3ntelligenter Lancaster, March 30, 1852• GEO. SANDERSON, EDITOR FOR PRESIDENT: lltulliNg (Subject to the decision of the National Cohvention.) PRESIDENTIAL ELECTORS. SENATORIAL. GEORGE W. WOODWARD, 01 Luzerne. W moor( 51 , Carinzzae, of Allegheny. ADDITIONAL DISTRICT. ROBERT PATTERSON, of Philadelphia. DISTRICTS. • 1. Peter Logan, 13. H. C. Eyer; 2. Geo. H. Martin, 14. John Clayton, 3. John Miller, 15. Isaac Robison, 4. F. W. Bockius, 16. Henry Fetter, 6. 8.. McKay, 17. James Burneide,. 6. A. Apple, 18. Maxwell MeCaslin, 7. N. Strickland, 19. Joseph McDonald, 8. Abraham Peters, 20. W. S. Collahan, 9. David Fester, 21. Andrew Burke, 10. R. E. James, 22. William Dunn, 11. John Mcßeynolds, 23. J. S. M , Calmont, 12. P. Demon, 24. George R. Barrett. FOR CANAL COMMISSIONER: Stat 4 -10, OF FAYETTE COUNTY. Look Here! We have several heavy payments to make on or about the Ist of April, and shall; be much obliged to those who are indebted for subscription job work and advertising, if they will furnish us with the means to meet our liabilities. We are averse to dunning so frequently; but really there are many who, it appears, never think of paying the PRINTER, and our wants require that.we should remind them of their delinquency. We hope this notice will be more effectual than those which have preceded it, and that we shall not be under the dis agreeable necessity of repeating it for a long time to come. Those residing at a distance from town can re mit by mail at our risk. Our City friends will always find us at the office, in Market Square. Arioo's poetical production' is inadirliasible. It was evidently intended lot "Rose's' eye alone—not for the public. lig - We are compelled for want of room, and the late hour at which it was handed in on yesterday, to omit the communication of "X. X.,'' in reply to the Saturday Express. If it is the wish of the writer, we shall publish it next week: WY In our next paper we shall phblish an ad mirable Message from Governor BIGLER, to the Legislature, on the subject of the Finances of the Commonwealth, and other important matters con nected therewith. No man in the State better un derstands this subject than Governor Bigler, and his suggestions cannot fail in enlisting public opinion in their favor. 111 We direct public attention to the card of Mr. J. Ronan, in another column. He has just re ceived a beautiful assortment of Ladies' Goods for Sprint and Summer, all of which he will dispose of at very reasonable profits. We advise the Ladies to give him a call, at his store in North Queen at. He will, charge them nothing for a look at his goods. . FIRE INSURANCE—The two destructive fires with which our city was visited last week, some account of which will be found in another column, should act as a stimulant to induce our citizens to have their properties, whether reaL or personal, in sured immediately. Without doing so, they are all the time running a risk of loss which is totally un justifiable. The gentlemanly and accomodating Agent of the "State Mutual Fire Insurance Com pany," Mr. S. J. M. KELLOGG, is always prompt in the discharge of his duties, and will insure houses, offices, furniture, &c., on very reasonable terms.— We advise all our readers who are interested in this matter, to give him a call without farther delay, at his Office, No. 18, East King street. ET" We have been favored with a copy of the speech of Mr. BRECILEIPUIDGE, of Kentucky, in Committee of the Whole on the State of the Union- In the course of his remarks, the speaker touched upon the Presidential question, and most eloquently defended the gallant and heroic General Butler, of his State, from the imputations cast upon him by Cabell, of Florida, and by an article published, in the "Democratic Review." The honorable speaker sustained General Butler against all attacks,' said he was the choice of Kentucky for the Presidency, and that it was not only his duty, buta fixed fact in that State, to sustain their public men, without casting any reflections on the candidates of other States. Mr. Richardson, of Illinois, said that the Hon. Mr. Douglass was in no way accountable for what appeared in the Democratic Review, or any other paper, and deprecated as ill-advised and grossly unjust all attacks upon democratic men, and at war with the true interests ofdemocratic success. Mr. Breckenridge said—" Let us be just, let us be fair, let no man by himself or through his friends, attempt to promote individual interest by deducing others. If this course is continued, we will not succeed, we ought not to succeed." These are true sentiments, and severely rebuke the bolters and vil lifiers of Buchanan in his own State. Such men and such conduct are the worst enemies of demo cratic success. THE PENNSYLVANIAN —This sterling Dem ocratic sheet is now edited and publiZed by Wir.- mx H. HOPE, Esq., lately assistant editor of the Baltimore .drgus. This change took place on Wednesday last, and the Pennsylvanian ie now is sued as a daily penny journal. To the retiring editors, Messrs. W. V. M'Kean and Wien Forney, we wish all manner of good luck, and to the new one a pleasant and profitable undertaking. From his well known talents as a ready and spirited writer, together with his business qUalifications, we feel assured that Mr. Hope will be able fully to keep up the character the paper his sustained ever since it passed into the hand's of Col. Forney. irr See card Of FRANKLIN' FIRE INSURANCE Commas, in another column. Tun CONESTOGA STEAM MlLLS.—There estab lishments, which have given such an impetus to the business of our city, ark now full fledged, and are turning out an immense quantity of their eupe. rior manufactures. All accounts represent them as doing a very profitable business; and for the sake of our neigh bors, we are glad to hear it. To increase their working capital, the Stockhold ere have authorized a loan which we understand the Directors are prepared to take, on Bonds of 1000, 500, and 100 dollars with coupons attached, for the payment of the interest of six per cent, semi-annually—that is, on the let of Aril and the let of October, at any of our Banks, or the Bank of Pennsylvania. The bonds are secured by a mortgage on Mills Nos. 1 and 3 of $200,000, and an ample assurance in some of the best office's in the County. The Directors, whose names are inscribed upon the bonds, consider, we believe, that the security is unexceptionable and equal to any rell security in the county. 11:7" The Whig State Convention met at Harris. burg,'on Wednesday last, and nominated J.scon HOFFMAN, of Berks county, as a candidate for Canal Commissioner. The Convention also passed strong resolutions in favor ofteneral Scorr for the Presidency, appointed an Electoral Ticket, &c. &c., and then adjourned sine die to await the spoil ing of all their work, by the people, in October and November next. Virginia State Convention. The Democratic State Convention of Virginia met at Richniond on Wednesday last, and continu ed in session until Friday. Hon. Jona S. BARBOUR presided, who was assisted by fourteen Vice Presi dents and six Secretaries. The Convention ap pointed an Electoral Ticket, and a State Central Committee. A aerie; of resolutions were also adopted. The first re-asserts the principles of the resolutions of '9B and '99. The second contends . that Congress has no power to appropriate, directly or indirectly, the proceeds of the sales of the public lands. The 3d declares against a protective tariff. The 4th denounces the modern doctrine of Interventfon, as broached in Congress, and takes the ground that the Federal Govemmentishould, in its foreign pol icy, adhere strictly to the maxims of the ' , .Father of his country," and the Father of Democracy.— The sth reaffirming the principles of the Baltimore Convention. The '7th approves the mode of voting heretofore pursued by the Virginia delegates in the Baltimore Convention. The Bth says that the vote of Virginia ought to be given for the can didate who can command the greatest strength in the Democratic party, and whose principles are known to conform most strictly to the cardinal tenets of the Democratic republican faith. No address was put forth, and after the adoption of the resolutions the Convention adjourned sine die. . The utmost harmony and good feeling prevailed throughout its deliberations. No, instructions were given on the subject of the Presidency—and very properly, too, in our opinion, inasmuch as the Del egates to Baltimore were not chosen by the Con vention, but are to be elected by the people in the several Congressional districts. Of course there was no body to instruct. Neither was there, for the same reason, any expression of opinion in ref erence to the relative strength of the several candi dates for the Chief Magistracy; but, from the fact, that the. President and nearly all the officers of the Convention are the known, avowed. and active friends of Mr. BUCHANAN, it cannot be doubted that a large majority of the body were in his favor.— Indeed, private advices from Richmond during the progress of the Convention and since its adjourn ment, assure us that the friends of Mr. B. outnum bered all others combined more than two to one. The seventh resolution recommends the delegates who may be elected, to vote as a unit in the Na tional Convention. This, we believe, has always been the custom with the Virginia delegation.— They test the matter amongst themselves, and whosoever has the majority, the vote of the whole State is cast solid for him. We have, therefore, no , doubt that the entire_ vote of the Old Dominion will be cast at Baltimore for JAMES BaCEILNAN.—• All our information from that State points uner ringly to this result. EU" A silly story found plaCe in some of the Philadelphia papers last week, to the effect that the Democratic members of Congress from this State wrote a letter to Richmond, telling the Vir ginia Convention that Mr. BUCHANAN was the only candidate for the Presidency who could carry Pennsylvani;.. There is not a word of truth in the story. The Democratic members, did write, how ever, that Mr. 8., in the event of his nomination at Baltimore, could carry the State; and this was done to 'contradict the numerous falsehoods and misrepresentations circulated in Virginia for the last few weeks against him—a scheme that most signally failed. The passage of the fourth resolution is, per' haps, a very good criterion to judge of the Presiden tial predilections of the Virginia Convention. That resolution sustains the non-intervention doctrine of Gen. Washington to the very letter, a position which has not been taken by all the Presidential candidates since the arrival of Kossuth in this country—some' of them having taken the ground that Washington's doctrine does not exactly suit the present day. ii:r CONGIIESS has now been in session for nearly four months, and as yet but little has been done for the benefit of_ the country. Nearly the whole time that should have been devoted to legislation, has been taken up by both parties in the business of President-making—a work for which they were not delegated by their constituents, and which the people prefer attending to themselves. Now, this is all - wrong. Members of Congress were sent to Washington to make laws—not Presidents. They were appointed by the people to legislate for the Nation—not for themselves; and the sooner they commence the business entrusted to them, the bet ter it will be for all parties concerned. Formerly a Congressional Ciucus nominated the President; but the people became disgusted with that species of dictation, and broke it down by the election of General Jac MON. After a lapse of five and twenty years, it is sought to be revived in. a form that is almost equally obnoxious, and which is calculated to retard the public business yet more than the old caucus system. 1 his thing of nominating and electing Presidents, the people will attend to them selves in due time, and it may be they will spoil the calculations of not a few of the would be-Con gressional Warwicks of the present session. It would be well, we think, if Presidential nom- inations were made about two years in advance of the election, instead of a few months. In that event we should be likely to get two working ses sions of Congress, instead of none at — all—as it happens under the present arrangement, in which it so occurs that a new President is hardly warm in his seat until members of Congress set about selecting his successor. THE ARTILLERY SERVICE.—A report was submitted in the United States Senate on Tuesday, by Senator Shields tfom the Committee on Military Affairs, on the subject of trie Artillery Service, accompanied by a bill designed to increase the ef. ficiency of this important branch of the national defences. The report states, that since the termi nation of the Mexican war the artillery has been so much neglected that discontent and discourage ment begin to prevail at the present time. The men are declared to be exceedingly deficient in prac- tical knowledge of the duties of their profession, and especially in the. duties that would devolve upon them in a war with any maratime Power. The necessity is urged, not of increasing the force be yond what is necessary for our limited internal ne cessities, but to improve its quality, and make it better in its personnel and materiel, so that it should be, in every particular, a model army, or nucleus around which the nation could rally in any great national emergency. To effect this desirable object the provisions of the bill reported by the Committe authorizes the President to appoint from the officers of the artil lery a brigadier general, who shall be chief of the corps of artillery, and shall under the direction of the Secretary of War and Major General,admin ister the corps in all things relating to the instruc- tion, equipment, mounting, distribution and recruit ing. It also provides that promotions to the rank of colonel shall cease until the number shall be re duced to two, which shall hereafter he the number. 117 The New York Canals are to be opened for biisiness on the 15th of April. The Pennsylvania Canals have been open since the 12th of,March--: thus showing'tbe great advantages our public im provements Have over those of our more northern neighbor. Er The Democrats of Lebanon and Huntingdon, at the recent Borough elections, succeeded in elect ing their tickets, in both places, by handsome ma jorities. 0" Monne: WHALLON, Eeq, (Dem.) has been elected Mayor of 'Erie City, by a majority of 31 votes over his Whig opponent. This is glorious news from that quarter. Advice Worthy of being Heeded. The Richmond (Virginia,) Whig in a recent ar ticle argued in favor of the nomination of General Scott and says: "As to pledges from a candidate, we have no great faith in them. If his life and his position do not inspire confidence, we would not give a pinch of snuff for all the pledges he could make." It adds: "Me do not want pledges of him (Gen. Scott.) We would not insult him or ourselves by asking any at his bands. We understand the Loco game thoroughly, and so does Gen. Scott." This is sensible and manly. We rejoice to see at least one influential and respectable paper in the South avowing a rational'opinion upon this subject. Should the Whig party follow in the path pointed out by many of these Hotspurs, it would scarcely carry a single State in the Union. Whilst if it pur sue an honorable and manly course, it cannot fail to be successful. The Locofocos are untiring in their efforts to damage Gen. Scott before the people and we regret to see some Whig papers, North and South, assisting by their course, it may be uninten tionally, in the accomplishment of their purposes. This scheming, we trust, has had its day and that the entire Whig party of the land will again be found on the old platform, carefully eschewing what ever new doctrines might tend to disturb its har mony and check it in its glorious career.—lnde pendent Whig. l An honest confession, it is said, is good for the soul—and we doubt not that our neighbor over the way will "breathe freer and deeper," now that he has made a clean breast of it, by acknowledging that if the Whig party were to make an honest dec laration of principles for the approaching Presiden tial campaign, "it would scarcely carry a single State in the Union." We have all along firmly believed what is now admitted with such apparent candor. The Whigs are, at the present time, andlalways have been, afraid to go before the people in a contest for principles—hence, in 1840 they had a Committee appointed whose duty it was to watch over their candidate and prevent him from making any pub lic declaration for the popular ear; and in 1848 they selected a gentleman %% ho had no fixed prin ciples, or at least made no pretensions whatever to any knowledge of governmental policy. Twice have they succeeded in thus gulling the American peo ple, and electing muni candidates who, after their elevation, turned out to be mere puppets in the hands of the Cabinets with which they were sur rounded—and, in both instances, the pledges upon which they rode into power were permitted to be shamefully violated, as the records of the country will abundantly show. The Independent Whig and its allies would fain play the same game again, and for the third time throw dust in the eyes of the people. But they will be mistaken in their estimate of popular in telligence. Besides, their candidate, General SCOTT, has, unfortunately for them, the cacoethis scribendi to too great an extent to make much out of him in the way of keeping the public ignorant of his principles. He has written too much, and par ticipated too actively in the politics of the country, to now conceal his light under a bushel. His "hasty plate of soup" correspondence with Secre tary MARCY shows that his forte is not the pen; but, at the same time, it proves him to be a man of in ordinate vanity, of an imperious, haughty and over bearing disposition, who has not learned the first duty of his profession—obedience to his superior— and who, therefore, would be an exceedingly dan gerous officer at the head of the Government. But he has also written other letters, at different times and under different circumstances, which, whilst they do not give him any better character as a writer, have exposed the principles he entertains, and conclusively show that he is unfitted, in almost every respect, to be the Chief Magistrate of the Nation. But we are extending our remarks much farther than we intended at the outset. Our object was merely to copy the above articles from the Virginia Whig, and its cousin the Lancaster Whig—and to thank the latter for the candid admission it makes of the utter helplessness of the Whig party, when it goes before the country on its merits alone and with its principles exposed - to public view. A Bloody Tragedy. We find the following shocking narrative in the Muscatine (Iowa) Enquirer, of Maieh 10 : Three years ago, Mr. George McCoy, a ciitzen • of Cedar county, left for California. He left a wife and five children behind him to await the result of his return. His wile, with her children, after he left, sought the protection of her father, Mr. Benj. Nye, an old and worthy citizen, living in this county. ; Alter he reached the land of gold, Mr. McCoy wrote frequently to his wife, and forwarded her consider able sums of money; the letters and money passing through the hands of one in whom McCoy had every confidence as, a man of honor and a friend. But the wife forgot her vow, and sacrificed her children, her husband and herself in the embraces of the false I and traitorous friend of the absent husband. On his return from California, the husband. and father were met by the tale of damning infamy, and, meeting his wife, found in her arms the fruits of her guilt. The scene between the heart-broken husband, the shame covered wife, and the group of trembling, tearful and wondering children has been touchingly described to us. Mr. McCoy, his mind soured by suspicion and the stern realities of his situation, selected among the little group of five, one whom he rejected—declaring it was no child of his—that like the one at her breast, it was the child of crime. After this scene, Mr. McCoy re moved his children (four) from their mother for a short time—but subsequently consented that they should remain with her at her grandfather's, (Mr. Nye,) until he left for California in April next.— This was about two months ago. . - . On Wednesday last, McCoy came from Cedar county for his children. He stopped with Mr. Cham bers and requested permission to bring them there that night—which was granted. He then went to Mr. Nye's in a wagon, got the lour children he claimed, and started on his return to Mr. Chambers'. What occurred at Mr. Nye's we are not advised.— On approaching Mr. Chambers, as he returned ac companied by his children and Mr. Nye, his lather in-law ; and IW. Patterson, also a son-in-law to Mr. Nye, they drove in advance of Mr. McCoy, so as to interrupt his wagon, with the intention it appears, of rescuing the children. McCoy stood up in his wagon, and warned Nye not to approach; Nye continued to advance, however. McCoy drew a revolving pistol, and repeated the warning. Nye still advanced, and attempted to get hold of one of the children, when McCoy fired, but the ball only made a slight wound. Patterson then laid hold of McCoy behind as if to hold him. Nye came at McCoy with his club' again, saying to Patterson, "Kill him," &c. McCoy releasing himself from Patterson, threw the latter in frout of him, when Nye's blow took effect on P., breaking his collar bone. McCoy had, drawn a bowie knife, and on Nye again advancing, sprung at him, and avoiding his club, stabbed him in the breast. Nye still attempted to strike; he stabbed him the,second time, and the third. The third stab was to the heart, and Mr. Nye fell dead at his feet. There were several witnesses to the whole affair, but so soon was it over that no effectual interposi tion could be made. McCoy gave himself up, and is now awaiting his examination, which will take place as soon as Mr. Patterson is sufficiently re covered to appear in the witness's stand. The body of Mr. Nye was interred yesterday. Our Book Table. WESTMINSTER REVIEW.—The January number of the American re-print of this work we have re ceive&trom the publishers, Messrs. Leonard, Scott & Co., New York. The Review. is under the gui dance and patronage of the ultra liberals in poli tics and religion. Its leaning is towards English Unitarianism, and its progrbss has been in the same direction with that of Miss Martineau. It is frank and fearless in giving expression to its own views upon all subjects, and is noted for the independence of its editorial articles. A change has recently been made in the editorship—but it promises, under the new arrangement, to maintain its previous high standing. It is undoubtedly one of the ablest of all the British periodicals. - The work is hereafter to be issued by the enter prising New York publishers, simultaneously with its appearance in England. For sale at SPAN GLER'S, in this City. CHANGE or TIME.—On and after to-morrow, the morning train of care (feet line) will leave this city for Philadelphia, at 8i o'clock, A, M., and the Way 7 Train at 23 o'clock, P. M. The Maine Liquor Law As this famous law seems not to be generally understood in the community, we think it right and proper to give our readers a little insight into its provisions, as well as those of :the Act now pending before our State Legislature. - And to do so the more satisfactorily, perhaps, we copy the following article from the Philadelphia. News, whose editor seems to be well booked up on the subject. Of course his 'remarks .were intended more especially for Philadelphia, but will neverthe less be considered applicable to every other section of the Commonwealth. We would barely premise that the Rev. Mr. Chambers sp . oken of by the writer, is the same g&tleman who delivered, a temperance lecture a few weeks ago in the Meth?. dist Episcopal Church - of this city. The News says: The public has been entertained for many weeks with sermons, and speeches, and advertisements, in favor of introducing into Pennsylvania the "Maine Liquor Law." From the studied silence of the press, it might almost be inferied, that a majority of the people are advocates of the measure, and that no serious- objections to it really exist. We apprehend, however, that such is not the case ; and we propose to discuss the question with unbiased judgment, and a.dispositionto promote the common weal to the beat of our, ability. What is the Maine Liquor Law 7 If this ques tion were addressed to nine-tenths of its advocates in this city, we do not believe they could answer it. If two-thirds of the clergymen who are pres sing the Legislature to adopt it were called on to explain the true nature of the animal, we believe that their Main-e-logical knowledge would be at fault. We adopt this opinion, because we recently heard two of the most enthusiastic, and they must pardon us if we add, the most violent of its rever end friends declare at a public meeting, that the Maine Liquor Law prohibits the manufacture and sale of intoxicating liquors. We beg leave to say, that it does no such thing, and we proceed to prove it. The first section of that law declares that no person shall be allowed to'mannfacture or sell any spirituous or intoxicating liquors, 'except as herein after provided." And the second and eighth sections of the law give to the "Selectmen of any town, and Mayor and Aldermen of any city," authority to appoint a person as agent of the town or city to sell wines and other liquors " for medical and mechanical purposes, and no other ;" (prohibiting the sale of wine to be wed , at the Sacrament . of 'the Lords Supper;) and also authorizing them to ap point some other person to manufacture intoxica ting liquors generally, in the said town. A "town" in the State of Maine is what we call in Pennsyl vania, a "township," and the Selectmen of a town are what we denominate, in this State, "Supervisors of a township." It will therefore be observed by the intelligent reader, that the Rev. Mr. Chambers is very far wrong in his assertion that the Maine Liquor Law prohibits the manufacture of intoxi cating liquors. So far from doing so, it expressly authorizes the erection of, a distillery in every town or township of the State, giving to the Selectmen or Supervisors, the power of deciding which of their particular friends shall enjoy the monopoly! There is no restriction placed oh the manufacture itself -that may be carried ()silo any extent, provided, always, that nobody shall engage in it except .the friend of the Supervisors! Th article is to be sold by some other friend ofi those gentlemen, and he enjoys the exclusive privilege of supplying the whole township. True, he sells it only for "medi cal and mechanical purposes ;" but then every man is his own doctor, and the more he takes of the medicine, the better he will please the friend of the Supervisors! The best fellow in the town is this friend of the Supervisors, when with a knowing wink he pours out about four fingers of "medicine," to cure the dizzy head of a reformed drunkard, The bill reported in the Senate of Pennsylvania by the seductive title of " an act to prohibit the manufacture and sale of intoxicating liquors," is a copy of the Maine Law with slight modifications. The second section gives to the Judges of the Court of Quarter Sessions and the County Commissioners, authority to appointean indefinite number of their friends " to buy, or manufacture and sell at conve nient points in such of the townships boroughs and cities within the county as they may deem expedient, proper wines and other liquors for sacramental, medicinal, mechanical and artistical purposes."— This is more liberal than the Maine Law;inas much as it gives to cfergynten and artists the privi lege of visiting the medicine man, and authorizes the sexton to fill his jug for private "sacramental" . uses. We believe that our Reverend friend Mr. Chambers, professes to be somewhat of -an artist: at any rate, we know that he is fond of drawing fancy sketches at temperance meetings, and in our: judgment this would entitle him to visit the medi cine man in the morning as a clergyman, and as an artist after dinner; thus giving him a double chance at the physic. This is cunning, but it is not fair; and we hereby call on Mr. CRABB to mdve.to amend this section of the bill by striking out the word "artistical." Under our present license system, there is some chance of limiting the number of Taverns where intoxicating liquors are sold, by means of the tax which the law imposes on them. But the Senate bill with the ironical title, proposes neither to tax nor limit the number of medicine shops. The result will be that, when an election approaches and the party to which the County COmmissioners belong requires friends, the season will be very sickly and will demand an increase of physic 'and additional facilities for its supply. New medicine shops will then spring up in every county, dike mushrooms. Mr. Chambers may think that there is no immor ality in selling "medicine . ' or in g etting dizzy on an over dose, but we have a settled conviction that such rapid additions to the temperance medical fac ulty, will tend to generate and foster very dangee• ous epidemics. Put who will be the medicine men? who shall reap the profits of selling "hell broth" to the sick? You remember Mr. Chambers that Rom says in one of his epistles to Timothy that " the love of money is the root of all evil." And you may rely upon it that, whoever puts the most money in the private purse of your County Commissioners, will be in,their opinion the "most honest, temperate and sober" men of the township—will take the highest honors in this new medical school, and will enjoy the profits of the physic. We state this as an ab stract, established principle in human affairs and do not apply it to the present Commissioners of this county, whom we believe to be the only honest men who have held that position for many years. Under the revised act of 1834, the licensing power resides in the Court of Quarter Sessions. But in this county the charge of corruption against the old Court was so well supported that in 1549 the Legislature took it from them, and gave us our present system. We have no doubt that 'County Commissioners are quite asubject to corruption as Judges, and if such an absurd bill as that now before the Senate, can be carried through the Le gislature, half of the Commissioners in the State will become secret partners in the business of man ufacturing and selling intoxicating liquors, for "sacramental, medicinal, mechanical, artistical" and money snaking purposes. Much remains to be said on the subject, and we shall refer to it again. The Spring Trade. • The business over the public works is imroense. According to the North American the • trade of Philadelphia has never before been so active, and' it says the Pennsylvania Railroad has more freight pressing upon it than can be carried. That paper of Thursday says: The quantity of freight transported over the Cen tral railway, daily, is two hundred tons weight, and the press of the demand for conveyance is so great at this time, that the Company are• compelled to limit their receipts to the amount of goods they can certainly and punctually carry through. Some idea of the extraordinary briskness of trade here at the present moment, may be formed from the fact that, for a day or two past, hundreds of drays, ,heavily loaded with packages, boxes, bales, &c., for the West, have been standing,- close upon each other, .in a line reaching four or five, squares in length, waiting access to the depot of the Pennsylvania railroad in a regular order of succession. This state of things continues all day,; and on Monday, a large row of drays remained the' whole night stationary in the street, rather than turn out of the line, and thereby lose the progress they had already made towards the place of discharge. With the large number of hands employed by the Pennsylvania Railroad Company to receive freight, it was found impossible to despatch the business as .rapidly: as the pressure of it required; and to prevent its ac cumulation to an extent threatening serious embar rassment and confusion, it became necessary to provide that carts, &c., lOaded with merchandize intended for passage over 'the line, shmild pass to the depot in strict rotation. It is only by the ;in junction of such system,. inconvenient as it may appear to be to individuals, that the immense labor to be done can go on with any sort of facility and order, and that justice can be secured to the multi tude of persons whose interests are to be served. UT The Benevolent Institution of Odd Fellows in the United States, numbers 200,000 member S— . are 2,835 Lodges, and 600 Encampments in the United States. The amount of revenue for .the year 1851, was $1,200,000. The amount paid the same year for relief, was nearly $500,000, Facts and Figttres, The following extract frOm the letter of General CHARLES H. PEASE:EI, ,one of the able Democratic members of Congress from New Hampshire, to his constituents,' fully exposes the imbecility, extrava gance and corruption of the present Whig National Administration, and the necessity there is for a change in our rulers: • The who'e cost of the GOvernment during the last year of the Mexican war, tinder a Democratic admin istration, was only $57,451,199—ab0ut $11,000,000 more than that of last yefir, in a time of profound .peace. Our public debt, principal and interest, is upwards of M 4,000,000; but still the administra tion say not a word about reducing it. With them a public debt is a public•blessing. England has a large public debt, and our England copyists think we must have one. Not any intimation is heard about reducing our yearly expenditures; (which as we have seen, are almost $50,000,000;) on the con trary; open schemes are on foot to make bid worse. All this the people see is, wrong. The people are dissatisfied with the Exec - utive weakness and indecision, the lassitude and debility, and what is of greater moment, the subserviency to British and foreign interests, which have char acterized the administration. They do not wish or expect anything but a manly and prompt enforce ment of our rights, and only ask that foreign na tions shall be taught to remember, that the flag of stars and stripes, like the eagles of Rome, when her greatness overspread the • world, is the proud sym bol *of a Power nowhere to be violated with impun ity. But time will not allow me to dwell upon the weak and pusillanimous, conduct of the administra tion in our foreign affairs. The people are beginning to see, too, that under the present Federal Administration, there has been too much plundering of the Treasury; too much Gardinerism and Galphinism;, too much corruption and bribery among men in high places of the Re public; too exclusive an 'administration of our na tional affairs upon these seven principles, which form the basis of the party in power—namely, the five loaves and two fishes. They have seen the GALPRIN OPERATION carried out under the Taylor dynasty, whereby a member of the cabinet received from the National Treasury ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY k THOUSAND DOLLARS FOR HIS OWN USE. They have seen the GARDINER OPERATION carried out under the Fillmore Admin- istration, whereby they have good reason to believe that a member of the cabinet got upwards of ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS from the people's Treasury, for his own private purposes.— They have seen the allowance by this Administra tion, of the BARRON PENSION CLAIM, by which friends of those who are invested with power, have illegally and improperly' received thirty thousand dollars, on a pension claim which had been long be fore adjusted and settled under the half-pay law.— The CHICKASAW CLAIM, by which eminent bank ear's in this city received from the Treasury ONE HUNDRED AND TWELVE THOUSAND DOLLARS, Of a a fund belonging to a tribe of Indians, known as the Chickasaws. The Helicons CLAIM, under which EIGHT HUNDRED THOUSAN D DOLLARS were paid from the Treasury, when in fact those most conversant with the claim, are of the. belief that Mr. Hargous could not justly demand more than eighty thousand; and for carrying which claim through, the counsel employed, received one hundred and twenty thous and dollars, and, as is believed by most, a member ,of the cabinet received THIRTY THOUU.ND as coun sel fees for his services. The people have heard'of the Mears claim, and the Leggett claim, by which other large amounts' were pillaged from the Gov ernment by speculators, who oftentimes have bought up these hemands for merely nominal sums. These are some of the reasons amon. , others why the country every where, is so dissatisfied with the party in pOwer—the spoils party, only held together "by the cohesive power of public plunder." A res olution, introduced by Mr. Fuller, of Maine, has re cently passed the House of Representatives, calling on the Secretaries of the different Departments, for a list of the claims allowed since 1848, which will undoubtedly present some startling facts. The great mass of our people feel that under the exist ing Administration, the Executive power, the power of the General Government, is advancing with rapid strides; that the morals of our Government are be coming more corrupt; and that unless this down ward tendency is speedily arrested, our liberties will be lost. I use these last words with a full apprecia tion of their importance and significance—"our lib eOlies will be lost." History is full of examples, il lustrating and enforcing this great lesson, that ex travagance;find corruption will ruin any nation.— Foreign force is impotent, when compared with domestic corruption. The little States of Greece, while they remained 'virtuous, andaardent lovers of liberty, were an overmatch for all Asia. They af terwards yielded to the power of Macedon, but it was not until the gold of Philip had penetrated into the heart of Greece, that his steel could triuMph on the fatal field of Cbmronea. Land Warrants. The bill making Bounty Land Warrants assign able having become the law of the land, its pro visions may be interesting to some of our readers. Amongst other things the bill provides that the assignment'May be made by deed or instrument of writing, according to such form, and pursuant to such regulations as may be prescribed by the Com missioner of the General Land Office, so as to vest the assignee with all the rights of the owners- o the warrant or location. The benefits of the original act, with the sup plement, are extended to the officers and soldiers of any militia, volunteer or troops, who were call ed into military service, and whose services have been paid by the United States subsequent to the eighteenth of June, eighteen hundred and twelve. The following are the provisions of the bill for locating the warrants : Any person entitled to pre-emption right to any land shall be entitled to use any such land war rant, in payment of the same, at $1,25 per acre, for the quantity of land therein specified: Pro vided, That the warrants which have been or may hereafter be issued in pursuance of said laws, or of this act, may he located, according to the legal sub-divisions of the public lands of the United States, subject to private entry at the time of such location at the minimum. price: Provided further, That when said warrants shall be located on lands which are subject to entry at a greater minimum than $1,25 per acre, the locator of said warrants shall pay to the United States in cash the difference between the value of such warrants at $1,25 per acre, and the tract of land located on it. An Important Bill. Mr. HUNTER, from the Finance Committee, to whom was referred so much of the report of the Secretary of the Treasury as relates to coinage, has reported a bill to the U. S. Senate changing the ex isting laws regulating the coinage of silver. The bill provides, that from and after June Ist, 18.52, the weight of the half-dollar shall be 192 grains, and the quarter-dollar, dime, and half.dime , shall be respectively, one-half, one-fifth, and one tenth of said half-dollar, which coin is made a legal tender in payment of till sums not exceeding five dollars. The treasurer of the mint, with the ap proval of the director, shall purchase the bullion requisite for the coinage of the divisions of the dol lar. Such coins to be. paid out at the mint in ex change for gold coins, at par, in sums of not less than one hundred dollars. The Secretary of the Treasury to regulate the amount coined in quarters, dimes, and half-dimes. No deposites for coinage into the hall-dollar, quarter, dime, and hall dime, shall hereafter be received, other than those macbi on account of the United States. Gold or silvei may be cast into bars or ingots, of either pure metal, or of standard fineness, with a stamp or. the same designating its, value. Bars or ingots to be in pieces of two, three, five, or ten ounces in weight• Section seven provides for the coinage of thretndol ar gold pieces; its devices and shape to be fixed by the Secretary, of Treasury. irr The Whigs of Pennsylvania and . Ohio, will have some difficulty in nominating Gen. SCOTT for the Presidency—inasmuch as Virginia, Kentucky, Louisiana and the Southern States generally are going in strongly for Mr. FlLLsrone. There are symptoms of a very pretty fight among them, anft we apprehend they will have plenty of work on hand to reconcile their own difficulties, without fretting themselves so much about those they pre. tend to have discovered in the Democratic ranks. —Ex-GdVernor Morrow, of Ohio, died at Little Miami on the 22dinst: He was one of the earliest settlers in the State, and the first reprsentative sent by it to Congess in 1803. Subsequently he served as Governor,U.s. Senator, and in a number of other important posts. Otr The Whigs elected their entire Borough ticket, in Columbia, on the 19th inst. City and County Items SPECIAL COURT.—At the special Court held last week in this city by Judge PZARSON of Har risburg, two important cases were decided. The first was to try the validity of the last will and testament of - Mrs. Croll, an aged lady who had bequeathed her estate in this city, to one of her nephews, Jacob Druckamiller, and to the Mora vian Society, at Litiz. On the part of the con testants (who were a brother and sister and a sis ters children of the testatrix) it was alleged that, at the time of making her will she was not of sound mind and memory, and proved various peculiarities in her conduct transpiring about that time and for several years previously, which they contended all went to show that she was either insane or in her dotage, and was therefore incapable of dispos ing of her property. They also attempted to prove that Druckamiller, taking advantage of her imbe cility of mind, had instilled prejudices against her other kindred, and had therefore improperly in fluenced her bequests. All these allegations were denied on the part of the legatees, and proof was adduced to show that, at the time of executing the will, she was of sound and disposing memory, &c. The case was ably argued Tor the Plaintiffs by N. Ellmaker and William B. Feidney, Esqrs., and for the Defence by Col. Reah Frazer and Hon. Thaddeus Stevens. An able and elaborate charge was delivered by the Court—and the Jury; after' deliberating about an hour, returned into Court with a verdict for the Defendants, or, in other words, for sustaining the will. The other case was an action brought by the Lancaster Bankvs. Woodward, of Philadel phia. It appeared in evidence that, in December 1848, Woodward gave a check to a man named Hunt, on the Lancaster Bank, for $6OO, payable on the 14th of January, 1849, at which time he had no funds in the Bank, nor at any time subse quently. On the 13th of January, the day before the check was due, Woodward paid Hunt the amount of it, and Hunt told him that he had not the check aboui him, but would hand it to him the first opportunity. When called upon subsequently hesaid he had destroyed it. All this took place in January, 1849, and . Woodward supposed that every thing was right, and that the check was no longer in existence. But, it appears, that in Jan- nary, 1850—a period of one year and three days thereafter—this same check was presented -at the counter of the Lancaster Bank, (it having previous ly been paid by the Penn Township Bank and charged to the institution here,) where it was paid, although Woodward had no funds in the Bank at the time. Woodward refused to pay the Lancaster Bank, on the ground that he had already, a year before, paid the money to Hunt, and that the Bank was wrong in paying a check so long after date, and especially when the drawer had no funds in the institution. The case was argued by I. E. Hiester, Esq., for the Bank, and by Col. Frazer and John M. Read, Esq., of . Phila-delphia, tar the Defendant. The Jury returned a verdict for the Defendant. Fran.—On Tuesday morning last, between the hours of 9 and 10 o'clock, a fire broke out in a frame building in the rear of Messrs. Lane & Ne phew's store, occupied by Mr. Jacob Gable as a tin-smith shop. Owing to the prevalence of a high wind and the combustible material of winch the building was composed, the fire got considerable headway before the firemen had time to get to the scene of action. Five frame buildings belonging to John N. Lane, William Ihling, and Rev. Wm. Denims, were destroyed. They were mostly occu pied as work-shops. The buildings in the neigh borhood were several times on fire, but by the ex ertions of the firemen the flames were subdued. It is supposed to have been the work of an incen diary. ANOTHErt.—On the same evening between 8 and 9 o'clock, flames were seen issuing from a win dow in the third story of the hotel kept by Mr. Lantz, in East King street. The firemen were promptly on the spot and succeeded in prevent ing the extension of the flames; but, owing to the' nature of the building, making it difficult to reach the fire in time, the whole wood work of the•third story was destroyed. The building was 'covered by insurance.. Various reports are afloat as to the origin of the fire, but as yet noihing defi nite is known. lOThe Saturday Express contains the last of a series of communications on the License question which have been going on for several weeks past between the Rev. Mr. CooMnE and JACOB MYERS, Esq., editor of the American Republican. This finale of the correspondence is decidedly rich, racy and spirited, and we are not sure which of the distinguished gentlemen have come off "second best" in the controversy. Whether any laurels have been won on either side is extremely problem atical, and we doubt exceedingly whether either the cause of Temperance or Religion has been much benefited by the discusision so far. Our advice to both is, to pull up stakes and leave the grouni to oilier disputants who may be more temperate and not so personal in their writings. Sarcasm is very good in its place, and is a powerful weapon when properly wielded ; but when it descends to low scurrility and billingsgate slang, .it loses all its efficacy and injures the writer more than the object of his attack. AN hIPROVEMENT. — A project is now on foot for the erection of a large Halr suitable for exhi bitions, concerts, &c., in this city. The site se lected is on North Queen street, between the Court House and Orange street.'i!A stock company has been formed and a committee appointed by the improved . Order:of Red Men, in conjunction with several prominent citizens for the purpose of solicit ing subscriptions to the stock. As such a building is much needed, and as it would contribute greatly towards adorning and beautifying the city, it is but just that the citizens should subscribe freely to so worthy an object. irirThE BUCHANAN RIFLE CORPS of this city will be permanently organized by the Brigade In spector, on Monday evening next, at their armory. The company now numbers about fifty members and, when equipped, will present a handsome ap pearance. It is essential that there be a full turn out on the above evening. . LOCAL RAILROADS.—The citizens of Lancaster county are agitating a number of new local railroad enterprizes. A petition signed by 145 citizens was read on Monday, in the House, praying for an act of incorporation for the purpose of constructing a branch of railroad from New Holland to a point named on the Columbia and Philadelphia railroad. Another company ask for the corporate privilege of constructing a railroad from Cornwall through this county to Phoenixville, Chester county. The friends of these enterprizes claim that the con struction of such railways will materially benefit and enrich the localities through which they pass. So much for " IRON, the great eivilizer, ,, as Eliza Cook designates it.—Express. FRANKLIN MARSHALL COLLEOE.—.AL a stated meeting of the Board of Trustees of Franklin College, the following resolution was unanimously adopted : Resolved, That the Agent of this Board, the Rev. J. C. Bucher, be directed to proceed vigorously with the collection of the subscriptions entrusted to him—that he be prepared to make a final report and settlement of said subscriptions at the next meeting of the Board, on the first Monday in June; and that this resolution be published in all the p4ers in this city, with tho names appended of the Trustees now present, and of such others as may approve the same. • [Extract from the minutes.] S. BOWMAN, Secretary. Board of Trustees of Franklin College Rev. John C. Baker, Samuel Humes, • A. N. Keyes, E. C. Reigart, " J. C. Bucher, H. R. Reed, Robert McClure, P. K. Breneman, F. A. Muhlenberg, John F. Long, John Reynolds, Geo. Mayer, Jacob Long, John Myer, C. Hager, Rev. Wm. Beates, John L. Atlee, M. D., Geo. H. Krug, David Longenecker, Rev. R. de Schweintz. • RIOT CABE.—ThelVfayorhas had a hearing in the case of Commonwealth against Philip Groth, Val entine Rieuee, Aboyz Long, John Krekle, Henry Drachbar, Andrew Marks, Francis Hirnens, Michael Geiger, George Groth, and Valentine Heber, for riot. On hearing, the parties were bound over in the sum of $2OO. each to appear at court. This was an action brought by Rev. John Dudas and Col. John Hooves, for forcibly and riotously eject ing their personal property from the Personage building• of the German Catholic Church of this city.—Express. MEETING or FIRE COMPANIES.—The committees appointed by the different Fire Companies of this city, met at the - Public House of John Michael, March 2'7,1951, for the purpose of considering the utility and expediency of organizing a•Fire Associ ation similar to those established in larger cities. Oa motion, Groitoz M. STEINMAN, Esq., was called to the chair, and CIIARLES R. FRAILLY to act as Secretary, when the names of-the following committees were duly reported : Washington Engine and Hose Co., Michael Royer, Edward Rauch, John Nixdorf, Henry M. White and John Samsom. Union Engine and Hole Co., Newton Lightner, Esq., Charles H. Cooper, Amandua Ehler, James L. Reynolds, Esq. and Henry Y. Slaymaker. Friendship Hose Co., Chas. R. Frailef, Charles Gould, George W. Brown, John W. Jackson and Lewis Haldy. Sun Engine and Hose Co., Dr. Ely Parry, Chris tian Hager, Peter M'Conomy, John F. Long and Dr. John L. Atlee. American Engine land Hose Co., John Kleiss, Samuel H. Price, Anthony M , Glina, William Jor dan and Henry PowL Humane Hose Co.l, George M. Steinman, John C. Roat, Charles Blighter, John C. Eppinger and Henry Gast. On motion of Newton Lightner, Esq., a commit mittee, composed orone member from each of the above committees, ii conjunction with the Chair man and Secretary of the meeting, be appointed to make inquiries iniregard to the principles and regulations by which Fire Associations in other cities are governed, and to report at such time and place as may herafter be specified. The following gentlemen constitute the com mittee : Henry Y. Slarmaker, of the Union Engine and Hose Co. Henry M: " Washington " Sun Friendship " American ' Dr. Ely Parry, Charles Gould, Samuel H. Price John C. Roat, " Humane. On motion the Chairman of this meeting to be the Chairman of ? the commtttee. On motion, the abiwe committee will meet at the public house of John Michael, April 10, 1852, for . . . _ he purpose of repotting such information as may have been received.' On motion, the Sebretary be directed to have the proceedings of the meeting published in all the city papers. . _ GEORGE M. STEINMAN, Chairman CHAS. R. FRAILEY, Seely STABLES BURNT 1N MARIETTA.—On Friday eve ning the I9th inst., wo stables belonging to Chas- Kelley, in Marietta, were entirely destroyed by fire. The dwelling of Mr. Kelley was at one time in danger of taking fire also, but the exertions of the firemen prevented the tlames:reaching it. The la dies of the borough displayed a degree of heroism on this occasion deserving of the highest praise, and but for the assistance they rendered, the stable of Mr. Cushman, adjoining the fire, would have been burnt also. It is supposed the buildings were set on fire. News Items BLOODY AND FATAL AFFRAY.—Several Persons Killed and Wounded.—We are indebted to a valued friend for the following details of one of the blood iest and most deadly affrays that ever took place in Kentucky: LANCASTICR, Kr., Sunday, March 14.—Last eve ning, about 5 o'clock, Russel Hill, Isaiah Hill, Fred erick Hill, and two or three boys, sons of Isaiah and Frederick, were returning homeward from Tee. tersville, accompanied by Dr. O. P. Hill, of this place. Just as the party got opposite to a tobacco house, which had been fortified, on Scott's Fork of Sugar Creek, they were fired upon, and Russel Hill fell mortally wounded: His brothers and nephews hastened to his assist ance. The Are from the house still increasing, he remarked. "You can do me no good, boys; they base killed me—do the best you can," and expired. The Hills then charged upon the house, and Isaiah Hill was killed just as he was getting over the fence. The door of the house was forced by the remain ing Hills, and the fight continued with short arms and bowie knives. John Sellers was shot by a son of Isaiah Hill, (12 or 14 years) and fell and ex pired after having received five other shots by the same boy, when in the act of stabbing Frederick Hill with a bowie knife. Crisman died, having on his body one pistol shot and fifty-three wounds in. tided with a knife. A man by the name of Alver son, and another by the name of Samuel Sellers, (of the house party) vt•ere slightly Mounded. Two of the boys (Hills) were wounded with rifle shots, and one of them, a mere boy lies in a critical condition. Dr. Hill was not armed, and I understand did not participate in the conflict. He was considerably in advance of the party when the action commenced. He is now with the wounded, and a party have just left town to ascertain further particulars. P. S. Since writing the above, Dr. Burdett has arrived from the ground and confirms the news of the death of Russel and Isaiah Hill, John Sellers and William Crisman.—Louisville Courier of 111th. GREAT FIRE IN PIIILADELPHIA.-011 Sunday mousing last, a tremendous conflagration occurred in Philadelphia, which destroyed property to the amount of about $1,000,000. It was discovered in the basement of Messrs. A. J. Lewis & Co's ware house, No. 12 Strawberry street, extending to Bank Alley, near Chesnut st., being one of the most busi ness parts of the City. The building and nearly all its contents were destroyed, together with a number of the adjacentatores and ware houses.— Nearly all the property destroyed, is said to have been covered by insurance. ug- A destructive fire occurred in New York, in Dey street, near Broadway, at which property was destroyed to the amount of nearly $500,000. IU -- The trial of Mathias and Blasius Skupinski' the two Polish brothers, indicted for the murder of the boy, Jacob Lehman, at Richmond, near Phila delphia, in January last, was commenced before the Philadelphia Court of Oyer and Terminer, on Mon day the 22d inst., and continued until Friday eve ning, when the case was given in charge to the Jury. On Saturday morning they returned into Court with a verdict of Guilty of Murder in the I First Degree, against both the prisoners. PENNSYLVANIA CANAL NAYIGATIOR.—From th° I 15th to the 21st inst., eighty-nine boats cleared from Pittsburg by the Pennsylvania Canal. The amount of tolls received was $2,953. The Pittsburg Jour nal says that nine hundred tons of bacon and two hundred and fifty tons of lard were despatched to an eastern market within five days. The export of flour comes nearly up to a thousand barrels per day, Whiskey, an article never shipped eastward from Pittsburg in large quantities, was shipped to a very large extent, and contracts have been made for the transportation eastward of many thousands of bar rels of this article during the season. BALTIMORE, March 23.—Nancy Hupford, re. cently acquitted of poisoning Mr. Engle, at Cum , land, is now suspected of poisoning three husbands; who died suddenly. The last husband died in Somerset county three years ago. His body hal4 been disinterred, and it was found that he was poisoned. Mr The Elmiri Republican estimates that 12,- 500,000 feet of lumber floated down the Susque hanna river past that place in two days of the past week. This is supposed to be worth from $. 150 ,- 000 to $200,000- ALBANT, March 25.—The river is still blocked up with ice at Stuyvesant. There is no probabili ty of the river opening for a week•or ten days.— Boats still continue running to Hudson. 117 Henry C. Filler, postmaster at Somerset, Ohio, and two stage drivers, have been arrested on a charge of robbing the mail. Ifs It is said that the fortunes of the Roths child; are not less than $735,000,000. BALTIMORE, March 23.—We learn by a private despatch from Richmond, that six men and a wo• man, emigrating to the West, were massacred in a house in Doddridge county, in Va., last week, by another emigrating party, who put up at the same house. They robbed the murdered party of $22,- 000, and made their escape. 11:r" GEN. SCOTT CANT C/lINT VIEOINIA," say the Southern Whigs--Lence he should not be nom. inated. What Whig can carry Virginia. History says that neither Adams, nor Clay, nor Harrison nor Taylor, nor any other Whig, has been able to lift even one side of it. 137' Two thousand five hundred and two mar riage licenses have been issused by the clerk of Hamilton county, Ohio, from the Ist of January. 1851, to the 22d of December, 1851, an average of seven per day. This argues well for the prosperi ty of that people. It is a happy country in which the cares of a family form no obstacle to matrimo nial union. In certain portions of England, it ap-. peered from official statistics, a few years since that more than half the marriages were cotnpulso', ry—that the bride usually appeared before the minister with the marriage license in one pocket and a justice's writ in the other!—Washington Telegraph. [l7- Prof. Alfred Nevin has tendered his resig nation as Pastor of the German Reformed Church in Chambersburg, to take effect on the first of May next; Dr. J. F. Berg, Pastor of the German Re formed Church' in Race street, Philadelphia,'haa also resigned—on account, it is said, of certain de velopements in the doctrines of the church which he considers not orthodox.
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers