by a vote of two-thirds as amendments to the constitution: Your country is in imminent peril. The federal Union is in, process of disruption. Without your aid Congress can do little to avert the impending calamity. The Senate Committee of Thirteen have reported their in ability to agree upon any basis of adjustment between the North hud South. The House Committee of Thirty-three have arrived at no satisfactory conclusion. Meanwhile, the work of dissolution is moving forward with fright ful strides, and mutual exasperation and dis cord is inflaming the whole land. The rem edy is in your hands! You have the power to arrest the movements which are certain to in volve the whole nation in a deadly internecine strife, and to restore peace to our distracted country. The undersigned, representing all sections of our common country,, in view of these unhappy surroundings, have deemed it our duty to appeal directly to you. Wo have reason to believe that the following proposed amendments to the constitution, if passed by a two-thirds vote of Congress and ratified by three-fourths of the States, would have the ef fect to allay promptly and permanently the sectional strife about slavery, and re-establish relations of peace and good-will between the States and the people. Wo therefore earnest ly and urgently recommend that, with as lit tle delay as possible, you express your judg mention the proposed amendments. You can best tell how*this can be done, whether by public meetings, conventions of delegations, or through the'ballot box. If action can bo had at all, to be effective it must come prompt ly, and in such form as to indicate unmistak ably your Will on the subject, so that your representatives in Congress may govern their, actions accordingly. Meanwhile we shall en deavor to maintain the government and pre serve the public peace. Contemptible Conduct. —Simon Cameron, who misrepresents the people of Pennsylva nia in the U; S. Senate, is making himself contemptible before 1 the country by his zig rag course in regard to our ' difficulties. His anxiety to get in the cabinet has evidently ef fected his back-hone, if ever he had any.— “Occasional,” the Washington correspondent of the Public Ledger, thus speaks of Simon : The Republican Senators who profess to he conservative act very strangely, to say nothing worse. Gen. Cameron and Mr. Dixon voted to day for reconsidering the vote whereby the Crittenden proposition was lost on Wednes day, but when they found that the motion for reconsideration had prevailed without their votes, they changed their record. Is this the part of statesmen 7 Would Henry Clay have done so? Can there he any hone of- salutary action hero influencing the people of the coun try in the hohalf of accommodation if such games are to ho played 7 None. Aukansas. —The Arkansas Legislature has unanimously passed a bill -submitting the question of a State Convention directly to the people, who are to vote on it on the 18th of Febuary. If a majority is found to favor the calling of a Convention, the Governor is em powered to appoint a day for its meeting. Bepublicans on. the Bight of Petition. Some time since a petition was widely cir culated in Philadelphia, and numerously signed by members of all political parties—■ Breokonridge and Douglas Democrats, Bell and Everett men, and in many instances by Re publicans f all of whom, desirons that some* thing should be done to arrest, the ruinous and downward tendency of things, and to pre vent civil war, and the destruction of the Un ion, solicited pohgre.ss to consider and adopt the This petition was sent to the Hon, Thomas B. Florence, mem ber from the First Congressional District, who, in the discharge of his duty to the citizens of Philadelphia and to the country, embraced the very first opportunity to present the peti tion, to the House, ,We learn from, the daily Globe, containing, the proceedings of Friday last, the reception which the petition received at the hands of the Republican members of that body. We quote from the Globe r -- Mr. Florence:—Before the House adjourns, I ask the privilege of presenting a memorial from citizens ofPbiladelphia, signed by men of all political parties—Democrats, Republi cans, and Union men or national Americans. It is very numerously signed, and I think it ought to have the consideration of this body. I do not care about having it printed, but will move that it be referred to the committee of thirty-throe. Mr. Burnett—l object to the reference of anything to the committee of thirty-three. Mr. Florence—Then I trust it may have the consideration of this body. The petition is very short, and osks the consideration of the Crittenden resolutions. It is from men of all Forties in the city of Philadelphia, As such, present it and ask that- the sacred right of petition may be at least accorded to my peo ple. The Speaker—Objection is made to the ref erence of the petition to the committee of Thir ty-three. _ . Mr. Florence—Than I ask that it may simp ly boread. Mr, Sherman—l object. The Speaker—Then it cannot bo received. Mr. Florence—l desire that it may, be printed. Mr. Longnecker—l call the gentleman to order. Mr. Florence—Tho situation in which the country finds itself at this time has prompted the citizens of Philadelphia to ask that their voice may be heard in the councils of the na tion ; and in fulfilling my duty to them to-day, I present this paper. : The Republican party, whenever Abolition petitions have been offered,- no matter how outrageous their sentiments, or how absurd their requests,. have been loud mouthed and bold in their advocacy of the sacred right of petition. But when a petition is presented, signed by the conservative men of the most conservative city of one of the most conserva tive States of the Union, having for its object the adoption by Congress of resolutions which would forever settle the agitating question of slavery, the “sacred right of petition” is no longer regarded by these Black Republican patriots. John Sherman, the endorser of Helper, objects, and Longenecker, who mis represents the sentiment of his State, resorts to a parliamentary dodge to prevent its recep tion, and the Speaker sustains the objection. In the house of Representatives at Harris burg, also, the right of petition is denied. Wo quote from the Daily Legislative Record, of Friday : • . “Mr. Seltzer of the city, refused to present to the House petitions for the repeal of the ob jectionable sections of the Penal, Code. He. says a large majority of his constituents are opposed to it.’^ Thus it appears, the right of petition is to be denied the people, both at Washington and Harrisburg. . OUT! Five States have, now, bolted from the Un ion, ns folloTva r South Carolina, Dec. 20.1 Florida, •J 11 * 1, J®* Mississippi, Jan.. 9. {Alabama/ Jan. 11. 6oorgiti'-~Jftn. 19. The Senators and members of Congress from Florida, Alabama and Mississippi retired from the Capitol on Saturday. The First Disunion Speech in the Sen- the United States. —The first disu nKm speech over made in the United States Senate was made by Josiah Quincy, of Mas sachusetts, in regard forthe Louisina enabling act, on January the 14th, 1811. He said: I am compelled to declare it as my deliber ate opinion that if this bill passes, tbe bonds of this Union are virtually dissolved ; that the States which compose it are free from their moral obligations; and-that, as it will b e the right of all, so it will be the ditty of some, to prepare definitely for a separation-AUiCKMhY IF THEY CAN, VIOLENTLY IP THEY MUST.” This same Josiah Quincy is yet alive, and/ despite his advanced age, is one of the most radical and extreme Abolitionists in New Eng land, and is for coercing those who are acting on the doctrine wnich he enunciated in his youthful manhood. The Crittenden Resolutions. —A vote was taken on the Crittenden proposition of compromise, in the-U. S. Senate,-on Tues day last, and it was defeated by a vote of 23 for, to 25 against—all the Republican Sena tors voting in the negative. . A motion was afterwards made by Senator Cameron to re consider the vote. This motion came up for consideration on Friday and-was carried all the Republican Senators, except Mr Dixon, of Connecticut, voting against the reconsider ation. . Mr. Cameron first voted aye, but af terwards changed his vote to nay I ■ The further consideration of the resolutions was postponed until yesterday, when they would come up in the Senate; at the same time the Compromise resolutions of the Com mittee of Thirty-Three will come up in the House. The present w;eek will, therefore, be a very important one in Congress, as well as to the country. We hope for the best. The citizens of York, Pa., hold a largo and earnest meeting on Tuesday night of last week, for the purpose of expressing their de votion to the Union. Resolutions favoring tho Crittenden Compromise nnd the repeal of the Personal Liberty bills ; pronouncing un just and ill-advised the course of South Caro lina, nnd declaring it tho duty of tho Federal Hovcrmneht to collect tho revenues at Charles ton, were unanimously adopted. Missouri Leihhlature —Convention Bill Passed. —Tho Convention bill passed tho Senate nu the 10th hist., by a vote of 32 yeas to 2 hays. Tho bill provides that the voters shall decide, at the time of the election of del egates, whether the secession ordinance, if passed, shall bo submitted to the people for ratification. The election for delegates is to be held on the 18 th of February, and the Con vention will meet on the 28th. PUBLIC MEETING IN DICKINSON TOWfl^ip A meeting of citizens of Dickinson townsh- * and vicinity, was held; at the Hall, on the evening of the 17th inst. Th meeting was organized as follows; . ’ n *' iVesiden#— -Philip Spangler. Vice Zinn, David T„r ver, Wm, A. Coffey, Sam’l. Stuart, John 1I„T linger, Mathew? Galbraith, David Coover Abram' Kurtz, Andrew. Rokert, Joseph Sol’ lenborger, Wm. Galbraith,; John Sheaffer Eli Bushman, Sam’l. Harper; Jacob Beotem Wm, M’Glaughlin. ™- Secretaries. —Daniel Etter, T, M. Galbraith. John C, Hutchinson, Goo. W. Martin Wm* Sheaffer, John Homminger. 1 . After being thus organized, the followine preamble and resolutions were adopted-. . Whereas, we have been informed-that mr attempt will bo made, by the Legislature of this State; to appropriate one million of dol lars, for thopnrpuseof organizing an'armyint Pennsylvania; to make war with the Southl, erh States. And' whereas, wo are in favor of peaceable, measures, to settle our difficulties with men that shoald.be- treated as brothers' if wo wish to perpetrate-thie existence of the' only free government on earth. Therefore Resolved, That we are opposed to the appro priation of money for any end! 'purpose, as it might he the means of inaugurating civil war amongst ourselves. Resolved, That we request pur; representa tives at Harrisburg to carry into effect the re commendation of Governor Packer imi»fe r , enco to our Anti-Fugitive slave laws, . . . Resolved That we are in favor uf tha’com promise measures offered in the U. S. Senate by Mr. Crittenden, with the amendment of Mr. Douglas, excluding negroes or mulatto from the right of voting in all the states, and the proposition of Mr., Bigler, to forever pro hibit the African slave trade. "v .. Resolved, That the men. of the North and South who oppose .a settlement of our difficul ties by compromise, are the true* disunionists,. and should be treated as enemies to the peace, ; and happiness, of. the ebuntry. Resolved, That these proceedings published in. the Volunteer. THE ISSUE. What is to be Gained by War f—Senator Douo'tA9, in a patriotic word for conciliation, uttered in a strong speech, by simply staling things precisely as they are, has presented the momentous issue fairly before the country.— Most forcibly does Senator Douglas say; . “ A war between eighteen States, on the one side,' and fifteen seceding States on the other, is to me a revolting thing. For fchat purpose is the war to be waged? Certainly not for the purpose of preserving the Union. I have too much respect for gentlemen on the other side of the chamber, collectively and inr dividually, to believe there is one among thorn who does not know what war is. You-onimot expect to exterminate ten millions of people, whose passions are excited with the belief that you moan to invade their homes and light the flames of insurrection in their midst. You must expect to exterminate them, or subjugate them, or else, when you have got tired of war, to make a treaty with them. 'No matter whether the war lasts one year, or seven years, or thirty years, it must have an end at some time. Sooner or later both parties will become tired and exhausted, and when-ren dered incapable of fighting any.longer, they will make a treaty of pence, and that treaty will be one of separation. The history of this world does not furnish an example ofnw'nrof sections, or between States of the same nation, where the war ended in reconciliation. Such a war always ends in -a.treaty of peace, and a final, eternal separation. I don’t understand, then, bow a man can claim to befriend of the Union, and yet be in favor of a war upon ten millions of people in the Union. .Yon cannot cover it up much longer under the pretest of love for the Union. Now, the question'must be met and whatever concessions l am called upon to make, I choose to make before blood is shed, and pot afterward, V> man' has morotprido of I. -it humbles my pride to see the authority of the government questioned, hut we are not the first nation whose pride lias been humbled.— Republics, eriipiree and kingdoms, alike in till ages, have been subject to the same humilia ting fact. But where there is a deep-seated discontent pervading ten millions of people, penetrating every 'man, woman and child, and involving, everything dear to them, it is time for inquiring whether there is not some cause for the feeling. If there bo just cause for it, in God’s name let ns remove it. (Are we not criminal in the sight of Heaven and posterity, if we do not remove the just cause? If there is no cause, and yeft they believe there is, so much the greater the' necessity for. re moving the misconception. The Recent Berolting Tragedy in Evansville —Fatal Affray Between Two Brothers. - The Evansville Journal of Wednesday gives the annexed account of the lateshookiagtrag edy in that place: Last night about midnight a tragedy was enacted in this oity that probably was never equaled for deadly effects, ferocity and unnat ural hate. We have time only for a hasty si count of it, . A fierce feud has long existed between two brothers named John Paul Evans and Rob ert M. Evans, members of an old and well known family of this city. Their grand-fath er laid out the town of Evansville.. They have' made several. attempts heretofore on each other’s lives. ■ . . Robert went to a ball at Mozart Hall yester day evening with a lady. Over a hundred people were there. About midnight Paul came intoxicated. He walked hp to his bro ther and asked him to drink. His brother re fused, whereupon Paul drew a knife, seeing which Robert drew a six-shooter. Paul stepped back and drew a six-shooter. Robert drew a knife and put it between bis teeth and com menced firing. Paul returned the fire, and each fired six shots, and then closed and used their knives. They wore mortally wounded. Paul started for the front door and went out; was followed and brought hack and died in twenty minutes. He was sliotin the upper part of the breast, and cut several times in the abdomen. ! ' , • Robert, when Paul loft the room, followed him as far as the inside door,' where he fell, struck the wall, and skinned his face. . was carried to a temporary couch, and lay insensible nearly throe hours, when heniso died. He was shot through the loft the brain and in the right aide bonoath me ribs. They both seemed to die of inward bleeding. ..., During the encounter, a younger brotner. Berry, shot three balls at Paul, one of wnion it is said hit him. Solomon Humberts, ft son of Simon Humberts, a bystander, wasacw denlally shot by one of the random balls m the right thigh, the bullet narrowly missing the femoral artery. Ills condition is sen ous. . a. Such a scone ns was presented when m writer reached the Hall may ho never ®S?I behold. Tbe two brothers lay there a few feet of each other, cold and death, bloody and. ghastly, marred by * ricidnl wounds. The door near the Booa . . combat was covered with gore, and tbe p ering pitted with bullet dents. around wore groups of mon, some witn. glistning in their eyes, “nlthough unu to the melting mood.” _ or