Intelligencer &'#ournal. GEO, SANDERSON, EDITOR, Lancaster, January 15,1550* APPOINTMENTS BT THE DIRECTORS OP THE POOR. —Drs. John S. Atlee, H. A. Smith, J. A. Ehlerand C. 0. Richards, Physicians to the Institution. Benjamin Herr, Esq., Solicitor to the Board, ET We announced some four weeks ago that we bad extended the time for commencing our con templated German paper until the Ist of March, so as to afford our friends a full opportunity of c sub scribing, and obtaining subscribers for it. Since then we have received a number of names, but still not half enough to justify the undertaking. We hope, if they wish a paper of the kind to be started, that no longer delay will be had, but that proper efforts will at once be made to acomplish the ob ject. The approaching Courts will afford a fair op portunity to ascertain what can be done. We should like to know something definite on the subject very soon. * in* On our first page will be found two poetical productions, of rare merit, entitled “Kossuth's Solil oquy,” and “The'LastWish,” to which we invite the attention 'of our .readers. The author has kindly volunteered to be a regular contributor to tbe Intel ligencer—we can therefore safely promise, at regular intervals, a rich treat from his gifted mind and ready pen. lD*The proceedings of City Councils, in reference to the subject of New Market Houses, are published at length in another column. The report submitted by the committee and adopted, is an able expose of the financial, condition of the city, and merits that attention from the citizens the great importance of the subjects upon which it treats demand. 017* We are indebted to the politeness of C. C. lßLiNG,<£sq., for a copy of the very able and satis factory Report of Col. English, Superintendent of Motive Power on the Philadelphia and Columbia Railway, for the Fiscal year ending Nov. 30, 1849. H7*Messrs. Meek and Zerbet, of the Legisla ture, wi}l accept our thanks for their polite atten- tion to us. 07*We direct the attention of persons desirous ol purchasing a pleasant city residence, to the proper ty advertised by Jonas D. Bachman, Esq. in anoth er column. lE7*The Reading Gazette has recently been enlarged and considerably improved in appearance. This speaks well lor the enterprise of Mr. Getz, and we hope the Democracy of Old Berks will yield tbe Gazette a patronage commensurate with its deserts. • ■ ICJ-Rev. Mr. Butler, Rector of Trinity Church, Washington City, has been elected Chaplain to the U. S. Senate. Rev. Mr. Sljcer, late Chaplain, was his competitor. Tbe vote stood 30 to 30—and was decided in favor of Mr. Butler by the casting vote of tbe Vice President, from which we infer that Mr. B. is a Whig, although his political predi lections are not stated in the Washington papers.— Mr. Slicek. as is well known, is a sound and thorough going Democrat, and withal an able, elo quent and energetic Preacher. His re-election to the post he has so worthily filled for the last four years, would, doubtless, have given universal satis laction, and we regret that the Senate have thought proper to dispense with his services. H7*The Ladies of Strasburg were quite success, ful with their Fair on New’ Year s Day. The nett proceeds amounted to about $3O0 —a sum sufficient to accomplish the object they had in view, the liqui dation of the debt resting on the Presbyterian Church ol that Borough. When Ladies undertake a praise worthy object, there is no such word as fail known amongst them. Tlie Approaching Spring Trade- Advertising. Now is the time for the Philadelphia merchants to advertise. Preparations for their spring supply of goods will be made by country merchants, and if the wholesale establishments in the great city wish to do a “rushing” business, it is necessary that they should let the storekeepers and public generally through the country know what they have got to sell: The present, therefore, is the proper time'to advertise—and as the Intelligencer , from its wide circulation through Lancaster and the adjoining counties, affords an excellent medium for the city .merchants to interchange business facilities with their customers, and those that they wish to become such, throughout this region of the State, they should send on their advertisements in time. Let them recollect that changes are con stantly occurring in business—old firms dissolved, and new ones formed—that old partners retire, and new ones take their place—and they should im prove by the hint we have, so seasonably given them. Note, we repeat, is the time to send us on their advertisements. Kew Line of Cars, We are pleased to learn from the Columbia Spy , that George Wolf, Esq., of that Borough, intends placing a new line of cars on the Columbia and Philadelphia Railroad, to accompany the Way Train, on or about the middle of Febuary. The cars are being built after the pattern of those on the Central Railroad, and will be superior to them for magnifi cence and comfort. They are to be under the care of Capts. E. A. Lowe and W. A H-ambright, both of whom are experienced agents, ahd universal fav orites on the road. The fare is to be $2,35 from Columbia, ands2,oo from Lancaster to Philadelphia. Destruction of the Jail of Adams county by Fire, and Loss of Two Lives. About 3 o'clock this morning, fire was seen issu ing from the window in the second story of the Jail of this county. The alarm was at once giveni but all the efforts of the firemen and citizens were unable to stay the progress of the devouring ele ment. But most melancholy to relate, two human lives were lost by the catastrophe— lsaac M.ussle man and John Toner, both insane and confined for safe keeping, each occupying a separate room. — Every effort in the power of man was made use of to rescue them from a fate so terrible, but in vain. The immense volume of smoke issuing from their apartments was perfectly suffocating, and those who attempted to enter were driven back stagger ing. It is therefore evident the deceased had ex pired from suffocation ere their rooms were reached. Eventually, the body of Toner-was recovered, but life was totally extinct—and a portion ol that of Mussleman, after the falling in of the building. The fire originated in Mussleman s room, but how is left to conjecture alone.— Gettysburg Com piler of the Ith inst. “ The Mining Register and Schuylkill County Dem ocrat.''' is the title of a new Democratic journal re cently started at Pottsville, first number of which it before us. It is a large, well filled sheet, and promises to be conducted with great sbirit and efficiency. Ihe Editors Messrs. Hall and Vliet. We wish them abundant success. Distressing Aa-uhni —we learn that a youn& man named Wcidlet Jinultr, of Leacock township was thrown from his horse on the 30th ult. and in stantly killed. He was a highly respectable young man, and his untimely death i* deeply regretted by a large circle of relatives and friends. ID’’ Col. Du Solle, late of the Philadelph lt p Times, has assumed the editorial management ol the New Yoric Globe. * \ ID* Reuben Wood, Esq. is the Democratic nominee for Governor of Ohio. : Valentine Best and Ills Whig Friends. Whenever an individual of any prominence in the Democratic party turns traitor to his previously avowed principles, either in whole or in part, the Whig papers from one end of the State to the other, at once enter the arena in his defence, and are loud in their praises of the apostate. Such was their course when Penrose, Dickey, Burden, and their co-adjutofs in the Legislature of 1835-6, abandoned the Democratic party and went over to the enemy. . They were loud in their approval of the conduct of those recreants, and took them to their embrace and into their confidence with enthusiastic friend ship. Most of our readers will recollect all this, and it is only necessary to advert to that memorable period in the history of our State to bring vividly to their recollection the disgraceful scenes then enacted at Harrisburg. The same course is pursued by the Whig journals now in reference to Mr. Best, a man who repre sents, or rather, we should say, mis-represents a democratic constituency whose majority in his district is very little short of two thouiand votes! Whilst every honorable high-minded man, of every . party, must look upon his course with detestation and abhorrence, and whilst every honest man must point the “slow, unerring finger of scorn” at him, still, these whig journalists, without a solitary ex ception so far as we know, are out full-mouthed in his defence, and boldly justify his disgraceful conduct. 'Well, be it so—if they love the treason, as no doubt they do, it is but right and proper that they should nourish the traitor, and shield* him, so far as they can, from the justly merited denuncia tions of the Democratic press. So fond are the whig leaders of recreant Democrats, that, in every’ instance in which they have succeeded in electing a Governor for the State, they have been meri who started out in political life as Democrats, and ac‘ quired the’standing they had from the Democratic party. As a proof of this assertion, we refer to the last election of McKean, to Joseph Hiesten Joseph Ritner v and last, though not least, William F. Johnston. And it is a singular fact that, in every trial to elect a real wool-dyed Federalist, they signally failed. Mr. Best is now their special favorite, and we should not be surprised if, at the expiration of Johnston’s term, considering their good luck heretoiore in running apostates, they should make him their candidate for that high station ! Stranger things have happened heretoiore, and it is, perhaps, the very best thing they could do. In point, of. talents he is equal to Ritner, and su perior to either Heister or Marker —so that no. objection could be made on that score. Besides, he is just the man whose conscience is flexible enough to induce him to go any length, or resort to any means to carry out their wishes. We are strongly inclined to the opinion, therefore, that, if not at the next, at the succeeding gubernatorial election, Mr. Best will be the whig candidate for Governor of -Pennsylvania. lauding him. as they do, Whig papers, whether they so intend it or not, are preparing the way for his nomination. And we 1 can tell them this, too, lor their encouragement, I that they need not be afraid to trust him. All ex- j perience goes to prove that apostates from the Dem- j ocratic party become its bitterest and most uncom promising enemies,and that they will go any lengths i to oppose and even persecute their quondam friends, i Mr. Best's course, since he took the Speaker's ; chair, shows that he has made rapid strides in his downward career, and that he is ‘already a good enough Whig to please the most fastidious of that : party. Our neighbor of the Union 'Tribune seems to have taken the Speaker under his special guardian ship and protection, so far as Lancaster county is concerned. We wish him much joy in the acqui sition, and hope that when his ward becomes Gov ernor, he may kindly remember the guardian who so nobly volunteered to defend him in his tergiver sations. y ID" The Examiner will permit us to doubt its allegation that Mr. Buchanan entertains similar views on the tariff question with those held by Mr. Meredith, although, at one time, we admit, he was in favor of specific duties to a certain extent, in preference to a uniform scale of ad valorem duties; but this, we believe, i 3 not exactly the position taken by the present Secretary of the Treasury. What Mr. Buchanan’s view’s at the I present time are we do not know’, nor is it material to the subject at issue. He is now’ a private citi zen, and in this respect holds an entirely different position from that of Mr. Meredith. This much vye do know’, however, that in his recent tour to the western part of the State, he was charged by the whig press, and, if we mistake not, by the Examiner amongst the rest, with having exulted in the election of Mr. Gamble as a verdict of the ; people in favor of the tariff of 1546. We also know, and we refer our neighbor to the record for the truth of the assertion, that both Mr. Buchanan and the lamented Silas Wright, of New’ York, voted for the bill oi IS4-2 under protest —preferring to have it become a law-with all its inequalities and injustice, rather than by defeating it, as either ol them could have done, in the closing hours ol the session, to leave the then existing administration without means to carry on the government. Mr. B. so stated in a speech he made at the time, and intimated further, that the act would, and ought to be, repealed or essentially modified, as soon as the Democrats again got into power. Now, as the Whigs generally, and we presume Mr. Meredith with them, still adhere to the opin ion that the tariff of 1842, which was based on the principle of specific duties, was greatly preferable to the act ot 1846, which has the ad valorem prin ciple for its basis—of course it follows, that the views entertained by the two gentlemen in question on the subject ot a tariff) are very Jar from being identical. The Examiner must for Mr. Meredith and the whig party in general, first change their views entirely with regard to the former act, which was repudiated at the time of its passage by Mr. Buchanan, belore it can, with any show of justice or credibility, claim the latter gentleman as enter taining opinions in consonance with tkose of the former. Is our neighbor satisfied? The Mator Elect of Pittsburg. —At an elec tion held on the Bth at Pittsburg, for Mayor of that city, Joseph Barker was elected by a majority of 270. There were three candidates running Mc- Cutchen, Whig, Guthrie, Independent, and Barker, the Bible candidate. It appears that Barker, the Mayor elect, was arrested,-some lime since, and sentenced to one year's imprisonment in the Pitts, burg Jail, for preaching in the public, highways, and otherwise disturbing the peace. At the time of his election, Barker was confined in prison. It is said that Governor Johnson has granted him a pardon. So we see that the denizens of the “city of smoke” have been compelled to go to their Jail to procure a Mayor. Mr. Clay in the Field. “ Observer," the Washington correspondent of the Philadelphia Ledger , writes as follows: Mr. Clat is beyond a doubt or question a can didate for the Presidency, and Mr. Seward, of New York, a candidate for the Vice Presidency, with a reversionary interest in the Presidency its#. This may give a complexion to both Houses, although Mr. Clay, in a recent speech in the Senate, dis claimed all desire on his part ofassuming the lead ership. Messrs. Chittenden, Toombs and Ste phens are dead men, one and all.” Death of the Eldest Inhabitant.— The last Athens (Ga.) Banner , announces the death of Mr.’ Daniel Hale, of Franklin-county, who died on the 2d of July last, in the one hundred and nineteenth y<*ar of his age, leaving on the premises where he raided at the time of his death a son seventy-six y<*ar» of age, a grand-daughter forty four years o{ ugfi, and n great-grand daughter twenty-two years old. State legislature.—Standing Com- mlttees. lar the Senate. - Finance— King, Packer, Crabb , M’Casliri, Dome. Judiciary—Streeter, Walker , Drum, King and Muhlenburg.* Accounts—M Cadin, Matthias, Ives, ScuHervrd fernon. Estates and Escheats—Drum, Mrrtthint j Guernsey* Frick and Frailey. Pensions and Gratuities-—Sanitey, Jones, Sadler , Shimer and’Packer. Corporations— Matthias, Frailey, Haslett, Streeter and Savery. Sanks— Crabb, Brawley, Sadler, -Konigmaeher , and Ives. Internal Improvements—Packer, Sdiikey.JHashU , Guernsey and Crabb. ' Election Districts— Malttkias. lve&, Stine, Hugus and Guernsey. Retrenchment and Reform—Sterrett, Stine, For syth, Darsie and Streeter. Education— Lawrence, Hugus, McCaslin, Brooke and Malone. Agriculture and Domestic Manufactures— Cun ningham, Fulton, Brooke , Shimer-and Savery. Militia—Muhlenburg, Stine, Brawley, Cunning ham and Shimer. Roads and Bridges—lves, Sadler, Sterrett, Konig * macher and Malone. Compare Bills—Forsyth, Haslett, Ives, Jones and Frick. Vice and Immorality—• Savery, Sterrett, Cunning ham, Haslett and Fulton. Private Claims and Damages—Hugus, San&y, Fernon, Darsie and Cunningham. Library—Jones, Lawrence and Fernon. Public Buildings— Konigmaeher, Frailey & Frick. Executive Nominations— Walker, Lawrence, Hu gus, Stine and Fulton. Committee on Apportionment— Brooke, Brawley, Darsie, Forsyth and Walker. Messrs. Packer and Matthias were afterwards added. [We have placed the names of the Whig mem bers in Italic!] Messrs. Hoge, Beaumont, Bent, Cessna, Cornyn, Hastings, Leonard, Miller, O’Neil, Packer, Smyser, and Souder, Committee on Apportionment Also, the following Standing Committees: Ways and Means—Messrs. Conyngham, McClin tock, Burden, Baker, Stockwell, Allison, Malloy, Burt, Nicholson. Judiciary—Messrs. Porter, Cornyn, Conyngham, Packer, Smyser, Biddle, Rhey, Laird, Schofield. Claims—Messrs. Nicholson, Rutherford, Beau mont, Reid of Erie, Williams, Hoge. Agriculture—Messrs. Haldeman, Cridland, Flow ers, Gibboney, Hart of Erie, Steward, Nixley. Pensions Messrs. Klotz, Brower, McCurdy, Dunn, Powell, Scoulier, Kinkead. Domestic Manufactures— Messrs. McClintock, Baldwin, Black, David Huplet, Jones, Trone. Accounts—Messrs. Mark, Flowers, Zerby, Es pey, Ewing,.Jackson, Dobbins. Education—Messrs. Finletter, Bowen, Henry, Cessna, Hart, (city) Killinger, McCurdy. ■Vice and Immorality—Messrs. Meek, Evans (Berks) Fortney, Miller, Gaffey, Steele, Feather ILlitia System—Messrs. Biddle, Evans, (Indiana) Shaffner, McLean, Walker, Downes, Wells. Election Districts—Messrs. Morrison, Hasting, Lewis, Duncan, Grier, Hart, (city) Steward. Banks—Messrs. Laird, Steele, Watson, Lewis, Porter, Simpson, Morrison, Mowry, Allison. Estates and Escheats—Messrs. Cornyn, Baker Morris, Reid, Roberts, Finletter, Leet. Bridges, Roads, &c._Messrs. Shaffner, Slifer. Scofield, Leonard, Smith, oi Cambria, Little, Gib honey. Local Appropriations-Messrs. Stockwell, Zerby, Smith, (Beaver) Hurford, Black, Brown, Cridland Retrenchment and Reform—Messrs. Evans, (Monty.) McLaughlin, Leech, Meyers, Acker! Griffin, Robison. Corporations—Messrs. McCulloch, Biddle, Evans, (Mont.) Smith, (Beaver,) Souder, Burt, Grier, McLaughlin, Haldeman. Lands—Messrs. Henry, Evans, (Ind.,) Marx, Killinger, Smith, (Cambria.) Roberts, Burden. Comparing Bills-Messrs.' Steele, Pierson, Hemp hill, Klotz, Drum. Printing—Messrs. Bent, Pearson, Evans, (Berks.) Library—Messrs. Hastings, Rhey, Church. Inland Navigation and Internal Improvements.— Messrs, Beaumont, Biddle, Hoge, Slifer, Brindle, Smyser, Cessna, Wade,Leet, Walker,Souder, Jones, Packer. Public Buildings—Messrs. Meek, Duncan, Downer. Divorce—Messrs. Zerby, Baker, O'Neil, Simpson, Cornyn, Hemphill, Morris. Things at Harrisburg, No business of an important character has yet been transacted by the Legislature. A great many petitions and memorials on various subjects have been presented in both houses, and quite a number of bills, of a local nature, read—but there is nothing as yet to interest the general reader. We subjoin an abstract of petitions, bills, &c. which have reler ence to Lancaster county, together with some others that relate to other places and things. In the course of a week or two, the proceedings of the Legislature will be more interesting, and we shall endeavor to keep our readers advised of what is done. IN SENATE. A memorial has been presented, by Mr. Konig macher, for the extension of the charter of the Lancaster County Bank—also one for the Farmers’ Bank of Lancaster. The same gentleman a Bill for “an act authorising the election of Prosecuting Attornies.” Mr. Savery, “an act to incorporate the city ol Philadelphia, with enlarged boundaries.” A bill, changing the name of the York Savings Bank to York County Bank, has passed the Senate. Mr. KoNiGMACHF.n, a petition from the Lancaster City and County Insurance Company, praying compensation for destruction of property, caused by sparks from a locomotive. Mr. Walker, reported a bill for the government of the Lancaster County Prison. A bill, for the permanent creation ol the office of State Printer, was passed. Mr. Mathias, “an act relating to the usury laws.” This important paper reads as follows: An. Act Relating to the Usury Lam. Sec. 1. Be it enacted, &c.—That from and after the passage of this act, it shall be lawful for all persons to pay and receive such rate of interest, for the loan of money on any promissory note, draft, acceptance, bills payable or bills' ol exchange, drawn for any time not exeeeding twelve months, growing out of commercial or business transac tions, or contracts therefor, as the parties may agree upon in writing. Sec. 2. That no greater rate of interest than six per centum shall be charged on any judgment after the date of the rendition thereof, entered in any courts of this Commonwealth', although such judg ment may be lounded upon a writing stipulating a higher rate of interest. Sec. 3. That nothing in this act shall be con strued to apply to any loan, where the sum or thing lent shall be assured by any grant, charge, or incumbrance of real estate, nor on any loan or discount by any bank or banking association. Sec. 4. That so much of any existing law or laws, as conflicts with the provisions of this act, b% and the same is hereby repealed. IN THE HOUSE'**’ Mr. Cessna, of Bedford, read a bill in place, providing for the election of the Auditor General and Surveyor General, by the people. Mr. Finletter, a bill relative to Common Schools in Lancaster county. Mr. McClintock, a resolution in favor of con ferring gold medals upon the officers and soldiers of this State, who served in the Mexican War. Mr. Hurford, presented a petition for the re charter of the Farmers’ Bank of Lancaster. Mr. Nisley, one relating to the collection of taxes in Lancaster county. Also, an act for the Collection ol taxes in West Lampeter township, Lancaster county. The Public Lands.— From the Report of the Commissioner oi the Gen. Land Office, it appears that during the past year upwards of six million acres of land were advertised for sale,’and more than six and a half millions are prepared for market, a great part of which-will be proclaimed during the ensu ing year. The report shows that the quantity dis posed of in 1847, by warrants equivalent to cash, amounts to $3,596,254 08, and in 1848 to $5,482, 810 2G. Iq the first three months of 1848 it amounted to $3,937,160 30, and in the first three months of 1849 it amounts to $4,297,737 26; show ing that the increase in the amount of land dis posed of keeps pace with the increase of population, and the consequent wants of the community. Congressional Proceedings* The House of Representatives having spent about two weeks in daily repetition of fruitless balloting for a Clerk, at length, on Friday last, on.lbe 20th ballot, succeeded Tn electing the late Whig incum bent, Thomas J. Campbell —he having 112 votes, Jons W. Fobnet, the Democratic nominee, 96, and 12 scattering. This result was brought, alxmt by eight Democratic members voting for Mr. Campbell; TJiey are, Erring, of Tennessee; Venable, of North Carolina; Hubbard, of Alabama; and Woodward, Orr, Colcock and McQueen, of South Carolina. [Col. Fouxet, upon several ballots had run up to 107 votes, and in one instance came within two votes of an election. We regret exceedingly his defeat, and cannot but think if the Democrats had all adhered to him, a very few ballots more would have secured his election. But, a different course was pursued, and the House will have to put up with a Whig Clerk for two years to aome. Col. Fornet s services, however, will not be lost to the Democratic party. Although defeated, he will stilL battle manfully and energetically for the Democracy, and the columns.of the Pennsylvanian will no doubt show that he still wields as powerful a pen as ever, and that the cause of the people is, with him, paramount to every personal considera tion.] At the last accounts the House >vas engaged balloting for Sergeant-at-Arms; but it was likely to prove as tedious as the election of Speaker and Clerk. Nothing else has yet bsn done. In the Senate, the debate on the resolution of Gen. Cass relative to Austria, with a somewhat violent and acrimonious debate on the anti Slavery resolutions of the Vermont Legislature, introduced by Mr. Upham, is all that was done in that body during the past week. The first mentioned resolu tion was discussed by Gen. Cass, Mr. SEWABD.Mr. Hale, Mr. Clat and Foote —and the latter one by Messrs. Mason, Hale, Phelps, Yulee, Calhoun, Borland, Chase, Clemens, Jefferson Davis and Butler. In the House. Editorial Convention. A large and respectable convention of Editors was held at Harrisburg, on the Ist inst. Hon. N- Strickland, of West Chester, presided : The fol lowing resolutions, and Memorials to Congress and the State Legislature, were unanimously adopt ed : Resolved, That the Editors in The different coun ties of the State, be requested to have the memo rials, adopted by the Convention, to the Legislature of this State and Congress of the United States, circulated and signed, and forwarded to the re spective bodies for which they are intended. Resolved , That it is the opinion of this Conven tion that papers should be allowed to circulate free of postage within the Congrcssionals Districts, in which they are respectively published; and that such a law would meet the almost unanimous ap probation of the people, and tend to»disseminate intelligence among them. Resoleed, That we respectfully request the mem bers of Congress from our State to use their in fluence for the passage of a law in conformity with the above resolutions. Resolved , That in States where the laws of the Legislature are published in the papers ol the State, it is found not materially to increase the cost of publication, but most effectually spreads it before the whole people, and gives them the knowledge thereof, of which they otherwise remain ignorant Resolved, That in the opinioa of this Convention, the Legislature of Pennsylvania would be confer ring a great benefit upon the people of this State, by passing a law which would authorize the pub Ucation of general laws in the papers of the whole Commonwealth, and those of local bearing, in the papers circulating in the district to which the law is intended to apply. dissolved, That as ignorance of the law is no ex cuse against its violation, the law-makers owe it to the law-governed, to provide the most effectual means to allow every citizen to become acquaint ed with the rules laid down for his observance. Resolved, In the language of the Vermont Edi torial Convention, “ That as representatives of the press of’ Pennsylvania “we disapprove and will discountenance ill natured personalities in editorial intercourse; that we discern and rejoice in a grad ual improvement by observing strictly in our edi torial allusions the amenities and courtesies which should mark the intercourse of gentlemen. Resolved, That we recommend to the editors of this State, to refuse to publish advertisements sent them by city Agents upon any other than regular terms. Resolved , That onr State Legislature be request ed to pass resolutions urging upon our Senators and Representatives in Congress to urge tbe pass age of a bill to carry out the views of this Conven tion, in relation to the free circulation of newspa pers within each Congressional District. The following Memorials to the Legislature and to Congress, were adopted by the Convention and the Committees appointed, authorized to affix their names thereto in behalf of the Convention. To the Honorable , the Senate and House of Represen. tatives of Pennsylvania :— Gentlemen : —The undersigned, appointed a Committee by an Editorial State Convention held at Harrisburg on the Ist of January, 1850 beg leave, respectfully to request your attention to tbe propriety of publishing all laws of a general char acter, in the English and German papers through out the Commonwealth, at the expense of the State; and also that ot requiring laws ol a local nature, to be published in the newspapers in the vicinity-interested therein.'at-the expense of the County or parties .concerned. This is now the law in New York, New Jersey and Ohio- and it is the only method, by which the people of the State can be generally informed of the character of our laws, we would think its adoption judicious and proper. We are aware that objections may be urged against this proposition, on the grounds of the expense, that must necessarily attend it This objection, however, could, and we think should be obviated. A large sum is annually expended in the publication ol our laws and journals in Ger man—of which few, if any copies are sold in the year. The amount of money that could be saved to the State, by curtailing the German publications as far as practicable, and some of the other expen ses of government that can be done without detri ment to the public interest. Your serious attention is respectfully, but ear nestly requested to the subject. The laws by which the people must be governed, should be uni versally made known. It is alike due to those who govern, and to the governed; and we are fully persuaded that if carried into effect with a proper observance of economy, it will meet the hearty approval of your constituents. [Signed by the Committee.] } To the Honorable the Senate and House of Representa tives of the United States in Congress dissembled. At a Convention of the Editors of Pennsylvania held at Harrisburg, on the Ist inst., the undersigned were appointed a Committee to memorialize your honorable bodies, for the passage of an act permit ting the free circulation of newspapers within the Congressional District where they are printed The passage of such an act is asked by the people of the Commonwealth. Under existing laws, taxing newspapers for any distance, however short, and allowing the city papers to be carried and distrib uted gratuitously outside of the mails, the citizens resident in the interior of the State are subjected to an onerous taxation and the Country Press is seriously injured. Such a clog upon the dissemi nation of useiul and general intelligence should not be suffered to exist.' No undue advantage should be extended to one portion of the public press at the expense of another. The general education of the people, being one of the chief aims of our insti tutions, the postage law of our country should be framed upon a liberal and enlightened basis, and believing that this object cannot be accomplished under existing laws, and that the present system of postage is unjust in the extreme, we respectfully petition your honorable body for redress. 1 At a meeting of the citizens of Lancaster held in the Court House, on Wednesday evening,’ January 9, 1850, for the purpose of appointing Committees to solicit reliel for and distribute the same among the indigent poor of the city, on mo tion, Hon Michael CAHPE ST EE,May or of the city r ’ and Wm ■ B ■ mie ' y a PP oi^ . The Chai . r having stated the object of the meet ing, on motion, a Committee of four in each ward wasappointed, consistingof the followinggentlemen wStrS?aK^i„^ m - J ° hn H^’ North East Ward.— Wm Frirlr Dr. Eli Parry and Newton Lighter r ’ RoiTvvr H ' ard — l Metzger, George F Kote, P. K. Brenneman and H. Nauman 8 ' th. “i*r. That thC be Published in City Meeting. MINUTES OF THE COUNCILS, Councils met. A committee composed of the Presidents of Councils, and Messrs. Gonier, Sam soil, W.,P. Brooks, Gantx,HamiltoD, Zecher, Car penter, and Metzgar, presented the following re port and resolution, which were read and adopted. REPORT The undersigned committee to whom the foiego ing sesolution was referred, beg leave respectfully to report: That having-given due consideration to the subject, they are unanimously of opinion, that it is inexpedient at the present time to take fur ther action in the premises. The question of establishing better Market ao comodations has engaged the attention of Coun cils as well as of a portion of our citizens for a considerable period; and the information elicited by the agitatioh OFthe subject, will be of essential service when the period of providing further Mar ket accomodations shall arrive. But in the judg ment of your Committee after a full interchange of sentiment and a review of the facts disclosed in the frequent discussions which have taken place, it is inexpedient at this time to establish new Market houses, and we respectfully ask attention to a brief statement of some of the reasons which have influenced us in arriving at this conclusion. 1. The expense attending it. It is apparent that the adoption of any one of the numerous plans proposed, for the erection of either one or two Market houses, will occasion a. large expenditure of money. The mere erection of the necessary buildings, and the expense of grading and turnpiking the streets in which they are placed, without reference to the cost of the ground would in themselves amount to a consid erable outlay, which in the opinion of your Com mittee, the state of the City finances at this time ; will not justify. The present amount of City debt proper is about $40,000, and that of the Water debt is about $140,000, making an aggregate debt of $lBO,OOO. The interest of this debt together with the amount necessary for the ordinary expenses of our municipal government is raised from the water rents and from taxation. Owing to a prudent and economical administration of the affairs of the City, the interest of this immense debt has been punctually paid, and the credit of the City soli we maintained that wSlle the Stocks of other cities are frequently sold below par, the City of Lancas ter's recently borrowed money upon bonds bear ing interest at five per cent. It may not be improper to remark that in pro portion to population, the debt of the City of Lan caster is as great as that of the commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Large however as is our indebtedness the pe riod has arrived when Councils are imperatively called upon to increase it considerably. It has been manifest for sometime that the supply of Water from the Water Works has been deficient and the Water itself impure and liable to engen der disease among those who used it. During the months of July,-August, September and October of 1848 and 1849 the quantity was so limited that the greatest precautions were necessary to prevent a total failure, while at the same time the Water was nauseous and offensive to the taste. To pre vent the recurrence of a similar casualty, a Com mittee of Councils was appointed in August last to recommend such improvements in our Water Works as they might deem necessary. It is un derstood that the Committee after a long and care ful examination, and a consulation with several scientific gentlemen familiar with the subject, have come to the conclusion that in order to ensure a copious supply of pure Water, it will be necessary to erect an additional Basin and to lay a new Main of pipes from the Water House to the Reservoir. The cost of these improvements is estimated at $40,000. Apart from considerations respecting its quality the pressing necessity that exists for an abundant supply of Water, to protect our City from the rav ages of fire, requires us to carry out these recom mendations without delay. Should it be postponed for another year and owing to a scarceity of Wa ter in the meantime, a portion of our City be laid in ashes, a heavy responsibility will justly rest upon Councils. On this account therefore a loan of $40,000 must be contracted during the next Spring and Summer. For the purpose of lighting the streets of the City during the ensuing year another loan must be made. It is proposed to erect iron posts in all of the streets, so arranged as to be suitable for burning either gas or any other infiamable fluid.— As an act of simple justice all the streets should be lighted, and not only those through which the gas pipes at present are laid. By the erection of iron lamp posts throughout the City, and by the use of Gasjwhere the pipes are laid, and of some other fluid giving a clear light, in other parts, this object can be effected until such time as the Gas v-/ompany may extend their pipes. The cost of the material for lighting up the streets will of course be paid out of the annnal appropriations, but the cost of erecting the posts and the fixtures must be raised by a permanent loan. It is estima ted that from $5OOO to $BOOO will be required for this purpose. The propriety of lighting the City is so obviou s that we need not enter into an argument upon the subject. The oil lamps formerly used, which on ly served to render “ darkness visible” were dis ehsed with because they failed to accomplish the object intended. But when the opportunity is now afforded properly to light up our streets, it is the duty of Councils forthwith to make the neces sary arrangements. It will be incumbent then, upon Councils dur ing the next season to borrow upon the credit of the City nearly $50,000 for improving the Water Works and lighting our streets—objects essential to the health, comfort, welfare and safety of our citizens. Your Committee do not entertain a doubt that this amount of money can be borrowed at a rate not exceeding six per cent. The pur poses to which the money is to be applied are plainly so necessary, useful and beneficial that prudent men will, without hesitation, invest their funds in this loan. But if an addition to the in creased debt of $50,000 in a single year, we pro pose to borrow another large sum merely to im prove our market accommodations, we need not be surprised if the credit of the city shall prove in adequate to accomplish the purpose. The necessary improvements before mentioned will increase the permanent debt of the city to nearly $230,000, and it is a question of sheer pru dence whether it is not our duty in justice to the creditors of the city and to the people who have elected us, to take ho step to increase the public debt beyond that large sum. “ The sober second though of the people is never wrong and always efficient,” and the decision will be for them, wheth er there is such an overwhelming necessity for New Markets, as to require us for that purpose merely, to jeopard the credit of the city: incur an enormous debt, and postpone the erection of con venient, useful and necessary improvements. If it should ever happen that members of Couacals, loosing sight of every thing else essential to the interests of the people, should endeavor to cany out one single idea—that of New Markets for in stance, and sacrifice to it every other question of Expediency or justice, it would result most disas trously to the character and welfare of the city. 2. Revenue and payment of City Debt . On the 2d day of January, A. D. 1844, an Or dinance was passed directing the annual appropria tion of the .rent of Batcher and Market stalls to form a sinking fund for the payment of the City debt. Under the provisions of this Ordinance the ■mkinff fund now amounts to $7,458 49, Ths increase for the year 1850 will be $1,252 22, oi which $BO5 08 is the proceeds of the rent of the stalls and $417 14 the accruing interest upon the bonds belonging to the fond. At the Aid of the fiscal year of 1860' the sinking fond Will be $26,201 39 andthe annual increase $2,377 14, In 1870 it will amount to $57,534 16 and the annual increase $4,257 23 and if continued until 1888 it will be sufficient to cancel the whole amount of our present debt This fund therefore affords the means by which, without resort to tax ation, at no very distant day, we shall be enabled to pay off the whole city debt. But to effect this desirable result it must be guarded with jealous care and sacredly preserved lest in a moment of improvidence or extravagance the accumulated fruits of years may be swept away. _ It will be observed that the annual appropriation of the market and butchers rents is the basis of the sinking fund, and any project therefore which is likely to effect the amount of these rents should be closely scrutinized. Before we hazard the pros perity of the fund it should clearly appear that the rents of the New Market Houses wilt be greater or at least equal to those now paid, which is by no means certain. On the- contrary, it will be borne in mind that the whole of these rents, if the desired change be made, will not be applicable to the purposes of the sinking fund as those of the present Market are. For out of their gross amount a large deduction must be made to meet the inter est upon the first cost of the ground, grading and paving the streets and erecting the Market Houses Tho balance alone, if any, will be applicable to the extinguishment of the debt, and there is little risk in asserting that it would form a much less sum than is now appropriated to that object. It is true that is a mode by which the ob ject could be effected without increase of the city debt or hazard to the fund set apart for its gradual payment. Should the lot owners in any part of the city, proper for a market, and where property or business might thereby be enhanced in value see fit. to furnish the requisite space without cost to the Treasury and contribute funds for the neces sary improvement of the streets and erection of the buildings, the matter would then present quite a different aspect. In that event the only question would be one of comparative convenience. But it is unnecessary to enlarge upon this mode of ac commodating our citizens, inasmuch as it must spring from themselves and not from their repre sentatives in Councils. January 5, 1850. In conclusion your committee would suggest that regulation, dispensing with the ring ing of the bell and for lighting up the market space has obviated some of the objections which formerly prevailed. A rigid observance of existing Ordinances uppn the subject will also remove many of the evils incident to a contracted market space. However desirable the establishment of capa cious and extensive market houses may be, we feel assured that in view of the facts presented, the good sense of the citizens of Lancaster will induce them to submit to a temporary inconvenience rather than jeopard the credit and cripple the resources of the city at a time when all our energies should be di rected to the construction of other improvements essential to our comfort and safety. The people do not desire that the “ market house project ” shall override every other consideration of prudence and economy—add an indefinite sum to our city debt—and increase the amount of taxation, already sufficiently onerous and oppressive. Your committee submit the following resolution: Resolved , That the committee be discharged from the further consideration of the subject. It will not do to make the vote cast by Col. Bio lsr, in the Senate, at the close of the session of 1845, a justification for that of Mr. Best, cast a few days since, in the same body. The circum stances are entirely different. Mr. Bigler was an experienced member—had filled the Speakership with eminent satisfaction to the Senate, and credit to himself—was, at the time, the nominee of his party, and their instrument in maintaining an as cendancy to which it was justly entitled. In addi tion, his vote was given at the close of the session, when there were no duties to perform, or emolu ments to receive. But, above all this, I know that it was not the intention of Col. Bigler to retain the place beyond a few hours. The last day of the session W’as being spent in fruitless attempts to make a speaker, with most important, nay, indispensable measures of legisla tion yet unfinished' Under these circumstances, and with the hope that a few hours’ time might enable his party friends to unite, and secure the election of himself, or some other Democrat—goaded, too, with the treachery of those who were disposed to defeat him—and urged by all his party friends, Col. Bigler came to the determination to vote tor himself, and serve during the passage of the appro priation bill, and other important measures, in the hands of Gov. Shunk, who had avowed his deter- 1 mination not to sign bills after the Legislature ad journed; when he would vacate the chair, and al low the Senate to make another choice. The op portunity to carry out this determination never oc curred; but the miscount of a friend, induced Col. B. to cast an ineffectual vote, at the close of the balloting. Thus, you will perceive, that if the purpose of this vote had been attained, the most fastidious could not have found cause of complaint- The Senator elected over Col. B. was the agent of his own success, by withholding his vote; an