Whole No. 2604.
M* Ji i®(B2a,
-SJ L.W =££ 3H 0
\- r I'M-: n List Market street, Lcwistown,
r (r. Fr:inc!cuß' Hardware
Jr. L-y-k" wiil 'no at his ctfcee
of Oiivii month to spend the
uiy~3l
* X. J. AT2£23^3OM,
ui.nently located in Lewis
■ -ts his professional serti v
- "f town and country. Office
k-t St., opposite Eisenbise's Hotel.
■ •lie door east of<erge Blvinyer.
srown, -July 12, ISG'J-tf
Dr. Samuel L. Alexander,
( permanently located at Milroy,
' ' prepared to practice all the branch
! i Profession. Office at Swine
" del. my3-ly
EDWARD FRYSINGER,
•i 'LLSAf.E DEALER K IHH FifTIHER
tili-SBSiTWCffiSMFF,
&e., &c,
2?Ao
Orders promptly atter;'i;.i in. j•• 10
\i¥ '"T
M* rteO 'Kj U 77a ike* J*. ***J MfafU
Attorney at Law,
uiTme Market Squire, Lewistown, will at
ieic! to business in ollHlin,''t tt'.re and Ilunting
ioij eounties. uj}2(J
JiLL-ASA d'div/iiii/,
i&eikrist's Cld Stand,
.\c the Canai !irid<je, Lewis/own, I\i.
L;h" Lag t Beer, Lindenberger
• •I'.se— a'l of the Lest quality
and, ! • sale wholesale or ro
.i:. Juring summer.
ftayiLLEACADEE?
iuniaiu t ouuiy, I*a
. - ..*'/■ K\ /), Principal A" Pror.t irlor.
■ '.J. ii Prof of JlalhcHlulics, &,'C.
Aon OA '.i 7r, S CHfUT, Teacher of Music, Sfc.
The nest session of this Institution com
tices on the 26tii of July, to continue 22
Students admitted at anv time.
A Normal Department
mil be formed v.l.ich will alb.id Teachers the
•t opportunity of preparing for fall examina
V NEW APPAR \TUS has been purchased,
'■hirers entragej, iScc.
TE,.. MS —Boarding, Room und Tuition, per
■ v in *,i,)t.) §fiil Tuition alone at usual rates.
: j* ireulars sent free on application.
WILLIAM UNO,
has uow open
NEW STOCK
OP
viosri3, Oassimeres
AND
VEST? Na s,
!■ will be made up to order in the nub
in< - hi.st fashionable styles. ap!9
Lock Repairing, Pipe Laying,
Hlimbing and White Smithing
| a;. branches td hustnes" wiil he
> K' uiptij- alien t- d to oil anpi Cat at
res..; t n ce ,f the uniersig:. ,'i in Main
' !. 'A ihtoW 11.
. "d'J (JECRGE MILLEIt.
Nw Fall and Winter Goods.
| r. ELLIS ,i' the late firm of McCoy
* u •-...i5, j.as just returned from the city
- vie-ice assortment of
Dry (roods ana Groceries,
with care anil purchased for cash,
ffered to the public rJ a small ad
-i. fho stock, of J>ry Goods eiu
.seriptions of
Fail and Winter Goods
■ i.adie.,. Gentlemen and Children,
w patterns. His
(Kroccvitg
•' Sugars, Molasses, Java, Rio
i Coffee, superior Teas, &o. Also,
s -"ies, Queensware, and all other
o-u.'.lly in stores —all which
ni-rs of the late fi>m and the public
- 1 -i are invited to examine.
R. F. ELLIS.
Produce received as usual aud the
I rice allowed therefor,
own. October 25, 1800.
h by tiie barrel or hundred—i'aocy,
r - lamiiy aud Superfine Flour for
•JOIIX KLXXEDY & Co.
k". LAMPS, Shades, Chimneys,
. J ---ies, Burners, die., for sale by
JOHN KENNEDY & CO.
; he? Per than the Cheapest!
JT —Tumblers at 62*, 75, 87,
I, . * p"'. ,in( ? - P er dozen. Goblets,
' ru '* Stands, and Covered Dishes,
I JOHN KENNEDY & CVa.
LST RECEIVED.
10 bhls. p; c jfic Craekerc,
Roston Biscuit.
, " Sugar Crackers;
. Family "
"s'a f. '' Biscuit.
\ f ie , Lakery. Low to the trade,
JOHN KENNEDY & Co
tMta ' a ' aia o®wany®aiß9 aawass®wsj 9 scauoaiM JRS*
Edited j UJ- A. SMITH, County Superintendent.
For the Educational Colurn
An Informal Beport of the Schools.
tl.\ ing concluded the visitation of
schools lor another season, I wish to pre
sent to those interested in educational afi
taus a Statement oi the present condition
atui luture prospects < -f 31 ifiii 11 county so
oil' as trie coimuou schools are concerned.
I have, during the pa.-t year, examined
i candidates f>>r teaching ; have granted
!' ' provisional certificate', 11 professional
eei tifieuo;-, and have withheld certificates
from 5 applicants. This last act, though
lur less agreeable, seems not less necessary
and useful, than granting professional cer
tificates to those who merit them.
1 have visited every school once, ail but
three twice, and several three or more
times. bruin these visits 1 have gained
much valuable information respecting the
excellencies and the defects which mark the
schools of tho county. Those defects
which exist in many teachers in regard to
general management oi schools, modes of
conducting recitations, special treatment of
pupils, 1 shall not mention here, Lut bring
I do ill to the notice of those who shall at
tend the Institute next summer. Let me
biggest to director;, patrons and teachers,
some method by which the efficiency of the
schools can L>e greatly promoted.
1. Directors, in nearly every dis
tvict, can increase the usefulness of the
teachers labors by adopting a uniform so- I
vie-s of text books in every branch of'study j
and not permitting any others to be used; i
by Visiting the schools more regularly and j
.-bowing teachers that they feel a heartv I
interest in tho good order and prosperity of i
the schools; by procuring such simple and
tamable apparatus as every teacher can
readily and most advantageously u-e.
such as globes, outline maps, ample black- :
lioard surface; by encouraging, if not bv !
.he terms of the contract, requiring teac-h
-- in attend district institutes, and so far
i seem- proper participating in the exer- i
.use- with the teachprs; by arranging school 1
ooms .-J til at i hey may be sufficiently
A aimed and veutilated at once; by dcclin
ng to employ any teacher with a poor cer- i
ideate, or one who evidently has no inleu- 1
ion to improve himself. (I'roLably the 1
it st mode is to pay teachers according to
;.e grade of tueir certificates, thus oiler
tig a premium to those who exert thetu
•cives to secure full quaiiucuti >ns.)
2. Patrons can do very much to ai l the
cacher and promote (lie usefulness of i;
■chooi by sending pupils regularly at; ' !
punctually: by providing them with -u ;
a mils a- the directors prescribe and of the i
rade which the teacher advises: by en
ouragiog t'hein to study at home m the
jvtuiugs; by supporting the influence and |
iuth-ri'v of the teacher by iudicioug re- I
|",.. , * * ~ i
or by retraining from remarks upon 1
lis disciplinary by allowing the teach
;r to adopt his jwn modes of instruction
md government withoi! dictation: by vis- j
ting the school and observing the order •
itid spirit ivliic'i prevail; by remembering I
sontinmiily fl.t ; f,;alj and labors which cv
ry true teacher has to undergo; and bv
ittendtng educational meetings.
3. Teachers have the school in their
>wn hands, and make it what they desire i
:r can. In order to do what ought to be
lone ii every school, a large majority of
h.• teachers ol this county need more
cholar.-h p —good steady, continued, thor
ough study. With the facilities which will
re within their reach the coming season at
Lewistuwn Academy and Ki.-hacoquillas
"-eminary, or at Normal Schools elsewhere,
bey will hardly hexcusable for again
resenting themselves as candidates for
ichools without a very respectable decree
if scholar-hip. 'i his matter deserves im
mediate, determined action. Tliose per
sons who anticipate teaching will please
read over the two or three preceding sen
:ences with great care, emphasizing every
word.
Those teachers who study to improve,
who are faithful in attending institutes and
issociations, who read books and periodi
cals on education and modes of teaching,
who are resolved to be first-class teachers
jy virtue of pusitive excellence in knowl
edge and discipline, they are the best teach
in?, without exception.
It should be the aim, the resolute deter
mination of every teacher holding a pro
visional certificate to be qualified for the
professional certificate before the luii cx
iinination.-; if anything preclude tais, ai
least to merit a provisional certificate or of
much -better grade than the last; but the
professional certificate is the true prize,
for this year, then, the State certificate.
The above suggestions intimate the de
tects which have been noticed in the
schools. But the excellence of not a few
schools deserve meution. In many schools
in the county, and in a high degree in
some of them, the most approved modern
system of instruction'is pursued. Pupils
trc taught to think, to reason, to speak cor
rectly, to perform every act required in the
school room with propriety, thoughtful
ness, thoroughness and dispatch. They
are not driven or transported through their
books, but leu <x a careful study and an in
telligent comprehension of the principles
and facts which the books or topics in-
elude. It would artord me uiueh pleasure
to give the nauies of the teachers of thi;
class, but it is more prudent to ur<ie al
teachers to qualify themselves for this higl:
praise.
\Y hiie some schools are very much poor
er and others very much better than Lsi
yeai, on the whole there is an improveuieui
upon last year's schools, and the tendency
ot sentiment both among teachers and in
the community is very gratifying. With
some unwelcome exceptions, the teachers
in the county are devoted, ambitious and
improving; and the public sentiment de
mands teachers of fuller knowledge and
more scientific skill iu teaching.
W hat is now needed is hearty co-opera
tion of directors and teachers/the latter
qualiiving themselves for the arduous, re
sponsible; delicate duties they are called to
periurm. it this cau be secured, and the
public interest permanently enlisted in the
cause of education thereby, Mifflin county
will contribute no little to the strength, the
grace and the perpetuity of the 'Keystone
State.'
My hearty thanks are most gratefully re
turned to those directors, teachers and cit
izens who have aided me in my labors; and
to those numerous families throughout the
county whose generous hospitality I have
shaved.
AZARIATI SMITH.
IIISSH:
TO THE UNITED STATES.
>, land ot" njy longing-, b-yond tli*Atlnntic,
What horrible dream has disturbed thy repose?
What dream bus driven tiiy eilizeiis frantic—
A grief to then friends, and a joy to their foes.
!s ii true they are aiming to kill one another ?
1 hut sire uud son are in hostile array ?
i hut brother is baring his blade agHiust brother
Each madly preparing die other to slay?
s it true the situ-banner, so dear to the sight
Of all freemen, may fall by a factionist's blow—
I hut banner 1 ve borne through the midst of the fight,
Side l>\ side with thy sons, as we charged to the foe ?
would not, I will not, I cannot believe it!
< >h ! rally around it, and sv.nd by the start !
'r the ehildren of men will have reason to grieve it,
And the tyrants of men v ' ultmgly laugh.
Vye, .-ure would the priests and the princes of eartit
Oreei tiie fail ot thy Uag witli a joyous ■■ hurrah!"'
-voii now. -••ar- Uftnoiiiiw mirtl).
Tin v would had thy deeadei; -v with tiendiih'dia! ha!"
I ml he who would help them to win tin ir r'ul game.
V. nether Northern or s . ithern—llo matter win h
claims him—
>.* a brand on tr.s i row. ..n.l a blight on his fame.
And -worn on t .1 . f the humblest who name him!
Je pai.-ied the ana that haws sword fratieidal!
?! ty the steel . t!ie trai;or be I •■_>!. ain two !
day las m u in betrothed, on the morn of his bridal.
Prove laitld - ro him. as ho has been to v nt!
'nit. .. ii-. power "ueath heaven ei.n shake thee
as pn: ] !e-n.bed despot e cr smile on thy shame—
isunder. i.ne . Is tfr.-y w..l bruise t!i -e, and break
tliee.
And -.v.. . then as flax in the pniies.- ila.ue.
v. oe. vveo t>_ the world, if this fata! division
Should ever arise,,a the ranks cf the free;
> brother! avoid, then, the fearful collision;
And millions unborn will sing praise- to thee!
M tr:.E Reid.
Ic, : !>. .
The L ame of Euchre and Life.
There is genuine humor iu the idea that
in Arkansas man finds the most natural
jxpression, even of parting advice to his
son, in the language of the table, and the
manor in which the terms of a game of
auchre are there fited to the game of life is
ingenious :
'Bob, you are about leaving home for
strange parts. \ ou're going to throw me
..ut of the game and go it alone. The odds
is against you. Bob, but remember that
industry and perseverance are the winning
cards —they are the 'bowers.' Book learn
ing, and all that sort of thing, will do to
fill up with, like small trumps, but you
must have the bowers to back 'eut else they
ain't worth shucks. If luck runs agin you
pretty strong, don't cave in and look like
a sick chicken on a rainy day, but ltoid
your head up and make 'em believe you're
flush of tramps; they wont play so hard
agin you.
'l've lived and travelled around some,
Bob, and I've found out that as soon as
folks thought you held out a weak hand,
they'd buck agin you strong. So when
you're sort of weak, keep on a bold front,
but play cautions, be satisfied with a p'int.
Many's the hand I've seen euchred 'caus
they played for too much. Keep your
eyes well skinned, Bob ; don't let 'eut 'uig'
on you ; recollect the game lays as much
with head as with the hands. Be temper
ate; never get drunk, for then no matter
how good your baud, you won't know how
to play it ; loth bowers and the ace won't
save you, for there's certain to be a ' mis
deal' or something wrong. And another
thing, Bob, (this was spoken in a low
tone) don't go too much with the women ;
queens are kinder poor cards ; the more
you have of them the worse for you ; you
might have three and nary a trump. I
don't say discard 'em all; if you get hold
of one that's a trump, it's all good, and
there's sure to be one out of four. And
above all, Bob, be honest; never take a
man's trick wot don't belong to you ; nor
slip cards nor nig, for then you can't leok
your man in the face, and when that's tue
case there's no fun in the game ; its regu
lar 'cut throat.' So now, Bob, farewell;
remember wot I tcld j r ou and you'll be
sure to win, and if you don't, it wtli serve
you right if you get 'skunked "
THURSDAY. APRIL 4, 186).
Billiant Strategic Move of an East
ern Shore Militarv Company.
The Easton Star of Tuesday relates the
following extraordinary military exploit
upou the authority of a traveler:
A short time ago there was raised a very
handsome uniform military company in one
of the towns in Worcester county. Some
time alter the company had become quite
lam'.liar with the drill, an oyster putitry
Iro.v .New \ crk anchored in tlie waters of
Y\ oreester, and commenced catching oys
ters contrary to the laws of Maryland in
such eases made and provided. The fact
coming to the notice of the sheriff, he forth
with went ti work to capture the punuy.
To make ' assurance doubly sure,' he be
thought him that a new military company
would be the best posse com itat us he could
summon; accordingly the military were or
dered out, in lull uniform, properly officer
ed and i pruned. with 'guns shotted'ready
for action. Arriving at the shore, opposite
the puugy, it was decided to put the mil
itary in ambush until the ' overt act' was
committed in order that there might be no
mistake about the proof, in the Court of
Admiralty.
ilie military did not have to wait long
behind their masked battery, made of ce
dar bushes, before the overt act was commit
ted. jhe 2> r ew York captain, not having the
lear oi the \\ oreester Sheriff before his
eyes, and being anxious to load hi;- puny,
very soon put down the rakes, and com
menced to draw up the contraband bivalves.
1 his was the signal for the militarv
to advance to the charge. The Sheriff
having given the wink to the officer com- I
manding the military, that gentleman gave
the word— l fonc ant-si ARCH' —and the ;
company was soon on board of a batteaux,
making directly for the ' prize.' In the
meantime the captain of the pun try, dis
covering what was out, ordered his decks
to be cleared and prepared for action, re
solved not to surrender without a struggle
worthy of the days of the immortal Paul
Jones. \\ hen the military got within one
hundred yards of the prize, the captain of
the pungy, being without swivels or col
umbiads, drew out a piece of stove pipe. ■
and placing it upon his 'caboose,' commenc
ed to sight it at the military, which at once :
manifested symptoms of discomfort, evi
dently disliking such a terrible gun to be
pointed directly at them.
1 lie hesitation manifested by tire mili
tary encouraged the captain of the puniry
to press matters to extremities, and calling
to one ot his hands for a chunk of fire, he
commenced to blow it, till the sparks flew
in all directions. This murderous proceed- j
ing of the savage captain brought the mil- .
itary to their feet, ready for the most des
pciate dec Is ol daring. Ihe moment was i
critical, with every advantage on the side j
or tlie captain of the pungy, who straight
ened up, and at arms length, prepared to j
or ply the match. Simultaneously as he
thrust the chunk of fire into the end of j
the stove pipe the military jumpctl over- i
hoard, and such a 'sloshing about,'and ;
diving was never witnessed in the waters
ot Worcester. It. is needless to add that, :
while the military were under the water, !
the captain of the pungy hoisted sail, and
bid farewell to the waters of Maryland, and
that, since this marvelous adventure, the
military company aforesaid, for behaving
s0 > gallantly, has been called the ' Stove-
Pipe Invtccibles.'
An Itinerant Ghost.
The prevailing sensation at Cleveland is i
a phantom of variable form and size, which
occasionally perambulates the streets of
that city, after 'the witching hour of night,
to the intense terror of some score or more
oi timid persons who have enjoyed a '
glimpse of his ghostship, and the indignation
ot a stii 1 greater number who irreverently j
regard the nocturnal visitant as a miscre
ant worthy only of summary punishment, j
ihe latest doings of the apparition are !
thus related by the Cleveland Iferald of j
last Saturday :
. much indignation has been excited by
his reported doings that ou Thursday night
about one hundred and fifty persons were
on the watch for him. Many of the watch- !
ers were armed with pistols, and from at
least some ol thera the ghost would have
met a warm reception. No one prepared for
an encounter has yet been so fortunate as to
obtain a sight of the white-sheeted indi
vidual.
Ou I uesday evening a young man, clerk
in a superior street store, was walking up
Eric street, when he suddenly beheld'the
ghost a few feet to his right. The figure
be say- was ten feet in height, and moved
smoothly and noiselessly along. The young
man remembers nothing more until he
touuu himself lying on the ground, the
ghost nowhere to be seen. He had faint
ed.
lu the same neighborhood two boys en
countered the pretended apparition a few
nights since. Picking up a heavy stone,
one ol the boys followed the figure, which
was retreating towards an alley. Just as
the ghost turned into the alley, the boy
threw nis stone, and with such correct aim
that it struck the figure fhll in the back.
A groan, unearthly enough, but too vigor
ous for any but sound lungs of flesh ami
blood, was the response.
Per baps the ghost was admonished by
thio adventure that his nocturnal per itnbu
lations might be attended occasionally by
unagreeable circumstances. Certain it is
tn.if when a man encountered it the nest
night, and proceeded to administer the cas
tigation it so richly deserves, theghoStpro
uuced <i most substantial cudgel, with
which lif dealt his chastiser a biow that
Sent htm reeling to the u round.
r i here arc various accounts of the ap
pearance of the figure. Some assert that
when first seen it is no larger than an or
dinary man, but immediately expands or
enlarges to double that size. There is 110
'joke in frightening people as this miscre
ant has done, and the person who catches
and punishes the fellow will deserve the
thanks cl the community.
.Van. —A wag happening to go into
the shop of a tailor just as the latter was
in the act oi patching an old garment with
new cloth, thus addressed the knight of
the bodkin :
' You are 110 man, I can prove it by the
highest authority.'
'How so.' replied the unsuspecting tai
lor as he plied his needle with double ac
tivity. ' 1 should like to hear the evidence
of your assertion.'
' You shall be accommodated, sir,' savs
die wag, asking at the same time if I e i
recollected of ever having road the passage
in the New Testament which declares thai
' no man putteth a piece ol' new cloth i.ito !
an old garment.'
" WORLD OF LIGHT."
Tlicr. is a bc-ailtiful world,
W li -ro saints a;ui angels -.n<r.
A "rl<l v.liere |>- nee ;inil pleasure reigns,
-tin! heavenly praises ring.
'.'HOB 1 '.
We'll be there, we'll be there,
I'ulltls oi vi'-l ry, crowns of glory we shall war,
In •' .. oeautiful world on high.
Th'-rc is a bcautifnl world.
W here sorrow never comes,
A world where fears shall never fall.
In sighing for onr home.
i'here is a beautiful World,
1 us eel) to mortal Sight,
And darkness n-ver >lll rs t", rc.
That home is fair and bright.
The iv is a beautiful world,
1 1! harmony and 10..
1 ay we safely enter there.
And dwell with God above.
Sunday Evening Reading.
I>Y REV. C. 11. SPI'RtiEON. j
Life is but death's vestibule: and our
pilgrimage on earth is but a journey to the
grave. The pulse that preserves our being !
boats but our death march, and the blood •
which circulates our life is floating it on- !
ward to the deeps of death. To-day we see I
ourfriesdsiu health, to-morrow we hear of'
iijoii decease. \\ e clasp the hand of the ;
strong man but yesterday, and to-day we j
close Lie eyes. We rode in ;t chariot ol
comfort but an hour age, and in a few more ,
hours the last black chariot must convey :
us to the home of all living. Oh, how '
closely allied is death to life ! The lamb !
that sporteth in the field must soon feel the i
knife. '1 he ox that loweth in the pasture ;
is fattening for the slaughter. Trees uo '
but grow that they may be felled. Yen, •
and greater things than these feel death. :
lon pi res rise and flourish; they flourish <
but to decay, they rise and fall, how of- j
ton do wc take up the volume of history, ;
and read of the rise and fall of empires, j
\\ e hear of the coronation and death of
kings. Death is the black servant who
rides behind the chariot of life. See life!
and deat 11 is close behind. Death reaeh
eth far through this world and hath stamp- j
ed all terrestial things with the broad ar- ,
row of the grave. Stars die mayhap; it is ;
said that conflagrations have been seen far
off in the distant ether, and astronomers
have marked the funerals of worlds—the
decay of those mighty orbs that wc imagin
ed set forever in sockets of silver, to glis
ten as the lamps of eternity. But blessed
he God, there is one place where death is
not life's brother—where life reigns alone;
' to live is not the first syllable which is to
be followed by the next 'to die.' 'There j
is a land where death-knells are never toll- j
ed, where winding sheets are never woven, j
where graves are never dug. Blest land ,
beyond the skies.'
Letter from Hon. James T Hale.
About the same time we published some j
remarks on sundry strictures made in the j
Potter Journal 011 the course of our mem- j
her of Congress, Mr. Hale wrote a letter j
in reply which was not published for two
or three weeks thereafter in consequence
of the illness of the editor of the Journal.
We copy it for the information of our read
ers:
WASHINGTON, Feb. 22, 1861.
EDITOR OF POTTER JOURNAL:—Sir—
-Ihe article in 3*our last paper under the
head of 'Border State Propositions' not be- j
ing quite accurate in its statement of the
seventh proposition, the one relating to j
Territories, I wish to correct it; and while
on the subject to say a very few words re
specting the others. The article relatiug ;
to existing Territories as agreed to by me
and reported to the liepublican caucus was
as follows:
7. That the line of 36° 30' shall be run •
through all the existing Territories of the '
T'nited States, that in aii north of that line '
New Series—Vol. XV. No. 22.
slavery >hall be l -rever prohibited, ami
south of that line neither Congress nor a
i ;rrituri.-i! Legislature shall hereafter pass
any law either for or against slavery, and
when any 1 erritory south of that line con
taining a sufficient population forone mem
ber ot ( -ingress on an area of (>(>,000 square
miles .-bad apply for a lmission as a State,
it shall be admitted with or without Sla
very, as its eonstitut'n.u may determine.
;th tliis correction the propositions
it inch are to be regaided as the basis of a
settlement arc as follows:
1 KycAiiiisiu'-iiiliiiy the r< j i .1 of all the Personal
nn.vitv Bills.
ill.;: the FtiL'irivc- Slav.- Law bo amen.led for Ut.i
p..-w>nnitg ol ki.inappint!. ami so a< t.. provide for
in.- .-.|ii!iii/atiou . i the I'ouiutis.sioiifr- Ice. ie.
i h.i r rlie f . .iistitntioii be so aiitcmlc.l as to pro
-y iiiturferetieo with slavery in any of t' c
sa.to- v.: , re it now ovists.
I. i a.a Congress shall tint alfohsh Slavery ,u the
Soeniei " J.-., kyanls. arsenals. A<\, nor in the District
■ - ' ohitio.iuyritiioui the < 011- nt ot Warjlaud and the
ecoiseni ■ i tne inhabitants of the District, nor without
eonipcn-ation.
•>. • hat < . i.tTO-s shall not interfere with the inter
-11 .1 slat. trade.
: 1.. then- shall in- ap. i!..-tn-(i prohibition of the
iu ' v< trade.
iTI.--Tib p, n tv-rrect.'d t-v Mr. Hale is
girt n above.—Ed.]
lhe first two propositions may le regard
ed substantially as one. The fugitive
S:.t\c law being justly regarded as afford
ing iaeiiities for kidnapping free person's
it.d faking them into slavery, many States
i e.ievj j it necessary to pass laws for
the prevention of this crime, called, per
sona! liberty bills. \\ hen the fugitive
slave law shall be altered so as to prevent
the very evil that personal liberty bills
were intended to remedy, then there would
seem to be no impropriety in asking te
states to repeal them. These bills are
very offensive to the South, being regarded
as a violation of their constitutional
rights, and are one of the chief causes of
complaint. The North alleges that they
are required to protect free persons from
unlawful seizure under the fugitive slave
law. Now when the South consents to
change the fugitive slave law so as to pre
vent all danger from this source, is it un
reasonable in them to ask the repeal of
these offensive bills? I did not so regard
ir, therefore, if it aided the cause ofpea.ee
1 consented to it.
1 lie third proposition which proposed
that the Constitution should be so amend
ed as to prevent any interference (by Con
gress) with slavery in any of the States
where it now exists, simply puts into a dis
tinct and unmistakable form a uoctrine
that has always been held by the Republi
can party, so far as I know, without ex
ception. We declared it in the Chicago
1 Matform, in all our conventions and speech
es before the election, on every occasion
irul in every form, and when asked by Un
ion men in the Border States to put it jn
such a shape that there could be no doubt
about it, that apprehensions excited by cte
-igning and unprincipled demagogues as to
the purposes of our party might be allayed
and the hands of I nion men strengthened,
was toat request unreasonable? If refused f .
by us might they not with some show of"' *
reason doubt our sincerity and good faith
in the declarations on the subject? f of
course agree there was no necessity for it;
is the Constitution now gives Congress no
[tower over the subject, as every Republi
can member of Congress, without excep
tion. has this session voted that it did not.
Mid 1 did not think it either wise or ne
cessary to refuse this request, especially as
it, was alleged, and 1 have no doubt truly,
that it would tend to hasten peace and pro
ven; a total dismemberment of the Union.
Ihe fourth and fifth propositions were
not to be Constitutional amendments, but
simply joint resolutions of Congress, agree
ing not to do what nobody proposes to do,
ind which I presume not a single Republ;
an in Congress contemplates doing of at
tempting to do. It is precisely the ground
taken by Mr. Lincoln on the subject be
fore his nomination and election. No Re
publican that I know of believes that it
would be wise or expedient to attempt if,
and yet this harmless resolution that may
be repealed by any subsequent Congress
that thinks proper to do so, is regarded, it
seems, as a very dangerous concession tc ,
slavery. , - •
1 pass by the sixth proposition, as I pre
sume no one would object to that.
The Territorial question is the pnly one
of real difficulty, and has exercised the
friends ol the ( nion more than all others.
1 o appoint it so as not to sacrifice our prin
ciples and yet satisfy the Border States
was unquestionably a UUpcult task, and
therefore is not yet accomplished and mav
never be. Yet I firmly believe the
tenns of my proposition are no real
giving up of Republican principles, jand
they certainly did at the time satisfy "the
representatives of the Border £ lave States.
It will be observed that it does not recog
nize slavery as existing south of that line,
and does not establish or protect it there,
[t simply agrees to let tha subject remain
as it is under the act of 1850, and allows
them to come into the Union when of suf
ficient population, with or without slavery,
a3 provided by the same act. I have long
maintained (hat freedom needs no legisla
tion for itg protection in the Territories.
All it asks or requires is fair play and an
honest administration of affairs. Jfciven
with all the injustice and oppression of the
Federal Government with its Border Ruf
fians, corrupt Judges, dishonest officials
and regular army, it overturned slavery in
Kansas and triumphed. If it could do
this with all these fearful odds against it,