latlyr
INDEPENDENT AND PROGRESSIVE.
LANCASTER CITY, PA.
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 5, MOIL
MOW WEN -*Ma
The very affable and innocent editor-in
chief of the organ of Thuggery, says he
will not reply to personal assaults. A
wise conclusion on his part. Let him also
make up his mind not to make them, and he
is safe from " personalities." If he throws
out insinuations—which is a mean and
contemptible mode of attack, and one in
which he is in adept—be must expect to
receive a direct and positive rejoinder. We
shall always strike back in a way that will
not be misunderstood.
NEW MACHINE.
A valuable, and very economical labor
saving machine, has just been invented at
Harrisburg. If worked to its full capa
city, it will " paste" and "fold" over four
thousand Legislative documents in a
single day. Only thirty-seven men are
needed to work the machine, and two
superintendents to see that it goes right.
The expense of pasting and folding, by
the use of this machine, has been reduced
to 633,000.
HURRY THEN UP.
What has become of the "ventilation"
promised by the very proper editor of the
organ of the Thug plunderers ? Hurry
it up ! The " History , ' of " Jolly Jack, ,,
too ; where is it ? Can't you get some, of
your " hangers-on about the State Capi
tol," to get ukk something ? Try, do ! No
horse-laugh, no smooth, unmeaning gen
eralities, but " Ventilation," " History.”
The Examiner has an excellent correspon
dent at Harrisburg, " Observer, "
do. Hiss him on !
WELL DONE.
The amendment is the Constitution of
the United States, providing for universal
suffrage, passed the House of Representa
tives on Saturday last. Mr. Bingham, of
Ohio, offered an amendment providing for
universal amnesty and universal suffhge,
but it received only 26 votes. The vote
On the amendment reported by the Recon
struction Committee, stood yeas 150, nays
45—more than three to one. The amend
ment is as follows :
Article—Section I. The right of any oitizen
of the United States to vote shall not be de
nied or abridged by the United States. or any
State by reason of race, color or previous con
dition of slavery of any citizen or class of citi
zens of the United States.
Section 2. The Congress shall have power
to enforce by appropriate legislation the pro
visions of this article.
We hope the Senate will at once pass
the amendment, so that it may be sent
down to the State Legislatures without
delay, as many of them are now in ses
sion. When ratified by three-fourths of
the Legislatures of the States, the amend
ment becomes an integral part of the Con
stitution. Speed the welcome day
HUMAN RIORTS.
In eight years the strength of the Gov
ernment of the United States has increased
a thousand fold. Before 1860 the doc
trine of State Rights had well nigh found
ered the central power. Government was
nothing more than a chimera. The States
were omnipotent. They could do every
thing. The people were ignored. The
Constitution settled nothing, especially if
slavery were involved. Have we a Gov
ernment ? was the people's question when_
Sumpter was fired upon. Have we a
Constitution guaranteeing human rights ?
is the question they are asking to-day.
We have. It shall no longer be the ma
chine of wrong. Insist upon its perfect
adaptation to the present. Let it square
with the primitives charter—the Declara
tion. Let it be worthy of the nation and
the times. Let it be the palladium of
human rights, the glory, power and creed
of a free country, where "liberty" is not a
tinkling cymbal, and where "citizenship , '
is not sounding brass.
"VENTILATE" THE HAINAN.
According to the report of the County
Auditors, the bridge building system in
this county needs a little " ventilation. ,,
It appears that instead of giving contracts
to lowest bidders, the building of bridges,
which have cost the county about 4670,000
during the last three years, the Commis
sioners have a contractor of their own,
and by some private arrangement or un %
derstanding they have been paying just
whatever was agreed upon between them
and him. The people and other con
tractors were entirely ignored. Under
this, system we should think the Commis.
sioners' office might he made quite a fat
institution, ahnost as much so as the
pesters and folders? department at Harris
burg. We will hate mere to say en this
subject hereafter.
TRIVGERY AND TUE GRAND JURY.
The Columbia Spy, of last week, con
tains an article relative to the action of
the Grand Jury in a certain case, in which
the editor of that paper was the prosecu
tor, which develops a ireaknesN in a quar
ter
which we had hoped would be pure
ahave all cavil and suspicion. We have
not room for the whole article, and must
therefore content ourselves with giving an
extract from it. After referring to for
mer operations of the infamous political
organization in the Republican party of
this county, known as "Thugs," at the
head of which is George Brubaker, and
the organ of which is the Inquirer, the
editor'goes on to say :
Ityttte te e tlnntng - of October last, a com
plaint was made against Elwood Greist,
late County Treasurer, for speculating
with the county funds in violation of law,
and against the interest of every tax-payer
in the county.
The law covering such cases reads as
follows:
BsC T role 62, of Penal Code—" If any officer
of this Commonwealth, or of any city, bo
rough, county, or township thereof, shall loan
out, with or without interest, or return there
fore, any money or Valuable security received
by him, or whit!) may be in Ms pomession, or
under his control by virtue of his office, he
shall be guilty of a misdemeanor in (dammed
on conviction, be sentenced to pay a fine not
exceeding one thousand dollars, &c.
Bac. 63. "If any such officer shall enter
into any contract or agreement with any
bank, corporation or individual, by Which said
officer is to derive any benefits, gain or advan
tage from the deposit with such bank, &0., of
any money or valuable security held by him,
or which may be in his possession, or under
his control by virtue of his said office, he shall
be guilty of a misdemeanor, and on conviction
be sentenced to pay a awe of one thousand
dollars."
It will be thus seen that the law is very
plain upon the subject. It was hoped that
the District Attorney could have found
tine to draw up an indictment, and send
it to the Grand Jury at November sessions,
and dispose of the matter speedily. It
was not, it seems, convenient for him to
do so, for reasons best known to himself
and the accused. Perhaps there were not
a sufficient number of political thugs upon
the jury, hence the delay. The case was
continued to January sessions. In the
meantime the jury box for the coining
year was tilled with a thousand or more
names. Whether they were so manipu
lated that the " thugs" would get a con
trolling influence (in all probability) in
the juries for the coming year we do not
know. Others can best judge of the first
jury drawn in 1869, by referring to the
following names, as to their political pro
clivitiee:
George Whitson, foreman, Bart ; Saml
Bruckhart, West llemptield ; P.
Benton, Salsbury; John Baker, City;
William H. Bunn, Salisbury; Henry S.
Eberly, Clay; M. S. Fry, Ephrata; J. 11.
*Minn.,- -Eden ; U,- Mew Columbia ;
Clayton Harlan, Fulton; H.
SniAikinty; Henry tied, 'Fulton; Pinarick
Myers, Strasburg bor.; N. Mayer, Dru
more; James A. McConkey, Fulton; Ber
nard J. McGraw', Manheim township;
John W. Mentzer, West Cocalieo; Jonas
B. Nolt, Manheim; George Pownall, Sads
bury; John M. Skiles, Salisbury; John 11.
tummy, Marietta; Benjamin 'rrout, East
Hempaeld; Martin Urich, City; James
Wood, Little Britain.
Intelligent men conversant with the po
litical " thugs" and their acts in the
county, were astonished at the complex
ion of the jury, and inquired what it meant
or foreboded. They were there in strong
three, whether by accident or design we
know not. When the jury met at the
January Sessions they were sworn as fol
lows:
"You do (swear or affirm) that as a mem
ber of this ()rand Inquest, you will dilligentl y
inquire and true presentment make, as well
of all such matters and things as shall be
given you in charge, as of those things which
you shall know to be presentable hero. You
will present no one for envy, hatred, malice,
or ; neither will you leave one unpre-
Rented through fear, favor, affection, REWARD,
gain, or the hope thereof—but you will pre
sent all things truly, as they shall come to
your knowledge to the best of your 'under
standing."
When the indictment was called up
against Mr. Griest, we presume they call
ed Mr. Bair, who states that the bank of
which he is a member, paid the defendant
over six hundred dollars as interest for
county funds, loaned said bank, by said
Griest. This of itself, was sufficient to
find a true bill, if any regard was had for
the sacredness of an oath. In the face of
such testimony, the jury ignoi ed the bill,
and put the prosecutor in for the costs.
If it is really true that the fact of Mr.
Greist having received six hundred dol
lars in violation of law, as alleged, was
proven or sworn to before the Gratid Jury,
then in justice to all concerned, the action
of that body should be thoroughly " ven
tilated." If influences of a questionable
character were brought to bear upon the
Grand Jury, the people should know it.
The vote ou the bill,, should be published,
if it. can be obtained, so as to show each
one's hand. We can hardly believe it pos
sible that the bill was ignored by a unan
imous vote, and if not, let us have the
names of those constituting the minority.
Grand Jurors, like other public function
aries, must be held to a strict accounta
bility for their action.
HISTORICAL!
"The mild junior was laudably and honor
ably employed in'making' gmtuities'
for himself. through a • corrupt Legislatore'
for services never rendered the State."—
Examiner.
or That is a bold LlE—nothing less.
The " mild junior" defies Jack, or any of
his associate Legislative bummers or
Thugs, to show that he was ever engaged
in the dirty business, at which Jack is an
adept. Five years' work at Harrisburg,
OS a reporter, has enabled the said "mild
junior" to /earn something, and if Jack
Wants to compare notes, for the public
benefit, he is ready for him.
414rWe have several interesting contri
butions in "Pennsylvania•Deitch," for
which wrf expect to find space, probably
nett week. They are now in the hands
of 19ehweffiehrenner, who has kindly
volunteered to correct spelling.
THE EZAIELEHIPS “lIISTORY."
When we first exposed the notoriously
corrupt and burefitoedaysten of Treasury
robbing through the pasting and folding
room of the House of Representatives at
Harrisburg, by which over thirty thousand
dollars were abstracted from the public
Treasury, and divided round among the
political jobbers, brokers, swindlers, bum!
are trying to get into life boats,
fliers and hangers on, we expected there :
would be a general flutter among - the older and more hardened sin-
and a terrible shaking and rattling ot yet cling to the wreck, in the vain
bones. But, we did not believe thatsaving themselves in the end.
popular verdict is against them,
Republican newspaper could be fo !
all Pennsylvania, claiming the least re- ! and it will be a long time before they will
sivetability--certainly, mpg published i n again have a change to Wunder the pub-
Lancaster county, mid sustiiined and read • lie treasury, either by tratidnlerit mileage
by such people tindtcertificates '43l' petite yeTroli
intelligent citizens—would dare to become wrappers in thesubierbanean department
the organ•and defender of the plunderers ! of the House of Representatives,
referred to. But, we are disappointed.
Even that old and hitherto respectable and
reliable journal, the Lancaster Examiner,
is out as one of the defenders and apologists
of the publicly convicted peculators. If
we are not directly misinformed--and we
are sure we are not—some of the best
friends, end supporters of the Examiner,
have recently waited on its editors and
protested against its defense of the plun
derers; and the fact that such protests,
coming as they did froth quarters entitled
to respect in that sanctum, are disregard
ed, the inference is that- the controlling
editor is himself completely in the power
of the corruptionists, and cOtnpelled to
defend Client and apologise for their short
comings the best way he cart,
As the Evintiner may he entitled to some
consideration, and as many of its readers
arc yet unable to believe it possible that
its columns could be used for so base a
purpose as an open defense of such aswin
dle, and system of robbery, as the one in
question, we feel called., upon to answer
very briefly a few things contained in the
last number of said paper—so far at least,
as they relate to or assaß FATHRR ABRA
HAM and its editors,
In the Examiner of Wednesday fast, we
find the following:
"We believe in " fair play" in all things,
and hence neither defend the men who voted
fort additional "paste,* and folder.," nor ad
vecate the pretensions of parch & Cochran,
who, we sincerely believe, made the propoei
tien to do the pasting and folding for
bein
combe."
Qf course, the editor-In chiefpenned this
article—it irs . "Jack" himself till over. lie
is too old and experienbed in Legislative
jobs'and ring management be uphold and
defend this most notorious swindle direct
ly, and yet, as the swindlers are hisfriends,
if not his confederates, he tut say some
thing in order to divert public opinion
from this pasting and folding " onpleas
entitle." To do this he "sincerely be
lieves" Rauch & Cochraros proposition
was only made for " buncombe." The fact
that we would have been able to pay very
liberal wages, had we received the contract,
as we have already clearly shown in these
columns—and yet made a profit of several
thousand dollars, is a sufficient refutation
of the charge of buncombe, and as our pro
position was not accepted, although made
in proper form, with an offer to give secu
rity in any amount for a faithful elocu
tion of the proposed work, this very unfair,
uncalled for arid ridiculous assertion may
go for what it is ;worth. But here is
another "fact," is Jack says :
"The fact is, there ts a great deal of hum
bug about the whole affair, and every person
cognizant of the details so.regards it. .
Does the Examiner mean to say that the
fifty or sixty staunch Repibblican papers
throughoi4 the State, wlib have so anly,
thoroughly and emphatically shown up
and denounced the great swindle as it de
served, look upon it as a humbug? And
who are the persons wilt, are cognizant of
the details? "Is it Dr. Gatchell, or the
" Resident Clerk," by whom that gentle
man Was posted (or pasted,) or, is it Jack's
'bosom friend; Mr. Biro, who did his part
of the pasting and folding in Fiddler's
Green, last winter, or, is it that other
particular friend of Jack, "honest
Andy Armstrong," who gobbled $91.80
mileage out of the Treasury, by means of
a warrant certifying to 300 miles, instead
of 30 miles, the real distance from Andy
Armstrong's residence toile State capi
tol? But Jack says in the same article:
" Tbe attempt to raise dust for the eyes of
the "de*r peopte,". will bulPil.9 iniicreed f OPec
ially when it known that one of the bidders
for the pasting and folding contract has, here
tofore had his hands deep %Tithe Stalls Tr cisurYo
while acting as Clerk of the Howse of Represen
tatives; and the othbr, the mild Junior, was
laudably and honorably employed in "snak
ing" "gratuities" for himself *sough p."oor
rapt legislttare" for services never readered
the State.'
Now that part of the extract which ap
pears in italic is corning down to "dots,"
as it means to convey-tire Impression that .
Mr. Rauch *ea himself ,Of trgas
ury robbing , , whilst clerk of 'th e ,
during the, sessions of 1 61anAl 'B2 o and
yet Jack don't exaetly say so. Now, let
us understand each other. Ydn,Jack, was
at Ilarrieburg when Mr. R. was there.
You was then a Senator, and also an ex
member of the House. If yOu can fasten
a single art of treasury robbery upon Mr.
Rauch, then do so openly,, boldly and in
a manner becoming& wan. Don't act the
part of a, sneak. Insinuations-and gener
alities like 'the above are cowardly, mean;
contemptible, and so regarded by raright
minded men. The assertion that the
junior editor of FATHER ABRAHAM was
engaged in "snaking," " gratultiin" 'for
himself is equally •false, aud.nutY,Ao for
whit it is worth. Tho ansakingjusuaua
tion is only mule to divert attention &OM
"our fellers."
In a word, the corruptionists of Harris
burg, and tilleir backers and supporters,
including "the ring" in this city, are ex
posed and publicly denounced by a justly
indignant people all over the State. Their
Z s "
low, black schooner, with all its plun
, Ag in a sinking condition, There is a
ANNIAiI panic among the rats! The young
THE PRESS TRIUMPHANT 1
Six weeks ago probably less than live
per cent. of the adult population of Penn
sylvania knew of the existence of such an
institution as a pesters and- folders de
partment at Harrisburg. To-day almost
everybody throughout the State is per
fectly familiar with a most outrageous and
bare-Awed system of plunder, in and
thrmigh that very obscure and compara
tively insignifident department, How
faithless and corrupt representatives, and
thieving bititunota and • hangers on man
aged to steal many thousands of dollars,
under pretense of earning it by pasting
and folding papers, is known and thor
oughly Understood by almost every tax
payer. The plunderers and corruptionists
are publicly known, and, as is admitted
on all sides, nineteen out of every twenty
of them, now occupying seats in our Leg
islative halls, will go home at the close of
the present session, to stay. It is also a
conceded fact that the people are thor
oughly aroused to the importance of nom
inating better men in future, and that they
mean to do it. Practieal and radical re
form is already assured, and henceforth,
corruption, swindling and stealing will
not only be made odious but be punished
also. •
For this change—for the most whole
some awakening of the public mind all
over the State, and the assurance we have
that the days of treasury tbieves and cor
rupt poliiklil MilOnbered, the
people are indebted to the independent
Republican , liitsss PirPagilioni the State.
The first article on this subject, which ef
fectually exposed the corrupt system, was
an editorial in FATHER ABRAHAM, of De
cember 4th, 1868. The startling and un
answerable facts set forth in said article,
at once induced oar honest Republican
contemporaries everywhere to investigate,
discuss and " ventilate them. Our sub
sequent offer, at the time 2f meeting of
the Legislature, to do the work of pasting
by contract, at less than one-fifth of last
year's cost, and the refusal of the members
of the Holm to accept it, apd the most
bare-faced and unblushing outrage by
`putting twenty-seven additional
pesters, at Once presented 'll, square issue
betweenthe combination of .curruptimaista
and their eonflederates, on the ono aide,
and thp Republican Press throughout the
State on the other. The matter was soon
decided. The broadsides poured into the
camp of the swindlers by such journals as
the Pittsburg Commercial, the Lancaster
Express ; all the Philadelphia papers; the
Miner's Journal, the Village Record, the
Lewisburg Chronicle and forty or fifty
others of the same stamp, have already
purified the party by exposing and con
demning all who have been trusted, tried
and found wanting. The termination of
this " ventilation" so gloriously and suc
cessfully, proves that the Republicans can
and will remove any and all abuses in
their own party ; that the people can
safely confide in the Republican Press of
the State. The significant silence of the
copperhead papers, with few honoralle
exceptions, clearly proves that that party
cannot be trusted ; that reform is not in
their line, and that a sound state admin
istration, as well as national, can only be
assured by the continued success of the
Republisan party—a party whose organs
dare speak the truth on all occasions—a
party of sufficient character to refbrm
and correct :itself when wrong, and to
'make proper examples of those who prove
ihithless, from "Honest Andy" doWn to
Andy J. at the "other end of theavenne.ll
TEE TVPITCHELL CASE r In the Phila-,
delphia. Court on Saturday last, Judge
Brewster pronounced' the opinion of the .
Court against granting 'a new trial to
fieorge S. Twitchell, jr:, found guilty of
the murder of Mrs. Hill. At thereenclu
sion of his review of the readuna filed' for
the new trial by the counsel fox the •de
tense, the Judge pronounced tile follqw
hag dentence :
" That George B, . Twitchell, jr„ the prison
er at the bar, he taken froth hence ,to the jail
of the county of Philadelphia, from whence
he came, and from thenee to the place of exe
cution, and that he be there hanged .by the
neck until he is dead, and may God, hi his
infinite goodness, have mercy upon his soul.'"
Twitchell, on the conclusion of this last
solemn expression, dropped into his seat,
and for the first t ine since the Coroner's
investigation, he gave evidence 'of realising
his fearful position. In a short time he
was removed to the van and taken to
prison. It is -believed that his counsel
will take the ease to. the Supreme Court.
Before the • sentence was pronouneed v on
being asked • whether he had anything to
say, without a tremor in his. voice,
Twitdliell•xecdied : "All that I: .have to
aay in, that la have been tried and son •
-
'rioted of a , crime of know no
• ,
A. MODEL mmoacknetalti.
New York, at all times, abounrialt t burg
lars, pickpockets, siseek-thisnimpladendi
aries, forgers, swindlers, and airalre and
copperheads. Not a day passes but long
lists of violations of the peace by these
various classes of dangerous men are pub
lished; but the past week or two have been
more fruitful of daring crimes thatt...we re
member to have been the case befois*The
terrible murder and attempted robbery of
Mr. Rogers in Twelfth street, close to
Broadway, on the sidewalk in front of his
house, by a ruffian who has contrived to
escape from the vigilance of the police, was
still a subject of public consternation,
when a gentleman and his 'trite, on Satur-
Any evening last, while on their way to
their home in leourth street, just out of
Broadway, were attacked by a gang of
thieves, knocked down, and • would have
been robbed of a large quantity of diamond
jewelry, which they were carrying to their
home for safe-keeping, had not their cries
alarmed the villains, so that they fled be
fore the police officers could arrest them.
But the most astounding robbery that has
been committed in New York was that
which took place in the Park Bank, on
Saturday morning last, in the full sight of
a large number of clerks, and at a time of
day when the streets around the, bank
were more than ordinarily crowded with
people. A party of four- or five men en
tered the bauk just after it had been opened
part of whom hollered about the entrance,
while one of them took an iron shield frem
a bag, and with a tremendous blow shat
tered a large plate of thick glitos,'behind
which lay several packages of greenbacks.
Ifefore'theastonished cler s could discover
what had caused the crash; the thief thrust
his hand through the hole he had made,
seized a package of bills, and ran into' - the
street. But he was instantly pursued by
an officer, and before he had run far was
seized and the money recovered. His
comrades, who are said to belong to a
gang of newly-arrived English thieves,
escaped. They showed themselves well
acquainted with city localities; and there
was a defiant boldness in their method
which is a characteristic of New York
rogues, who act as though they were sure
of protection and countenance when
brought before our criminal Ada& An
other robbery of a singularld and
startling character occurred on Saturday
night, close by the headquaratuaLof the
Police Department in Mulberrtstreet, by
some sacrilegious rascals, what . ;ol; e into
the office of the Calvary Ce • • , and
succeeded is carrying off $lO, !,' . pm an
iron safe. •
It should be reinemberetlimi*, York
is the central point for Copperheads and
rebels. There they nourish d in . .941 their
loveliness atta scoundrelisM 4 mid - Iris from
just such localities that Iheitifyiorities
came.
THE HVKMAN WHISK •
1:3 471X.
That highly virtuous journal:Ake Lan
caster hiquirer, has been fo4ribli j iattercised
about what •is known as tWe ttliackman
whisky ease." We are ligifoltelljt„. in the
dark on the subject, so fates our personal
knowledge is concerned, - end lines never
paid any attention to it, because we felt
sure from the flutter made by thediquirer,
that it was a "mare's nest," and that the
moral and religious editor of gl o at sheet
only wanted to insinuate a charegainst
some one he hated, not having* cour
age to speak out boldly. ThOlhponiner,
of Wednesday, contains the — Mowing
facts in the case:
If the inquirer desires the facts h tile Base,
its editors can easily procure them for:pribli
cation, and thus display some honesty in their
statements to the public, instead of their in
tended insinuation of 4 dark and mysterious
fraud connected with the transaction. The
facts as they come to our knowledge, bear no
evidence of fraud upon the revetme,and show
nothing more than that the general govern
ment undertook to make out a case in which
it failed. A.. B. Hackman died in the latter
part of March, 1866, and nearly one month
after his death, Mr. Alexander, then assessor,
was directed by the department to assess
against him the amount of Wit alleged to be
due to the derrirtment.. Mr, Alexander as
sessed the tax against Mr. Hackman, who
wait then " tii d graNti,"Wftlitifft 'IMMO lolhe
adminitiMativre .any, ens• elms except the
department. The administrators of Mr.
Haelkman's estate, Abiding the, depaent
delayed proceedlnge, urged that the case u4t ght
be removed to the District Court of Phil del
phia. This the departtnent declined or re
fused to do. It being neeessary to give clear
titles to property sbld' by the administrators
of Hackman's estate, and tlds assessment
supposed to be a lien upoa i pp? pl. the lid
ministrators gave his bond, ample in all its
sureties and km double' the amount involved,
to the Commissioner of Internal Revenue, as
securttY' for the intioutit'aesessed, so much
thaseof aR 'Wight be meowed against Hack
man.
The department thereupon releaseil the real
estate front the lien. The department delay
ing the determination of the Case, the ad
ministastere of Idaekman'a estate urged and
requested. at different times - that suit be
brought upon this bond and' let them into a
fair defenee in the United State court, and
have the case judicially endeid, either for or
against the estate, or in the Lavuage of one
of the administrators, a reliable and worthy
°M em of this coil, "If tiuritititiery belongs
to thl3' OnVerrtmen then „the ,GOiternfliielli
should have it ; i not, th en 'Hackman's
estate eltould have it, end tbat her renrild pro
perly aermuut for ever, lOW' * ,
ffs he.depaitment referred, Qer,mattarie the
Oolleetor of Ale district for •nneiehon. That•
officer investigated it fully, and made ' report
that tli , •elaYW conld not be establinhAin any
• • rt,
the GovernmpAt feeling ,satieged that it was
unable taiga% ) reit ilea* West this estate
in the courts, abandoned, any4th y e er e irir
' -
cution and after a &fay 'of. -
lievedit Amu any further liability. is
the entire cane and dews rfet 'differ in any ma
terial respect from any of the numerous
'witiskrteiliell from Wsq o,o l, 1.1 3 SIP settle
i
/lent of wlde , some pennons ntately con
nected With e /uquirq have` been actively
and profitab 'employed.
.410 AD . , ,
0 4We okhai Printing Wanly s
0 ce.
OUR HAIIRLSBURO LETTER.
The Business of the Session—Notaries Pub
lie—The Contetded Election of Bunn vs.
Witham—How Copperheads carry Elec
tions—The Cita (Axle Commission—
Bates' history—State Bights and the
"Nigger"—Editorial Contention—State
Librarian—Reform Committee Local
Legislation, etc.
DARRISBBRO, Feb. 2d, MM.
DEAR FATHER ABRAHAM : After a abort
recess, the members have returned to Harris
burg, and both Senate and House are again at
work. But few bills of a public nature have
as yet been acted on, while the local bills
already introduced number upwards of two
hundred. The truth is, too much time at the
beginning of the session is occupied in the
consideration of bills of the latter class, while
measures of more general interest are not ma
tured as early aethey should be, and are passed
by to make room for these "little Williams,"
until adjournment day is at hand, when they
are too often hurried through, without that
deliberation Which their importance demands.
One of the most troublesome pieces of lies
lotion is the passage of bills authorizing the
appointment of additional , Notaries Public.
Already, this sessiop, two bills from your
county have been presented asking for Om
appointment of two additional Notariesone
for Lancaster city, and one for Warwick.
In the House, the first propoeitiem. wad de
feated, to far as it applied to your city,'lnt
was amended so as to provide for an addi
tional twenty-five for Philadelphia. Tf} do
away with these specialities, Mr. Nicholson,
of Beaver, some days ago, introduced a bill
giving the Governor 'power to Appolihil as
many as he thqueit necessary in each eettitty.
Its passage is quite probable, and the event
will doubtless be hailed with delight by
those from your coned, who miel applicriants.
It will do away with the necessity of ebtering
into certain little bargains, you know. You
will merely have to convince the Governor
that there is a necessity for such-mpptittat=
ment, and the oommission will be forthcom
ing at once. But lam anticipating. .;
As was expected, the contested Action
case of Bunn re. Witham, has been settled
satisfactorily to the former gentleman and his
friends. After reading the report of nevem
mittee, there 'can be no doubt, in the minds of
the unprejudiced, that his opponent held his
seat by fraud at the ballot-box. According to
the report, five witnesses testified that
they were part of a gang of men who
.. went
from poll to poll, in that gentleman's district,
and by changing their clothing, voted the
Democratic ticket no less than one hundred
and fifty times. A more outrageous, infamous
anddisgraceful disregard ofehe election laws
than that proven by the expose of this- oem
mittee, was never bnown, and goes toshow
most conclusively, the necessity for the early
passage of a strict and rigid Registry Law.
5
It will be remembered that during the ses
sion of '67, a bill was passed providing for the
appointment of of three commissioners to re
vise and collate the civil laws of the 'com
monwealth. The Governor appointed Meiikrs.
Derrickson, Hall and McVeigh as the coin
dolititl*str good ten AM able
lawyers.. *By act of 1868 they Are given till
1870 to complete the work. Last week they
reported the titles of fifty-odd bills, With a
brief abstract of each, and state: " These bills
may hereafter be consolidated and arranged
under fewer or difte* rent titles, but not until
the entire work is completed, when it can be
more satisfactorily determined what bills are
appropriate to each ()there' Stc: It in evident
that there is considerable dissatiefaetkin on
the part of the Legislature With their way of
doing bttainess—and no wonder,' for really the
public are at a loss to know what of practical
goad - they have eecomplished. They have
been serving for two years, at a missy of
$3,000 each per year—a mug little sum,
which in the aggregate amounts to consider
able. Senate White's resolution, requesting
the gentlemen to send in their bills in full, as
early as possible, may have a *Outer, effect
—a ndinay be (who knows ?) but the forerun
ner of a motion to repeal the act creating the
commission, And thus do *Way with what ha
become rather an expensive luxury.
The Legislature evidently have an elephant
on their bands in the shape of Bates' Military
History of the Pennsylvania Volunteers. For
several years Mr. Bates, and his corps of as
sistants, have been engaged in their work at
trr very large expense to the State, and at last
the first volume has appeared * and llytKlo
copies have been printed by the State printer.
How to dispese of them is the question at
present agitating the minds of the law
makers. The committee of eonferenee en the
subject, through. their oheirmaa, on Friday
lest, recommended that they shoeld • be dis
tributed among the members and '
Seer of
1168. Leglidature, and to the Governor and
State-Librarian. A lengthy debate followed
in the, Senate, in the coarse of which it was
alleged that the 5,000 copies were printed
ffirbblileit.
self was a irraillti‘ia useless ergleaditure of the
public money, &c., &c. The proposition of
the committee was laid aside for thePristat.
In the House, the motion has also been under
discussion. Mr. Webb introduced a resolu
tion, which may go to the root of the subject.
requices• a committee of three to ascertain
by where Authority that number were print
ed, what is to be their cora, and when and at
what cost the work will be eoinpleted. What
will become of the question, your deponent
saitb. not.. Mr. Bates promises to complete
the idatory daring the present year.
?;here i$ isanifest Maps'r
of some Republicans in the House to re
trehch expenses, and it has "cropped ont" in
the shape f 0 a retiolutioa lookingto restrict
ing, V not totally abolishing, the franking
privilege. It is regarded as rather a "home
'thxuat7 at those of bur Deroooratio filoads,
who; it is alleged, are in the habit of sending
horite. under frank, their dirty linen. &H
owl , though, agreat deal might be said in
avorionhe proposTiloin - . fir: i'Cle - Nner7Orthe
House, proposes tdabbliek entirely this privi
lege, 44, allow each member and fieqator
8155 . per session, for postage. In this * A y,
he thinks 'malty $14,4() annually will be
Wed lid 111p.State. *otitis, op; *lite part
of the lower House,. would be so inconsisten
with its late actloh on the pasting andt
foldiAgiqffitiition, filet we ierd !tee te' hippos.
that Altera id doiniteirrible tfuneutrage in the
Movement. Afieir biiratiees wieP „which