Important Decision*
BERKS COUNTY vs. ISAAC BERTOLETTE.
This case, involving a principle of great import*
ance in the licensing or taxing dealers
in flour, was settled by the Supreme Court of this
State, at its late session. The decision is as fol
lows :
ROGERS, J.—With the'laudable intention of
preserving intact the plighted faith of the Common
wealth, the Legislature in the performance of an
imperious duty, have been compelled from time to
time, to search out new objects, and tp enlarge the
subjects of taxation. Hence a series of statutes,
which now form a complete system to aid the Le
gislature in their ’commendable efforts, the Court
has adopted an'enlarged and liberal construction of
their =acts as in Shitz vs. Berks, 6 Barr 82, and Sav
ings fundi vs. Yard, 9 Barr*36o. In furtherance of -
justice and to support the public credit, as is said
in the preamble to the act 22 April, 1846, entitled
an Act to provide for the reduction of the public
debt, in the Uth section it is provided, “That here
after all dealers in goods, wares and merchandize,
the growth, product and manufacture of the United
States, and every person who shall keep a store or
warehouse for : the purpose of vending and dispos
ing of goods, wares and merchandize, shall be clas
sified” in the same manner and required to pay the
same annual tax and license for, as is provided and
required, in relation to dealers in foreign merchan
dize, provided, That mechanics who keep a store
or warehouse at their own shop or manufactory,
for the purpose of vending their own manufactures
exclusively, shall not be required to take out any ;
license. Thus the distinction before made, between
Foreign and Domestic, manufactures is abolished
and m all respects those acts must receive the same
construction. The act of the 4th May, 1841, see
Dunlop, 833, extends to all persons engaged in sel
ling or , vending goods, wares and merchandize,
commodities or effects of whatsoever kind or na
ture, of .the several acts in pari materia are to be
construed together which is the unquestioned rule,
there ie'no difficulty whatever in bringing the man
ufacture of flour within the general scope and in
tention. Flour is certainly a commodity, in effect
within the spirit and meaning of the several acts. "
But be this as it may, it may be embraced without
f doing violence to the language in the words, goods
wares and merchandize. For not to insist on the
two first, merchandize is defined to be goods or
commodities* sold and for sale. Nor do 1 under
stand this to be, contested tyjfthe defendant in error.
The defendant; Bertolette, a citizen of Berks coun
ty, was the owner of a flour and grist mill, with a
farm thereto attached. He raised grain on his farm,
and also bought grain. He took tolls for grain
ground, for customers at-his mill. He manufactu
red into flour the grain raised as well as bought.
Sold the flour so manufactured to his customers,
not only at his mill, but he sent it to the city of
Reading_and other places by his team from week
to week through the. year, and sold it by the hun
dredweight to his customers. Is the defendant
embraced within the spirit of the 11th section, so
as to be compelled to take .out a license, is the
question.
The act clearly contemplates ten classes of per
sons, dealers in goods, wares and* merchandize, and
persons who keep a store or warehouse for the pur
pose of vending and disposing of goods, wares and
merchandize. Each of "those persons are subject
to assessment according to the classification in the
act. A dealer is one who trades, buys or sells. If
so, Bertolette is a dealer, for according to the case
stated, he both buys and sells. He buys the grain,
and when manufactured, sells the flour, but he
buys the materials of which it is composed, and
this brings him within the spirit of the act. He is
a dealer to all intents and purposes.
According to the opinion of the Court of Com
mon Pleas, as I understand it, if he had bought the
grain and sold it, or the flour and sold it, he would
be included, but inasmuch as both are not conjoin
ed, he is permitted to escape taxation. If a we were
construing a penal statute, perhaps such niceties
as these would be allowable; but in ray judgfnent,
they are misplaced when applied to acts intended
to support the credit of the Commonwealth. But
granting he is not a dealer, may not his mill be re
garded as a store or warehouse, and as such used
(as the case shows) for the purpose of manufactu
• ring grain raised and bought by himself; also, .as
a place of deposit, store or warehouse, for vending
the ftbur when manufactured, by retail. If so there
is no escape for him. The Court of Common Pleas
concede, he may be so regarded, but they came to
. the conclusion he is saved by the proviso. But-in
this I cannot agree. The proviso exempts me
chanics, under certain circumstances from taxa
tion. But is Bertolette-a mechanic, as the Court
supposed? A mechanic is an artisan or-,artist,
which certainly does not in the ordinary accepta
tion of language, import either a farmer, or the
manufacturer of flour, nor do they come within the
of ihat term. lam aware a me
chanic may be, andjusually, and perhaps always is
a manufacturer, bujj a manufacturer is Dot always
a mechanic. But granting the defendant to be a
mechanic, is he entitled to the benefit of the pro
viso ? He does not confine himself to sales at his
mill, but as is conceded, he sells his wares and
commodities elsewhere; at the city of Reading, and
the adjoining counties. The proviso as is unques
tionable, exempts such mechanics only, who keep
a warehouse at their own shop, or manufactory
for the purpose of vending their own manufactures
exclusively. If, however, they choose not to con
fine themselves within the bounds prescribed, they
must be content to pay the taxes. Their being
mechanics merely, does not exempt them from
taxation, unless they choose to comply with the
conditions of the act. They have no right without
a license to sell their goods elsewhere, than at
their own shop. This is too clear to admit of
doubt. The good citizens of this State are content,
at all times, to pay taxes, when they are satisfied
with the objects of taxation, when the money raised
is faithfully and honestly applied, and when the pre
sent burthens are made to bear equally on all.—
When any one of these requisites is lost sight of,
dissatisfaction will exist. That equality is equity,
and a converso, is felt by every man in the com
munity, however humble, and I trust it may al
ways be so. Apply'the principle here. A man
keeps a flour store in the city of Reading, and sup
plies his customers, by the quarter, the hundred
weight or the pound. He is required to take out a
license, and pay in proportion, to the amount of
his business. A manufacturer from the country,
in his immediate neighborhood, disposes of the
same material at his door, at an under price, and
thereby materially interferes with his business,
"perhaps enabled to do so, because he is exempt
. from the taxes, to which the other is subject. Has
he not just right, and will he not complain of such:
partial legislation, and can it be believed the Leg
islature who always intended to do right, designed
to produce such palpable injustice ? Nos will it
lessen his sense of wrong that the article is sold
from a wagon, cart or wheelbarrow, and not at a
store or warehouse properly so called;
It is said the principle contended for by the
plaintiff in error, embraces qvery man who brings
any agricultural product or manufactured article to
market, including outchers, vvho may buy cattle,
ajid supply the market with beef, the iron master
who takes from his furnace or forge his metal, iron
or nails et it omne genus. Whether the principle
now ruled will interfere with them, is not intended
. to decide. Sufficient unto the day, is the evrl there
of; eaeh case shall be decided, when it arises. This
- is the only safe course, for each case may depend
on a variety of circumstances regarding as well the
nature of the employment as the object taxed. \
may, however, be permitted to that it it
should be forced to include a wider range, than
9 has heretofore,been supposed, that will be no insur
mountable objection with me.' It is my decided
opinion that no person with any pretext whatever,
should be permitted to escape from bearing his
equal share of the present burthens of the State ;
as the debts were contracted for the benefit of all,
each person must contribute in all fairness, his
equal and just proportion. That equality is equi
ty, applies with overwhelming force to the
equalization of. taxation among all the citizens of
the *Commowealth.
A motion was made to quash the writ of error,
. on the ground that this was not a proceeding ac
cording to the course of the common law. And
for this is cited 5 Bin. 24 Ruhlman vs. the Com
monwealth, and Moore vs. Albright 4 Ser, and R.
332. We however consider the proceeding, in
the nature of a ease stated, it being obviously the
intention to take the opinion of the Court, on a
- state of facts conceded and agreed upon by both
/ parties.
We are of opinion that judgment be reversed
and judgment entered for the County, for seven
dollars. \ /"
An Important Fact.
In the year 1845, when the tariff of 1842 was
in operation, the exports from this country of
breadstuffs and provisions, were $16,743 421. In
1849, when the tariff of lsf46 was in operation*
they ..were $38,795 644, or upwards of $22,000,000
more than in 1845. These exports are the products
of agriculture in the Middle and Western States
alone. They do not include the cotton and tobacco
of the South, and other -domestic articles, which
amount to the additional sum of $83,87129£. The
year 1849 was not a year of famine, Is not the
; above fact a complete refutation of all the humbug
clap trap we hear, about the balance of trade and
•ending specie out of the country to pay for impor
. tation* ?— Keystone.
Intelligencer & loumal.
Lancaster* August 6,1850.
GEO. SANDERSON EDITOR.
DEMOCR ATIC TOMIUf iTIOaiS.
CANAL .COMMISSIONER .
WILLIAM T. MORISON.
AUDITOR GENERAL:
EPHRAIM BANKS.
SURVEYOR GENERAL:
J. PORTER BRAWLEY.
iflyWe have omitted many of our advertisements
on the first page, this week, to make room for the
Oration of Rev. Dr. Bowman; on the life and death
of the late Gen. Tj.yi.ob, delivered in the Lutheran
Church, of this city, on the 27th ult.
{£7- We learn that Col.*William English hast
resigned his situation as Superintendant of the Co
lumbia and Philadelphia Railroad, to take effect on
the Ist of September,—and that pen. A.-L. Room
fort, of Philadelphia, has been appointed in his
stead. Col. E., in retiring from the station he has
so ably filled for the last two years, carries with
him the best wishes of all who have had intercourse
with him. A more laithful and obliging officer
never had charge of thi| important road.
Tbe Coming Struggle.
Since the nominations were made by the Wil-’
Hamsport Convention, we have carefully watched
the manner in which they have been received by
the Democracy of Pennsylvania; and there never
was a ticket given to our glorious party for its
support, composed of better materials, or one that
has been endorsed more enthusiastically by the true
hearted people in the towns and the country. As
far as we can see, the horizon is without a speck
to mar its brilliancy, and all that is now needed to
secure a a substantial victory is thorough and com
plete organization. We must go to work at
once—put our own shoulders to the wheels—and
unceasing in our efforts to preserve party disci
pline. If this be done—triumph must follow!
William T. Morison, our Farmer-candidate for
Commissioner, is a gentleman, whose char
acter is beyond reproach—a citizen, esteemed and
intelligent—and a Democrat, as firm and unwav
ering in his faith, as the purest and best republican
in the land. Ephraim Banks, our candidate for
Auditor General, is the very man for the position
to which he will certainly be elevated; and J. Por
ter Brawley, nominated for the Surveyor Gener
alship, is distinguished for his indomitable energy
and persevering habits. They are all honest, pop
ular, and competent men. Our time-honored flag
was never flung to the breeze at a more propitious
moment, and its broad folds were never inscribed
with names more worthy off the support of the
whole Democratic party of our Commonwealth.—
We must organize, organize, ORGANIZE!—York
Gazette.
Canal Commissioner.
A correspondent in the Northern Pennsylvanian
writes as follows : ‘Tn this county, (Susquehanna,)
the Democratic party is united and firm. We like
the Williamsport nominations very much—that of
Mr. Morison, for Canal Commissioner, is peculiar
ly gratifying to us. His straight forward, radical
democracy in the Legislature has gained for him
public confidence in this section of the State in an
eminent degree, and I think, nay, I am confident,
that he will poll a heavier vote here than any
other candidate could possibly obtain. Montgom
ery county is highly honored in having the candi
date taken from her midst, whilst Judge Longstreth
still holds his seat in the Board. But she deserves
the honor for her steadfast devotion to principles,
and the candidate she presents is as sterling as the
county he hails from.”
The August Interest.
Gen. J. M. Bickel, the Democratic State Trea
surer, paid, at the Bank of Pennsylvania, yesterday
before, 9 o'clock, A. M., $939,908 81, the whole
amount of the interest on the funded debt of the
Commonwealth due yesterday. By the energetic
efforts of the State Treasurer, the whole amount
had been converted into par funds, and will be paid
to the State creditors in speeie, or funds at par in the
city of Philadelphia. And this has been accomplish
ed “without the necessity of resorting to a temporary
pan,” or selling at a discount the funds of the State
to convert them into par. We are informed, that
since Gen. B. entered upon the duties of State Trea
surer, he has paid, at the Treasury, to the creditors
of the Commonwealth, and the repairs of the public
improvements, a very considerable sum more than
was paid during the same time last year, and now
has, at his command, to meet any demands upon
the Treasury, over five hundred and fifty thousand
dollars.
In singular contrast with the course of General
Bickel, in the payment of the interest in specie
funds, reference may be made to the manner in
which his immediate predecessor, Gideon J. Ball,
the Whig Neckab, paid the interest during his ad
ministration of the Treasury. Department. It will
be recollected that a great excitement was created
in consequence of his having liquidated the interest
with specie fpnds ; and Gideon did not hesitate to
boast of it himself in certain of his official papers.
It now turns out that that modest lad got four thous
and dollars just before he went out of office , for ex
penses in exchanging money below par for specie funds.
General Bickel, however, exchanged all his depre.
ciated funds without a dollar’s expense to the State
and paid the whole amount into, the Pennsylvania
Bank, yesterday. The contrast is significant, and
may be useful.— Pennsylvanian, of Friday.
A Truth to Remember.
Congress has now been in session eight months,
but two trifling bills have been passed; one
granting the franking privilege to .Mrs. Polk,
another to Mrs. Tatlor. Otherwise all business
has stood still, and the house, which assembled in
December, in the midst of a tempest of crirhination,
has done nothing but struggle, like Laocoon amid
the serpents, with its own dissensions. The records
of Mythological history tell us that the introduc
tion of the latal wooden horse behind the walls of
Troy, filled as it was with enemies of the Trojans,
was also the cause of the death of Laocoon by the
serpents. The,wooden horse introduced into Con
gress is the Slavery question: introduced by those
profess to be true friends of the Union.—
Already the dissensions that have resulted from this
discussion of a question which a little more patri
otism would have forever removed from the Na
tional Councils, like the serpents of Mythology are
twining themselves around the Constitution, and
unless speedily destroyed, may become the instru
ments of the overthrow of the whole of our fair
fabric oi^government.
This unhappy state of ihings could have been
prevented, i:f only the Democratic party had tri
ujnphpd in. 1848—if then, instead of listening to
the promises of Expediency, the masses had united
upon the candidates of the great, national, and pop
ular party. A crisis which is deplored in all parts
of the la nd, would never have occured, because the
difficulty would have been met and mastered on
broad 'lonstitutional principles. We should, in that
event, have had no administration at work, madly
jeopardizing the peace of the country, by using
all A ts its power to open a question, .the settlement
°f which, the public voice was imploring for.—
/here would have been no contest against men, no
war upon those who would not .go for a particular
plan; the entire energies of the Executive would
have been directed to the establishment of such a
feeling in Congress and the country, as would have
to the adjustment of the whole dispute.
This is one of the losses which the Union has wit
nessed in consequence of the result of the last Pres
idential Election: a grave and commanding loss in
all respects. Let us hope that the new state of
things will lead to the imitation of an example
which Democratic administrations always present.
— Pennsylvanian.
ID* The Cholera prevails to tome extent at Un
iontown, Pa., and at Harper’s Ferry, Va n at both
of which places several deaths have recently occur
red from that disease.
Tbe Compromise Bill*
This important bill which has been the subject
of Hf*/»mreinp in the Senate for more than five
months, and which, had it become a law as orig
inally drafted by the Committee, would have set
tled tbe slavery question and given peace to the
country, has at length been decided, but in such a
way as to amount to just nothing at all. If we
rightly understand the proceedings of Wednesday
last, and tbe effect of the different amnedments
adopted prior to the engrossment of the bill, by
which all relating to Texas, New Mexico and Cal
ifornia was stricken out, there is only that portion
of it lelt which has reference to a territorial gov
ernment for Utah. On the question of striking out
what related to Texas, the vote stood 29 to 28—to
New Mexico by a vote of 30 ta'2B—and to Cali
fornia 34 to 25. The southern boundary .of Utah’
was fixed at the parallel of 37 deg.- north latitude.
The following is the vote on ordering the bill to
be engrossed: ;
Yeas—Messrs. Atchison, Badger, Benton, Berrien,
Bradbury, Bright, Butler, Cass, Davis, of Miss. Daw
son, Dickinson, Dodge, of lowa, Douglas, Do.wns,
Felcb, Houston, Hunter, Jones, King, Mason, Mor
ton, Norris, Pratt, Sebastian, Shields, Soule, Spru
ance, Sturgeon, Turney, Underwood, Wales and
Y ulee.
Nays—Messrs. Baldwin, Chase, Clarke, Davis of
Mass. Dayton, Dodge, of Wisconsin, Ewing, Greene,
Hale, Hamlin, Pearce, Seward, .Smith, Uphara,
Walker, Whitcomb and Winthrop.
Now, if we are correct in our impressions with
regard to the bill, we cannot perceive that the Sen
ate is much farther forward than where it started.
A territorial government is given to Utah, anil that
is the sum and substance of all that has been done,
after an eight month’s session of Congress! Can
it be that the present session will be suffered to
pass round, and nothing be done to settle on a per
manent basis the Slavery question and give peace
and quietness to the Union ? Are the rights and
safety and happiness of twenty millions of people
to be put in jeopardy by a few factious spirits hail
ing from the North and South ? Is there not cool
ness, discretion and wisdom enough among the great
mass of the people’s representatives to frame some
thing which will put an end to the perplexing
question ? Surely if a proper spirit of conciliation
and patriotism prevailed, there would be but little
difficulty in adjusting the question satisfactorily to
the masses of the people in all sections of the
Union. i
Well may it be said that the times are sadly out
of joint, when a bill, framed with so much care by
the ablest and most experienced statesmen of the
age, and intended to harmonize the conflicting ele
ments of strife, has failed to command a majority
of the Senate—a body heretofore considered so
strongly conservative in its character and delibera
tions. It is one amongst the most portentous signs
of the times, and cannot fail to have a deleterious
influence upon the other branch of' Congress and
the country at large.
This is a dark day for the country. But as in
the natural world, the darkest hour is just before
the break of day, may we not hope that the sombre
clouds that now obscure our political firmament
will soon be dispersed, and the sun of peace and
prosperity agaig illumine the heavens. To effect
this, we sincerely hope that the wise and moderate
of both the great parties an Congress—and we
think they constitute a majority—will see the ne
cessity of at once agreeing upon some plan of con
cession and compromise which will calm the trou
bled elements, and give peace to a 'distracted coun
try. The great mass of the people desire shk end
they will be satisfied with almost any plan ol set
tlement that may be adopted. If Congress fail*n
effecting an adjustment, they fail in doing that
which their constituents expect, and which, as the
sworn guardians of the Republic, they must do, if
they would avoid the fearful consequences to them
selves and the country of an opposite course.
017* Since the defeat of the Compromise Bill, in
the Senate every thing is at sea again. Mr. Doug
lass has introduced a bill for the admission of Cal-
ifornia, and Mr. Foote has offered an amendment
fixing its southern boundary at 35 deg. 30 min.—
The bill was made the order of the day far yester
day.
It is said jhat an effort will be made to pass the
Compromise Bill in the House.
What is to be the result of all these things time
only can determine. We hope'for the best.
“The Galled Jade Winces!”
It appears we have disturbed the equanimity of
the Union <s• Tribune, by inlimatipg, as we did, that
since the death of General Taylor, and the conse
quent depression of the Johnston and Stevens influ
ence at home and at Washington, that paper would
have to lower its pretensions of being the leading
organ of the Whigs of Lancaster county, and con
sent to take a subordinate position under the lead
of the Examiner «5c Herald. The Union takes our
remarks in high dudgeon, and with an air of assu
med dignity, says—“We shall now, as we have here
tofore done, treat with proper contempt (!) all in
sidious attempts on the part of the Intelligencer and
others to set at loggerheads the Whig press,” &c.
Astonishing independence ! Who would have ex
pected it? Why, neighbor, we never intended to
set you and the Examiner by the ears. Our sole
intention was to assign you the position in line,
which a change of commanders had rendered inev
itable, and to advise you to submit to the new or
der of things like a true philosopher.
But the best of the joke is contained in the fol
lowing extract from the same article in the Union:
“We have not, nor have we had, any feeling of
jealousy towards our friend and neighbor of the
Examiner.” Now, who believes this declaration?
Nobody, we are sure, who knows any thing of the
disposition of our neighbor. Why, is it not noto
rious in this community, that the greatest jealousy
exists between the two .establishments, and that for
some time the Union has been laboring by night
and by day to supplant the old organ, the Examiner,
in the affections of the Whig party of this county ?
Its course in this respect has been so constant and
its efforts so unremitting, that the wonder is so little
success has hitherto crowned its efforts. The Ex
aminer, it appears from its rival’s own acknowledg
ment, is in a prosperous and flourishing condition,
and we apprehend it is likely to remain so for a
long time to come. The accession of Mr. Fillmore
to the Presidency has certainly placed it far beyond
the petty jealousy of its rival.
The Union , however, notwithstanding all its pro
fessions of friendship and kind feeling for the Ex
aminer , shows the cloven foot most effectually at the
close of its article. It says:—“Certainly, as regards
this press, [the Union,] it will never play second
fiddle to any other press; nor is there any thing
either in its present condition or its future prospects,
to render it necessary to make any sacrifice of
opinion—to forego its political consistency—to un
say ought that it has said—to forsake old friends
for new ones. Nor will it do any of these things.”
This last quotation, is evidence sufficient that the
lash was applied in the right quarter—and notwith
standing the air of self-consequence and indepen
dence assumed by that paper, it nevertheless feels
that it occupies an inferior position to what it did,
at least in its own estimation, a few weeks ago, and
that, willing or unwilling, it must from henceforth
play a subordinate part to the Examiner $ Herald.
It may keep up appearances during the balance of
Governor Johnston’s administration, inasmuch as
the Union seems to be his special favorite; but
when the term of that arch demagogue is at an
end, the military Aid to his Excellency must neces
sarily be reduced to the ranks, and content himself
with following in the wake of his more fortunate
rival. Sic transit gloria mundi!
We shall have a word or two more on this sub
ject hereafter.
Killed. —During the storm of Sanday night
week, a man named Hiram H. Baughman, of Bart
township, was killed by*the lightning. He was in
bsd at the time.
Tbe Ascension—That was to Be!
The grand Balloon Ascension, that was to have’
taken place from this city, on Saturday last, and
which drew together an immense crowd of people
to witness the scene, did not take place, owing to
an accident which happened the Balloon. The ar
rangements were all complete by 12 o’clock, the
Balloon was inflated, and every thing being in per
fect order, some ten or twelve topical ascensions
were made, with four persons each time, to the
heighth of several hundred feet—the ascent and de
scent being regulated by a rope and windlass. But
about 2£ o’clock, a storm of wind and rain coming
up, the Balloon was driven about with much force,
and finally, owing, perhaps, to the expansive power
of the gas, and some mismanagement with the
ropes, a rent was made, the gas escaped, and the
Balloon collapsed, thus putting an end, for the time
being, to Mr. Wise's contemplated aerial excursion.
This was a subject of great regret, as well to the
vast multitude of spectators as to the intrepid
xronaut, after all the time, labor and money he had
expended in constructing the Balloon. , The hour
of 4 o’clock was fixed upon for the grand ascension,
but seeing the storm approaching, Mr. Wise was
anxious to cut loose from terra firma and ascend
above the region of the clouds before the rain would
begin to fall—stating, as a reason, that in all pro
bability, the Balloon would be endangered by keep
ing it confined to earth. This was prevented by the
crowd, as they were anxious to have as many more
topical ascensions made as possible before the grand
flight. The result justified his fears—and disap
pointed thousands who were anxious to witness
the scene.
Those who embraced the opportunity of making
topical ascensions, were greatly delighted with the
magnificent view they had of the surrounding
country from the elevation they attained, and sev
eral expressed a perfect willingness, if there had
been room, to accompany Mr. Wise on his voyage.
The first party that ascended was Mr. and Mrs.
Wise, their Niece, (a young Lady,) and little son.
We understand that as soon as the Balloon can
be repaired and the arrangements again completed,
Mr. Wise intends making the ascension, when he
hopes to be able to gratify all who were disappoint
ed by the accident on Saturday.
Mr. Wise has kindly furnished us with the fol
lowing account of his experiments on Saturday:
Mu. Sanderson : —ln order to satisfy the numer
ous inquiries made in regard to the experiment with
the Balloon Hercules, on Saturday last, 1 deem it
not obtrusive to address to you the-following lines
on the subject. In the first place, however, permit
me to say, that the Balloon realized the fullest ex
pectations of the company of gentlemen for whom
I constructed it, as well as my own. The appar
atus for inflation, being on a new plan, also proved
itselt far superior to the old method. This, 1 pre
sume, is substantiated by the observations, and sat
isfaction expressed, by the two thousand spectators
who visited the arena on that day. ; The topical
ascents, which were so doubtfully viewed and de
scanted upon by nine-tenths of the community ever
since it was announced that they would be attempt
ed, also proved to the utmost satisfaction of every
one present, that they can be made with as much
safety, as can a pleasure trip in an omnibus to
Kreider's spring. And what is of still more im
portance than the mere ride, is the magnificence of
the view in looking at God’s creation from an iso
lated spot, and the entire absence of giddiness in any
individual i chen so situated.
I had the pleasure of piloting up 25 persons, to
a height of from 300 to 600 feet, of which number
six .were ladies, and I was highly amused in watch
ing the effect produced upon them. A most intense
degree of admiration was expressive in every coun
tenance, and some gave vent to declamation over
the scene and its grandeur. One young gentleman
exclaimed, “there, there is my father’s house,”
pointing to a habitation some 5 or 6 miles from
the city. A city gentleman espied his garden and
fountain beneath him, and while viewing it with
admiration, he hailed some members of his family
standing in his yard—when lo and behold, his liege
lady recognized his voice, as he conversed with me,
and then such salutations and gratulations as fol
lowed between them were really amusing—he
wishing to have her along up with him, just as
strongly as she wished him to be down in the solid
chamber from where she viewed him suspended
between heaven and earth. After several car loads,
from 4 to 5 each time, had made these topical as
cents, there ensued a perfect mania to go up.—
Gentlemen were offering premiums to those in ad
vance for their chances. Ladies suspected the pro
prietors of a want of gallantry for not giving them
a preference, inasmuch as they had led the van in
mounting the atmosphere, and little girls and boys
were filled with lamentations at being rejected pas
sengers—only such as were accompanied by their
parents were permitted to go up. The grappling
iron, ballast, and valve rope were all the while in
readiness in case something might have happened
to require their use, and each party was accompa
nied by myself when so desired. Mr. J. J. Keller,
one of the proprietors, accompanied others, and
they were perfectly safe under his charge; Mr.
Spangler, Editor of the Gazette , pioneered a party;
and Mr. D. S. Laird, from the southern section of
the county, another.
After these experiments had gone on for an
hour and a half, I noticed a storm approaching
from the west, making its track directly for the
Balloon. This was a magnificent sight, but looked
threatening. I immediately stated to the proprie
tors that it was my opinion the Balloon would be
wrecked under the storm, if not permitted to go free
in the air. Although a number of topical passen
gers had engaged and paid for their ascents, Mr.
Brubaker immediately refunded them their passage
money, and put the Hercules under my discretion
ary power. Seeing that no time was to be lost, I
handed into the car my wife, son, and Misb Denton,
my niece, and called on Mr. E. W. Rauch, who
was to accompany us, who was also immediately
at his post, and in five minutes time all was ready.
By this time the. storm was close upon qs, but no
danger could yet have possibly resulted to our bark
from its effects, and the car was already clear of
the ground, when a portion of the audience threw
themselves upon their reserved rights, contending
that as the final ascent was not to come off until 4
P. M., and it was now only 2, and many wanted
their chance at a topical ascent, while some pro
tested most loudly against Ladies going up in a
storm, not thinking at the time that Ladies can
raise storms themselves. By the way, mine had
told me that very day she would raise one about
my ears if I did not take her along in the voyage
through the “ ether blue!” In the delay and con
fusion of the Hercules pulling up, and the gravity
of a sympathetic audience pulling down, garnished
with an occasional flash of electricity and peals of
thunder, the storm was upon us; ray lady passengers
were then handed out, I got out myself-the audience
in part made for shelter-the Hercules begantoplunge
& chafe like a maddened steed trammelled in harness
—excited men held on to the car, some were inside
it, when another heavy Squall rent her in twain,
and she fell a shapeless wreck upon the ground;
but, I trust, for only a brief period, when she is to
be regenerated. - Pardon me for calling a Hercules
she. Balloons, like ships, are feminine genders.'
Some persons think it was well that the final
ascent was not made, from the fact that the Bal
loon exploded under the storm. This is an errone
ous notion. A Balloon free in the air, if properly
and mathematically constructed, has all it load reg
ularly distributed over its whole surface, and is in
no danger of bursting after "having stood the infla
tion. But in the case of a Balloon being restrained
near the earth, every squall of ,wind produces an
irregular strain, and in the case of the Hercules the
net-work was drawn into one side of her nearly
two feet before she gave way. Even this would
not have happened could she have been moored
close to the ground by the net-work.
Very respectfully,
your friend and fellow-citizen,
JOHN WISE.
Lancaster, August 5, 1850.
Awful Fatality.
We copy the following from the Rising Sun (la.
True Whig , of the 20th ult.:—
A man from Pennsylvania, (name unknown,)
with a wife and six children, left Cincinnati one
day last week, in a skiff, intending to go to Madi
son—and when arriving at North Bend, his wife
was taken with the cholera and died in a few hours,
her husband nailing a rough box together and em
bedding it in the sand where he left her. On arri
ving at Millersbnrg, a few miles below this place,
all of the children died but one, aad were buried in
a like manner. The next day the father died and
was buried on a sand bar, by a fisherman. This
completed the whole family, with the exception of
a girl three or four years old, who is now living
with the fisherman who buried her father. This
is certainly one of the most remarkable cases of
fatality on record. The surviving girl is not suffi
ciently advanced in years to give an /accurate ac
count of their origin or destination, the above being
the history furnished our informant by the old man
previous to his death.
Secret Plotting.
The following communication and letter were
handed to us by our friend Mr. Parker and we give
them a place in our columns with pleasure, hoping
that our cotemporaries of the city and county will
do the same Press and Republican.
bln. Editor —The following letter post marked
at Phila., the 22d inst., is the first communication
received on the subject It discloses a private or-,
ganized opposition to making the Judiciary elective.
The respectable gentlemen whose names are sign
ed to the letter, which seems to be a manuscript
circular, in furtherance of this organization, request
“ a private meeting’’ ofrwo from each judicial dis
trict in the state u one Whig and one Democrat,” of
their own legal profession it is probable, “ quietly
to consult upon, and arrange a plan of action for
the different counties;” and afterwards, aid in giving
effect to the “measures which there may be devised
and determined on."
The ability with which this plan is conceived
by these gentlemen, and others no doubt of the le
gal and judicial calling interested, is eonceded. But
it is doubted in fairness to those of the
people who are in favor of the amendment to the
Constitution, of whom 1 am one, the public ought
not at once to be made acquainted with the project
of this opposition organizing under a secret caucus.
Particularly, as otherwise the citizens of this state,
of whom it is supposed three fourths are in favor
of electing theiK Judges, might think that possibly
they were mistaken in their views approving, and
not vote at all on the question, since persons of in
fluence in every copnty, equally of both parties,
Whig and Democrat, apparently without any con
cert or individual interest, had turned out so earnest
and importunate against “ the amendment.” just be
fore the general election.
Please therefore, as the Editor of the paper issued
first after the reception of the letter, to publish it
and this communication. It seems right too, and
I therefore request that the other Editors of this
county “ Whig and Democrat,” will, as each paper
issues, publish them also. Your, &c. <.
July 25, 1850.
Philadelpiia, July 19th, 1850.
Samuel Parke , Esq. —Dear Sir.—An opposition
i 9 now being organized in various parts of the State
to the proposed Amendment of the Constitution,
by which the Judges are made elective; and it is
intended to hold in the course of next month, at
some designated place, a small private meeting to
consist of two indivduals only, one Whig and one
Democrat, from each judicial district, quietly to
consult upon, and arrange a plan of action for the
different counties. Owing to the circumstances of
this movement being entirely unconnected with
party politics,'and to the natural indisposition ot
most people to give themselves trouble about what
does not immediately or personally affect them, we
have in some instances, no easy or certain means
of ascertaining to whom we ought to address our
selves in order to the procuring in the several dis
tricts, persons to meet at the consultation about to
be held. Among the districts in’ which we are
thus at a loss is yours. Allow us therefore to beg
that you will do favor to send, or if you pre
fer that course, to put this letter into the hands of
a friend, with a request that he will send us the
names of a Whig and a Democrat of your district
whom we can rely upon to attend at such a con
sultation, and afterwards, to aid in giving effect to
the measures which there may be devised and de
termined on.
GARRICK MALLERY,
C. INGERSOLL.
Adding Insult to Injury.
The selection of Corwin to fill one of the most
important stations in the new Administration, is a
direct insult to the memory of Gen. Taylor,
through whose popularity Mr. Fillmore owes his
present distinguished position. What! to appoint
a man who rendered himself so notoriously obnox
ious to every patriot in the land by his infamous
speeches in Congress, denouncing the war with
Mexico, and every man concerned in it, (Gen. Tai
lor not excepted,) as being butchers of the human
race, and advising that every one who participated
;n it should be welcomed to Mexico “with bloody
hands and hospitable graves!" His speeches were
translated into the Spanish language, and scattered
broad-cast over Mexico—inducing the poor deluded
Mexicans to believe that the American people were
opposed to their own government in the difficulty
between the two Nations, and in this way they were
induced to protract the war and cause the death of
thousands of our own countrymen, and tens of thou,
sands of the Mexicans. And this is the man that
has been rewarded for his treason by President
Fillmore! Verily, “whom the gods will to de
stroy they first make mad,” and the appointment
of Corwin will prove a mill-stone round the neck
of the present administration that will sink it yet
lower than even its Galphin predecessor. The Gal
phins, by their plunder of the Treasury, brought
discredit upon Gen. Taylor as a statesman—but
the appointment of Corwin, is a bold attempt to
rob his fair fame of the laurels he acquired at the
head of the American army in Mexico. The first
by their conduct, did him unintentional injury while
living—the last have intentionaly insulted his
memory, by the appointment of a man who stig
matised him and his brave soldiers as cut-throats
and murderers!
Next U. S. Senator.
We observe that the Bedford Gazette strongly
urges the claims of Col. McCandless, of this city,
lor the office of United States Senator. Other gen
tlemen have been named who would do honor to
the party and service to the people of the State and
country. But we presume no one will question the
eminent fitness of-Col. McCandless, for the post 5
and those who know him as intimately as we do,
-will never hesitate to trust him with the interests
of the people, for on all subjects which immediately
concern his fellow citizens, he takes the broad
ground upon which the democratic party now stands*
Should Col. McC. be elected, his speeches, votes
and personal influence will surely be thrown into
the right scale. He is a Radical Denrocrat, not a
Conservative.
The election day is a long way off, but it is not
now too soon to present the claims of distinguished
Pennsylvanians for a station so high and important
as United States Senator. We hope the press of
the State will give the friends of Col. McCandless a
fair hearing.
The following is the article from the Bedford Ga*
zette: [Pittsburg Post.
“For United States Senator, we are for Col. Wil
son McCandless, of Pittsburg, and we have no
concealment on the subject. The West is entitled
to the man—all admit this—and Pennsylvania has
no one within her borders who would reflect more
credit upon the Commonwealth than Col. Wilson
McCandless. His eloquence as a speaker—his un
tiring and persevering energy in the cause of De
mocracy—his deportment as a gentlemen, neighbor,
and friend, all conspire to make him the man that
ought to be chosen. The election of such a noble
champion to the U. S. Senate, would give the great
Keystone State her proper position as the arch that
unites this glorious Union. Let the Democratic
party at once concentrate upon Wilson McCandless
—let them instruct their Representatives to support
him—let us harmonize all differences of opinion to
secure a majority in the next Legislature—and bar.
gaining politicians will meet the fate they so justly
deserve. Who will back us in a concentrated effort
to throw the vote of the State upon a true Democrat
in the West, and thus save the party from odium
and disgrace?
August Elections.
Missouri —election took place on yesterday for
members of Congress and of the State Legislature.
Indiana —election held yesterday for members
of the Legislature, and delegates to revise the Con
stitution of the State.
Nohth Caholina —in this Stale the election took
place on Thursday last. The returns received, in
dictate he election of Ried, the Democratic candi
date for Governor.
jp*The damage by the late flood, *to the public
works, seems not to have been very serious in any
quarter. There was scarce a day’s interruption to
to the business upon the main line. Several
breaches were made upon the North Branch, though
none so serious but that they will be repaired
wilhin the present week. We hear of but one no
table injury upon the West Branch, which is at
the moQth of the Royal Sock creek, and will pro
bably require two or three weeks to repair.—The
whole amount of injury to the Delaware division
hai been estimated at $14,000, and the line is ex
pected to be in order early next week.— Keystone.
Pearsoh was hong at halfpast 10 o’clock this
morning, fully prepared and making a {pll confes
sion of his guilt. He died almost without a strug
gle. In his speech upon the gallows he adjured
those who heard him to seek their own salvation.
The following was Pearson's speech on the
gallows:
“ I should like to say a few words—be prepared
to die, my friends; seek salvation. This is the
happiest death of any, if only prepared to die. I
hope and trust in God, and that I am going to be
with him in Heaven. I recommend you all to the
Holy Word of God, and pray that we may all meet
in Heaven."
The following is his own confession:
; I wish to unburden my soul and free my con*
science of whatever I ought with all my heart, and
under the eye of my Maker who will judge me
soon. I declare as follows—truly of the death ot
my wife Martha B. Pearson, and of my two twin '
children Sarah and Lydia. I confess that I myself
alone took their lives on the morning of the 11th
April, 1849, between the hours of 2 and 4 o'clock
—this is the time as near as I can recollect, and
these are the principal circumstances. On 10th
April I drank to excess; I went to my brother
Henry's in Broomfield st.; took an umbrella, kissed
my daughter Melissa, told her 1 was going to Pro
vidence, and then parted. I went down toTreraont
st. and Temple place to a Club house and got a
pack of cards, then I struck over to the Providence
depot and then left.
I went to Boyleston st. and obtained the shoe
and knife at a shoemaker's; then Obtained a hat of
Landman, at an apothecary's; then I went to
Merryman st. and got a bottle of gin; I then went
to the Lowell depot and left in the cars for Wil
mington, I think about six o’clock; when arriving
at Wilmington, I asked when the cars left for Bos
ton in the morning; some ofie answered and hand
ed me a Pathfinder; I then left for my house, where
my wife and two childrnn were living; I went over
through the woods, and stupified with liquor ,got
lost. It was a kind Providencfe to hold pae back,
not knowing where I was. When I got through I
looked round for some time and saw my barn. I
* in my house; I rapped at the window;
Martha came and said, “Who’s there?” “Daniel,”
I answered. She came to the door and let me in; |
I sat down and she got me a cup of tea ; I took
supper; shortly after she retired; I sat up a little
while by the stove and then went to bed with my
wife; I got up, went out, and returned again to bed
between 2 and 4 o’clock; I did the fatal deed after
the first thrust, which I think did not wound her;
Martha got the knife away from me, I know* not
how, and held it by the handle; it was hard to get
it again, and in the dark I seized the blade in my
bands and wrenching split the handle and got the
blade from her; if the handle had not been broken
the deed might not have been done; on doing this I
cut my hands badly; I then overcame her and in
the struggle she cried out, “Oh ! Daniel, Daniel,
don’t murder me—murder! murder!” I pierced
her in the neck, she then got on the floor from the
bed; she cried, ! “Oh, my God !” fell on the floor and
died. Ido not know how the pillow came under
her: Sarah slept on the bed with my wife; she
awoke and cried; I pierced her also in the neck
and she died; Lydiaavvoke and crawled on the bed,
saying something, and laughing, I think; I put my
hand on her head and pierced her in the neck; after
this lamentable deed was finished I said, “ How
could 1 have done it.” Now I acknowledge, as I
have often and repeatedly, that Martha gave me no
cause, neither in any manner or any time to do
this tieed. I was not jealous of my wife; all her
children, without doubt;' were mine; I cannot tell
why I did the deed, except that I was led away
before leaving the house; I kindled alight to dress;
I lelt my wife on the floor, having placed the knife
in her hand; the children on the bed, the laudanum
by her on the table with the cards aad notes, one
of which I signed, intending to make the impres
sion that Martha, after destroying the children, had
committed suicide. Upon going out the back door,
SAMUEL PARKE.
I crossed the woods to a brook and there washed
my person of my wife and children’s blood. I then
changed my shirt, which wa3 tom in the struggle
and bloody. The blood on my clean shirt sleeve
was my own blood. After wiping myself with
the shirt which-1 took 0$ I rolled it up, carried it
to Boston, and sunk it in the water just below the
Providence depot.
Terrible Accident on tbe IV. Y.
and Erie Railroad.
We learn from New York, that a terrible disas
ter occurred on the N. York and Erie Railroad on
Wednesday afternoon, about 1 o’clock. As a freight
train of twenty-two cars, heavily loaded with live
stock from tbe West, was crossing an iron bridge
over a small stream, three miles west of the mouth
of the Lackawaxen creek, the bridge gave way,
and although the locomotive got over safely, the
tender and filteen cars were precipitated into the
ravine, which was sixty feet wide and twenty-five
feet deep.
The ravine was completely filled up by the
wrecks of the cars and animals. The sixteenth
car was reared on end, on the top of the heap of
ruins. The cars which went over are said to have
contained about 100 head of cattle, 250 hogs and
750 sheep; in all about 1100 animals. The cars
which were going very rapidly, were completely
shattered to pieces, killing or wounding hundreds
of the animals:
The conductor of the train, two brakemen and
two drovers were buried in the ruins. The first
was soon extricated alive, though badly wounded.
Two or three of the others could be seen among
the ruins and were able to converse for an hour or
two. One of them was finally gored by an ox and
another also appeared to be dead, when our inform
ant left on the cars at 4 P; M.
Another was still alive and calling for assistance.
Drink was handed down to him, but he w’as buried
so deep that there was little chance of his being
got out alive.
Some of the animalswere unhurt, but the great
mass of them was killed or horribly mangled, hav
ing their horns and legs broken, and being wounded
in various ways by their struggling among them
selves.
The trains from the east and west, which met at
the place of the accident, exchanged passengers.
About two hundred men were engaged yesterday
afternoon in clearing away the ruins, and endeav
oring to extricate the men and animals.— News. *
Infoiihation Wanted. —Of D. V. Brickly, who
left Miffiintown about three weeks ago with a drove
of sheep. Since then he has not been heard from.
It has been ascertained that he purchased a ticket
for Lancaster on the sth inst., -but whether he .left
the city or not there is no definite information.—
Said Brickly is about 5 feet 9 inches high, stoutly
built, dark hair and rough swathy complexion.
He had on a full suit of light tweed goods when he
left. Any information respecting him will be
thankfully received by the undersigned residing in
Mifflintown, Juniata co. Pa.
July 15, 1850. Miller & Pattebson.
When the year 1849 closed, remarks the Phila
delphia Bulletin, it was thought to have been parti
cularly fatal to great men ; but 1850 threatens to
be even more so. Already we have chronicled the
demise of Calhoun, of Wordsworth, of Jeffrey, of
Taylor and Peel, each, in his different sphere, a man
who “leaves no parallel behind;” and now, as the
foreign papers inform us, Louis Phillippe probably
lies on his death-bed, a victim like Napoleon, to
cancer in his stomach. The past few years have
made 6ad havoc indeed with those great names
which, from our childhood, we have been accus
tomed to reverence. The giants in intellect—poets,
philosophers, statesmen, military men—who formed
and led the age have disappeared one after another
until few, or none are left With Wordsworth de.
parted the last of the great British poets of the
nineteenth century. With Jeffrey went out the last
light of that brilliant constellation of wits and poets
who revived or rather founded criticism in this age.
And novy Taylor and Peel and Calhoun are no more;
and the old intriguer, Louis Phillippe, threatens to
follow them. How forcibly all this reminds us
that we stand on the threshold of a new age, with
new men all around us. Especially, as Americans,
do we feel this. Calhoun has gone, and, in the
order of Nature, Clay and Webster must soon fol
low. Taylor has gone, and Worth and Kearney,
and others of the heroes of the Mexican war: and
Scott, more aged than all, cannot be long behind
indeed, as he followed the corpse of the President
to the grave, gloomy thoughts, akin to this we
speak of, must have possessed him. With melan
choly emotions we see the past take the place of the
present; and the reflection arises 'iwho are to take
the place of those that are gone?” Alas 1 who ?
Execution of Pearson.
Boston, Friday, July 26.
u Death has been Busy."
. Commodore Jacob Jones, of the Navy, died al
Philadelphia, on Saturday night, aged 83 yean.
New Books.
The Iron Mask; or the Feats and Adventures
of Raoul de Bragelonne, is the title of a-new novel
by Alexander Dumas, being the final conclusion of
rite “Three Guardsmen;” “ Twenty Years After ; T
and “Bragelonne, the son of Athos.” It is a book
of 200 pages, translated from the French by T.
Williams, and is one of the very best productions
of that celebrated French Novelist. It will doubt
less meet with a very ready sale. It is to be had
at Spangler's Bookstore—price 50 cents. '
We received by mail, from the office of Little’s
Living Age, a neat volume of some 80 pages, con
taining two beautiful and interesting stories, entitled
Lattice Askold, and Lizzie Wilson.
Blackwood's Edinburg Magazine, for July,
has just been received at Spangler's, (late Gish’s)
where all the quarterlies and monthlies will here
after be found. The* July no. of Blackwood com
mences a new volume—thus affording a favorable
opportunity to new subscribers to hand in their
names. Terms $3 per annum.
ID" The American Law Journal has made
its appearance in a new dress. The July number
is the commencement, of a new volume. The
1 printing and paper are excellent—the type are
new—the pages, are longer—the space between
the lines, (the leading) is discontinued, and the
journal contains a much greater quantity of mat
ter than previously. The contents of the number
before us are highly interesting. Among them
are abstracts of decisions of the Supreme Court of
the United States—and of the Supreme Court of
Pennsylvania,—remarks upon Professor I Webster’s
, case, —and upon Renewing Patents by Congress.—
The Review of the Bth volume of Howard's Re
ports of the Supreme Court of the United States,
points out some extraordinary evidence of inat
tention on the part of the Reporter; and the nptice
of Dean’s Medical Jurisprudence, contaiiing/4 sea
sonable word in favor of Medical witne ises using
“language plain, simple and, if possible, devoid of
all technical terms.” /
OJ'M. T. Fonn offers great inducemen
who wish to rig themselves out in 7 a neat
summer suit. He is selling his entire stoi
at his “ Tower Hall” establishment, for t!
of making room for a new/and splend
winter stock. /
Oak Hall, Boston. Geo. W. Simmons, the
well known proprietor/of the large clot! ing estab
lishment, sells splendid suits oi clothing for a small
amount of money./ Traders in this sect on would a
find it for their interest to make their pi rchases at
this establishment.
/
Calcium Light. —Professor Grant exhibited in
Washington on Monday night his calcium light from
the Capitol. The National Intelligencer says:
The lamps from 3d street to 14th street were
not lighted, the Commissioner of Public Buildings,
(Mr. Mudd,) desiring to observe the effect of this
light as regards applicability for street; lighting.—
The result of this experiment was most satifactory,
and elicited the highest encomiums from numerous
groups of ladies and gentlemen who thronged, the
avenue for the purpose of observing this exhibition.
The night was quite dark, and tbe stores closed,
yet from this single light the avenue was beauti
fully and equally illuminated throughout its entire
extent, from the’ Capitol to the Presidential Man
sion. Persons in any portion of this extensive st.
could see to read and tell the time by the dial-plate
of a watch. The light was kept burning for one
hour, and the rays, steadily directed upon the aven
ue, gave a uniform light, without vacillation or
change of intensity, altogether demonstrating that
this lig&t is unequalled for street illumination, and
if its cost is not an objection, (and we are assured
that it is not,) it must, celeris paribus, be speedily
introduced lor that purpose into all'our large cities
and towns.
Hon. James Buchanan was on a visit last week
to Bedford Springs.
Hon. D. P. King, a member of Congress from
Massachusetts, died on Friday week. ,
XT The Monument at Nashville over the re
mains of the late President Polk, is described as
very elegant and imposing. The design is of the
Doric order. Part of the inscription is as follows:
“By his public policy, he defined, established and
extended the bouudaries of his country. He plan
ted the laws of the American Union on the shores
of the Pacific. His influence and his council tend
ed to organize the National Treasury, on the prin
ciples of the Constitution; and to apply the rule
of Freedom to Navigation, Trade and Industry.”
Dreadful Storm.
Destruction or Life and Property !
We were again visited with a succession of thun
der storms on Sunday last, (28th ult.) accompanied
by torrents of rain. The creeks and streams in our
neighborhood were so swollen as to overflow their
banks for a considerable distance, and very great.in
jury has consequently resulted to fences, See. Much
damage has also been done to orchards and gardens.
But the most melancholy result of thei storm is in
the loss of life and destruction of Barni with their
contents. \
The house of Mr. Abraham Seavers.cjf Dickinson
township, nearCentreville, was struck by lightning,
the fluid passing down the spouting onfthe corner
of the house, and almost instantly killing his son, a
young man who was sitting on the porch near the
corner. The remainder of the family were inside
of the bouse, and neither they nor the building were
at all injured.
We hear a report of seven Barns beins; destroyed,
but the rumor is probably exaggerated as we can
ascertain particulars of not more than tl ree. These
are the barns of Mr. Johnson Martin, IVjr. Fleming
and Samuel Clarke, all situated within [the neigh
borhood of Churchtown, where the storpi seems to
have prevailed in its highest fury. On Mr. Clark’s
barn we learn there was an insurance jot $7OO. —
Mr. Martin’s loss is said to be at least s|2ooo. We
learn that he was at his bam when the storm gath
ered, with two of his neighbors who nad stopped
for shelter. They were warmly urged jo go to his
dwelling, but declined, and he left them. He had
scarcely reached his . house when, the] barn was
struck. He hastened back to it and found the two
men' prostrate on the floor from the shoik, and-one
of them apparently lifeless. The barn was also on
fire and rapidly burning. His efforts wire howev
er directed to rescuing the two men, whom with
much difficulty and loss of time he got to a place 4
of safety where restoratives could- be applied to
them, and in due time they both recovered. Mean
time the fire spread rapidly over the bam, and he
was not able to save a single article in it but a team
of horses. On Mr. Martin thiff unexpected calam -
ity falls with particular severity. —Carlisle Herald.
Mad Freak of a Maniac.
A remarkable freak of a maniac oceurred a
Bordentown, N. J., on Tuesday. The locomotive
which was bringing the morning train from Bor
dentown to Trenton, was missed, and the engineers
procured another—when they reached Trenton
they discovered the missing one fast in the switches,
blowing at a great rate. The Trenton
American sbys:
“When they came to it they found a man try
ing to rebuild the fire, and the water and cynders
splashing over him and the engine.—lt seems that
a crazy man, hailing from New Hope, Pa., had
come here from Bordentown on l Monday evening,
and returned in the same train. 1 Some time dnring
the night, or early in the morning, this madman
had gone to the engine, kindled a fire, put on one
of the pumps which bad been taken off and not
finding the oil; had melted tallow, with which he
greased all the apparatus, • and, putting on the
steam, came up to this city like a streak of
“ greased lightning.” The engine bad been man
aged very well, as it was not at all injured; but it
is supposed be did not know how to back it when
it got in the switches here, which were locked.
We understand he roust have passed one or two
switches before reaching this station. He said be
took the engine to see how fast it could be made
to go. He was taken back to Bordentown, and
sent thence to his friends. His escape, from de
struction was very lucky for him.”
IP” The favorite boast of the Whigs now, is that
they are to have a thorough-bred Whig administra
tion. As the Richmond Enquirer forcibly remarks:
—“We were told by the election of |Tatiob and
Fillmobe, we should put down parties, and should
elect a “President of the people,” and 1 not of party.
The Whigs now jump Jim Crow,'and boast they
have a full- blooded pardzan President, who goes
for ‘making the Whig .party stronger.’ Their ‘no.
partyism’ of 1848, has not only resulted in a strict
ly pardzan administration, but in a sectional array
of parties which endangers the very existence of the
Union. We are glad, even eft this late day, to tee
the humbog trick of “no-party” repudiated by the
authors.” |.
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