Aii.lti4iiicti&.oitriial. GEO. S&NDERSON, EDITOR LANCASTER, MARCH 6,1855 Our Legislators at Harrisburg. We copy the following appropriate and well timed remarks in reference to our Legislators from; the Philadelphia Ledger. There is a great deal of truth and sound doctrine in 'the comment, and, we cannot refrain from giving our readers the benefit of it: A contemporary declares that many of the present members of the Pennsylvania Legisla ture belonging to all parties, are shamefully incompetent; but attributes their election,•by what seems at first a paradoxical assertion, to their utter obscurity as individuals. Our so temporary, however, is not far wrong. There can be no question that the standard of public morality has been steadily declining, for many years, in the Legislature of this Common wealth. We are not prepared to say, with our cotemporary, that the present Assembly is the worst we ever had ; but certainly it is bad enough. Before it had been in session a month, charges of bribery were so openly made on its floor, that a committee of investi; gation had to be appointed to investigate the subject. A legislature . ought to be, like Csesar's wife, above suspicion. When it be comes necessary tch.take notice officially of ac cusations like thiTi; it may be considered estab lished that, whatever the committee report, there has been corruption somewhere. If we are to judge of the way in which political af fairs aro conducted, by the talk of politicians themselves, it is regarded no crime to bribe, provided, to use their own phraseology, they "cover up their tracks." When such language is employed, we may be sure there is secret guilt. Much of the incompetency, profligacy and venality among our legislators is to be attribu ted to the fact that politics has sunk into a trade. Men now follow it for a livelihood, and not, as formerly, to enhance the public good. The tilwas and within the memory of many yet • ng, when legislators were chosen like Cincinnatus, for their eminent public virtues. But now, as our cotemporary has observed, it is obscure men who are most often elected. Obscure we mean as individuals. Persons, unknown to their fellow-citizens generally, either as worthy, intelligent, pub lic spirited, sagacious or humane. But they are not obscure in the places, where, by the degradation to which politics have sunk the wires are pulled which elect our represen- , I tatives. Every grogshop knows them, every I demagogue has their acquaintance, every venal ; seeker after office is in their interest. Or they are known, nominally, as reformers, but really as old political hacks, who, by a sort of leap frog, mount to power over the backs of the peo ple. In a word, they are anything but obscure , in the world of trickery, double-shuffling, and corruption, though obscure enough in the more elevated sphere of public virtue, patriotism, capacity and honesty. To a certain extent, nevertheless, it is the fault of the people that such legislators are chosen. It is the difference of the public at large which enables artful men to make a trade of politics. At the late special election for State Senator, fur example, but two-thirds of the voters went to the polls: and the delin quents were about equally divided between the two parties. To ward meetings three-fourths of the electors never go at all. Is it a wonder that the management of public affairs falls into the hands it does? A merchant, who should neglect the details of his business, as citizens neglect the details of government, would soon be ruined; and is it surprising, therefore, that public liftairs have got to their present pass? The people have nobody to blame but them selves, that Harrisburg is full of ignorant, cor rupt, artful and hypocritical legislators : that. everybody believes, though nobody, perhaps can prove, that bribery is going on all the time: and that, if the Commonwealth is not disgraced—ruined it cannot be, thank God!— it is because the community at large has too high a 'character for - piiblic virtue to be affect ed even by the acts of its agents. The Bribery Investigation This investigation is likely to end in smoke, as it is next to impossible to draw the truth out of those who were suhpoened before the Committee of Investigation. Many who were supposed to know something of the corrupt influences alleged and believed to have been employed to influence the Senatorial election, were most inveterate know-nothinga when brought on the witness stand: and, it is said, that several gentlemen whose personal ac quaintance the committee would hate been pleased to make, have had important business in other States just at this time, and, there fore, could not possibly return for the investi gation ! In addition, a majority of the Com mittee seem to have a strong disposition to apply the whitewash brush to what has 'al ready transpired, as it was supposed they would at the time of their appointment; and, consequently, we think it altogether probable that the investigation will result in little or no substantial good. Indeed, it may result in harm for it is possible that, by this result, innocent men may bb made to suffer from pub lic suspicion, whilst the guilty may escape soot free. That there has been gross bribery and corruption used in this Sentorial business, ne one doubts who knows any thing of the character of certain parties implicated ; but that it would exhibit itself so openly as to insure detection, is what we never believed. The Senatorial ilneition Believing that it will be interesting to all of our readers, we have copied from the North American, a full account of the proceedings in the Legislature relative to the election of U. S. Senator—including the several ballots, changes, It will be seen that in the me lee CAMERON has again been placed hors du combat, and that his doom is, to all intents and purposes. irrevo,:ably sealed. The adjourn ment of the. Convention over to the first Tues day in October is, in the opinion of nearly ev ery body, tantamount to a postponement of the question until the meeting of the next Legislature, as also to a shelving of CAMERON for all time to come, so far as Senatorial hon ors are concerned: The people, at the Octo ber election, will have an opportunity of pass ing upon Lis claims, and it is not difficult to predict the arch 'demagogue's fate before that tribunal. The whole country breathes "freer and deeper" since Tuesday last. A Valuable Present We are indebted to the kindness of our friend, Cql. John W. Forney, Clerk of the House of Repre.,eutatives, at Washington, for a richly bound volume of Hickey's "Constitu tion of the U. States," a valuable and highly interesting work. The book contains in ad dition to the Constitution, the following im portant State papers, &c., viz : The Declaration of Independence; The Ar ticles of Confederation ; The Prominent Pol itical Acts of George Washington; Electoral Votes for all the Presidents and Vice Presi dents; The High Authorities and Civil Offi cers of Government from 1789 to 1847 ; Chron ological Narrative of the several States, and otherinteresting matters ; with a Descriptive Account of the Stite Papers, Public Docu • =Dig, &c., &c., at the seat of Goverzyment. j "Claims against - nee 11. States: The following is a synopsis or the bill for the creation of a Coait to adjudicate claims against the Government, as it passed both branches , of Congress and received the signature of th ( e . President. This is an excellent_measure; and will be a great relief to _the honest claimants:l against the Government: Be it enacted, &c. That a court shall be es tablished called a eourt of claims, to consist of three judges, to be appointed by the Presi dent, by and with the advice .and consent of the Senate, and to hold their officers during good behaviour; and the said court shall hear and determine all claims founded upon any contract, express or implied, with the Govern ment of the United States, which may be sug gested. to it by a petition filed therein; and al so all claims which may be referred to said court by either House of Congress. It shall be the duty of the claimant in all cases to set forth a full statement of the claim, and of the action thereon in Congress, or by any of the Departments, if such action has been had; specifying also what person or persons are owners thereOf or interested therein, and when and Upon what consideration such person or persohe became 'so interested. Each of the said judges shall receive a compensation of four thousand dollars per annum, payable quarterly, from the Treasury of the United States, and Shall take an oath to support the Constitution of the United States and discharge the duties of his office faithfully. Sec. 2. Provides for the appointment of a Solicitor to represent the U. S. Government in said Court. Sec. 3. Authorizes the Court to establish rules and regulations, to appoint Commission ers to take testimony, &c. Sec. 4, 5 and 6. Relate to the mode of tak ing testimony, and prescribe penalties for false swearing. Sec. 7. And be it further enacted, That said court shall keep a record of their proceed ings, and shall, at the commencement of each session of Congress, and nt the commencement of each month during the session of Congress, report to Congress the cases upon which they shall have finally acted, stating in each the material facts which they find established by the evidence, with their opinion in the case, and the reason upon which such opinion is founded. Any judge who may dissent from the opinion of the majority shall append his reasons for such dissent to the report ; and such report, together with the briefs of the solicitor and of the claimant, which shall ac company the report upon being made to either House of Congress, shall be printed in the same manner as other public documents.— And said court shall prepare a bill or bills in those cases which shall have received the fa vorable decision thereof, in such form as, if enacted, will carry the same into effect. And two or more cases may be embraced in the same bill, where the separate amount propsed to be allowed in each case shall be less than one thousand dollars. And the said court shall transmit with said reports the testimony in each case; whether the same shall receive the favorable or adverse action of said court. tec. 8. And he it further enacted, That said reports, and the bills reported as afore said, shall, if not finally acted upon during the session of Congress to which the said re ports are made, be continued from session to session, and from Congress to. Congress, until the remainder be finally acted upon, and the consideration of said reports and bills shall, at the subsequent session of Congress, be re sumed, and the said reports and bills be pro ceeded with in the same manner as though fi nally acted upon at the session when present ed. Sec. 9. And be it further enacted, That the claims reported upon adversely shall he placed upon the Calender when reported, and if the decision of said court shall be confirmed by Congress, said decision shall be conclusive ; and the said court shall not, at any subse quent period, consider said claims unless such reason shall be presented to said court as, by the rules of common law or chancery in suits between individuals, would furnish sufficient ground for granting a new n•ial. Sec. N. Requires the Speaker of the House to provide rooms in the Capitol or elsewhere, for the accommodation of the Court. Sec. 11. Empowers, the Court to call upon the Departments for information or papers in their possession, and authorizes it to appoint a Chief Clerk, Assistant Clerk, and Messen ger. 13..qirThe editor of the Easton Aryrrs thus duns his delinquents. Ours may take the hint, if they please, to our advantage: QuErtv?—Can any of our delinquent sub scribers inform us whether the banks continue to print their notes upon paper, with black ink? We have a vague and indistinct recol lection, that in times past—ere we took upon ourselves the publication of a newspaper— bank bills were printed upon little strips of paper varying in size, with peculiar devices, and the denomination of the bill in figures at each end. We have recently felt a curiosity to know whether the same style and form are preserved at the present day. Who will en lighten us? In regard to the metalic currency, we have a slight curiosity ; but a more vivid recollec tion Of their size, shape and color remains with us; for within the past year, if we recollect aright, we saw a gold dollar or a three cent piece, we can't just now say which. - It was made of a white metal, and was about the size of a small wafer. We will cheerfully accept any genuinebank bill or any piece of coin in payment of ar rearages. Who will forward them to us? PASSAGE or THE POSTAGE BILL.- The Senate on Tuesday, amended and passed the bill from the House which provides that for letters go ing less than 3000 miles the postage shall be three cents, and over that distance it shall, be five cents, except where postal treaties with other countries shall prevent. The amend ment further provides that, after the rst Jan uary, 1856, all letters shall be pre-paid, and that done with stamps ; also, that letters containing money can be registered, so as to show that they have been sent, but in no in_ stance to make the department responsible for them. The amendment must, of course. be concurred in by the House. The Post Of f ice Agent Some days ago the editor of the Herald as serted that the Hon. JAMES - CAMPBELL had ap pointed a foreigner, by the name of PATRICK M'Guiaa, as a secret agent of the Post Office Department, and that he was a Roman Catho lic. We should have noticed this matter at the time, but overlooked it. Mr. M'GUIRE was first appointed by President FILLMORE to' this post, and because he ova's found a most excellent and trustworthy officer, Mr. CAMPBELL retained him. He ie no foreigner. His fath_ er was born in Maryland, as was also his grand_ father. and this is more, probably, than can be said of the editor of the Herald. We have watched these sly and malicious insinuations made by the editor of the Herald against Mr. CAMPBELL, to keep alive that spirit of religious intolerance which has been of late engendered in this country, and been astonish ed to see with what recklessness the editor per verts the truth. He is a worthy desciple of "gam,"and is admirably fitted to carryoutthe principles of the order—deception and hypocri sy.—Dens. Union. The Monthlies “YASEEE Notions.—Thin humorous monthly continues in its career of prosperity. The March number is a capital one. The illustrations ace rich in the extreme, and the reading matter such as cannot fail to produce a hearty laugh in every circle where the number appears. Those who desire fun. wit and humor, would do well to subscribe for the 'Notions.” Published by T. W. STRONG, 93 Nes mu St. N. F. Price 12 1 A cents per number, or 51. 25 par annum. A THRILLING NOVEL.-T. B. PETERSON, Na 102 - Cheshut St. Philadelphia, has in press, which will shortly be published, a new work entitled "KATE ATLESFORD, • STORY OF THE REFUGEES." The work will be complete in one large volume, neatly bound in cloth, fo. $1,25; or in t.co vol umes, paper covers, for $2. The book will be published on - the 24th inst., and is very highly spoken of by the Editors of the Sunday Mercury, Dollar N ewe and Public Ledger, all of whom have read the work in proof-sheets. Copies of either edition or the work, will be for warded by trail, free of postage, to any address, upon receipt of the money. We are indebted to otir excellent friend, Dr. N. B. WoLFE, of St. Jacobs, Canada West, for the present of a beautiful Smoking Cap, of Indian manufacture, received through Adams' Express. . The one intended for Chief Justice LEWIS will be banded to that gentle man by the first opportunity, who, we doubt not, will be highly gratified at its reception. Congress adjourned sine die on Sunday at noon. - -- _ - CousspopthisWortheilortb American.- From Harrisburg. The Senatorial Question—Five Ineffectual Bat- Ttbular Statement of them—The fit Ballet in detail—Changes in the two sit7megueni---Hotirms to adjourn to _different days— roje, on these metiems--Falcd blunder gllrameroyes-friends—ZDetailed Vote on the motion to' adjourn %until October—Regular Deniocrats who raid for Cameron's policy —Law bearing on Election of Senators, &c. &c.. - EflitetseunG, Feb. 27, 1855 , The Senatorial contest was fought and set , tied to-day, for this session; but settled only !after the heaviest fight I have ever seen in the Legislative halls. Of the results you have al ready been apprised, but of the details, which are both interesting and important, you are i not informed. I cannot more profitably oc l'eupy my usual space in the North American, j than in statements of votes on this subjeet, as well as votes on collateral questions as on di rect ballotsfor a Senator, that the people of the State May become aware of the actual part their Representatives took in the conflict, and thus be able intelligently. to judge of its propriety or impropriety. At 12 o'clock, M., the Speaker and mem bers of the Senate were escorted to the'Hall of the House, where seats had been prepared for them. The Speaker of the Senate being ex-officio President of the Joint Convention, Mr. Speaker Hiester took the Chair of the Speaker of the House. The Convention re mained in session three hours, and 1164 three ballots for a U. S. Senator, without effecting a choice. Two ballots were taken on Tuesday, the 13th—five in all; which, for convenience sake, I annex, all in sn single table: Ist. 2d. 3d. 4th. sth. Simon Cameron, of Dauphin, 55 59 55 5I 55 C. R. Burkalew, of Columbia, 23 27 23 23 23 J. Pringle Jones, of Reading, 11 7 4 d 5 David Wilmot, of Bradford, 9 11 5 5 4 Thos. Williams, of Allegheny. 5 5 6 4 3 James Veech, of Fayette, 7 6 5 2 3 H. M. Fuller, of Luserrie, 2 2 1 . , Smith Fuller, of Fayette Geo. Chambers, of Franklin, l 1 1 Jeremiah S. Black, of Somerset, 1 1 1 1 1 0. H. Tiffany, of Carlisle 1 1 • Thos. H. Baird, of Washington,l 2 " John C. Kunkel, of Dauphin, 1 1 1 1 1 Thad. Stevens, of Lancaster, 2 4 4 Gideon J. Ball, of Erie, 2 Wm. H. Irwin, of Mifffin, 4 4 4 John W. Howe, of Crawford,/ 2 2 1 Robert T. Conrad, of Phil Ada.. 4 7 5 James Todd, of N - 1' estmofeland, 1 John W. Maynard, o([.1 Sycomtng, 57 E. Joy Morris, of Pl4lada., 2 1 John S. Littell, of Fhtlada. 2 . 5 Joseph Buffington, of Armstrong ; 6 d 8 John S. Brady, of Greene, 1 1 John J. Pearson, of Dauphin, 1 1 Wm. Lorimer, jr., of Allegheny, 1 Necessary to a choice, 66 66 06 66 66 You have already published the particulars of the first two ballots. We will now exam ine the last three. The voting on the third ballot was a follows: For. Simon U.ameron-51essrs. Crabb, Cresswell, Frazer, Fry, Haldeman, Hendricks, Hoge, Kfflinger, Platt, Quiggle, Sellers and SHUMAN, of the Senate, and Messrs. Barry, Beal, Caldwell, Carlisle, Clover, Crawford, Criswell, Cum mings, of Philadelphia co., ' of Somerset, Donald son, Eyster, Fletcher, Frailey, Free, GROSS, Guy, Haines, Hubbs, King, Kirkpatrick, Krepps, Lane, McConkey, ,McConnel, Morrison, Muse, NORTH, Palmer, Reese, Ritten house, Rutter, Sallade, Sherer, Smith of Allegheny, Smith of Blair, Stehley, Stockdale. ' Sturdevaut , Weddell, Wood, Yorkes, Ziegler and. Strong, (Speaker) of the House-55. For C. R. Buckalew--Ilessrs. Browne, Goodwin, Hamlin, Jamison, 31cClIntock, Sager, Walton, Wherry and Mester, (Speaker) of the Senate, and Messrs. Baker, Bush, Christ, Craig, Dougherty, Dunning, Edinger. Fry, Johnson, McClean, 31a.swell, Orr, Thompson and Wright, of the House-23. _ For J. Pringle Jones—Messrs. Taggart, of the Senate, and Harrison, Linderman, and Mangle of the Molise-4. For David Wilmot—Messrs. Baldwin, Holcomb, Laporte, M'Calmont, and Wickersham, of the House-5. For Thomas Williams—Meisrs. Darsie, Frick, Price, and Sk inner, of the Senate, and Chamberlin and WITMER, of the House—C. For James eech—Messrs. Ferguson, of the Senate, and FRANKLIN, HERR, McCullough, and Page of the House —5. For Henry M. Fuller—Mr. 3lorris, of the House-1. For Jeremiah S. Black—Mr. Buckalew of the Senate-1. For John C. Kunkel—Mr. Bergstresser, of the llouse-1. Fur Thaddeus Stevens—Messrs. Mellinger, of the Senate, and Downing of the House-2. For tvm. H. Irwin-31emrs. Lewis, of the Senate, and Hodgson. Maddock and Pennypacker, of the House-4. For John W. Howe—Messrs. Lott and Powell, of the House-2. For Robert T. Conrad—Messrs. Gwitiner, Smith. (Phila delphia city) Steel and Thorn of the House-4. For James! Todd—Mr. Foust, of the House-1. For John W. Maynard—Messrs. Jordan of the Senate, and Avery, Fearon, Leas and Lowe, of the House-5. For E. Joy Morris—Messrs. Pratt of the Senate, and Wa terhouse, of the House-2 NaMialliillMlN;iiiiii For Joseph Buffington—Messrs. Ball, Clapp, Foster, Mr Combs. Megi'Lund tewart, of the House-6. Fur John S.. Brady—Mr. Flenniken. of the 6enate—l. The changes on this ballot from the last had on the 13th were as follows:—In Senate, Mr. Flenniken from Veerh to Brady; Messrs. Hoge, Piatt and Quiggle from Buckalew to Cameron; Mr. Lewis from Teech to Irwin: Mr. Mellinger from non-voting to Stevens, and Mr. Pratt from non-voting to Morris. In the House, Mr. Allegood from Cameron to non-voting; Mr. Bergstrasser from Tiffany to Kunkel; Mr. Bowman from Cameron to WWI; Mr. Clapp from non-vo ting to Buffington; Mr. Downing from Wilmot to Stevens: Mr. Fearou from Cm.", :al to Maynard; Mr. Foster from Cameron Co Buffington: Mr. Foust from Jones to Todd, Mr. Gwinner from Baird to Conrad; Mr. Hodgson from Wilmot to Irwin; Mr. Lathrop from Wilmot to non-voting; Mr. Leas from Cameron to Maynard: Mr. Lott from Wilmot to Howe, Mr. Lowe from Chambers to Maynard; Mr. Mc- Combs from Wilmot to Buffington; Mr. Maddock from Ful ler to Irwiu:Mr. Magill from Jones to Buffington; Mr. Mengle from Cameron to Jones; Mr. Pennypacker from Wilmot to Ir win; Mr. Powell from Williams tollowe: Mg. Ross from Wil liams tonun-voting, Mr. Simpson from Jouks to Litton; Mr. Smith,of Philadelphia. from. Ball to Conrad; Mr. Steel from , Cameron.to Conrad; Mr. Stewart from Ball to Bufll ngton:Mr. Stockdale from Buckelew to Cameron; Mr. Thorn from Baird to Conrad; and Mr. Waterhouse from Cameron to Morris. Some of Cameron's friends were confident of electing him on this ballot, but were surprised at the changes against him, It was iu this view that Messrs. Hoge, Platt, and Quiggie doubtless agreed to bolt the regular Demo cratic nomination, and thus seal their political fate. On the fourth ballot, the changes from the third were In the Senate, Mr. Ferguson from 'Feeds to Buffington.— In the House, Mr. Allegood from non-voting to Cameron; Mr. Bowman from Littell to Conrad; Mr. Chamberlin from Williams to Buffington; Mr. Foust from Todd to Conrad; Messrs. FRANKLIN and HERR from Veech to Stevens; Mr. Lane from Cameron to Buffington: Mr. 31orris from Fuller to Conrad; Mr. Simpson from Littell to Jones; Mr. Thorn from Conrad to Jones; Mr. Waterhouse from Morris to Conrad; Mr. ITIT3IER from Williams to Pearson; and Mr. Wood from Cameron to Maynard. On this ballot Cam.. ron lost two and gained one vote. • • On the fifth ballot, the changes from the fourth were:— In Senate, Mr. Flenniken, from Brady to Buffington; Mr. Pitt, from Morris to Conrad; and Mr. Skinner, from Wil liams to Buffington. In the House, Mr. Avery, from May nard to Wilmot Mr. Baldwin, from Wilmot to Maynard; Mr. Bowman, from Conrad to Wien; Mr. Lane, from Buf fington to Cameron; Mr. Lott, from Howe to Lorimer; Mr. McCombs, from Buffington to Littell; Mr. Simpson, from Jones to Littel; Mr. Steel. from Conrad to Littell; Mr. Stew art, from Buffington to Veech; Mr. Waterhouse, from Con- I rad to Littel, and Mr. Wickersham, from Wimot to ' May nard. On thls ballot, Cameron gained one oßhe two votes he lost on the previous ballot. Cn the 13th, the absentees were Messrs. Melllager,of the Senate, and Clapp, of the House; and there was a vacancy in the Senate. On the 27th, Mr. Allegood was absent on on the first ballot, but present on the second and third taken on that day, and Messrs. Lathrop, of Susquehanna county, and Ross. of Crawford—both Anti-Cameron men, the former a Wilmot mao, and the latter an old-line Whig —were absent the entire day. Between the second and third ballots there was an active contest, of which the votes de serve a record. After the result of the fourth had been 'announced, Mr. McCombs moved that the Convention adjourn to meet on the 4th of July. Mr. Frailey moved an amend ment "until this afternoon at 4 o'clock." Mr. Johnson moved an additional amendment —"until to-morrow, at 12 o'clock"— which was lost ; yeas 26, nays 104. Mr. Morris then moved an amendment to adjourn until the second Tuesday of October next. The Cameron men did not wish a direct vote on the adjournment, which the anti-Cameron men desired should be taken, as they felt they might carry it. Mr. Dunning, a disguised Cameronian, theffore moved to postpone the motion, with its amendments, and proceed to a fifth - ballot. Mr. Smith, of Philadelphia, anxious to be rid of the motion to postpone, and to get a direct vote on adjournment, called the previous ques tion, which was however lost by a tie vote— yeas 65, nays 65. On this vote the following persons who' had previously% voted against Cameron, on the direct ballotings, voted to sustain the tactics of his especial friends. In the Senate, Messrs Flenniken, McClintock and Sager. In the House, Messrs. Bush, Christ, Craig, Dougherty, Downing, Dunning, Johnson, Maxwell, Thompson, Waterhouse, and Wood.' The following who had previous ly voted for Cameron, voted against these tac tics: In the Senate, Messrs. Sellers and SHU MAN. In the House, Messes. Hubbe and Morrison showing a gain of 14 to Cameron, and a loss of 4—a clear gain of 10 ; raising his strength from 55 to 65 ; and in consequence of Mr. Speaker Hiester declining to vote, re ducing the opposition of 76 to 65. ' The pre vious question having failed, the question re curred on the motion to adjourn, with its amendments, and to proceed to another ballot, which was agreed to—yeas 66, nays 65—Mr. Speaker Mester on this occasion voting with Mr. Cameron's friends. The fifth ballot was then taken, with the re sult heretofore stated. After the anounce rnent by the President of the vote, Mr. Browne, of Philadelphia, moved the Convention ad journ until tho first Tuesday of October next. Mr. Haldeman moved to amend by substitu ting that when this Convention adjourns, it will adjourn to meet to-morrow at 11 o'clock. He called the previous question on his motion which was sustained, yeas 108, nays 22, which cut off amendment and debate on either Mr. Browne's motion or Mr. Haldeman's substi tute. The anti-Cameron men quickly par ceived:Mr. Haldeman's:parliamentary blunder ,and took advantage of it, as it served precise ly the purpose in which they had failed in the struggle between the fourth and fifth bal lots; of bringing up for direot vote the pyopo sition to adjourn over. Mr. Cameron's friends did not see their mistake for some time, and not until they were entrapped in the foils they had intended for others. On Mr. Haldeman'', motion ,for a-meeting to-morrow ; , ttio4yeas , and nays were)called, with this resultyeas 63, nays 66. The voting was substantially the samens--on Mr. Dunning's previcius motion to poritiiiine, which was carried—yeas 66, nay•ti Parties stood relatively on tnis question esi"enthat.. But the changes, wereithesn: In Senate,. Mr. Flenniken - changed trim ; yea. _to nay. In . the . House, DEI7. Christ &tinged from yea to nonvoting; GROSS, changed from yea to nay, and Steel changed from 'nay to non voting. Thus there were three' changes from aye, reducing the ayes to 63, and two changes to, and one loss from the nays, increasing them to 66. The motion to meet to-morrow being thus negatived, the question recurred on, the mo tion to adjourn over until the first Tuesday Or October, which was agreed to, yeas 66, - nays 65: This was the grand battle of the day, having been pikessed earnestly by ,Cameron's opponents, and resisted as earnestly by his friends. The -vote is worthy of record, and I append it. Yeas—Messrs. Browne, Buckatew, Dora* Ferguson, Flenniken, Frick, Goodwin, Hamlin, Jamison; Jordon, Lew is, Mellinger, Pratt, Mee, Sellers, Skinner,Taggert, Wal ton and Wherry of the Senates and Avery, iaker, Baldwin, Ball, Bergstresser, Bowman, 'Chainberan, Christ, Clapp, Edinger, l'earon, Foster Foust, FRANKLIN', Fry, (twin ner, Harrison , HERB, H odgson, Holcomb, Ilubbs,Laporte, Leas Linderman, Lott, Lowe, M cCalmont , McClean, McCombs, McCullough, Maddock, MegillOdzingle, Morris, Orr Page, Pennypacker, Powell, Simpson, Smith of Phils,' Steli Stewart, Thorn, Waterhouse, Wickersham, WITMER' and Wright, of the House--66. Nays—Messrs. Crabb, Cresswell, Frazier, Fry, Haldeman, Hendricks, Hoge, lilltinger, McClintock, Platt, Qtdggle, ' Sager,SIIIIMAN and Hiester, (Speaker) of the Senate; andl Allegood, Barry, Bon, Bush, Caldwell, Carlisle, Clover,' Craig, Crawford, Criswell, Cummings, of Phila., Cummins,' of Somerset, Dougherty , Donaldson, Downing, Dunning, , Eyster, Fletcher, Franey, FreeoGßOSS,Guy,italnes, John son, King, Kirkpatrick, Krepps, Lane, McConkey, Sic Con, nell, Maxwell, Morrison, Muse, NORTH, Palmer, 'Mein,' Rittenhouse, Rutter, Ballade, Sherer, Smith,. of ,-Y Allegheny,' Smith, of Blair, Stanley, Stockdale, Sturdetant, Thomp son, Weddell, Woodorkes, Ziegler end Strong, (Speaker) , of the House--65. On this ballot, of those who had opposed a re-considering to-morrow, Mr. Shuman voted nay, with Cameron's friends. Mr. Christ, who; declined voting before, voted aye; Mr. GROSS voted nay; and Mr. Steel, who declined voting before, voted aye, 'showing a gain of four tor the nays,.and a gain of two to the ayes, which! reduced the anti-Cameron majority from thre to one! Immediately after the result of the last lot was announced, the president adjourned convention, and the Sentitora retired to their chamber. The reason the motion to adjourn! was not to adjourn sine die, was, that it was understood the president would decide such motion to be out of order. Hence. the 'Aces, sity of moving to adjourn to a particular day A remote day was fixed, and no one dreams that the convention will be called together td elect a Senator one week before a .new Legis] lature are to be elected. Such a 'proceeding would not be sustained by public sentiment; and the adjournment may thus be considered as tantamount to a disposal of the question for the present Legislature. There is a clause of the present law, from which some of Mr. Cameron's friends are draNi-- ing a hope that they will yet have another op- , portunity this session to elevate their favorite to a place he is not fit to fill ;—but very falla-1 ciously. It is in these words: "Whenever a vacancy, by resignation or otherwise, shall happen , in the representation of this State in the Senate of the United States the Legislature, if in session, shall, withiri eight days after being informed of the same by the Governor, proceed to supply such vacancy by an election, conducted herein .before pre scribed." 130 130 130 131 131 This section cannot be construed to apply to seats becoming vacant by legislative laches; ur no information from the Governor would be ref quired. A vacancy by expiration of term is not required to be made known by. the Goren nor to the Legislature, which body is preowned to be acquainted with the terms of service of its officers, The notice spoken of in the sec;tion, to be given by the Governor, proves the limitation ut the pro%.siou to such cases of vat+ cancy as are always made known to the Legisi lature through that functionary. The words "or otherwise" after "resignation," can there; fore be considered only as a generality, to covei any possible vacancy of that description, and not to include a vacancy of an entirely different description, In addition, the previous sections of the law are devoted to directions for the meeting of the two Idolises in Convention on the second Tuesday of February, and thereaf ter at such times as they may adjourn to for the election of a Senator to fill that after "the expiration of the constitutional term of a Sen;- ator aforesaid :" and this section was added, so as to suggest the means-by which a Senator is to be elected to fill a vacancy created other= wise than by "the expiration of the constitu tional term ; " that is, by resignation or oth;- erwise, of a 'Senator during his "constitutional term." No such case exists now ; and there can be no reconvening of the Convention to elect a successor to Mr. Cooper Wore the first Tuesday of October. An examination of the law will satisfy any one that the construction given above is correct. . • A GREAT AFFAIR.—They are, the ad vertisements say, to have a great affair at Doylestown, shortly, or some time in 'ss— sort of Cattle show—baby show—pietao show—and a show of all sorts, at which "all the world and the rest of mankind" are expected as visitors. The Democrat says : "We were favored last week, with a sight of the plans of the grounds, buildings, &c:, of the plans of the coming Exhibition, drawn by Joseph D. Koecker, Esq., of Philadel phia, Architect, and we have rarely seen anything more appropriate or beautiful.t The race course is circular, beautifully laid out and ornamented, and enclosing the building, which is a succession of archee, surmounted by a heavy dome in the centre, and surrounded by minarets, containing spiral staircases. The height of the•rnain building is 55 feet, from the apex rof the dome to the ground 100 feet; frem the flag to the ground, 135 feet. The donie is so constructed as to form a whispering gallery which will be one of the greatest curiosities of the Exhibition. The ground will be broke as soon as possible and the work commenced, as the Architect is engaged on the working plans." tar The following bill, authorizing parties to contract for a greater rate of interest than six per cent., has been reported to the Legis lature, by Mr. NORTH, from the Judiciary Committee : Sec. 1. That from and after the passagerof this act, it shall be lawful for any person; or persons not legally disqualified from milking. other agreements or contracts. to contract or by agreement bind or to be bound to an rite of interest that the parties to such contract may c6nclude upon between themselves: Provided, That no contract for a greater_ rate of interest than six per cent, shall be biudi . ng or have any legal effect for a longer period than one year from the making and copClu ding of such agreement. SEC. 2. That from and after the passage of this act, the legal rate of interest shall i main as heretofore, and that no open (wept*, judgment or mortgage shall carry a giTater rate of interest than six per cent. per annum.. SEC. 3. That all laws inconsistent [With the provisions of this be, and they fire hereby repealed. The Bounty Land Bill has passed; bo i th houses. The bill provides lands for persous lof all grades, by land and sea, inclidibg Indians, wagoners and flotilla men, who have served in the, wars sinbo 1790, one hund.t;ed and sixty acres in all 0 each person who lies served not less than, fourteen days, except ac tually in battle for a shorter period. The widows or minor children to receive the ben efit in case of the death of the persons so en titled. The widows of officers and soldiers of the revolutionary war to be entitled to the benefits of this act, as likewise the volunteers at the invasion of Pldttsburg, in September 1814, the volunteers at the attack of Lewis town, Del. in the :l year 1812 and 1815, and the chaplains who served in the several wars. gir An interesting soene occurred in the United States Senate on Tuesday last. The sword which Gen. Jackson wore through all his campaigns, and which, while on i his death bed he presented to his friend and companlon in arms, the late - Gen. Armstrong, was presen ted to Congress. Gen. Vass, in presenting the weapon, delivered an eloquent eulogy upon the public services and private virtues of the gal lant Hero of New Orleans. Mr. Bell followed in a similar strain, and at the conclusion ofhis remarks offered a joint resolution accepting the sword, and thanking the family-of the late Gen. Armstrong for the gift, It passed un n imonsly: I ' Vc 4,"" ll P 4lA ",ee• /11ILADELP/ILI: March 2, 185.5. The cetninencetuent season Of our Medical Col leges has arrived,f and the anxious_ graduates are separated by' but a . short bridge of time from die great event they have long been looking forward towith so much anxiety, the reception in their di pqiitai. The commencementdist Philadelphia College liaa &Needy taken the Elnmcepathie College has manufiacturtul some thirty-eight M. D. , s of that ityatem;:and the Pennsylvania;leffe`ritin, and University, will soon follow with some three or four hundred more. ' A greater number of Med ical Siiidenta l annually- graduate here than at any other City' in the world, and the highest degree of excellence is attained by our Professors. One i l the most eiciting topics of the day con nected with our municipal politics, is the grave question whether tt e Policemen shall or shall not wear a nee style of hat, the crown of which is to be tipped with leather, and the shape very pe culiar. Qdite a stormy debate took place in Cutni cils on the subject, and many of the policemen protest against it most I ustily as being too much of the livery style to suit the tastes of an American citizen., The Mayor, however; has finally settled the point in a very summary "no song, no supper" style, by announcing that those who decline wear ing the hat, thatl have no official head to wear it on, but shall at once be Oinissed from the service. Quite an excitement was created here a short time since, among the checker-players by the ad vent ora Scotchman said to be the best player in the world, who plumed himself upon his profici ency in that geme. He watt quite an unassum ing sort ()fan individual, full-of Scottish character. istics, and although considerable suns of money were won upon his game he scrupulously avoided betting, himself. His career Wan brought/to aclose bore by an engagement on his part to go to Buffa lo, to play with him. His traveling and hotel es pertsei all to be paid, and he to receive $1 per day besides. This is probably the first regular en gagement at checker-playing on record. The recent cold weather having frozen the Schuylkill and other streams, our skaters beim been having a merry time gliding over them. So great was the crowd upon the ice that the pictpockets selected it for the scene of their operations, and levied contributions upon a number of victims.— Several persons have made very many narrow es capes from drowning, and 'only been rescued by the daring and skill of members of the Skater's Club and the timely use of their reels and cords. A lady was divorced here a short time since by our Courts in the morning, and married the same evening to one of our leading actors. Our P . oct °thee has recently been changed 9r removed from its old quarters in the Exchange, to a large Granite building in Dock street, belonging to Dr. Jayne, who, by,the by, is one of the wealth iest men in our Lily, being at least a millionaire Nearly all ot his wealth was acquired in.the patent medicine trade. A fire to the second story of the tide block of buildings i f e in Chesnut street east Seventh, destroyed some $50,000 or s6orty last night . Chesnut street seems particularlrun rtunate. Within the Ink lew year: a number of very destructive fires have occurred upon it from Fifth up to Ninth street. The recent fire was upon the site formerly occupied as Barnum 's Philadelphia Mu seum. But a few months since a fire occurred at the X. W. cor ner ol:Fifth and Chesnut Streets, which destroyed a vast amount of property. About eight months since nearlythe whole block from Ninth to Eighth, and back to George st., including Welsh's Circus and the Chinese Museum, was burnt down; and but a few years since a very destructive Me occurred at the corner of Sixth and Chesnut. The fire Last alluded to, as well as several others, at. one time se riously threatened to destroy Independence Ball, which is ou the south side of Chesnut between Fifth and Sixth But when that sacred pik was menaced, with the devour lug ricotta, the citizens and firemen at uuce forgot all ulher dangers; and all their energies - were directed towards securing lit safety. 'no tit the 111,16 t ateettllg 4,141 revolting n.aturea of social litehere th. treqUeut yo 7 the crime at In .. ,ti . Ti,"l,teul itea. ,oldiuns of our &Ali,' literally teem .ILL I r.port of Sat%OcCurrelice,, stud hundreds LA are .1c•il , •I brut f.-10 /edge 01 the public. lii .omenare guilty et the to trial, but dui, ~,erally permitted t, 0.111.1.1n11ed. The la. e.,:e :stud .....po—utt Is that ofa young girl ft out re. curl, Wade a visit here to her rola li sad ilyilvered herself eta chinl, x hich she threw out tiAtithil that the child ea:, born alive atud•lind boon killed 6 0 tide tall. [he inhuman mother Was too unveil to be rena.v.a.l from her Ilium, but a police ,Ilicer has taken up his quarter; in the house, vu as to prevent any attempt at SMWHIMMEEM their annual report, by which 1 learn that the Institution now contains apt pupils, who are maintained. and educa ted out of the fund bequeathed for that purpose by if, Girard. The expenses for the year were $71,402. The pu pils receive a finished education, and many of them after-, wards appretiticed to trades, or other occupations. Of the present pupils, 2b5 were born iu Philadelphia, and 19 In other parts of Pen nsy ivania, tnirrpolicemen have been particularly attentive" to the dance houses lately. A few evenings since, they made a descent upon one, and arrested all the inmates, numbering sixty-five persons. Many of them are villainous dens of vice, aud,the scenes of orgieforhich disgrace humanity. You probably noticed au item of the late news from Cu ba stating that two American ell,Amel, nod drawn a prize of $60,000 la the Havanna lottery. They weie Philadel phians, who went out there a year ago, leaving their fami lies here. One of them was a blacksmith, and the other a locomotive engineer. They were married to twin sjsters who received with joyful hearts, as you may well imagine, letters from them the other day announcing their good fortune. They were not habitual dealers in lottery tickets, but one of them desired to purchase, simply because he had a very strange dream. of drawing a prize, and after cOnsiderable difficulty succeeded in persuading his companion to share the expense. The blind god of for. tulle Commits many strange freaks and this Is one of them. Yours, Late from California Arrival of the Daniel Webster at New Orleans NEW ORLEANS, Feb. 28. The steamship Daniel, Webster, from San Juan, arrived to-day, bringing dates from Cal ifornia to the 9th inst., brought down by the steamer Cortez. The Cortez had on board $500,000 in specie, and 170 passengers, 32 -of whom came on in the Daniel Webster. . - The steamship Star of the West sailed from San Juan on the 23d inst,for New York. The news from California possesses but little interest. Forty-four ballots had been had in the State Legislature for a Ti. S.: Senator, without a choice. A meeting of native Cailfornians was' held on the 7th, to take measures for a wholesale emigration to Sonora, to escape the heavy tax es and oppressions under which they labor. The miners are suffering much for want of water. The Kerr river mines have proved -very ex tensive. The yield of gold is fair, and thous, ands are tlocktng thither. Page, Bacon & Co.'s shipment by the Cortes' was $285,000. There is a better feeling in some classes of goods, and especially in provisions, but the in terior demand is light, and there are no cash sales. FROM CENTRAL AMERICA.—Gen. Chamorro has achieved important advantages over Cas tillo. ' • '['he Isthmus continues healthy. Foreign end Domestic News The Texas Creditors bill has been signed by President Pierce. On the 22d ult., he nominated Winfield Scott as Lieutenant Gen eral, and the Senate has confirmed it. Governor Pollock has signed the Sunday liquor law just passed by the Legislature. In the latter body, on Thursday, the Senate adopted charters for the Stroudsburg Bank and the Lebanon Valley Bank. The House passed bills incorporating the City Bank of Philadelphia, the Bank of Pottstown, and the Allentown Bank, and directing the city cor poration of Philadelphia to purchase the Schuylkill Falls Bridge, at such valuation as may be made by a jury of view, approved by the Court. In Congress, on Thursday, the Senate passed Mr. Unherwood's resolutions of the last session relative to religious liberty of Americans in foreign countries. They recommend that in our future treaties we should secure the right of worship and sepulture. The Senate deba ted at some length the tariff amendmdnt to the General Appropriation bill. The House passed eight private bills and a bill to amend the act for carrying into effect the reciprocity treaty. The steamer St. Louis arrived at New York on Thursday, from Southampton, with news from Europe several days later, and Mr. Soule as passenger, with his family. He gives it as his opinion that Cuban annexation is at an end. •There is nothing new from Sebastopol. Lord John Russell has gone to Vienna, as the 'British Plenipotentiary at 'the conferences.— The first detachment of British troops from India has arrived at the Isthmus of Suez. An i\risurrection has broken out at Oabool, and the rebels have, at Candahar, acknowledged the suzerainty of Persia. They were besieging Bendu Cebasi with 12,000 troops. A mur derous conflict had taken place there, but the besieged maintained their resistance. Two thirds of the Turkish army from Varna Lave disembarked at Eupatoria. The Czar of Rus sia has authorized a levy fa masse; and pro poses to send 300,000 men into the Crimea. The steamer Canada has arrived at Halifax, and brings still later European news. The Russians at Sebastopol have recommenced their night sorties. In one on the 31st, 300 French were put hors du combat, having fired uu each other in mistake. There is a rumor that• Lord Raglan and the Earl of Lucan will shortly be recalled. A division of the French army, at Sebastopol, into commands, is an nounced, General Bosquet being at the head of one and General Pelisser• at the other, tlips reducing GeneralCanrobert to a mere cyphel.. Naples has joined the affiance, and will send a fleet and army to the Crimea. France un dertakes to prevent a revolution in Italy.— There are also reports of Portugal, Spain and other secondary States 'doing likewise. The Swiss American difficulty about the seizure of Mr. Phillips, has been settled by the payment of $2OO as an indemnity, and the reprimand ing of the Chief of Police. Breadstuffs are declining in price, in Eng land and on the Continerd, VITT -AND:COIINIPT-ITEMS., TRIP IT ON THE LIGHT FANTASTIC ToE.—A Ball . for the benefit of the Philharmonic Soci ety, of this city will 'come off on, to-morrow evening. The society,' ire _understand, is in debt, and have taken this way, of trying to li quidate it: The society is an ornament to our city andsliould be encouraged. None should fail to go. Ite,The Philadelphia Annual Cduference of the Methodist Episcopal Church will be held in the First M. E. Church, in•this City, com mencing on Wednesday, the 28th inst. Bishop WArou, of Maryland, will preside, assisted by Bishops . JANcs, of New York, and Scorr, of Delaware. This Conference numbers over 200 ministers. CLARK'S FLOURING MlLL—This adminible invention is attracting the attention of the public in an eminent degree. A company of gentlemen have purchased the r ,Right for Lan caster county, and Mr. A. W. RUSSEL; at the Hardware Store, in E. King street, is their Agent.' See advertisement in another column. Da— A Musical Convention will commence its sessions in this city to-day: The conven tion will be under the,charov of Profs. A. N. Johnson and E. H. Frost, Boston, and we have no doubt from the ability of these gen tleman, the proceedings will be very interest ing. It will continue ip session four days, and during that time several Concerts will be giv en by the above named gentlemen, assisted by Misses Smith and Whitehouse, also of Boston. lte.. Mr. WOLIENRERGER gave notice in the Mariettian of last week, that he would be pre pared to supply the citizens of that Borough with fresh shad. This, we believe, is rather early iu the season for_ this delicious fish to pale its appearance in - ihispart of the country. LOOK OUT FOR THE "STARS."—The City Councils have adopted a resolution requiring the Police to wear a "star" with the Pennsyl vania Coat-of-Arnis engraved thereon. When the Councils were about reforming in this matter, why did they not also require them 'to uniform themselves in a suit of blue.— Again we say look out for the "Stars." GAP MINING COMPANY.—This Company have erected furnaces, and experiments have been made in the smelting of Nickel ore.— The Gap mine is the only vein of Nickel ore known to exist in this country. This mine was discovered in 17.32, and it'was opened to some extent, but nu discovery of mineral de posit was made. It was opened a second time in 1797, and sulphate of iron and copper were found, but itivas found it would not pay the expense of transportation,and the works were again abandoned. The old workings within two or three years been re-opened and a vein of Nickle ore has been discovered 22 feet wide, and 500 tons have been taken out. A Cbrnish pumping engine has been put up, to facilitate the operations of the company. A DISGRACEFUL AFTAIR.-011 Saturday last, at Mr. 41. Ober's sale, in Penn township,a dis, turtanpe was -raised which resulted in a most disgraceful fight. The combatants were a young blood, of this place, named Kreider,and an old man, named Earhart, who resides in Penn township. From the different stories afloat, it is hard to judge how it was brought on, but it was doubtless through the instiga tion of King Alcohol, who is generally at th e head of such shameful affairs, suffice it to say neither came off the victor. Earhart came to town with a considerable portion of his nose in his pocket, which was bitten off, and several teeth knocked out; and. Kreider with two of his fingers nearly severed from his hands, and his nose well marked. Earhart after getting, his wound dressed, entered suit against Kreider, 1010 was arrested and held to bail for his appearance at court.— Ifenheim Sentinel. 0::r Ex-Mayor KIEFFER has made a v,-iy fine improvement on his dwelling house in E. King street, which is much admired. He has erected a handsome iron verandah balcony in front of the second story. It reflects credit upon those who had the construction of it. For the Intellhoucer. PETERS' CREEK, March 2d, 1855 MR. PRINTER :—When I attended Court, in your city last January, I hoard a great deal of talk about Know-Nothings, and was very cur ious to know what kind of a society it was, but could find nothing out about it. On my way home, in the evening, I met one of my neighbors, dressed up as if he was going to meeting. I asked him if there was any preach ing at the meeting house that night? He said no, but that they had made up a new society, or that they intended getting up a new society for the protection of American Interests. I told him I thought it would be a very good thing, but I didn't know how they were going to get at it exactly. He laughed, and said that was all fixed. He then, kind of care lessly, asked inc -whether any of my grand-pa rents were Catholics, or whether either of my wife's parents were; I told him no, that both families had always been Seceders. He then said that next week he would call and take me along to the society. We then parted, and I thought a good deal about the matter, but at last made up my mind to go with him when he came. About a week after he came and I went with him. We first went to my friend Poteets new house, but none of the members were there; we then went to Temperance Hall, and found that the meeting was to be held there. Along with two or three of my neigh bors and a few young men that I didn't know, we were put into a little room, and very soon after a person .„came in and asked our names, where we were born, &c. I thought it strange, but said nothing. We were then taken into a room, and I saw directly that it was a Know- Nothing meeting. What transpired there, I am not going to tell, because I dare not, they swore me too hard; but I dare say, that I, as an honest man and a good citizen, cannot be long to such s society for the "protection of American Inteiests." I have always been a good Democrat, and I intend to be. I saw only a half dozen there who called themselves Democrats, and they belonged to Frazer's party. When I got out of the room, I made a vow never to go in it again, because I:thought it was not honest thus to draw a man into any thing in the way I was taken in. What tran spired there, as I before said, I don't think I can tell; but after cheating me, I think I can tell who were the officers and the most active .members of this American Interest Protection Society. Here they are— Da. THOMPSON, President. JOHN WILKINSON, V. President. JOHN C. WALTON, Secretary. Active Members.—Slater Brown, S. W. P. Boyd, Abner Brown, J. S' Webster, John Findlay, Dr.'J. B. Stubbs, Jos. C. Stubbs, W. J. Hess, John Kauffman, Christian Kauffman and Isaac Towrer. There were some others, but I cannot remember their names. I can't write very well; will you please to correct this before you publish it, and oblige an old line Democrat. J. B. HORRIBLE DISCOVERY—TEN PERSONS PER ISHED AN THE PRAIRIES.—We are furnished by a gentleman from Lafoyette, Ind., with the details of a rumor current in that city on Thurs day week, which fill the mind with horror* view of the sufferings of the party to whom it refers. On the Saturday preceding the memorable storm of the 21st of January, two families, numbering ten persons, moving from Southern Indiana to Northern Illinois,arrived at Oxford, the county eeat of Benton county, Ind., about forty miles northwest of Lafayette, with two ox teams, and well provided with necessa ries for the road. They remained there through the storm, and on Monday morning resumed their journey. Last Tuesday morn ing a man passing over a prairie, only about five miles from Oxford, came upon a eight which filled him with horror. The carcases of two oxen, from which the viscera had been removed, lay upon the ground. Inside of one of them were the frozen bodies of four children, and in the other the frozen corpse of the mother, with a nursing infant at her breast. Under the snow was a heap of ashes, in which the iron of tl wagons showed that they had broken them up, and burned everything , they had in them, in the effort to save their lives. Not far from this spot-iAas found the body of the other woman of the party, partly concealed in a snow drift, and near tier one of the men. The two other men had not been found. It is probable that the party became inex tricably involved in the snow drifts on the prairie, and lost their presence of mind. After burning up their wagons it appears that the men had killed two of the oxen fora shelter to those found in them, and then, accompanied by one woman, vainly endeavored to reach the town they had left, and procure aid to rescue their companidns. The two other oxen had wandered off. There was nothing, about the persons to indicate who they were,!and noth ing more is known about them than was acci dentally communicated by them during their brief stay at Oxford:. Fruits of /Var.---Tilthough the Russian commerce is by no mans extensive, and ex posure to the cruisers f the allied fleet during the present war has b it' partienlarly avoided, yet the British have captured no less than ninety-two Russian p 're vessels. - , aarThe wine growers in Cincinnati are considering the propriety of petitioning Con gress at its next sesstM to pass a bill to en courage the cultivation of the grape, and the manufacture of wine ii this country. ger There are in 4e State of Illinois, two thousand four hundred and thirty-six and a half miles of railroals, over which daily ar rive and depart one hundred trains, fully loaded, either with psengers or freight. Louis Napoleo is collecting his uncle's Aar af letters and writings. It is said that twenty volumes will hardly contain all the MSS. of the Emperor Napol n. Many letters, &c., written by the Etuper r, aro in a text hardly legible—it is only wt the greatest difficulty that the easiest words are made out. - ' A Chain-Gang li , posed.—The citizens of Pittsburg are petitioning the Legislature, for the privilege of estab! ishing a chain-gang in y that city. They sa their jail is constantly crowded with a host of sturdy vagrants, who ought to be put at wt, instead of being fed at the expense of the liouest and industrious portion of the community. ) ..„4 Rich Pa !Wet .--" , er eral days ago a Ger man made his appearance at the Northampton County l'oor Rouse, with his family of wife and three or four children, soliciting quarters during the winter. 'ffite directors thought the chest he brought with , him was larger than the necessities of a pauper demanded, when they proceeded to exahune it, and found that it contained seven htddred dollars in money. They very justly main e the fellow pay board. par Brigham Young is building two large and beautiful houses adjoining that 'which he occupies now in Salt Lake City, to aecommo date his increasing family. He now. rejoices in between fifty and i tixty wires, and from forty-five to fifty ch . dren. Elder Kimball, one of the Mormon Apostles, has between six ty and seventy consorts. J • Railroads in Ca/ifornio.—Accordiug to a report which appears lin the Sacramento Jour -4ml, the Sacramento Valley Railroad Co., which was chartered n the year 1852, has a capital of $1,500,000, nearly all of which has been taken. The company ha's surveyed and leveled 360 miles of the line, 120:miles of which have been estimated upon, 104 miles actually located, 40 miles :put un• der contract, of which half is to. be fin ished in twelve mouths, and the rest in eighteen mouths. ! Capitol of Ohio.—E l i - er since the commence ment of the year 183 ti, the State of Ohio has been engaged in til l - , business of erecting a capitol building at Lalumbus. It is nut yet finished, nor dues the seem to be much pros pect of its being soon The money appropria ted for it, since thelommencement, amounts in the aggregate to $ 06,575. Whenfinistied, it will be the most snperb State House in the Union : and SQ it ought to be, in view of its sost. It is said, says Life Illustrated, that James Gordon Bennet is not the sole proprie ter of the NeW York Herald, and that he has nut one dullallof levyable property in that city. His partners etre said) to, be a leading firm of paper-makers who supply the paper of the, es tablishment. . LetterS from iilansas state that there is not a milliner to bel found in the Territory. Here's a chance for siime of our young ladies to make their fortunes. Cattle are said to be dying of starva tion in some parts of',Ohio, iu consequence of the drought last surniner, which cut off the us ual supplies necessary for their sustenance. Sir Western Virginia papers state that cat tle in that section are positively dying for want of food. The ireat drought of last sea son has cut off hay, ( grass and other crops, , and the country is toe much cleared up to af ford browes for the stock. The snow has been deep, and remains liMg on the ground. One of the Birds. l ,—A grey eagle shot in Jefferson county, Val, measured betwen the ends of his wings seven feet two inches. while . dying from the wound which brought him down lie lifted a large dog froM the ground with his bill. Hoorah for the American bird ! Anti-Know-.N6thing Victory.—At an elec tion held in Burlington, lowa, on the sth, Silas A. Hudson was elected Mayor, over L. D, Stoston, Know-Nothing, by 119 majority.— Eight Aldermen, andl the City Recorder, Trea surer and Marshal, opposed to Know-Nothing ism, were also elected. Lovely Plciee.--in the counties of Sono ra nod San Franeioen,.California, five hundred murders have been Committed in the last five years, and only three murderers have been hung under judical sentences. What an ac quisition Mat. Ward would be to that commu nity. New Orle n . in Anger (ge an Over/tow.— Fears aro entertained in New' Orleans that when the Spring rains begin to descend the immense quantity ofd snow which has fallen on the upper Mississippi and its numberless tributaries shall have melted, the city will be in danger of an over ow. It was some five or six years ago, we be ley°, that the levee which protects the City gave way, and a large portion of the town was inAdated. The damage to property was immense, and the recollection of it now makes the inhabitants apprehensive lest they should be overtaken by a stmllar dis aster. ...Severe Shock of an Earthquake.—On the night of the 13th ult. two distinct shocks of an earthquake, accompanied by a heavy rum bling noise, resembling distant thunder or heavy canonading4 were experienced at Kinderhook and Stuyvesant Falls, New York. It is said they were 6ufficiently severe to shake the houses and prodtice considerable consterna tion among the crockeryware. The next morn ing the ground was discovered to have open ed, in several plaCes, two or three inches in width. Zrait— C. EdwardeLester is said to be the Helen Dhu who wrote "Stanhope Burleigh," the Know Nothing novel. He is getting titp the new life of Saink.Houston. • ear The dwellin l g house occupied by Col. BENTOS, in Washington, D. C., was destroyed by fire on Wednesday last. Col. Benton lost a great many valuable papers and books, but the furniture was saved without much dam age being done to it I es. A fire took place on Monday week in the Cotton Mill at Harrisburg, which did a good deal of injury Ito the machinery, and a large number of bales of Cotton we're destroy ed. This fire will throw out of employment for some time several hundred operatives, who are dependent upsin this establishment for their support. It is not known how the fire originated. Conviction. and (Imprisonment of Lottery Dealers.—The trial of the managers of the great Catasauqua Lottery was concluded at Allentown, Pa., on Wednesday week with a verdict of guilty against the defendants. Na than Frederic was fined $6OOO, and costs of prosecution, and to I rstand committed until the sentence be complied with ; and William Gross fined $3OOO, with costs, and to be committed until the fine be paid. Ibth were committed in default of paytu6it. Splendid Rife'. Shooting.—The Natchez (Miss.) Free Trader of the 9th ult. says:— The best rifle shooting we have ever seen, we saw made on Tuesday last, by' MA: H. T. Newcordb, of this city:, with a rifle of his own make, and with am improvement invented by himself. At the distance of two hundred and twenty yards, Mr. Newcomb placed five suc cessive balls withiri the circle of which the ra dius was less than an inch. BUCLIASAN RELIEF FUND.—The Annual Re port of the Committee on the Buchanan Relief Fund, made to Councils at their last meeting, exhibits the following : In Treasury, January 1, 1854, $l9 00 Amount of appropriation, interest, 240 00 ,• -$ 256 00 Which was expended as inflows. Paid for 471. cords oflwood, 49177 181 '• " Hauling, 39 12.1 44 44 7 cords or wood, 28 00 44 " Kinking, ' . " 800 44 ," Clerking, ¢c,i• 5 00 Leaving a balance in Treasury, at date, 1681 The number ot• persons relieved out of the fund duripg the last winter, 286.1 J it4r We observe t hat among the M.-Dos who have been lately made in the medical deiivtmont of Pennsylvania College, le the Mime Of - - J. BowstAis, AirmirlY of this city. 267 311
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers