TH E GAZE TT E. LEWISTOWN, PA. FRIDAY EVENING, APRIL 19, 1850. j r E It M $ : <* la DOLLAR ELR AAAI JI, IN ADVANCE. For six months, 75 cents. All NEW subscriptions must be paid in ; RdVifice. If the paper is continued and not paid within the first month. 81.25 will be charg ed ■ if not paid in three months, §150; if not paid in six months, §1.75; and if not paid in nine months, §2.00. Renew your Subscriptions. The present issue of the Gazette closes the \ ear for a larije number of subscribers. Those who wish t<> take advantage of the advance te:nis, had better send on their .money, as A DOLLAR will now pay lor a Tear —a fact worth remembering. - !(r Gunpowder. We have before us a sample of the newly in vented gunpowder preparation. It is perfectly white, and is said to possess ten times the strength of ordinary powder. It ignites very readily, and in blasting rocks must, we think, be a great ac cession to operatives. Persons feeling curious on the subject can see the article at our office. INFANT SCHOOL. —It may not be generally known, that Miss MARTHA ALLEN, a young lady well qualified, by experience and attainments, lias opened a school for children, from the ages of three to six years. Persons wishing further information, will obtain it upon application tc Mr. EDWIN ALLEN, at hi- store, on Market street. We might further add, that the terms are low, nd the qualifications of the young lady for the business she has assumed undoubted. Postmaster Butler has added a large number of new Boxes for the accommodation of those who do not wish to be continually ask ing for letters and papers. The l ark Kepublican saj.s, there i not a Furnace ;:i oper?'iun in York county. Codu >.s M > rgeretta, Woodstock, York and Manor are ail blown out, and no talk of putting them in blast again, according to our information. The thing has come to a dead stand. Such ore the withering effects of the Tariff of ISI6 ! York is not the only county in which the Iron interest is prostrate. In Mifflin, the Fur naces are lying idle, with no prospect of being put in blast so long as the locofoco tariff per mits British Furn-ces to supply us with what we ought to manufactuVe ourselves; or if any of them are put in blast again, it will have to oe dune by reducing the rales of lauor trom the woodchopper up to the manager. Locofoco *> phiatry may extol ihe policy which brings _buut such a state of affairs in a county abound ing with valuable ore, but facts are stubborn things that sometimes in an hour upset a thou sand theories. EXPL'SION. —The Locomotive "Chieftain" burst her boiler on Tuesday last on the Baiti .oore arid Susquehanna Railroad, about fifteen mi'es frvm Bi! imn'f, ihr wing Vr. *'i'haw, tie fireman, aimost perpendicularly into the e r to the height of about sixty feet, passing through the top of a large oak tree, the limbs rf which stripped nearly every thread of cloth ing from his body Davis, the engineer, who was standing on the locomotive with the de ceased, was thrown with violence against a bank of earth on the side of the toad, and was considerably brut*ed and scalded, so much eo that his recovery is considered doubtful. The ; eceased was a young man of excellent char acter, and was married only last fali. Almost every bone in his bjdy was broken, and the Scab terribly scalded about the breast arid face. TUB GALPHIM CLAIM. —The Democrat make* •everal erroneous statements in relation to this matte' - . In the first place, Mr. Polk's Secretary of the Treasuiy did not reject the interest, but held it under advisement-, in the next place Mr. Evving had nothing at ail to do *ah it. These facts as well as several others, the Democrat can ascertain for itself by referer.ee to a letter in the Washington L'nion, from Mr. Mon tague, a locofoco clerk under Mr. Polk's admin istration, which conclusively shows that our neighbor's tirade about the pillaging, want of common honor, honesty, and character of the Taylor administration, is all moonshine. We know little about the matter, but it appears to tis that the common sense view of such a claim would be, that if the claim was just, interest would be equally so. Huch at least would be the result of a similar transaction between in dividuals, and it sounds somewhat strangely to hear professing democratt condemn a government for doing that which the law declares to oe right in private aflaire. PRINCIPLES OP THE HI-MAN MIND, deduced from physical laws, together with a lecture on Electro Biology, or the Vol'aic Mechanism of Man, with illustration*—by Alfred Hnor, F R. S. Fowlers &. Welb", Publishers, New York. Price cent-5 —bq:<i abie. We should think, from a bant/ examination of true work that it is one worth purchasing by those r.hc make science their study. The game publishers continue to put forth the Phrenological Journal an J Wator-fJwt Journal , both mo t excellent works, which rnav he read with profit and instruction by believers and unbelievers in trie dvctrirua taught, a there ia much inforuigtHiu of general na'r contained in them. The Turkish Sultan has granted full toleration to the missionaries throughoui his vast empire. Seven churches havt been formed at Trebizond, Constantinople and other towns, embracing from two h three hundred members. Letter front California. We have been furnished with the following interesting extracts of a letter from Mr. J. M. MORROW to JOSETII MILLIKEN, Esq., of this place, which gives a full and reliable account of Life in the .Mines, as did that of Mr. KELLY, published in the Gazette some weeks ago, of : Life in San Francisco. It is dated MURPHY'S DIGGINGS, CALIFORNIA, ) January 23th, 1850. j In leaving San Francisco for this part of the country, we pass through three beautitul Bays, but very rough in time of storms. First is San Francisco, next Peblo, and then Suison, after which we enter the San Joaquin. The Sacra mento river empties into the bay near the same place. A few miles bwlow the mouth of these 1 rivers, on the north side of the bay, is a flour ishing village called Benetia, and two other ; small villages on the south—all commenced since i the Gold Fever broke out. After leaving the bay, the land for miles is beautiful and rolling. Large herds of cattle are to be seen as far as the eye w ill carry, grazing on the plains and sides of hills. There is very little timber, and al though there are but two seasons in this country, in many places the pasture is fine the whole year. There are plenty of wild oats, and a very heavy grass, somewhat resembling our swamp grass. The seasons are styled Wet and Dry. When i the dry season commences the grass matures and retains its substance, and cattle will keep in fine case the whole year. When we arrived in San Francisco we were at a loss to know which was the better route to set our compass for gold, as that was what we were after, and were not within two hundred miles of it. We finally concluded that we had better divide and prospect several of the mines. I was one of three that went up the Sacramento river. The city of Sacramento is situated on the bank of the river, about one hundred and fifty miles above San Francisco. Sutler's Fort is two miles from the river, with a fine country about it. If you remember, in Gov. Mason's report, after gold was discovered in California, he said farmers had left their farms, and their ! grain was standing uncut; and spoke of Captain , Sutter following his occupation, and gathering in his harvest—that he would have forty thou sand bushels of wheat, &c. When i looked at the Fort, and the premises round about, and could see no farming utensils, nor anything, as I thought, to raise wheat with, 1 concluded it was a " w heat story but on our journey from Sacramento to Stockton across the country, one day we overtook an elderly man, an older man indeed than 1 thought had any business in Cali fornia, who had stopped under a large tree and was letting his mule feed on grass, as they all do in this country. We stopped and had a con versation. I asked him how long he had been in the country. He said since 1845. He was a native of Kentucky, but emigrated from Mis souri. I spoke about Gov. Mason's report, and about Sutler raising so much wheat. He said it was all truth—that he had seen more than forty thousand bushels raised at the Fort; arid on the sauie day I was fully convinced that wheat would grow in California. We stopped over night near a Ranche owned by Mr. Murphy, and in the morning w hen the teamster was harness ing his mules, I went up to the house, and he look me into a little warehouse and showed nie i one thousand bushels as fine white wheat as ever I seen come from Black Oak Ridge, and two years old. I asked him what he could get per bushel for it. He told me $5. They sow their wheat in February. We were then on the hunt of the balance of our Company, as we had been unsuccessful on the Sacramento, and were anxious to know what success thev had met with. On our arrival at Stockton we were informed of their being about t eighty miles north, (not a bad little walk in the month of August,) and on the 4th day after leav ing Stockton we found them, the Company hav- ' ing dissolved, but not altogether by mutual con- j sent. We are now in the same place, ne.ar the head of Angel's creek, about two hundred miles from San Francisco and seventy-five from Stock ton, right up in the mountains, in a beautiful little valley surrounded by hills. We are in what is called the Dry Diggings.— Part of our Company irrived on the 7th of Au gust, but I did not get here until the Ist of Sep tember. Some of them had been successful, and some left the mines for San Francisco— among them Beck and Levy. 1 found Scott, j Salisbury, Campbell and Yandling working to gether and getting gold. I was admitted into their Company, and we are now the only mem bers of the Juniata Company in these mines, and the only Pennsylvanians. Mow I will give you a short history of the laws and regulations, the manner of getting gold, Ac. In all mines the miners make laws to prevent any difficulty that might arise with one man encroaching upon another's place or lead where he was working. Each man is al lowed a certain number of feet of ground to sink a hole, (in these mines eight feet square,) and when absent from your place of work you are required to leave a tool in, and if one day absent from the place, (except in case of sick ness,) you lose your title. If any one com mences work he can keep possession. \o man can have or work more than one piece of ground at the same time. The gold that is got here in large and coarse. It is found by sinking holes from three to eigh- ; teen feet deep—seldom as soon as three feet.— . When down about six feet we have in some in- j tartr<s found rock, or a very tough mud, where, by taking a knife and scraping off three or four | inches of clay or gravel, the larger pieces can , be picked up ; then by taking this dirt and wash ing it in a tin pan or cradle, the small particle* w ill settle to the bottom. The. largest piece that we have found weighed 3i ounces, worth When we came here we were fortunate. We sunk three or four holes, and happened to hit it pretty well, but not so well as we were led to expect by the glowing accounts in circulation We occasionally get to see a newspaper from the States, and 1 am sorry to say that 1 see some great falsehoods as regards the amount of gold and the size of pieces obtained by individuals. Only a few days since I was looking over a Bos- ! tori paper, which stated that a piece had been ; found on the Mokluma river weighing thirty pounds. That is not the case. We are within I about twenty miles of that river, and know that \ no such piece was found, as the gold obtained there is in fine particles. There may have been a large stone found with particle* of gold in it. 1 have heard of several pieces weighing four, eight, and ten pounds. The largest piece I have sc-en weighed four pounds, and it was not pure I gold, being mixed with a white quartz rock that is always about where gold is found. These re- j ports going to the State* will keep up the ex citement; but on the whole I don't think that the amount of gold in California has been over- ' rated. There are new discoveries making every day, and will be for year* to come ; and I have j no doubt as rich mines remain hidden as have yet been discovered. A steady, industrious man can make more money in this country than he can in the States ; * nut then lie is cut oil from all the comforts of life. I have not told you what our success has been —After our arrival here we laid oir out territory according to the laws of the miners, and sunk holes about five feet, when we discov ered gold. Two of them proved rich, one of which we sunk about eighteen feet, and found gold until we reached water; but we had to give, it up when the rainy season commenced, (Ist November.) The most gold we gathered in one day (52d of October) was sixty-three ounces, which, valued at £IG per ounce, is SIOOB. Our next best day's work was &54i2, there being five of us for it. 1 saw Mr. Vandlirig, (one of our men,) wash out of one panful of dirt three pounds of gold, or $576. This was what the miners call a pocket; but there has been many day* since the rainy season set in that we have not made our board. Out of about twenty-four feet square of ground we got near eight thousand dollars worth of gold. Thir was the labor e>l five. Then I will take the other aide This was done in latter part of August and in i September and October. In these months at any one time I don't think there was less than one hundred and fifty men at work, and sometimes I presume there was from four to five hundred in these diggings, small as they are ; yet 1 doubt if every tenth man made his boarding. 1 have now given you some idea of gold-dig ging. I must next give you a sketch of how we live. We put up a comfortable log cabin, which was soon done, timber being plenty in this part of country, and in which we eat and sleep. Our I living consists of pork, pilot or hard bread, cof fee, tea and sugar, dried apples and peaches, and occasionally venison, when we go out and kill it ourselves. Should you bear any person talking of com- j ming to California, you can try him how he will like it by giving him a shovel or spade, a large i tin pan, and taking him down to the creek any j place between the bridge and Sterrett's mill; let | him shovel up his panful of mud or gravel and then hunt a convenient place to wash it. If lie ! gets I2i or 15 cents out of it, let him go on all ! day. Then if he wants dry diggings, take him ; up in the square, in front of Moyer's Hotel, and lay him off say eight or ten feet square, and iet him sink it twelve or fifteen feet deep, and very j probably not get as much as he did in the panful i at the creek ; or if he does get some gold, then lie must either fill his pan or get a bag with one and a half or two bushels of dirt, and tote it half a mile to find water to wash it. He will soon think there are better diggings than these. Then . give him two or three blankets, a few flannel or hickory shirts, a shovel, pick, tin pan,co!i'ce boil er, tin cup, a rifle, and a little pork and hard bread, and start him across the seven mountains to Bald Eagle creek. Don't let him take the road, for there is no such thing here from one mine to an other. When night comes on him he can eat his pork and bread, and lay down under some tree and sleep till morning. If he don't meet with success on the Bald Eagle, he can go on to Clearfield creek. If he can stand all this he is ready to come to California. I don't know how < to give you a more correct idea of the labor to I be done than what 1 have just given you. We were unfortunate with our baggage.— 1 When we got to the City of Mexico we could not engage pack mules, and were advised to have it sent to Aeapulco, and from there shipped to tsan Francisco last May. We have, however, not heard from it since. I had two trunks full of clothes, &c. 1 will close this long epistle by giving you a list of prices in the Diggings, furnished by one of our merchants : Flour per potinJ, £1 00 Dried Apples per pound, i .00 Pork " 125 '• Pearlies " tOO j fie, f, fresh " 050 Brandy per gallon, 20 00 I Corn Meal " 1 50 Whiskey " 15.00 Potatoes " 1 50* Kurn " 15 00 flre;i'l " 1 Si; Paper, I2J per Pheet Coffee " I 00:1 Ilk, #1 per small Bottle, Sugar " I 'O- such asseilsin Lewistown Tea '• 3 00- f.r 6| cents. Kite " 110-hoes frooi#stn Ultlperpair Butt-r, (not fresh—don't H-.ots iiiucli higher in pro eat say.) " 3.00 portion. Unclosed I send a few specimen* of the " root of all evil," obtained from a ravine about one mile from our encampment, w here we have been working since the rainy season commenced. 1 am your most obd't serv't, J. M. MORROW. We have also a letter from Mr. WILLIAM SCOTT to JAWLS MIILIECS, Esq., but as it em bodies the same information contained in the above, we have not deemed it necessary to pub lish it. The State Treasurer and the I.oeofotos. We have heretofore given some specimens of the testimony before the investigating commit tee, and nothing has thus far been adduced to substantiate the charges made against Mr. Ball by the Canal Commissioners. Mr. It. has opened his defence, and proved by Mr. Bell of llolli daysburg and the documents offered the follow ing farts that such money was paid out of the Depositaries of the State as were received by the State in pay ment of tolls, and that therefore, all the clamor, which was raided about the kind of money was not properly against Mr. Bali, but against that Treasurer under whose instruc tions such trash was received by the State, offi cers. That in less than one month after Mr Ball went into office, he issued a circular to all depositaries of the public money, prohibiting them from receiving on deposite to the credit of the State anything but notes of specie-paying Banks of Pennsylvania, " Relief Issues," and coin, and that w ben we remember that he issued a circular of a similar character to the collec tors on the public works prohibiting them from receiving in payment of tolls any notesexcept the notes of specie-paying banks of this Stale, " Relief Issues" and coin, it is clear that Mr. Ball used all his official authority to purify the circulation, and place upon the public improve ments such funds as no one could reject. That he broke up the very bad practice of paving public officers their salaries in advance, in order that he might appropriate the more to the pay ment of claimants on the public works. 'I hat the Canal Commissioners broke overall the re straints which had hitherto controlled their ac tion, in determining to make a run upon the Treasury, such as had never before been at tempted, with a view as is believed, to cripple the Treasury, prevent the payment of the Au gust and February interest—for which latter a loan was until this year made—to injure the credit of the Slate, in the hope that by so doing, disgrace would fall upon the Slate Treasurer who had control of the finances. Mr. Hail lias also brought forward the various acts of Assembly relating to revenue, to show that the proceeds of the greater part of taxation are specially appropriated to the payment of in terest on the public debt. That the Canal Com missioners did not co-operate with hiin in his efforts to sustain the credit of the State, is con clusively shown by a comparison of the semi annual payments made at the Treasury in tho month previous to the interest becoming due, by w Inch it appears that Mr. Hall paid in the month of January, 1850, a larger sum by slO,l I'd 50 than the payments during January in the years I*4G, '47, '4B and '4'J amount to when united ! and 'that'he paid in July, 184'J, a larger sum by #41,5!M) 00 than the amount of the July payments of the years IB4fi, '47 and '4B when united! It is evident from the whole proceedings that this scheme was got up for the purpose ol injuring ! Gov. Johnston's administration by preventing ; the payment of interest on the public debt, and : then withholding the funds in hand from laborers on the public works, so as to create au idea ' among the workmen that it was the fault of Guv. Johnston and Mr. Ball. The parties en | gaged in this low business have gained nothing but an additional share of w hat they before pos i eesscd—the scorn and contempt of all honora ble men. Sterrett's " Lewistown Mill" is rapidly re building, a large number of hands being con i stently at work on the walls, machinery, dtc. Pennsylvania Legislature. On Friday last an effort was made in the House to repeal that part ot the revenue act reducing the pay of members of the Legisla ture to $1,50 per day, after being in Besion 100 days, but tailed, though a subsequent vote indicated that it may yet pass. On Saturday 6oine section " Relative to rail roads and canals in Mifflin county," passed second and final reading in Ihe Senate. On Monday the Governor returned an omni bus bill without his signature, containing a " general assortment" of monopolies and in fringements on the rights of the people in all parts of the Sta'e. The biil supplementary to an act incorporating the Pennsylvania Rail road Company, passed several readings. [We don't know what this hill is intended for, but we thought at the time that that ride on the railroad would hatch something in the shape of an egg.] In the House, the Bank Committee reported bills respectively to extend the charters ot the following bank*: Kensington Bank, Philadel phia county, with an increase of capital ; Easton Bank; Vcrk Bank; Farmers' Deposite Bank, of Pittsburgh ; Wyoming Bank ; Miners' Bank, at Pottsviile; Farmers' Bank,of Lancaster; Lancaster County Bank ; Merchants' Bank, of* Pittsburgh ; to extend and amend the charter of the Wyoming Bank; also, to incorporate the Farmers' and Mechanics' Bank at Enston. The bill to allow the Manufacturers' and Mechanics' Bank of Philauelphia, to change its place of business and location, passed final ly : also, the bill supplementary to the Com mon School Law. The bill to prohibit issuing of Relief Notes of less denomination than five dollars, paesrd finally, yeas 54, nays 27. The Forest d vorce case has passed the House by. i* is supposed, the usuai aidsm such cases. A bill supplementary to an act, entitled " an act to create a sinking fund and to provide for the gradual and certain extinguishment of the debt of the Commonwealth," has been reported. Among other provisions it taxes every billiard table, bowling alley and ten pin alley, in any establishment from thirty to fifty dollars. The school bill is said to make many impor tant changes in the present system. We hope no law of this kind will pass, as this continued tinkering at useful laws does a great deal more harm than good. The poor house bill has not yet finally passed the House, and should the Legislature adjourn shortly, it may not pass at all. [We have since learned that it passed the House with an omnibus load of "other purpo ses" attached, some of which have been agreed to by the Senate, and others not. It was ex pected to come up again yesterday, and if it does not become entangled too much with other purpoeee, it may now pass ] The Governor has signed the Rank bill , an amtndineiil passed the Senate on Wednesday by which that clause requiring country hanks to keep their notes at par in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, is repealed. The bill for the election of Auditor General, Surveyor General and County Surveyors, haa been signed by the Governor. A new apportionment bill w as reported in the House on Wednesday, and passed finally by a vote of 72 to 25—locofocos and whigs voting for and against it. SEN ATO RIA L I) 1 STRiCTS. ■ENAToa*. SENATORS Philadelphia f'ity, 'i'Luicrne and Columbia, 1 " County, 3 Bradford. Buqut:hanna, Montgomery, lj and Wyoming, 1 Chriior and Delaw are, ! Tioga, Poller, M'Kean,Elk Berk* and Schuylkill, " and JeflVreon, i Buck*, I Mercer, Venango, Warren, 1 Lancaster, 2 Kiir and Crawford, 1 Lebanon and Dauphin, I .Butler, Beaver and l-'tw ,\ort hump ton am) Lehigh, 1 ■ r.nce, ] Carbon, Monroe, Pike and Vlb gheny, 2 Wayne, lj Washington and Greene, 1 Ada ma and Franklin, IJ Westmoreland, 1 York, 1 IT dford, Fayette Afc Som- CumberUnd, Perry ami Ju- \ ercet, 1 iiut.i, 1 (Armstrong, Indiana and Northumberland, I.ceom- Clarion, 1 mg, Sullivan ami Clin- lluiiiiugdon, Mifflin and ton, 1 It n ion, 1 Blair,Cambria, Centre ami Clearfi.-ld, I, 33 REPRESENTATIVE DISTRICTS. MKVLBEHX MBMDERV. Adams, 1 .Lycoming, Clinton and Allegheny, 5 Potter, 2 Bedford and Cambria, 2 Lancaster, 4 Berks, 4'l.naerne, 2 Bucks. 3 Lehigh and Carhrit, 2 Beaver, ( Monroe, I'ike and Wayne, 2 Blair and Huntingdon, 2 Mercer, Venango t War- Bradford, 2j ren, Butter and Lawrence, 2Crawford, 2 Chester, 3 Mifflin, I Cumberland, Perry and [Montgomery, 3 Juniata, 3j Northampton, 2 Centre, I Northumberland, 1 Clearfield, Elk Ac M'Kean, I Philadelphia City, 4 Clarion, Armstrong and " County, 11 Jefferson, 3 Somerset. 1 Columbia and Sullivan, 2 Schuylkill, 2 Dauphin and Lebanon, 3 Susquehanna &\V joining,2 Delaware, I Tioga, 1 Erie, lb Westmoreland, 2 Fayette, '!'■ Washington and Greene, 3 Franklin, 2 Union, 1 Indiana, I York, 3 The kidnapping (use. The ca Be of the Commonwealth vs. Jonathan Little ami others, wan settled by the counsel upon both sides; and as the case has excited Home interest, we give the facts, as we have learned them to the public. The Hon. ALBERT t 'UNSTABLE, appointed as Counsel for Little, by the Governor of Mary land, having learned on his arrival hero, that an indictment tor Kidnapping was pending against him in Centre county, upon which a Bench war rant had been issued, and was in the hards of the .Sheriff at Huntingdon county ; and that another warrant for the apprehension of Little had been issued in Mifflin county, upon a simi lar charge, both of which were ready to be sol ved on him whenever he app ared in this county,and ulso thut other cacs would be com menced against him, if ho were arrested and taken to Bellefonte; it wa9 an object of the tirat importance to avoid, if possible, the trial here, by which his appearance in Court would be dispensed with, and thus his arrest on the other process u voided. This was accomplished on terms entirely satisfactory. The recordsof Maryland were here to prove Kinley (the negro) a slave; the sons of his mistress were here who knew him, and had authorized Little to take him; every thing requisite to prove the n egr a slave, and comrryue/'f/y Little inno cent upon the indictment. Upon these grounds the prosecution was abandoned. 'I hid settlement not only acqui'B Little, which was the only object of the mission of Mr Constuble, but avcids the nee- ssity of pro curing bail in both Centre end Mifflin counties, upon "similar charges, which of course would have involved the same attention on the part of the State ot Maryland, one of ll.em having already been tried there and disposed of, and likewise have multiplied expenses to a heavy amount. " . The county was indemnified from costs by the settlement, which would have corne out of the Treasury, whether Little had been convict ed or acquitted. Little was virtually acquit ted, and avoided arrest and imprisonment upon process from adjoining counties, and returns to his family, winch we are assured is large, and entirely dependent on his labor for support.— Huntingdon Journal. It may have been well enough to settle this '• vexed question" at Huntingdon in the manner stated above, but it seems to us there must have been a considerable stretch of pewer and law in doing so. Little may have been innocent so far as the case in Huntingdon county was concerned, but was he so in those in Mifflin and Centre 1 We have strong doubts whether he was, and hence we cannot but regard the course of the Huntingdon authorities, in en tering a nolle prosequi foi the express purpose of saving him from arrest for high crimes committed in other counties as highly injudi cious. Another Shameful Scene In the I'. S. Senate# Oil Wednesday the Seriate proceeded to the consideration of Mr. Foote's motion to refer Mr. Cell's resolutions on Slavery to a Select Committee of Thirteen—the pending question being upon Mr. Benton's instructions to the Committee declaring that Congress has no pow er over slavery in the States or the internal slave trade, and that Congress ought not to abol ish slavery in the District of Columbia, or in the forts, arsenals or dock yards of the United States. Mr. Benton's motion, as well as a subsequent one being voted down, lie proposed a series of amendments covering fourteen different points, which were opposed by Mr. Clay. Mr. Foote then rose and made some remarks, during which he spoke of John C. Calhoun as being the author of the Southern Slavery Ad dress, and then indulged in some remarks aimed at Mr. Benton. Mr. Benton rose, much agitated, and throwing his chair from him, proceeded by the narrow passage outside of the bar, towards Mr. Foote s seat, which is on the outside row of seats, near the main entrance to the Senate. Mr. Dodge of lowa, and Mr. Dodge of Wis consin, arid others, apprehending a collision be tween Mr. Benton and Mr. Foote, endeavored to detain the former from removing from his seat. Overcoming all resistance, he continued towards Mr. Foote, who, leaving his place, stepped down the main aisle, and took a position in the arena just in front of the Sergeant-at- Armv seat, at the right of the Vice President, at the same time drawing a pistol from his bosom and cocking it. The scene which ensued is indescribable. Loud calls for the Sergeant-at-Arms were made, and cries of 44 order!" resounded from ali sides of the chamber. Many persons rushed from the galleries, and out of the chamber, in apprehension of a gen eral melee. Several Senators surrounded Mr. Foote, among whom was Mr. Dickinson, who, securing the pistol, locked it up in his desk. Mr. Benton in the meantime was struggling in the hands of his friends who were endeavoring to prevent him from reaching Mr. Foote. While thus pinioned, as it were, and yet almost unsuccessfully resisting the cifurts of those who held him, Mr. Benton boldly denounced Mr. Foote as an assassin, who had thus dared to bring a pistol in the Senate to murder him. He said 44 1 have no arms—examine me—l carry nothing of the kind—stand out of bis way, and let the scoundrel and assassin fire !" In uttering this sentence, Mr. Benton threw olf from either side those who had held him— tore open his vest, and invited the fire of his an tagonist. Sir. Foote, in the meantime, was restrained from advancing toward Mr. Benton. The Vice President, after repeated and vigor ous efforts, succeeded in restoring a compara tive state of quiet. Mr. Benton and Mr. Foote having resumed their respective seats. Mr. Foote rose and inquired if he could pro ceed in order Mr. Benton, (in a very loud tone and much excited,) demanded that the Ser ate shall take cognizance of the fact that a pistol had been brought here to assassinate him. Mr. Foote explained, he had no intention to attack any body. His w hole course had been that of the defensive. He had been informed that an attack upon him had been intimated. Supposing, when the Senator from Missouri ad vanced towards him, that he was armed and de signed to attack him, he had himself advanced to the centre, of the chamber, in order to be in a position where he could meet Mi. Benton, in the main aisle, upon equal terms. Mr. Benton protested against an intimation that he had carried arms. He never did so. The Vice President requested Mr. Foote to take his seat until it could be ascertained what course was proper for the Ghair to pursue. Various propositions were then made as to the course to be pursued Mr. (May expressed the hope that Mr. Benton arid Mr. Foote would go before a Magistrate, or else in the presence of the Senate, pledge them selves not to commit a breach of the peace, in the further prosecution of this affair. Mr. Benton—l have done nothing to authorize a charge of intention to commit a breach of the peace, and I will rot in jail before I give a promise by which 1 admit such a thing—(even by implication.) I carry no arms, and it is ly ing and cowardly to insinuate anything of the kind against me. Mr. Clay said his suggestions had no reference to the past, but to the future. Mr. Foote said he was a constitution loving and lawabiding man. He only wore arms when he had reason to believe he was in danger of being attacked. He preferred another method of settling difficulties, and had always left the door inside, open, in order to avoid the necessity for any other mode of settlement than referred to He declared that he had no design of pro ! ceeding further in the immediate controversy which had occurred, but intimated that as a man of honor, he felt bound to take the pro ceedings elsewhere. Mr. Benton greeted the last remark with a contemptuous laugh—loud enough to be heard throughout the chamber. After some further debate, a motion to ap point a committee, was agreed to, and before any further action, the Senate adjourned. It would be no more than right—no more than justice to both these braggadocios, were the Senate first to expel Koote, and then send Ben ton after him. Both hare of late disgraced the body of which they are members. Wm. J. Beattyr, son of the Hon. Wm. Beatty, of Butler, died in California on the IstFebruary. GOVERNOR'S HESSIGE, Returning the Apportionment Bill icith his objections. To the Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth, of Pennsylvania. GENTLEMEN; —The necessity for the present message ie most sincerely regretted. The ex ercise of the negative power, vested in me by the Constitution, has been hitherto carefully avoided, under the impression that its frequent and constant UaC was well calculated to impair the Republican simplicity of a Representative Government. To unite with cordiality in measures sanctioned by the Legislature, af. fecting the welfare of the people, would at ai) times afford me more pleasure than the adop tion of a different policy. When, however, it becomes necessary, in my judgement to preserve the integrity of the Constitution, and to protect the lights of my fellow citizens, I should feel that the trust re posed in me, by the sovereign people, was un fa thfully discharged, were I under any cir curnstances lo shrink froin just responsibility, or by any action of the Executive Department, to permit the well established ami revered principles of a Representative Republican Government to be endangered, outraged or d- Btroyed. In a government founded on the popular will it is scarcely neces-ary to remark that tn very basis of its superstructure is the right of the citizen to an equal voice and influence at the ballot box. The purity and equality of the elective fianchise, and the equitable distribu tion of the favors and burthens of the StatP, constitute the life-giving principles—the spirit and strength of such government. The de struction of either may well be deemed an act of hostility to the bpst intereetsof society, and to the permanency of our institutions In all ages and governments among civilized men, the infringement of the right of repre sentation has caused the sturdiest and most justifiable opposition. Republican government ceases lo exist whenever these cherished nghtß are disregarded. In recognition of these ad mitted principles, the Constitution of this Commonwealth has pledged the conitituted authorities to their defence and preservation. Impressed with the correctness of these truths, 1 have felt it my duly to withhold my approval of bill No. 330 of the General As sembly, entitled 44 An Act to fix the number of Senators and Representatives, and form the State into districts, in pursuance ot the provi sions of the Constitution." 1 It is due to the legislature and the people, that I should briefly state some of the reasons that have influenced me in this detetminstion. i The bill is, in my judgment, unconstitu tional, unjust and defective in its details. The Constitution requires that in each "term of seven years an enumeration of the taxsbies inhabitants shall be made in such a manner as shall be directed by law. That the number ct Representatives shall at the several periods of making such enumerations; be fixed by the Legislature, and apportioned among the city of Philadelphia and the several counties, ac cording to the number of taxable inhabitants in each —and shall never be less than sixty, nor greater than one hundred. Each county shall have at least one representative, but no county hereafter erected shall be entitled to a sepa-ate representation, until & sufficient number of tax able inhabitants shall be contained within it, to entitle them to one representative, agreea bly to the ratio which shall then be established." It further provides "that the number of Sen ators shall, at the periods of making the enu meration before mentioned, be fixed by the Le gislature. and apportioned among the districts formed as hereinafter directed, according to (he number of taxable inhabitants of each, and shall never be less than cne fourth, nor greater than one third the number of Representatives." In its fu.-iher provisions are found limitationa of the power of the Legislature in the forma tion of Senatorial districts. These provisions of the Constitution plainly indicate toe manner in which the apportion ment shail be made, and in direct terms de clarers the basis of representat on, the taxable inhabitants of each county —they require the Legislature to fix the number of the members of the House of Reoresentatives, and to deter mine the ratio or number of taxable inhabi tants for each member, according to the t-ep tennial enumeration. Any departure from this standard or ratio must be a breach of the or ganic law which guarantees to each county an equal representation, according to the num ber ot taxable inhabitants therein. The ratio fixed in the bill is 4.865 taxable inhabitants for one member of the House of Representatives, and 11.7A3 taxable inhabi tants for one Senator. In the bill under consideration are found the following palpable objections, and violations of the rano fixed upon by its own provisions Ist. The county ot Fayette contains 7,fi1l taxable inhabitants, and is allowed twn mem bers, being 2,119 taxables less than the num ber required by the ratio fixed by the Legisla ture. The county of Dauphin, with 7,693 taxable inhabitants, is allowed one member, with an unrepresented surplus of 2,819. Thus Dau phin coumy, wiih a larger population, more taxable inhabitants, and whose citizens bear a much larger proportion of the public burthens than the county ot Fayette, has only one-half the influence and weight in the House of Rep resentatives. '2d. Allegheny county, the great commer cial and manufacturing district ot Western PenndVlvania, with 28,547 taxable inhabitant?, is allowed five members, being one member to every 5.71)9 taxable inhabitants, ad j lining county of Westmoreland, with less va riety of interests to protect, is allowed three member? on a tax list of 11.618 —being one member to every 3,872 taxab'es. In other words, to 5,769 taxables in Allegheny county, in given the right to elect a member of the House of Representatives, while in est more land county 3,872 taxables have the same po litical influence. The unrepresented excess in Allegheny county, by the provisions of this bill, is 4,222 taxables, being 350 more taxables than the ratio fixed for Westmoreland county. I cannot believe that the honest yeomanry of Westmoreland county would desire this undue influence, in the assessment of taxes, over their fellow citizens of an adjoining county. 3d. Schuylkill county, whose citizens are largely engaged in mining, manufacturing and agricultural pursuits, has 12,867 taxables, and is allowed two members, being 6,133 taxables to a member, while to the adjacent county of Berks, with 16,262 taxables, is given four members, being 4,065 taxables ton member. Upon what principle ot equity this discrimina tion is made, I cannot perceive. Here we find 4,065 taxables in one county possessing the same authority to electa memb r that u given to 6,433 taxables in an adjoining county 4th. The county of Westmoreland has, stated, three members, with ll,61r taxable®- Schuylkill, with 12,067, has two members—and Idiyvrence arid Butler, with U915, have two members. Here is exhibited the astounding fact that in two districts containing each a lar ger number of taxables than Westmoreland there is gtveu to each a I tt r of reprv
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