BCt~t - ~Cattcas#ex n#eli gtnctt
GE O. SANDERSN, EITO
A. SANDERSON. O Assoc D iate.R.
LANCASTER, PA:, MARCH 3, 1863
airs. M. Prerairast. it 4:ko.'s Anrsiesirso AginVri
Park Bow, Nem York (lIV, and 10 State street, lkiston. '
B. IL Parrigertt t Co., ars Agents for -The Zama&
Bateiike: moor, and the moat intimated and largest ghouls
-11141 NewelsPers In the United States and the OsnadlAL
Thar are authorised to ecmtrairt for us at oar,
lowest rates
ANT. 1431113 itA3aorr, No. 335 Broom, Now York,
are authbrisad to Mehl) aliTertiSemelltB for The intaßA
rower, at our lowed ratan.
ler Jo se Wsnarca's ADVINEMING Ammar Is located at
N 0.50 North sth street, Philadelphia. He Is authorised to
metre advertisements and subscriptions for The Lancaster
nsa, No.l Seoßay's Building. Court St., Boston,
14jai r aer S. A
is oar authorized Agent for receiving advertisements, An.
air V. B. Emma, the American Newspaper Agent, N.
B. corner Fifth and Chestnut Streets, Philadelphia, Is
authorised to receive subscriptions and advertisements for
this paper, at our lowest rates. His receipts will be
girded as payments.
OTT P. 7' MA A. 03- -
Now our flag is flung to the wild winds free,
Let it float o'er our father land,
And the guard of its spotless fame shall be
Columbia's chosen band.
" CLING TO THE CONSTITUTION, AS
THE SHIPWRECKED MARINER CLINGS
TO THE LAST PLANK, WHEN NIGHT
AND THE TEMPEST CLOSE AROUND
HIM."-DANIEL WIEBTIIII.
DEMOCRATIC COUNTY COMMITTEE.
The Democratic County Committee is requested to meet
at Shober's Hotel, in the City or Lancaster, on THURSDAY,
MARCH Mb, IE3, at 11 o'clock, A. H. A punctual attend.
anse of all the members Is requested, ae business of hnpor.
tame will claim the Committee's consideration.
R. R. TBEUDY, Chairman.
A3DILIW J. 137PLANAN, Beeretary.
lANCLOIIII, February 24th, 1863
DEMOCRATIC CLUB.
The Dimmer& of this city and vicinity are requested to
meet in the!Lsrge hall (second story) of Reed, M'Grann
Co's Banking House, corner Centre Square and South
Queen street, on tomorrow, (Wednesday) evening, March
4th, at 7 o'clock, for the purpose of forming a Democratic
Central Club for the City and County of Lancaster.
• BY BEQUEST OF MANY DEMOCRATS.
Delinquents Razeed.
. We have given notice from time
to time, for the last three or four
months, of our determination, as a
matter of necessity, to strike from
our list all delinquent subscribers to
:THE INTELLIGENCER. We have al
ready erased a number of names,
and shall continue the process from
week to week until we have the job
completed. Those who have not
received the paper for several weeks,
or who may not receive it hereafter,
will know the reason. Delinquents
who are able to pay, but who neglect
or refuse to square up their accounts,
will have costs added from and after
the first of April. At the present
enormous price of white paper we
cannot any longer afford to furnish
the printed sheet " free gratis for
nothing." This is our ultimatum,
and no further indulgence can or
will be granted ; nor would it lie
fair to our paying subscribers, nor
just to ourselves, that more time
should be given.
Bible View of Slavery.
On our first page we publish an
other of the series of ably written
letters by Hon. Amos KENDALL, of
Washington City, to President LIN
COLN. It presents in a condensed,
clear and forcible manner the teach
ings of the Bible on the subject of
slavery, and is a scathing rebuke to
the political Preachers who' so much
abound in these days. We desire
our readers to peruse this letter care
fully to see for themselves the legiti
mate fruits of the infidel, heretical,
fanatical and abolition teachings of
too many pulpits, and with what
accuracy and precision the inspired
penmen, •two thousand years ago,
depicted them. The men who pro
fane the sacred desk by political
harangues and anti-slavery tirades
under cover of the ministerial office,
have their characters there portrayed
in a most graphic picture. They
are the men who are commanded by
Divine authority to " teach and ex
hort the slaves to count their own mas
ters worthy of all honor," and of whom
it is said that "if they teach otherwise
they are proud, knowing nothing, but do
ting about questions and strife of words
whereof cometh envy, strife, railings,
evil surmisings '
perverse disputings of
men of corrupt minds, and destitute of
the truth." From such the people
are commanded to withdraw them
selves. They have been teaching
otherwise, and are, in a great meas
ure, responsible for our national
troubles; and the sooner the people
get rid of such false teachers, the
better for themselves, the Christian
religion and their country.
The Bible which is regarded as
the true test—the criterion of right
and wrong—by the Christian world,
in the language quoted by Mr. -g-B•N
-DALL, administers a well deserved
rebuke to those pretenders who ad
vocate the new-fangled, "higher
law " doctrine, which, its authors
claim, supersedes the Constitution
—a octrine subversive of all law
and order, and which exists nowhere
save in their diseased and distem
pered imaginations.
THE DEMOCRATIC STATE CENTRAL
CODIIMITTECE
We tee by a notice published in an obscure
corner of the Evening Journal, that a meeting
of the Committee is called at Philadelphia on
Saturday evening next, the 7th inst. What's
in the wind? We hope the meeting is not
for the purpose of changing the time for the
assembling of the State Convention, which
some of the City politicians have been labor
ing to accomplish for several weeks past.
GUNPOWDER EXPLOSION
The packing house of Dupont's Powder
Mills, near Wilmington, Delaware, exploded
on Wednesday afternoon last, killing fourteen
of the workmen and badly wounding several
others. The shock was felt very sensibly at
Philadelphia.
DESTRUCTION OF BREADSTUFFS
The Grain Elevator of the Michigan South
ern Railroad, at Toledo, with 120,000 bushels
of grain, and 2,000 barrels of flour, was de
strojed by fire on Wednesday morning last.
Loss $200,000.
J Hon. WILLIAM WRIGHT (Dem.) has
been elected a
~Senator of the United States,
frozn New Jcrsey, for six years from the =4th
of Maid. • _ _ •
- Tlie - End of Congress.
Thank God, this day ends the ex- I
istence of the Thirty-Seventh Con
gress, and for which every real lover
of his country, every true friend of
the Union and the Constitution, will
rejoice and be glad with exceeding
great joy. Its record will be a mon
strosity in the legislative annals of
the Nation, forit has inflicted a stain
which will take - ages to efface from
our escutcheon. Only potent for
evil, it has done more to destroy the
Union than Jeff Davis and his armed
legions could have accomplished in
a century. Indeed, so bent was the
dominant party on mischief, that,
whether intended or not, every step
it took in legislation only tended
more and more to the destruction of
this fair fabric of freedom bequeathed
to us as a priceless inheritance from
our patriot forefathers. To enumer
ate all the acts of tyranny and op
pression initiated and carried out by
this Congress would be superfluous.
They are known to every intelligent
man, woman and child in the whole
country, and they will be engraven
upon the memory of our people for
ages to come.
If the country survives the uncon
stitutional and tyrannical legislation
of the bold, bad men composing the
present Congress, it will be owing
to the watchful care of a superintend
ing Providence who will turn their
wicked counsels to nought, and bring
us, with the power of His strong
arm, - out of the fiery furnace of afflic
tion through which we are passing.
May we not hope that the succeed
ing Congress, if it can accomplish
no positive good, will be powerful
and patriotic enough to save the
country from utter degradation and
ruin, by restraining the bad men who
i
I have been driving the Ship of State
Iwith fearful velocity, for the last two
years, on to the very verge of de
struction.
THE CONSCRIPTION BILL
The Conscription bill, which passed the
Senate some days since, was passed by the
House on Wednesday, with a few amend
ments, one of which confines the term of ser
vice of the conscripts to the continuance of
the war, not, however, to exceed three years,
(in the Senate bill five years ;) another relates
to spies found lurking about fortifications and
camps, providing for their trial by general
military court-martial, or military commis
sion,, and making their punishment death on
conviction ; a third strikes out of the section
relating to provost marshals, that part making
it their duty to inquire into and report to
the Provost Marshal General all treasonable
practices. On the final passage of the bill
in the House the yeas were 115, nays 49, as
follows :
YEAS—Messrs. Aldrich, Arnold, Alley, Ashley,
Babbitt, Bailey, Baker, Baxter, Beaman, Bingham,
Blair of Virginia, Blair of Pennsylvania, Blake,
Brown of Virginia, Buffinton, Calvert, Campbell,
Casey, Chamberlain, Clark, Colfax, Frederick A.
Conkling, Roscoe Conkling, Covode, Crisfield, Cut
ler, Davis, Dawes, Delano, Diven, Dunn, Edgerton,
Edward's, E li ot, Ely, Fenton, Samuel C. Fesseaden,
Thomas A. D. Fessenden,
Flanders, Fisher, Fran
chat, Frank, Gooch, Goodwin, Grander, Gurley,
Hahn, Haight, Hale, Harrison, Hickman, Hooper,
Horton, Hutchins, Julian, Kelley, Francis W. Kel
logg, Win. Kellogg, Killinger, Lansing, Lehman,
Leary, Loomis, Lovejoy, Low, M'lndoe, M'Kean,
M'Knight, M'Pherson, Marston, Maynard, Mitchell,
Moorhead, Morrill of Maine, Morrill of Vermont,
Nixon, Olin, Patton, Phelps of California, Pike,
Pomeroy, Porter, Rice of - Massachusetts, Rice of
Maine, Riddle, Rollins of N. H., Sargent, Sedgwick,
Seger, Shanks, Sheffield, Shellabarger, Sherman,
Sloan, Spaulding, Stevens, Stratton, Thomas of
Mass., Thomas of Md., Train, Trimble, Trowbridge,
Vandever, Van Horn, V erree, Walker, Wall, Wal
lace, Walton, Washburn°, Webster, Wheeler, White
of Indiana,Wilson, Windom and Worcester.
NAYS-Messrs. Allen of Ohio, Allen of Illinois,
Ancona, Biddle, Clements, Conway, Corning, Cox,
Cravens ' Crittenden, Delaplaine, Dunlap, English,
Fonke, Grider, Hall, Harding, Holman, Johnson,
Kerrigan, Knapp, Law, Linear Mallory, May,
Menzies, Morris, Noble , Norton, Nugent, Pendleton,
Perry, Price, Robinson, Rollins of Mo., Sbiel,
Steele of N. Y., Steele of N. J., Stiles, White of
Ohio, Wickliffe, Wood, Woodruff and Yemen.
The bill divides the militia into two classes.
All persons subject to military duty between
the ages of twenty and thirty-five years, and
all unmarried persons subject to military duty
above the age of thirty-five and under forty
five, constitute the first class, and will be first
called into service. The second class corn.
prisea all other persons subject to military
duty ; that is all married men between thirty.
five and forty-five years of age. This class
will not be called into service until the first
class is exhausted. The conscription includes
Congressmen, Assemblymen, Aldermen, Qua
kers, Shakers, Menonisti, Dunkers, Clergy
men, Indians and Negroes, and if successful to
the extent contemplated will deprive almost
every family in the loyal States of one of more
•
of its members. As we understand it, one of
the amendments of the bill turns over to the
civil authorities all persons arrested by provost
marshals for treasonable practices. The New
York Herald, in a vein rather sportive for the
occasion, remarks :
' " The able-bodied Quakers, like the rest of
their fellow-citisens between twenty and forty
five ''years of age, if called upon, must pocket
their conscientious scruples and go forth to
fight, or fork out three hundred dollars each
for a substitute. It is nonsense to talk of
resistance. The laws must be obeyed. The
Quakers and Shakers, we know, will not re—
sist; the Indians are always ready for war
purposes, and the niggers, like white men,
have ,no choice. Attention, Caucasians and
Africans, Indians, Shakers and Quakers
To the right about, face I Shoulder arms !
THE WAY THE MONEY GOES.
A despatch from Washington says that per
sons in a position to know say that at least
twenty-five millions have been stolen in the
Quartermaster's department during the last
few months. As all the telegraphic despatches
are " supervised" by the Government offioials,
it is reasonable to suppose that this state
ment is below the truth. And what has been
done towards the detection and punishment
of these thieves? It is safe to say that noth
ing has been done and nothing will be done.
In fact, although more than two hundred mil
lions of dollars, probably, have been stolen
from the Government ender this " honest "
Republican administration, we have not heard
of a single ease where the thief has been
brought to punishment I Some may have been
dismissed from office, but none have been
made to pay the penalty of their crimes.—
Let this fact be noted. Hundreds of loyal
men have bten arrested and imprisoned for
daring to stand up boldly and manfully in
defence of the Constitution, and in opposi
tion to the infamies of Northern disunionism
and Southern treason ; but not one of the hun
dreds of thieves, robbers and swindlers who
are daily stealing the money due the poor
soldiers, has been brought to punishment.—
Stealing and swindling •are virtues in the
minds of our rulers, while patriotism and de
votion to the Constitution are crimes.
Ittir The Supreme Court of Pennsylvania
has recently decided that a married woman
who holds real estate to her sole and separate
use, with or without a trustee, cannot convey
or mortgage it during her husband's lifetime,
unless the power to do so be expressly given
by the instrument under which she .has
acquired the estate.
ArTEMPTIED ABLIMINATION OP GIN. BAMEB.
—The New Orleans Picayune, of the 13th ult.,
reports an attempt to assassinate Gen. Banks.
The weapon was an air gun; the offender es
osped. Gen. Banks was not hurt. -
THE NATIONAL CURRENCY BILL.
The new national currency bill, which was
passed by Congress, provides for the establish
ment of a bureau in the Treasury Department
which is to have charge of the currency. It
provides for the appointment of a comptroller, I
specifies his duties, and makes the necessary I
regulations for the government of his office.—
It creates banking associations, to be organ
ized as corporate bodies, with not less than five
persons constituting the association in any
case ; shows how they are to be organized and
governed, and provides the proper safeguards]
and restrictions. Their capital must be atleast
$50,000, in shares of $lOO each, of which thirty . I
per cent. must be paid in before they can corn
menoe
operations. After that, ten per cent.
must be paid every two months, until the
whole capital is made up. These institutions
may purchase, bold, and dispose of real estate.
Before any institution can commence business,
it must transfer to the Treasurer of the United
States bonds of not less than one third of the
amount of the capital stock paid in. On com
plying with these conditions the institution
will be entitled to receive from the comptroller
bills of different denominations in amount
equal to the capital stock already paid in.
The amount of these circulating notes are
not to exceed $300,000,000, and are to be die
tributed throughout the States, Territories and
District of Columbia upon the basis of repre- 1
seritative population. The comptroller under
the direction of the Treasurer, is to provide
plates, engravings, etc., for making these bills
Or notes. These notes are to be held at par
throughout the United States. A tax of one
per cent. is to be paid by these banks to the
government, semi-annually, in July and Jan
uary. The bank officers are to make regular
and accurate returns of their transactions to
the proper authorities. No notes but such as
are provided for in this bill will be allowed to
be put into circulation by these kinks. The
bill further provides rules for the government
of these institutions in detail', and at much
length, affixing certain penalties for any vio
lations of law. The bill contains some sixty
three sections.
THE QUEEN OF THE WEST
The capture of the Queen of the West is
officially reported in the Southern papers.—
As previously published, she was forced to
strike her colors and surrender to a battery
up Red river. How this sudden and most
unexpected transfer of ownership was brought
about may be briefly stated.
On the 10th instant the Queen of the West,
accompanied by the transport De Soto, left
the foot of the canal, opposite Vicksburg, on
an expedition up the Red river. On her way
up the river she captured the Confederate
transport Era No. 5. Guided by the pilot of
the latter vessel, who was forced to take the
wheel, the Queen of the West was brought
directly within range of a Confederate bat
tery. After a brisk cannonading, during
which she was disabled by a shot which broke
her steam pipe, her colors were hauled down,
and she drifted to the opposite shore. All of
her crew, with the exception of eighteen
officers and men, took to their boats, and,
getting on board the De Soto, effected their
escape. If subsequent reports are to be
credited, the De Soto, being closely pursued,
was burned to prevent her from falling into
the hands of the Confederates. The Confed
erate steamer Era was also re-captured.—
What became of those who were on board the
De Soto is not stated. The Queen of the
West was a wooden tug, strongly built for
special service as a ram ; was partially iron
plated, and was reputed to be one of the beet
of her clan. The Confederates report that
she was but slightly injured in her brief en
gagement with the battery, and would soon
be in fighting trim again unless re-taken by
the Federal gunboat Indianola, which has
been, sent up the Red river for that purpose.
A BEAUTIFUL PERORATION
Mr. VALLANDIGHAIeS great speech was cut
short in Congress before he delivered the fol
lowing beautiful peroration. It is taken from
the Washington Congressional Globe:
" I have now, Mr. Speaker, finished what I
desired to say at this time, upon the great
question of the reunion of these States. I
have spoken freely and boldly—not wisely, it
may be, for the present, or for myself person
ally, but most wisely for the future and for my
country. Not courting censure, I do not
shrink from it. My own immediate personal
interests and my chances just now for the
mere material rewards of ambition, I again
surrender as hostages to the great hereafter,
the echo of whose footsteps already I hear
along the highway of time. Whosoever, here
or elsewhere, believes that war can restore the
uhion of these States ; whosoever would have
a war for the abolition of slavery, or disunion ;
and he who demands Southern independence
and final separation, let him speak, for him
have I offended. Devoted to the Union from
the beginning, I will not desert it now in this
the hour of its sorest trial.
" Sir, it was the day-dream of my boyhood,
the cherished desire of my heart in youth,
that I might live to see the hundredth anni
versary of our national independence, and, as
orator of the day, exult in the expanding
glories and greatness of the still United States.
That vision lingers yet before my eyes, ob
scured indeed by 'the clouds and thick dark
ness and blood of civil war. But, sir, if the
men of this generation are wise enough to pro
fit by the hard experience of the past Iwo
years and will turn their hearts now from' the
bloody intents to the words and arts of peace,
that day will find us again the United States.
And if not earlier, as I would desire and be
lieve, at least upon that day let the great work
of reunion be consmumated; that henceforth for
ages the States and the people who shall fill
up this mighty continent, united under the
Constitution, and in one Union, and the same
destiny, shall celebrate it as the birthday of
Independence and of the great Restoration.
" Sir, I repeat it, we are in the midst of the
very crisis of this revolution. If to-day we
secure peace and begin the work of reunion,
we shall yet escape ; if not, I see nothing be
fore us but universal political revolution, anar
chy and bloodshed, compared with which the
Reign of Terror in France was a merciful vis
itation."
A NATIONAL CONVENTION
In the House of Representatives, at Har
risburg, on Friday week, Mr. PERMING, of
Cambria, offered the following preamble :
Whereas, the unhappy condition of the
country at this time is due to causes which, in
the opinion of patriotic men, require for their
correction certain amendments to the existing
Constitution of the United States, for the
effecting of which, when deemed proper, the
Constitution itself makes ample and legal pro-
visions ; and whereas several such amend
ments have been regularly proposed in the
Congress of the United States by an eminent
statesman, without leading to any definite
action on the part of that hon4able body :
therefore we earnestly desire and request that,
in the interest of peace and-harmony, the
Legislature of. Pennsylvania do now enact a
constitutional call for the holding of a National
Convention of the people of the United States,
to consider and effect such measures of pacifi
cation and re-union as may arrest and heal
the political wounds which now divide and are
rapidly ruining our country.
THE Herrin( EMBASSY.—Considerable in
quiry is made in Washington respecting the
Minister and Secretary of Legation from
Hayti, whose arrival in New York was an
nounced several days ago. It is hinted that
they are purposely kept'back until Congress
adjourns, in the fear that their debut in Wash
ington might complicate difficulties in the
national councils.
COURTS ABOLDMID.—The 11. S. Senate has
passed the bill abolishing all the Courts in the
District of Columbia and creating new ones,
on the alleged grounds of disloyal proclivities
of the Judges. All the lawyers in the District
protested against its passage.
LOCAL DEPAIITAIXN'r.
AN ARBITRARY ARREST IN YORE—THE
PalscourslinscasnornON• WRIT or HABRA3Coastre—A Smi
TOR DAMAGRa—On Friday morning last, Alexander . HUT*
Pao., a member of the Lancaster Bar, was arrested by the
military authorities in this place and committed to the
charge of Capt. McGowan, of the . Patapsco Guards. where
he was held in confinement, to the time of bie discharge
on Saturday afternoon The partionlars of this arrest, as
near as we can ascertain, are as follows:
Mr. Harris, who is the author of a bandbonk ef Geors
phy, bad been bean in town several days taking enbecrip
dens for his books. On the morning of his arrest he had
some political dirensdon with some of the citizens of this
borough- It is charged by his enemies that he danouneed
the present Administration as corrupt, and in reply to the
charge of being a Secessionist, said that he would as won
be called a Secessionist as an Abolitionist. Shortly after
leaving the parties with whom be .was talking, and while
in the office of the Clerk of the Courta, in the Court House,
selling a bwk. Rev. Thomas Street, o' this borough, entered
the Clerk's Oleo and of er some words about a letter of
recommendation given to Mr. Harris by Mr. Street in the
morning, which was restored to thelatter, at his request,
Mr. Street said to Mr. Harris that he would be arrested in
ten minute., and loft the office. Mr. Street, on leaving,
met the detachment of the Provost Guard accompanied by
David Hays, on their way to make the arrest, and returned
and was present when the arrest of Mr. Harris took place.
The Provost Guard, having him in charge, conveyed him
to Mount Vernon Park, the quarters of Capt. McGowan, and
delivered him a prisoner to that officer, who, Mr. Harris de•
dares. treated him very kindly.
On Friday afternoon a Writ of Habeas Corpus was issued
by Mr. Harris' counsel and granted by Hon. Robert J.
Fisher. President Jcinge of this District, and made return
able at 9 o'clock on Saturday morning. At the hour fixed
for the return of the Writ Capt. McGowan rent a note to
his Honor asking, on amount of business., time until one
o'clock to make return to the Writ. At that hour the
Cutirt House was crowded, when Capt. McGowan produbed
the person of Mr. Harris, returning that the Provost
Guard had placed Harris in his custody, and that he had
an order from Provost Marshal Fish, of Baltimore to send
the prisoner to that city. After a hearing, it appearing
that Harris is a citizen and not a soldier, and that there
was no warrant issued on oath for his arrest, his Honor,
Judge Fisher, ordered his discharge, and he was set at
large.
The opinion of Judge Fisher was pointed and able, and
we are sorry we haie not a copy of it for publication. Its
substance was: " The Constitution of the United. States
and the Constitution of Pennsylvania provide that " the
privilege of the Writ of Habeas Corpus shall not be rue
pendad, unless in case of rebellion or Invasion the public
safety may require IL" Even admitting the power of the
President to suspend the Writ of Habeas COrpme, which
he did not do, no rebellion or invasion exists , - exita. The
Courts are all open and the laws in force. There is a legal
remedy for every infraction of law, and therefore we are
under civil and not military - authority, with all the rights
of citisens under the Constitution and laws of the United
States, and this Commonwealth. The Constitution of the
United States declared that no person " shall be deprived
of life, liberty or property, without citeprocess of law," and
the Constltntion of Pennsylvania declares that no citizen
"can be deprived of his life, liberty or property unless by
the judgment of his peers or the law of the land." As
there was no warrant, and the process of law 'required by
the Constitution of the United States and this State, was
I not produced, the prisoner was discharged.
Mr. Harris charges the-Rev. Thomas Street and David
Hays with procuring his arrest, and while yet in military
custody, instituted a suit against tliemlor tales imprison
ment. Messrs. Street and Hays were arrested by a Deputy
Sheriff, and refusing to give the required ball, they were
committed to prison. On Saturday evening the former was
brought before Judge Fisher on a Writ of Habeas Corpus
and discharged on mmmou bail. The latter gave the re
quired bail the same evening and was discharged.
We have given the facts of this case according to the
best Information we could obtain, and if they are not cor
rect. we will cheerfully give our column. to any correction
of them hereafter.
Oar community ha. been greatly excited In comet:ll34,nm)
of the events transpiring lately, and the opinion is freely
expressed by even moderate Republicans that the arrest of
Mr. Harris, was unjustifiable and should not have been
made. It was a gross violation of his rights as an Ameri
can citizen, and, citizen of Pennsylvania, and will only
embitter public opinion against the party in power which
has not only tolerated but encouraged such outrages. If
men are guilty of offences, let them be tried according to
law, and if convicted, let them be punished. This Is one
of the rights of the people and their servants, their execs
are officers, in duty, owe to them protection In life, liberty
and property.
We rejoice that the threatened conflict between the civil
and military authorities has terminated in favor of popu
lar liberty, and that in the discharge of Mr. Harris, the
law has been vindicated and sustained. Let ue hope that
we may have no more arbitrary arrest. to divide our people
and stir up bitter and unrelenting strife In our midst.
Surely the cause of the Union and the Constltntion can
not be benefited by such means, to restore the former and
vindicate the latter. The Constitution must be made by the
people's servant, the President of the United States and
his off cars, "von SUPIDNI LAW OP roe LAND !—Pork Gaulle,
February 24.
ANOTHER VERSION
A correspondent in the York Press, of Friday, gives the
following account of this inferno. arrest:
MR. EDITOR: The account of the arbitrary arrest of Alex.
Harris, Esq., as contained in the Gazette of this week, not
only falls to meet the expectations of the readers and
friends of that paper, but falls vary short of being a can
did and unbiassed statement of the farts in the cam. I
therefore deem It but proper, in conformity with the re,
quest contained In the Gazette's article, to make the follow
ing statement of the facts, as collected from the most
reliable source.:
Mr. Harris was passing along the street on Friday morn.
ng last, when the remark was made to the Rev. Mr. Street,
.there goes a d—d 'secessionist." What other remarks, or
whether any, followed I am not aware, but learn that on
this information Mr. Street followed Mr.e Harris into the
court house, whither h• bad then gone, and after looking
Into the Prothonotary'. office in a seemingly eery agitated
manner, he entered the Clerk's office where Mr. Harris
was standing, and in a very excited and peremptory - tone
demanded of him a letter of recommendation he had pre
viously given him. Mr. Harris politely handed him the
note, when Mr. Street remarked, in substance, that if he had
known what kind of a man he was he should never have
entered his bones—that be would have put him out. Mr.
Harris replied that If be had known Mr. Street to be en
Abolitionist he would not have asked any favors of him.
Mr. Street then remarked, "yon shall be arrested." Mr.
H. then made some reply as disregarding his threats, when
Mr. Street started out of the door, defiantly remarking, "I
will have you arrested in ten minutes," or "I will see that
you are arrested in ten minutes." After Mr. Street had
gone out some ten minutes a detachment of the Provost
Huard, headed by Mr. Street and David Hays, entered the
office and arrested Harris. When on the steps, or In the
street, in fiord of the Court House. Mr. Street remarked
•rcavtically to Harris, "didn't I tell youl would have you
arrested ?"
Mr. Harris was taken to the headquarters of the Pataps
co Guard, and placed in charge of Ca; t. McGowan, where
he remained In confinement until Saturday afternoon,
when he was brought into court on a writ of habeas corpus,
od after a hearing discharged.
The arrest of Harris created the most loteuae excitement,
and on the return of the habeas corpus the court room was
thronged with persons, anxious to hear the decision of his
Honor, Judge Fisher, and to get a sight of the prisoner!—
When the court ordered the discharge of Harrlslit was fol
lowed by tremendous applause, and much rejoicing was
manifested at such a triumph of the Constitution and
Laws.
Tho account of the arrest of Street and Haye, as con
!dried in the Gazette article, is In the main correct. M.
REV, FRANcIe IlonosoN, D. D.—This able
nd , eloquent Divine, who ban been the Presiding Elder on
the South Philadelphia District for the lea, four years,
preached his farewell discourses In ,this city on Sunday
last, both of which were genuine gospel sermons--a rare
commodity in these days of political preaching. The Dr.
leaves the field of hie labor with the beet wishes of all for
hie future health and prosperity, and that he long may be
spared in his career of usefulness in the profession which
be so much adorns.
THE SOLDIERS of the 18th Connecticut Regi
ment who shot and wounded young Ewing, In the village
of Fairfield, some ten days Once, were discharged from
custody by Judge Hayes, on Thursday last, on a writ of
habeas corpus, his Honor not deeming it an offence of suf
ficient magnitude to go before a Jury I Verily, we are
under a government of law—over the left.
THE FOGGY NIGHT AT 07BORD.—We have
received from Weathaeffer, 44 North Queen etreet, the
above publication, which hue just been issued by Peterson
Brothers, Philadelphia. We have had no time for perusal,
but presume it is n first-elms novel, an the celebrated Mn.
Henry Wood is the authoress. Price 25 cents.
We have also received from Westhaeffer a Poem, entitled
"The Sleeping Sentinel," by Francis De Hass Janvier,
founded upon incident. In the life of William Scott, a pri.
vats in a Vermont Regiment, who was killed at the siege
of Yorktown in May last. The poem has been recited with
great effect on several occasions by Mr. James R. Mur
doch, the eminent Tragedian. Published by Petereons.—
Price 10 mats.
A GOOD DAY'S WORK.—We have been re
quest.d to give publicity to the following:—" Jacob Gor
don, employed at J. W. Bucher's Cooper Works, near Man
beim, recently made, from 6 e. is. to 8.45 P. M., twenty : Pm
flour barrels." Our informant also states that "Gordon is
a true Republican, and ho should be planned to hear if toy
Democrat can beat R." We are of the opinion that it is an
extraordinary task, and that few men—be they Democrats
or Republicans—cao be found able to the task. Our Mosey
says he could not—but then ho Is not a cooper, although
be ocusionally hoop: some things pretty tightly.—Man
helm Sentinel, Feb. 6th.
GoaDOEt BIAT.—We statod last week that an ,oXtraOrdi
nary number of flour barrels were made In a given time
by Jacob Gordon, employed at Mr. Bucher's Cooper Works
near this place. This week we have to record a more ex
treordinary task: On Wednesday last Peter M. Will, of
Penn twp., made from 4% o'clock a. Y. to 4 o'clock P. Y.
thirty flour barrels. Will is a Democrat, and says.. if Gor
don will match this day's work, he will undertake to make
a few more barrel. in the same space of time.—&ntincl,
Feb. 13th.
FIRE.—A large barn belonging to Mr. Geo.
Lefever, of West Lampeter township, was destroyed by fire
on Monday afternoon of last week. The whole building,
together with the contents, were destroyed. At the time
of the fire Mr. Lefever was not at home, and no person■
were on the place but his wife and young child. Mr. L.'s
los. Is severe, for In addition to the loss of the buildings,
six head of cows, one bull and two fat steers perished in
the flames. Besides the hay in the barn there were 300
bushels oats, 100 bushels corn and 100 bushels wheat,
together with a large number of farming implements,
consisting of plows, harrows, fanning mill, An. It is not
known how the fire originated, but it could scarcely have
been accidental. Suspicion attaches to a boy who was seen
upon the place. There was an insurance of $2,600 on the
property in the Lancaster Co. Mutual Insurance Company.
ANOTHER.BARN BllRNED.—Yesterday 1300 n
the barn of Mr. Jno. L. Leaman, residing about a quarter
of a mile north of Intercourse, was entirely consumed by
fire, together with six head of cattle and a large quan•
My of hay and feed. The horses were fortunately rescued.
The barn was a large one and built within the last five
years. The origin of the fire is not known, but it is sup
posed to have been the work of an incendiary - . We believe
that there was no insurance upon the property.
—Since the above wee In type we have learned a few
additional particulars concerning the fire. The bum is
said to have been op° of the finest in that section of the
county. The stock 'burned were five steers and ■cow, and
but for the timely assietancirof sone neighbors the rest of
the stock, embracing three horse., two colts and eight
cows would have perished. Two wagons, several hundred
bushels of wheat, corn and oats and a large quantity of
hay were destroyed, the entire Item amounting to $4,000,
on which there was no insurance. The fire was no doubt
the work of an incendiary, as none of the family had been
about the barn during the morning.—Saturday's ltzpress.
MORE FAT HOGS.—Mr. EMANUEL SHOWER,
the popular "mine host" of the Eagle Hotel, North Queen
street, re Thursday last, killed two more of his fat hogs,
which weighed when dressed 604 and 646 pounds nape*.
Healy. 8110BIe can't be beat.
WHAT 18 TO BE EXPECTEDI
We forget how many major and brigadier
generals have been created at Washington,
already, but we perceive that the number is
to be increased. The Senate declined to act
on the names of the forty-eight major and 154
brigadier•generals sent in by the President,
and desires to 'cut down the number to seventy,
in addition to those we have. But the fact is,
the excellent pay of all these carpet-heroes
must come, by taxation, out of the earnings of
the people, and we must all be compelled to
give so much more for everything we eat,
drink, wear, &0., in order to contribute the
sum necessary to enable these political fana
tics to live luxuriously and do nothing ; but if
" we, the people," remonstrate against such.
a shameful waste of the imblio money, we Ire
denounced as traitors t -- • •'•
SHOVED OUR ARNITES BE INCREASED I
BY THE SERVICES OF THE NEGRO
ilor The Intelligences.
ELMS EDITORS: In oar inquiries upon this subject, it
is not our object to notice the position taken by the re
publicans, to the effect that we should nee the negro In
the Linton armies! for the suppression -of the rebellion,
because the Confederates. are using them in support of
their armies and their cause. We design simply to dwell
upon principle, and the effects of a measure that must,
front the nature of the case, be demoralising in its ten
dency upon the army, and destructive in its practical
operations In the restoration of the Union widths support
of the Government.
. .
"The Inherent right or wrong of any measure may be
fairly determined by its effects. That which produces
crime, pauperism, immorality, poverty and misery cannot
in the nature of thing. be right."
We bold as Democrats that the °agrees are a different
and subordinate epodes of mankind, and every attempt to
abolish the distinction of the races and form an equality
upon society is unnatural and revolting to our instincts
and manhood, and will most certainly result in crime and
insubordination in the army, and pauperism, immorality
and misery in society in general.
The Negro Soldier Art we regard as an Abolition meas
ure, arising as a natural sequence out of the President's
Emancipation Proclamation, and to complete the Abolition
programme, it requires but - an aci to enforce the same
equality in society that is contemplated by this law in the
army, and then a law enforcing amalgamation, when all
the provisions of the “higher law doctrine" will be met,
and the Republican party will have performed its mission
of infamy., r -
If the 'Administration had maintained the status
of its original purpose in the prosecution of the war the
necessity of resorting to a draft, or any conscription meas
ure, never would have existed; the dech:ne" in the patri
otic sentiment would not have occurred, and long ere this
the country would have been restored to its original con
dition of-peace and prosperity The war was changed
however to an Abolition crusade, and the difficulties and
, complications that are confronting the Administration and
1 their party daily and rendering the affairs of the country
1 unmanageable, are but the result of just such measures
as we are now contemplating.
This bill for the enlistment of negro soldiers will hasten
. -
the time when no inducement will keep in the army that
rank and file who are averse to fighting to free the negro.
To be dragged down to the level of the negro to their mil
itary associations Is an 11:115111t and a diagram whiLh cannot
be tolerated by their friends at home, or will not be suf
fered by the soldiers in the field. The following extract
from , a Republican paper will 'hole bow the thing works
and the amount of mischief this , measure is likely to pro
duce:
"General Butler commenced and General Banks is con
tinuing the work of enrolling negroee as muddlers, and
forming them into companies, regiments and brigades.—
This operation provokes - the hostility of a large number of
Northern troops, In whom aversion to the negro is deeply
ingrained. Something very like a mutiny broke out
lately at Baton Bong. in consequence of the encampment
of a negro battalion in proximity to some of our New
York regiment.- A Colonel of one of the Louisiana colored
regiments--himself a white man—declares that he could
hardly show himeef at the Bt. Charles Hotel without being
insulted. As at Port Bora, the white troops refuse to be
brigaded with negroee, and many of their officers lose no
opportunity of showing their contempt for colored soldiers
gmd the white men who are appointed to command
em."
There we have some of the first fruits of a measure that
never can be put into general force, without creating the
most terrible disturbance that can be imagined. The idea
that "the means for the aimppression of the rebellion" are
so low and degraded that it requires the negro to raise it
to a higher state of excellency and efficiency to a proposi
tion which is revolting and monstrous. If it were possi
ble to suppose the brave men who compose our armies eo
lost to every sense of decency and respect as to tolerate
such an Insult upon their manhood, we would blush to
own them as friends. It is the terrible wrong that the
very inception of this measure Inflicts upon the feelings
and common endowments of our race that we especially
oppose. And we swear eternal hostility to any measure
that will insult and degrade the men whose patriotism had
I.d them into the field to do battle for their country.
It is not only from the far South these symptoms of die-
couragement and demoralization reach us. From every
quarter of the country, through private letters as well as
newspaper communisations, we receive intelligence of the
same disheartening character, the denial of the Republi
can journals to the contrary notwithstanding. From the
Army of the Potomac the 'voice of the soldier. (not of
newspaper correspondents) comas as follows: " But news
inch as the Emancipation Proclamation, the Negro Sol
diers' Bill, Illegal Arrests, Sc.. disheartens us. We are
compelled to believe that toe are fighting to free the negro, and
not fur our country." So also from the Southwestern
Army: "To them (the Abolitionists) Caucasian blood is
so inferior, when compared with African, that we can af
ford to drain its richest arteries that Pompey may call
himself free, though notoriously as incapable of freedom
(which implies self-government and self support) as the
parrot is of true eloquence. Theorist. may whitewash as
they will. Our army hes seen the black elephant as he is,
and we are forever cured of Uncle Tom's Cabin. 7b
,fight
in such a crusade is a freak worthy alone of idiots and mad
men" Nor does this evidence come from Democrats, as
the Republicans would like to make the people believe. It
is in the majority of instances from those who went into
the army enthusiastic and even radical Republicans.
It Is not only in the armies that the constrict of the Ad
ministration and the fancy bah of the present Congress
are working out the path to ruin and national bankruptcy,
but in the far West and all through the Northern States
the seeds of discord and diasensiod are broadcast springing
up into weeds of bitterness to the dominant party, and
will soon be bearing the legitimate fruits of their perfidy.
From the noblest cause upon earth and the highest as
pirationato which man can reach, In which twenty mil
lions of devoted people were enthusiastically united, we
have fallen Into divided, wrangling, turbulent factioae,
national bankruptcy, and the menial level of the cootemp,t*
Me negro, by reason of Jest such measures as the Negro
Soldiers• Bill, the Emancipation Proclamation, and the
numerable Abolition measures which alone have claimed
the carious attention of Congress, and filled up the black
page of its history, which will render It Infamous to the.
Intact posterity.
Another feature which we have hitherto not noticed
mast here be introduced to complete the black picture,
end stamp the authors of the measure as possessing the
feelings and purposes of fiend. Incarnate. And that Is the
desire evinced by the Abolitionists, and which runs
through the Emancipation Proclamation and the Negro
Soldiers' Bill, to arouse the latent savage nature of the
negro and incite the slaves to servile insurrection.
Surely to entice slaves - from their musters and their
homes by making them believe they are free, and then to
arm a hundred and fifty thousand and send them back
into the heart of the Southern country to make
war upon the defenceless women and children, in order to
draw their armies away from their stronghold for their
success, must be regardel by Ayery humane creature. to
say nothing of civilisation or christlanity, ay the very
worst phase of barbarism. And who cannot see and feel
that thie is the meaning of those measures ? The fact Is
not concealed, it has been abundantly developed by the
debates in Congress while thee(' bills wore pending; the
tone everywhere of the Abolition press, and the chutes In
the President's Emancipation Proclamation, .where he for
the use of our soldiers to suppress an Insurrection
should the .. `elaves etrike for their freedom," prove the
hellish scheme to be but the policy of the party in power,
marked out and put in process of execution with perfect
coolness and fiendish delight.
When those Degrees are fired with the brutish passions
of their nature. and tilled with the terrible fury that the
rage and hatred, the groans and curses of the battle field
invariably engender, what le to r entrain them from the
perpetration of the most fiendish acts and the most horri
ble barbarities? If they are thwarted In their demonstra.
Urine against the people of the South, what is to hinder
them from turning upon the North and striking for that
equality, nay, even that ruperiority, which the infatuated
demagogues of the Abolition school accord to them
And inch moo as Stevens and his toadies, and all others
who may be designated as ...dtboMinn foots," becoming
desperate in the dying struggles of their dastardly party,
and their infamous efforts to destroy the system of slavery
even at the sacrifice of the whole country—who adopt the
devilish expedient of Whites and blacks, fire and sword.
cannon and devastating flood, censorships and dungeons,"
"the shackle.: be stricken from every stare, and the freed..n
be arrayed against his oppressor," 'the whole Southern do-
main be made ahowling wilderness," appear to be—Judging
from the fiendish rage they evince In their satanic hatred
not only of the South and Southern men, but of the .Dee
mocraoy North, who are but advocating the cause of
humanity and the claims of the Constitution—not only
ready to encourage the negroce in the barbarities and
atrocities just referred to, bat if need be lead them into
the work of wiping out the people of the South and the
Democracy of the North, so ae to enable them to have •
free negro and a free love jubilee, with none daring to mo
lest or make them afraid.
Thie picture may be regarded as illy taken and strongly
drawn, but the magnet never more truly sought the pole
than do the measure. under consideration indicate the
conclusions to which we have come. Turn and twist and
wriggle as the Republicans may in order to shift the re
sponsibility now resting upon them, these stern facts are
ever present, and God grant that the end to which they
point may never be reached, or that the results which HOPI
as a natural sequence, and which appear to be upon us,
may never be realised.
Por The Intelligencer
DISCHARGED FROM CUSTODY.
Miami. Envious: The four Connecticut soldiers belong- ,
hag to the Provost Guard, stationed at the Conowingo
Bridge, who were committed to Prison about ten days ago
by Esquire WICKS, of Fulton township. on a charge of
shooting with intent to kill a young man named Ewrso,
were brought before the Court on Thursday last on a writ
of habeas corpus. Three of them were discharged by con
sent of the prosecutors, and the fourth named JOHNSON
(the one who shot EWING with a revolver) was discharged
by Judge HAILS, notwithstanding the offence was clearly
proven against him, on the grounds that the Guard were
discharging their duty to the Government, that there was
no intent to kill, that the wounded man was recovering,
-and that to have held him for trial Would only have en
tailed expense upon the county] We had supposed that a
Jury would have been the proper body to have in
vestigated the facts in the cam, but it appears we are mis
taken. The presumption is that if the man had been
killed on the spot, or since died of his wound, a similar
decision would have been arrived at--for the principle
would have been precisely the same, that they were only
discharging their duty to the Government. According to
this doctrine a Provost Guard may, at pleasure, fire a re
volver or a musket at an unoifending citizen, under the
pretext that they thought he was a deserter, and wound
him or kill him outright, and there is no remedy against
the assassin or murderer! That is precisely the case in
this instance. We had all along supposed that we were
living under the protection of .the civil law in Lancaster
county, but, it appears, such I. not the fact. Perhaps if the
wounded man had been an "American of African descent,"
the offender would not have escaped so easily. The legiti
mate consequence will bei that where Courts of Justice
fail to protect the citizen in his rights under the Constitu
tion and laws of the Commonwealth, the right of self pro-
tection becomes the paramount duty of every man, and
he will have to defend himself as bast he can. Lem trdionis
will then, of necessity, take the place of civil law.
For The Intelligeneer
"Guaira's" compliments to Editor No. 8 of the Exami
ner. Smooth-born are out of date and the firing generally
at random. Try again.
• His local effusion, like a canine howl, hurt nobody, and
en long es his teeth are not felt no danger Is anticipated .
After such a herculean attempt at expansion, we would
advise him "in all charity" to take a vapor bath, use emol
lient applications for hie head, fall heck on papescerif diet
and a gentle stimulant of beer and garlic to prevent a gen
eral collapse.
We are aware he does not cultivate an "incipient mom.
tachs"—his incipiency being of another kind, a ••malady of
the brain," an evidence of which Is the swag-bellied assur
ance he votes himself when "ont'o' nights," and the quan
tity of linen and prodigious amount of starch displayed
upon hi• dangerous-looking standing cutter.
By all means let him perambulate to Lida, and inhale
the "pure atmosphere," the best bed, the beet the market
or season affords, and the general hospitalities of the town
will be extended him, and he will tie abundantly supplied
with •apron strings" A longer sojourn in Lancaster
might prove fatal to his chances for either, banking or con
greasional notoriety.
For The Intellfgeneer
The Express strongly endorses the Conscription Bill, by
which the whole military power of the country is placed
in the hands of one man—a measure unprecedented in
either English or Americanchistory. ' The editor, however,
is among the exempts, as will appear from a perusal of the
last clause of the second section of the bill—hence his en
dorsement of the act. Q.
We bad occasion, a few days since, to
purchase a new pair of boots, an operation we
always' dread as a boy would a whipping.—
But compelled by necessity, we screwed our
courage to the sticking' place, and' went to
our worthy friend opposite, who, to our otter
astonishment, fitted us the first trial. Ho
very coolly remarked, , that "he done thesame
thing nineteen times out of twenty," and that
whenever he had a cough
_or cold, be need
Bryan's Pulraonio Wafers, and they cured
biin as often. - Only 25°onto a boi. Sold by
Mantle - " - - • -- • -
ARBITRARY ARRESTS.
SPEECH OP DR. EDSON B. OLDS.
In the Ohio House of Representatives, Fri
day, January 23, after quoting the plain terms
of the Constitution, Daniel Webster, and At-
torney General Woloott, the decisions of Judge
Carmichael and Chief Justice Dixon, and DU-
merons other authorities in proof of the unwar
rantable nature of the arbitrary arrests in
Ohio and elsewhere, Dr. Olds said :
I repeat, sir, what I have said before, that
in opposition to all this array of authorities,
gentlemen have not been able to point ne to
one single judicial decision, either British or
American, sustaining the constitutional right
of the President to suspend the writ of habeas
corpus.
True, sir, in opposition to all these legal
decisions, we have the opinion of the very
astute and learned gentleman from Mont
gomery. The learned gentleman, after calling
our attention to the extraordinary oath taken
by the President before entering upon the dis-
Charge of his official duties—an oath, be says,
which binds him to "preserve, protect, and
defend the Constitution of the United States,"
claims that in that peculiar oath the President
finds his constitutional power to suspend the
habeas corpus.
Sir; I wish the gentleman to understand
that these arguments are for the country as
well as this House. The people of Ohio are
terribly excited upon these despotic assump
tions of power by the President. They de
mand to know by what authority they are to
be subjected to arbitrary arrests—tc transpor-
tation and imprisonment. Permit one to apply
this wonderful discovery to the plain reading
of the Constitution—but first I admit that the
President takes a most extraordinary oath as
is taken only once in four years in, this country.
This oath is imposed upon him in the presence
of thousands upon thousands of his country
men ; before high heaven, and with his bands
upon the Holy Bible ; be swears " to faithful
ly execute the office of President of the United
States, and to the best of his ability preserve,
protect, and defend the Constitution of the
United States."
This is something more than simply an oath
to support the Constitution. It goes far be
yond that—it is an oath to defend the Consti
tution—to protect the Constitution—to pre
serve the Constitution: It is to defend it
against all false constructions—to preserve
against any ruthless hand that should' be lifted
to strike down any of its sacred provisions,
even though that ruthless band should be the
hand of the President himself. The President
swears to defend the Constitution. The Con
stitution maintains the freedom of speech ;
and yet according to the gentleman's argu
ment, under that oath the President may
strike down the freedom of speech. The
Constitution maintains the freedom of the
.press—the President swears to preserve the
Constitution, yet, under this oath, according
to this wonderful discovery, the President may
strike down the freedom of the press. The
Constitution says, " the right of trial by an
impartial jury shall be held inviolate." The
President swears to protect the Constitution,
and yet, according to the gentleman's argu
ment, under the most solemn and imposing
oath, he may, by his own arbitrary will, set
aside the right of trial by jury. Why, sir,
under such a damnable heresy as this, the
President, one by one, may strike down all
those sacred barriers thrown around the citi
zen in the Constitution to protect him in his
inalienable rights, and he may delitler him
over, bound hand and foot, to the worst des
potism and tyranny ever known in the history
of the world. Sir, if such is the Constitution
then, indeed, has it become a rope of sand,
and our boasted liberty a 'hissing and a by
word. Will gentlemen pause in their mad
and reckless career and contemplate the awful
despotism which they , are establishing, and
which when dying, they will leave as a
lasting inheritance to their children ? No
sovereign upon the :British throne, for more
than two hundred years, has attempted to
exercise such despotic power as has been used
by the President of the United States and the
Governor of Ohio, in the arrest and imprison.
went of the eleven citizens referred to by the
Governor in his message! Nay, more, sir, no
crowned head of Europe dare exercise such
power to-day. It would cost the Autocrat of
all the Russias the loss of his empire.
And yet strange as it may seem, a great
party in this country are ready to shout
hosannas to Abraham Lincoln and David Tod,
for thus striking down the priceless liberties
of American citizens ; and the leaders of that
party upon this floor are using every subter
fuge in order to stifle investigation, and
screen the despots from that fearful doom
which sooner or later must overtake them.
Why, sir, could some person well acquainted
with the past history of the world, some person
uncontaminated with the trammels of party,
and unbiased by the fanaticism of this age,
have been dropped down upon this floor, and
have heard the speeches which have been made
in defence of the President of the United
States, and the Governor of Ohio, hb would
have imagined himself listening to the argu
ments of the apologists of the " Star Cham
ber," under the reign of the Tudors and
Stuarts, in England, or of the Bastile under
Louis XVI, in France. Indeed it has been
openly said that under the despotic reign of
Elizabeth, England flourished the most, and
that while the Bastile stood in France they
had quietness and peace in that country.
Driven as gentlemen are, by all the decisions
of the courts—by the opinions of the most
eminent legal commentators, to abandon all
pretence of authority under the Constitution
for the President to suspend the writ of
habeas corpus, or to declare martial law in
States where no war exists, or to make arbi
trary arrests without due process of law, they
return to the tyrant's plea—the plea of neces
sity—" military necessity." Here they find
their last resting place. The friends of the
administration are driven at last to claim for
the President the exercise of a power which,
in the language of Wolcott, "strikes one almost
dumb with its audacity." Will gentlemen tell
us what they mean by the war power? For
I take it, the terms " war power ' and " mili
tary necessity " are one and the same. Will
they give it metes and bounds? Will they
tell us where it begins and where it ends? If,
because the President thinks it is a military
necessity, he can take your liberty in defiance
of all laws, and in defiance of all constitutional
safeguards, can he not, on the same plea, take
also your life without trial, judge or jury ? If
the President thinks it a military necessity,
can be not, on the same plea, take every dol
lar's worth of property in the whole country ?
Under this plea he could annul your title
deeds to your houses and lands—under this
plea he can enter all your bank vaults and
take your gold and silver—in short, under
this plea, he can do just what he pleases, and
no man will have the right to say, " Why do
ye so ?"
Mr. Speaker, could there be a military
necessity that at a time when no armed foe
stood upon the soil of Pennsylvania the Presi
dent should send his minions into that State
and steal Dennis Hickey, a poor laboring
Irishman, out of his potato patch, and carry
him, in his torn, dirty clothes and crownless
old straw hat, that had grown black with the
sun of many summers, to Fort Lafayette, and
keep him for weeks away from his suffering
family ?
Was it a military necessity because the chil
dren of a man in Michigan had raised upon
a pole a rag, through which they had
been straining blackberries, and because some
malicious neighbor had said the rag was a
secesh flag, that the man should be seized by
the minions of the President and carried to
Fort Lafayette and kept for six months a
prisoner ?
Was it a military necessity that Kennedy
and Baker should arrest the young and beau
tiful, and accomplished Mrs. Brinsmade,
and keep her for more than a mobthlin soli
tary confinement, and deprive her of all com
munication with her friends and relatives ;
with none to attend to her wants and necessi
ties, except the male pimps and spies of her
captors? Was it a military necessity, that
when Baker, the libertine, with all his appli
ances of despotism had failed in her seduction,
he and Kennedy, in order to screen themselves
from the deep damnation their conduct de
manded, should be permitted by innendoes
and insinuations to blacken her character? _
Was it a military necessity that near the
hour of midnight - my !louse should be broken
into by armed ruffians ; and -that with revol
vers pressed into my ears, I should-be dragged
from a sick bed and hurried out of the State
and placed in solitary confinement, in a damp
and loathsome cell in Fort Lafayette? . Was
it a military necessity that I should be taken
into a room where around me lay - in heaps
handcuffs, chains, manacles, and there )itrip
ped and searched and robbed - "of my money,
my watch, my- speotaeles,-and - even the medi
eine which I was using? Was it a military
necessity.that. I. stionld be deprived of- such
no,nrishgtent apd . .,4rinkAis Fpg;•.(o4glefkge
-3iiired? - Waal% a 10.t,ry nemsity pat a.
Beall ildfarbe phi6ed eit"iiiicreircrotor;iind'
for twenty-two days and nights I should be
annoyed in my weak and nervous condition
by his continued tramp, tramp, tramp? Was
it a military neoessity that I should be denied
the rue of a Bible?
Was it a military necessity that John W.
Kees, who had become partially insane by
brooding over the troubles that had settled
down upon our country, asked "if there was
no patriot hand in New Orleans to assassinate
Gen. Butler, the acknowledged Haynau of
this war," should be arrested and earned out
of the State and confined in the military
bastilcin Washington city ? Was it a mili
tary necessity that his paper should be sup
pressed and his office ordered to be closed ?
Alas! Alas! I envy not the Governor and
President the satisfaction it will afford them
to learn that their persecutions of this man
have forever put out the light of his mind, and
made him the hopeless inmate of a lunatic
asylum, leaving his wife in destitution and
want, dependent upon the cold charity-of the
world for the remainder of his earthly exist
ence.
Could there be a military necessity for keep
ing a poor, laboring man, a Mt. Barney, from
Baltimore, in Fort Lafayette until he became
incurably insane? And then, without notice
to his friends, send him across the river, and
torn him loose, without a cent of money or
mind enough to make his way home? • Sir,
when the history of Mr. Lincoln's bastiles
shall be written, as written it will be—when
all the secrets of his prison-house shall be
made known to an astonished world—gentle
men will hang their heads in very shame that
they were ever the advocates of such despot
ism, and that in this House they attempted to
justify it upon the plea of "military necessity."
LIARRISBURG CORRESPONDE&CE.
HARRISBURG, February 26, 1863.
MESSRS. EDITORS: On Monday evening's ses
sion of the House Washington's Farewell Address
was read by the Chief Clerk. Some discussion
arose about the propriety or necessity of printing a
great many copies of it foroiroulation. Mr. Kaini,
of Fayette, one, of the participants in the debate,
incidentally remarked that if its teachings had been
followed out we would not now be engaged in this
present unfortunate and destructive civil war, or
words to that effect. Our "life-long Democrat,"
Judge CELIIPRETS, of Lancaster, took exception to
the language used by - Mr. K. and entered into a
furious tirade against the Buchanan administration.
On the present occasion he was completely taken
down byAir. KLINE' in a sarcastic rebuke admin
istered to — him. Mr. R. hoped that "as the gentle
man from Lancaster was such a peculiar friend and
admirer of the present administration, that enough
of copies would be printed and sent on to Wash
ington, that they (the administration) would read
them, and hoped to God that they would not only
read them but learn
,wisdom and profit by their pe
rusal." The Judge remained mute after that. As
it is apparent to all sensible men that wisdom is a
commoldity very scarce in the Federal city, it would
doubtless be a waste of invaluable documents to
send them there.
Tuesday was devoted to the consideration of bills
on the private calendar. A divorce ease was up be
fore the House (the third for this session) in which
Mr. Frees, of Philadelphia, the applicant for divorce,
urged as hilt main reason the insanity of his wife,
his consequent distress, sickness and unhappiness
occasioned thereby, and his desire to re-enter society
and endeavor to regain his health and spirits there.
The petition was well ventilated by Messrs. SHAN
NON, McCum.ocu,•WexHarELD and others, who took
strong grounds against a divorce for the reason given,
and deserve the thankaof every right thinking and
honorable person for their earnest, eloquent and
manly defence of the marriage bond, showing con
clusively that every principle of honor, love, and
the best Interests of our nature prove that sickness
either mental or bodily should only make the mar
ried couple cling the closer to each other, and ad
minister all the comfort. that sympathy demands
and love should hasten to offer. Mr. SHANNON par
ticularly distinguished himself by his eloquence and
logic, and by the efforts of the gentlemen referred
to the bill was indefinitely postponed.
COL itOPIEINEV bill for a. reconsideration of the
bill restoring the tonnage tax on the Pennsylvania
Railroad has been postponed till next Wednesday.—
The Col. has fought the matter very hard and is en
deavoring to secure the immense source of revenue
to our State which the tonnage tax would bring into
the treasury ; but there are fears expressed that the
postponement will endanger the chances of the re
peal of the old bill. The Col. however will have the
proud consciousness that he has discharged his duty
faithfully, and that this huge monopoly of the
Pennsylvania Railroad has been opposed step by
step by him. If all legislators were as able and
as pure as the Col. a different state of things would
exist in our Commonwealth.
Petitions after petitions are being sent in from all
parts of the State, praying for the passage of a law
prohibiting the immigration of "free Americans of
Afrioan descent " and mulattoes into this Common
wealth. A universal sentiment of aversion and fear
appear to affect the minds of the people at large on
this subject, and correctly too. Measures of this
character will have to be resorted to sooner or later
to prevent this curse being entailed upon us. And
if they are forced upon us, the curse of the negro's
blood will rest upon the present abolitionized Admin
istration and Congress. Poor darkey—whatkilling
friendship is exhibited by his friends the kinky
headed Black Republicans! - A good many petitions
have also been lent in asking for a " National Con
vention to form certain amendments to the Con
stitution of the United States." It is very doubt
ful, however, whether such a Convention can be as
sembled at the present time, though all conservative
and true Union men would hail such a Convention
with joy as the harbinger and some evidence of the
things bopod for—viz : peace—re-union—prosperity.
Today the returns of the State election held in
October were read in the House according to law by
the Clerk of the Senate, but the Clerks not being
ready with their tallies and the klousit wishing to
go on with_the business, the result will be declared
next Tuesday.
An invitation having been extended to the Legis
lature to visit Scranton, by the members from Lu-
zerne, a great many of them intend visiting that
place to-morrow. A special train will be provided
for their accommodation.
The House has adjourned till Monday. J
PHILADELPHIA CORRESPONDENCE.
PHIIADZI.rittI, Feb. 26th, 1863,
Masses. EDIToRc : The opening of the new Poet Office to
the business community has created a pleasant little flut
ter this morning among merchants and all other., male
and female, who have dealings with that universal institu
tion. Though thb new building. externally, is not what
the wants of a great city like Philadelphiademand, In the
way of architectural beauty and massiveness, its internal
arrangements are so vastly ahead of a, ytbing we hive yet
known in the line that everybody, to the last new Biddy
that wants a leitther from onld Ireland, wears a smiling
fate this morning. In fact the transition from the dark
hole of Calcutta which we have just left is too great to allow
any more room for grumbling. The ladies too are working
themselves into ecstacles over the change, for the new
structure Is on Chestnut street, their peculiar thorough
fare, and there are nice cosy arrangements made for their
comfort. Their long suffering throughout the purgatorial
state down Dock street is especially to be commended,
The cargo of the fine prize steamer, The Princess Boyal,
an account of whose capture we wrote you last week,
proves to be more valuable even than we had supposed.
Two splendid propelling engines, iron armor for two ves
sels, (both of which according to the rebels' own Showing
are now lying useless In Charleston harbor,) three Whit
worth guns, with lathe for turning shot to fit them, a
largo quantity of conical, steel-pointed shot and metal to
make more, with an immense lot of genuine morphine,
and kindred expensive chemicals, tea and hospital stores,
constitute the principal Items of the cargo. The Charles
ton paper. deplore her loss as the moat serious that has
yet happened to their putt, or to the whole Smith. The his.
tory of the ship renders her an object of immense attrac
tion where she lies, at Vine Street wharf, many persons
from the interior 'wishing the city solely for the purpose of
enjoying their first eight of a prize taken from rebeidom,
and of the manner in which neutral England gives evi
dence of-her neutrality. The tale of the steamer will take
place on Saturday morning. The government of course
will be the highest bidder.
Eizty per cent. premium, when we wrote you- this day
week, wee supposed to be a tremesdons figure for gold.
To day it is selling at seventy-three, with a prospect that
it will go still higher. Should Congress pus the bill for a
farther Icons of gmenbacks and adjourn, and should - we
meet with a repnlee at Vickebnrgb, which really looks
probable from the reports from thence to-day, there is
nothing to prevent gold going up to one hundred and cot.
ton to a dollar and a half per pound. The sooner this
mleerable, nigger-loving Congress adjourns the better it
will be for the country. It is consoling to think -that the
fourth of March le eo near et hand. Otherwise we should
despair utterly.
A very interesting account of the last cruise, of the
Monitor is given in the March number of the Atlantic
Monthly," just published. It is from the pen of one of
the survivors of that wild night when she went down.
Mr. illgginson's Horror. of St. DoMingo is also continued
in the same number; and five articles are given on Ameri
ca, The Old World, Christopher North, (one of the most
admirable critical biographies' sketches we have ever read)
A London Suburb, etc.; with very readable stories and
poetry. The Indian tale of Willie Wharton is very touch
ing Altogether this is a very fine number of thin popular
periodical.
In very lbeautifull style, lemo, with tinted palter, red
edges, and elegant binding, Mesas. Ticknor A Fields,Eos•
ion, have just issued " The Story of the Guard, a lively
military narrative written by Mn Jennie Benton Fremont '
wife of the general. The lady accompanied her husband
in Ms slightly overestimated campaign in Missouri, and
In this record gives a dashing sketch of the famous Guard
of the General, and a spirited history of the "one hundred
days." - While we smile at thelady's enthusiasm we give
her credit for a pleasant, lively book, which, we learn has
already counted its sale by thousands.
• Lest week we briefly noticed two fine new novels from
a new author, Lady Andley'e Secret, and Aurora Floyd, by
Miss Braddon, who has suddenly become the rage in Eng-,
land This week we have a third to notice from the same
pen, and a fourth and even a fifth are announced, proving
that Miss Braddon, having achieved a mimeos is not - going
to remain idle under it. "The Lady Lisle," therm, novel
this week, is equal in many respecta to either of the two
already noticed- , Major Varney, the accomplished- vfUn n,
is a character that might have been drawn by . Trollope or
Charles Reads, so 'masculine is it, so hold and finished for
- a woman's hand. The story throughout is a capital one.
Mesas. Dick & Fitzgerald, New York, publish It in a neat
fifty cent pamphlet.
Pew of the fashionable lady novelists of the 'day,
.how.
ever, ran equal Mni. Wood,. whose East Linn., Earl'.
Heir's, etc., have taken so strong - a hold upon mcoder
n novel
readers. In two volumes, pamphlet, Messrs. T. B. Peter
s= k Brothers, this city, have Just published . Verner'e
Pride," a tale of English domestic life, the lateit of the
author's productioos, and published here in advance of
the publication of the completed work in London. The
substance of this exciting tale la the murder of a beaotiful
girl in the neighborhood of a great striate, celled Verner's
Pride, in England. crimef. idr. Verner's near connections
are suspected of the ; and on this small imputation
one of the most abs o rbing stories that we haie Orel . feed
is constructed The 'IOU if the beet 9 1 10' Yet written by Ms
accomplished authoress, and we shall be much mietaMen if
it does not have an enormous sale- 'Already -it hal-gone
to a fifth edition. , _
In's llbera!, generous looking duodecimo of 1300 pages,
Mr. T. 0. H. P. Burnham, Boston, bas Just published a
book that iss - already making some noise in the world. ..My
Diary North and South, by Wm.' Howard Russell, - 'the
Special Correspondent . of the Louden Time . unewepoper.
Busiell has said come Unkind things as, and betas
also told u some unquestionable truths. In thiel Diary,
which covers the whole ground of his travels io,this *nun.
try, both lir the Wai - North'ind in Sousa* be givekkome
severe criticisms of the maisegement of, ellstartabetanid of
the blunders of our political leaders, and draws estaphlo
picture orthe condition of the South and ofth *einem en us
which thereurevailed, eontruilolg in the me#Atettelh'
taitiner the itatentikiteo 'often' Mil trWard In the
thealltae, atfellgatdeafeeling.l4
We eh:amend the work to Ittentive puma.