itttelttgmw. WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 19,1866 - Tne printing presses snail be tree to every person who undertakes to examine the pro oeecUngi of the legislature, or any branch ot government; and no law shall ever be made to restrain the right thereof. The free cpuunn nlcatlon of thought and opinions Is one or tne Invaluable rlgha of men; and every muzen liberty. In proseoutlons lb- the P“s*fsf otom _ tToWS'K • dance.” learn from Tour Enemies. The New York Tribune says Union State and County Committees are obliged to collect and spend large sums of mnnev lust previous to each important election. This is all well, but one-half the amount spent a year in advance to dissem inate good newspapers would produce a better and more permanent effect. Every earnest Republican knows one or more moderate Democrats or doubt ful voters who would be glad to learn the truth through a weekly newspaper, and who would not only vote right, but would enlighten other men of his class. As the winter is the workingitian’s reading season, this is the time to commence the canvass for the next election; Lot each Union man see that at least one honest Democrat has the reading of the Weekly Tribune regularly for one year, and it will tell when the votes are counted.” Democrats should learn wisdom from their enemies. 'All that is needed to I overthrow the Radicals in Pennsyl vania, and in other leading Northern States, is the circulation of Democratic newspapers. There are multitudes of men who have heretofore acted with the Republicanorganization who would read a good Democratic weekly news paper eagerly if it was put into their hand. Money expended in that way would tell with power at the next elec tion. We have right, truth and justice on our side. All that is needed to se cure our triumph is a proper presenta tion of the great questions of the day. This can be done most effectually by the circulation of Democratic news papers. Eacli one of these is a focue frorn which political light emanates. We urge upon thoughtful Democrats the necessity that exists for active ex ertion in this matter. The Republican party has paid more attention to this matter in the past than we have, and they owe much of their success to the manner in which they have Hooded the country with their newspapers. We hope to see a thorough wakening up of the Democracy upon the subject. Let us learn wisdom and liberality from our enemies. Let every subscriber to a good Demo cratic newspaper in Pennsylvania re solve that he will secure one or more new subscribers. It could he done easily, and If it were done the impetus thus given to the good cause would be more than sullicient to overcome the majority against us at the recent elec tion. Shall It he done ? Let each indi vidual reader of a Democratic newspa per determine to do his part and it will be accomplished within a month.— What say you reader? Will you do your share of the work ?. Resolve to do it, and do it at once. See that every Democrat among your neighbors takes a sound Democratic newspaper, and that republicans who will read the truth have a chance to do so. Keprescntatlon in tlic Senate. We have been accustomed to admire, nay, almost to revere the Constitution of the United States. For our country as it once existed, a Union with defined and limited powers, of States equal and sovereign in their spheres, it >\;as the most complete system of government ever devised. It challenged the admi ration of statesmen throughout the world, and secured for our people a de v gree of prosperity ami happiness unex ampled in history. But for our Gov ernment, as by the will of the majority of one section of the country nowad ministered, the Constitution of the Uni ted States is not so perfectly adapted. If it were possible, by reason, argument or persuasion, to bring back the people of the North to the support of the Con stitution as it is, we should cling to it as the very palladium of our safety. But the people of the North have decided, by majorities too emphatic to admit any hope of change, that the Government of the United States is one of unlimited power, that the States of the Union have no rights which the General Gov ernment is bound to respect; that even their existence is subject to its will, and that the authority of Congress is para mount to what is left of the Constitu tion. It therefore only remains for us tom cept the situation. Congress being, by the will of the dominant section, omnip otent, it is important tlmt the people of Pennsylvania should lie fairly repre sented in itsorganization. I n the House we are so represented, but in the Senate we are not represented in proportion to ~-our population and greatness. The Senate more than equals theJlou.se in power and influence, but in the Senate the voice and weight of the resident of Rhode Island and Delaware is Urcnty times as great as that of the citizen of Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania contains more than one-tenth of tire population of the I'nion, but does not enjoy one - thirtieth of the representation in the Senate. Our intercourse with the peo ple of Rhode ’lsland, Vermont, Xew Hampshire, Connecticut, Delaware, Kansas, Oregon ami Nevada has not convinced us that they are from six to thirty times our superiors in any quali ty of manhood, if the assertion of the Declaration of Independence, that all men are created equal , is to place the negro of Delaware on our level in the House of Representatives, we do not perceive why the same assertion should not place us on his level in the {Senate. It is not pleasant to have the Delaware negro made our equal, but it Is still more unpleasant to have him made thirty times our superior. In fact, the system of representation in the {Senate Is founded on the theory of {State sovereignty and equality, and if there is not enough of that theory left incur Government to protect States from annihilation by Congress, the system of Senatorial representation is a mockery and outrage. If Stales may bo s extinguished like counties, It is a gross wrong to allow them equal repre sentation in the Henate; whereby Ike influence of the people of small States over the Government Is multiplied, ami the influence of the people of large States is correspondingly reduced. But how Is this unequal feature In our form of government to bo reached, In the face of a positive prohibition of the Federal Constitution ? Ask Con gress, which nt this hour acts and legis lates in defiance of this prohibition and similar constitutional provisions. Ask Congress, which by the votes of the representatives of almost all the weaker States themselves, deprives ten States of their “equal suflrage In the Senate.” Ask Congress, which thrusts States out of the Union, and keeps them out until they adopt amendments to the Constitution. The process Is simple, and In strict accordance with present Republican precedent. Exclude the email States from Congress; pass the requisite amendment to the Constitu tion; require them all to subscribe to It os a condition of readmlßslon to Con fess,' and If they are very refraotory, degrade them Into territories, and give them a smell of gunpowder and a taste of that might whloh, under our present sublime system of government, makes right. What has the Sooth to lose? The Radical press and politicians, in and out of Congress, are amusing them selves with threats of vengeance against the Southern people if they do not promptly adopt the Constitutional Amendment. These threats assume the various phases of permanent exclu sion from representation in Congress and participation in national elections ■ of destruction of States and organization of territories ; of personal disfranchises ment and negro supremacy. The threats have ttius far proven ineffectual, for the States of the South have, with singular and emphatic unanimity, rejected the humiliating terms dictateu by their Northern conquerors. Have the people of the South lost, or will they lose anything by this course ? Their situation can be made no worse than it now is. Denied any share in the administration of the Government that controls them, they are aliens in their country and slaves to its rulers. The precise form of this slavery will make little difference; whether it takes the shape of destruction of State or cre ation of Territorial Governments, of individual disqualification or disfran chisement, of Congressional or negro supremacy, it will remain essentially the same practical political slavery. It may, indeed, be attended with different degrees of degradation, but these will be rather matters of taste than sub stance ; for while many would prefer the dominion of Congress, some would doubtless be willing to exchange the yoke of Yankee fanatics forthat of their domestic negroes. The boon of representation in Con gress is not rich enough to tempt the people of the South to any special sacri fices to obtain it. Many or few, their representatives would be outnumbered by those of tiie North, most of whom are banded together by a common sen timent of hatred against the South. True, tiie admission of their represen tatives might now enable them to sus tain tiie President’s veto as a constitu tional barrier to the encroachments of Congress, but recent experience shows constitutional barriers to be weak ob stacles against tiie usurpation of un scrupulous majorities. Besides, the present Executive may soon be suc ceeded by another, who will reflect the genuine feeling that animates tiie ma jority of tiie people of the North animosity towards the .South. Then, how would their minority representa tion in Congress avail them V The people of the South thoroughly understand and appreciate their situa tion. They are at the mercy of a pow erful faction, whose existence depends upon sectional bitterness, and whose leaders are devoted to the integrity of their party and not of the Union. 11 the South does not bow to their yoke with becoming meekness, or kiss the rod with due humility, they let slip the dogs of party and lash the minds of their followers into frenzy. And if the unhappy South gives them no occasion for complaint, they fabricate the pre texts for their course, aud scatter broad cast through the North the falsehoods and slanders its people are too eager to receive. For the suffering people of the desolated South, the choice is not between State and Territorial Govern ments, not between representation in or exciusionfrom Congress, not between Northern or negro supremacy ; tiie sad alternative is slavery or expatriation ; and it seems the set purpose of tiie re morseless leaders of tiie dominant fac tion at the North to reduce the Southern people to slavery or drive them from file country. These can save but one tiling, their honor, by refusing to sub scribe to their owu degradation. . Negro Suffrage, Congress lias passed, and there isnow before the President for consideration, a bill conferring the right of suffrage upon the negroes of the District of Co lumbia. The bill will undoubtedly be vetoed, and as certainly be passed over tiie veto by two-thirds majorities in both branches of Congress. The leaders of tiie Radical party stated in debate that tliis measure is the model or pat tern by which they inteud to regulate the institutions of the States. This bill was passed by the House of Representatives at its last session, but was suspended in the Senate until the elections of this year took place. The Democracy warned the people that the election of tiie Republican tickets would be construed into an approval of the measure. But the Republicans denied tiie issue, aud pointed to the suspension in the Senate, where their majority is overwhelming, as evidence that it had not tiie sanction of their party. Now, however, the mask of hypocrisy ■ is laid aside, aud the bill iB pushed hastily through Congress with the sup port of tiie entire Republican party. Tiie people of the country are thus au thoritatively advised of the purpose of that party, and tiie doctrine of Negro Equality is openly avowed and pro claimed. It is now useless to recur to the argu ments against negro suffrage. The men tal and physical inferiority of the negro, his utter incapacity for self-govern ment, the degradation of the race, es tablished by the fact that no negro com munity has ever emerged from barbar ism, have been thoroughly discussed and canvassed before the people. If white Americans desire negroes to rule over them, they certainly have a right to gratify their taste ; and now that the designs of the Republican party are revealed, the people will doubtless de cide upon them according to their judgment. Negro Equality Is now, and will re main, until determined by the people, the leading issue between the two great parties of the country. When stripped of disguise, and presented in naked de formity to our voters, we doubt nottbat they will turn from the forbidding pro ject with loathing and disgust. The Hud leal Plan Fully explained. I f any of our readers desire to see the Radical plan for preventing a restora tion of the I'nion fully explained and most ideal ly expounded, we would refer them to (lie remarkable speech of a colored gentleman, which maybe found In our local columns. Thu whole scheme for declaring the Southern States terri tories and keeping them out of the I'nion Is completely exposed. Rend what a “ free American citizen of Afri can descent," one Just from the South, likh to say about Reconstruction. We commend It especially to all followers of ThaddcUH Stevens. Forney Hacks Out, The Press of to-day contains a letter from John W. Forney, withdrawing his name from the Hhl of Radical Dis union candidates for the United Stateß Senate. He need not have withdrawn, for he wasn’t In the least danger of being nominated. He now declares in favor of ThaddoUß Stevens, but the declaration will do Mr. Stevens nogood, us Forney can’t Influence a single vote In the Radical caucus. The total failure of Forney’s Senatorial aspirations must be very mortifying to his vanity. The dlsugreeublc fact lias at length forced itself upon him, that whilst his Radical party friends are willing to let him lick the most savory Congressional platters, they are not willing to put him In any position of a representative character, Mr. Stevens in n New Hole. • The admirers of Thaddeus Stevens were not a iiuie surprised at the speech he made in the House on last Tuesday. That he should rebuke his comrades for attempting an outrage on the Con stitution of the United States was some thing not dreamed of. Thunder from a clear sky could not more thoroughly •have amazed the Radical crew. Any intimation of the existence of a consti tutional barrier sufficiently strong to check them in their schemes, sounded no doubt like the prating of those whom they have been in the habit of denouncing as “ copperheads.” That the interposition of Mr. Stevens in be half of the Constitution should come in the of a strong protest against an act designed to ensure the punishment of traitors, was something which no Radical would have credited if it had been announced to him in advance. Yet that is the shape it took. We are glad to learn that even Mr. Stevens cannot countenance all the inlamous schemes of ills reckless associates ; and we were delighted to see them cower in conscious and detected guilt under the lash of his sharp tongue. Mr. Stevens has a good legal mind, aud, unprinci pled as he lias always been as a poli tician, he cannot sit still and see the most firmly set legal principles over turned without rebuking the effort. He has done one act for which he deserves credit. Mr. Stevens lias his own theory in regard to the rebellion. He laid itdown plainly in a speech which he delivered in the Court House in Lancaster during the summer of 1805, shortly after Presi- dent Johnson had inaugurated his restoration policy. Mr. Stevens holds that by their rebellion tiie Southern States ceased to have any rights as States in or out of file Union ; that as soon as they were recognized as belliger ents they stood towards us in the rela tion of foreign States ; that on tiie sur render of their armies they occupied the situation of a conquered territory, and that their people were entitled to no rights except such as we might as con querors choose to grant. Holding to that wild aud impracticable theory, lie has urged.the repudiation of their State gov ernments, tiie reduction of the States to the condition of territories, a general confiscation of property, aud other punishments. These punishments are not to be inflicted, according to Mr. Stevens' theory, under any operation of the civil law, but by tiie agency of the military powers of tiie General Govern ment. Mr. Stevens denies that the people of the Soutli have any rights under tiie Constitution. He would put tiie States completely outof tliepaleof tlieUnion, aud treat those engaged in tiie rebellion as captives taken in war. He is suffi ciently vindictive and bloodthirsty, but be insists upon shedding blood and confiscating property in accordance with a pet theory of liis own. He puts the Constitution entirely out of file way, and utterly ignores its existence, so far as the Soutli is concerned. A large proportion of liis party are not ready to accept his theory. They desire to inflict punishments, aud are fiercely vindictive ; hut they are not willing at once to abrogate the civil law of tiie land, ami to ignore the Con stitution. They arc ready however to perpetrate any enormity, aud to violate the Constitution twenty times a day if it should stand in their way so often. Mr. Stevens objects to uuy such tem porizing policy. He prefers to leap the gulf at one vigorous bound. He lias good sense sullicient to know that ha bitual violations of tiie Constitution, and open disregard of tiie great legal principles settled by tiie decisions of centuries, must inevitably lead to an infinitude of disasters. He takes a po sition which is revolting, but he adheres to it with logical tenacity. His radical compeers wisli to arrive at the same end by a more tortuous method. Thad deus Stevens would thrust the Constitu tion aside with a strong hand, leaving the Soutli naked, defenceless aud a prey to Northern rapacity. Hi* asso ciates would undermine the structure and destroy our free institutions piece meal. He would erect a despotism ut once ; they, less bold in their designs, would gradually iilcli away the liberties of tiie people. Hence the disagreement between them. We would prefer to be at the mercy of one bold robber, rather than to fall into the hands of a pack of petty thieves. The End of the World. An eminent English Divine predicted that the world would come to an end some years ago, but finding his predic tion unverified, he revised his scriptural studiesand putofl'the grand catastrophe till ISOS. We should not he in great dread of tiie verification of his second prediction, were it not that several events of recent occurrence indicate that something of a very unusual and most extraordinary character must take place before loug. We allude, of course, to the formation of a “ Congressional Prayer Meeting,” with Henry Wilsou and other hardened sinners at tiie head, and to the retirement of John Morrisey, Congressman elect, from the Presidency of the noted Faro Banks at Saratoga and New York city. It may be that these extraordinary events do not portend the immediate winding-up of earthly affuirs, but there is certainly a marked millennial look about them. We remember, however, to have seen it slated on the authority of Stonewall Juckson's servant, that the harder “ old Stonewall” prayed at night, the more wickedly he fought next day ; and this may turn out to be the case with our praying Congressmen. Morrißsey, though his Congressional term has not yet begun, ought to be ad mitted to the sacred circle at once. If he should apply, wc do not doubt that he would be welcomed with 11 three cheers and a tiger." It would be a sight fit for gods, to see Wilson meekly lay aside the impudent smirk that distin guishes bis countenance and compose his features for an appeal to the throne of grace, while John Morrissey hears his penitential groan and “gnesouebetter.” The Flag. Imperial Congress Isabout to improve the national banner. Every American knows that the thirty-six stars on the flag represent tho'prescnt Stutes, and the thirteen Htrlpes represent the orlgl- - nal States. Congress announces Its sovereign Intention to strlko ten stars and four Htrlpes from the national en sign, by reducing States to territories. It Is also probable that Delaware, Maryland and Kentucky will reject the Constitutional Amendment dictated by Congress, and thereby Incur its royal displeasure and suffer extinction. In that event three more stars and two more stripes must be erased. And if Pennsylvania or any other Stateßhould hereafter commit rebellion by voting against the supreme wisbesof Congress, It will doubtless be promptly wiped out, star and stripe, In the same summary style. We suggest thut the vacancies made in the flagbelllled with something Indicative of the condition of the people In the obliterated States. A while slave for the devl.ee, and the word Poland for legend, would be at once emblematic and expressive. When are the beßt times to read the bpok of Nature? When spring opens the leaves, and autumn turns them. What Is Onr Government ? In view of the recent and present course of Congress, and of the part of the people who sustain it, we propose to briefly consider the nature of our Government as now administered. It is neither Republican nor Democratic, for a minority of the whole people has secured the control of the Government, and oppresses and defies the majority. Worse than that, it is not even Consti tutional Government, for the plainest provisions of our fundamental law are violated and trampled upon by the dom inant minority. Such of the provisions of the Consti tution as contribute to the power of the ruling faction ate carefully regarded, so far as they operate in that way. The division of the country into States, which enables a minority of thenation, constituting a majority of one section, to choose a Congress in which the senti ment of the majority of the whole peo ple is scarcely represented, is upheld for that purpose. The unequal provision of the Constitution that makes Rhode Island the peer of Pennsylvania in the United States Senate, andgivesthe New England Yankee a voice and weight equal to that, of six citizens of New York, is enforced for the Yankee's ben efit. The chairmen of the leading com mittees of the Senate are taken from New England to strengthen the in fluence of that section in Congress. And lest New York, Pennsylvania, and In diana, containing together nearly half the population of the North, might Borne day throw off the Republican yoke, they are to be pinned to the floor of the Senate by the admission of Ne braska ami Colorado, whose Senators will not represent one-twentieth in number of the population of the States ust named. But the same and like provisions of the Constitution are openly defied, where they operate against the interests of the ruling minority. Article I, Sec. d of the Cnfftoitution of the United States declares that “each State shall have at least one representative” in Congress; yet ten States are utterly deprived rep resentation. Article V, of the same in strument, provides that “no State, with out its consent, Bkall be deprived of its equal suffrage in the Senate.” This is the precise clause that makes the Yan kee worth six New Yorkers or five Pennsylvanians in the Federal Senate; yet the Yankees in Congress impudent ly refuse ten States any representation whatever under the provision that ex alts New Englanders above the humbler citizens of other States. The clause is potential to magnify and multiply the Yankee; to reduce and degrade New Yorkers aud Pennsylvauians to inferi ority; but powerless to secure the rights and representation of freemen in the Senate of the United States. We have stated w’hatour Government is not; but there is a word that was invented expressly to describe such governments as that initiated by Con gress, and this word is Oligarchy. It is the rule of the few over the many; of the minority over the majority; of a part, or section, over the whole. It is the meanest of all despotisms, because it reflects the passions of a multitude, while itisnot redeemed by thegenerous impulses orconscienceofan individual; it is the eruelest of all despotisms, be cause crowds never exhibit either pity or mercy ; it is "the most irresponsible of for while many partici pate in its acts, no single person is re sponsible for them. If this system of Government is riveted upon the people of the country, they will before many years seek relief iu some other system. One tyrant is bad enough; history has' shown thirty to be worse; but two hundred may procure for themselves a pre-eminence of infamy proportioned to their number. If this country is to retain even the semblance of free insti tutions, the Congressional oligarchy must cease their perjury, and “ support the Constitution of the United States” in its plain, unmistakable provisions. An Infamous Proposition The Express of last night concludes an article on John H. Surratt witli the following announcement i 11 We say compound with this man. His life for his information. And then let him go.” To thoughtless minds that might sound like a fair proposition, but to any one who will reflect upon it for a mo ment it must appear perfectly Infamous. Here is a supposed criminal caught many rnonthß after his supposed accomplices have all been summarily disposed of by the common hangman. The circum stances connected with the trial and the execution of those with whom he is linked in fate, were of such a character as could not fail to strike terror to the heart of even the boldestcriminal. This John H. Surratt is said to be of a weak and vacillating disposition, and a very coward in the presence of physical danger. At the time his mother and the rest were tried, the opinion was freely expressed that if this youth could be caught he would testify to almost anything to save his own life. It was more than intimated that he would criminate his own mother to save him self. Now that he has been secured, at a time when whateverhe may say will only affect parties for whom he may naturally be supposed to feel no concern, it is proposed to offer him his life and liberty, on condi tion that he shall make a state ment criminating Jefferson Davis and others. That is the plain English of the matter. That is exactly what the lan guage of the Express means. That is the proposition which will no doubt be made to John H. Surratt. If be be the weak coward he is said to be, he will snatch at such a chance of escape with greedy eagerness. The editor who could publicly advocate such an attempt at extorting a confession for the purpose of implicating Jefl'erson Davis, must be utterly lost to all sense of honor and de cency. How much more manly it would have been to have spoken out as the New York Herald does in Its Issue of yesterday. That paper, with the best uhances of gaining information, says: That Surratt was tho medium of commu nication between tbo rebel authorities and the conspirators there can be no question. Hlh visit to Richmond and his report of Ills conference with Davis and Benjamin are deposed to by other witnesses than Con over, whose testimony has been proved to bo wholly unreliable. Rut there Is nothing to show that either Mr. Davis or Renjamln had any Idea that assassination was con tomplalcd. Tho construction put by Con over upon tho despatches from Davis and Renjamln to Jacob Thompson was unwar ranted by any of the facts that transpired. So far as the rebel government was con cerned tho abduction of Mr. Lincoln and of the chief mombors of Ills Cabinet was, wo bollovo, tho limit of its Instructions. Tho enthusiasm of a fanatic, as ofton happons in such oases, pushed a plan, which In war Is always considered justifiable, to the point of a cowardly assassination. It is truo that we have it assorted by a Montreal paper, on the alleged authority of the porson who gavo tho information which led to the arrest of Surratt, that the prisoner stated to him that the murder of Mr. Lin coln was planned in Richmond, and that it had the assent of Mr. Davis. This we en tirely disbelieve. In the first place It Is not likely that Surratt would make utiy con fession in regard to the matter until ho know it coulu be made conducive to his safety; and In the next, the modiutn through which the Htory reaches us 1h not a reliable one. All rumors of this kind should bo re ceived for the present with great caution. It must be remembered that those who have special causes of hostility against Mr. Davis are Interested In circulating thorn, and that in Montreal especially he has sorqo bitter personal enemies. Against such statements wo should balance the fact that the moHt rigid investigation by the government has hitherto failed to bring home to him any connivance with the plot. Matchless misery—a olgar without any fire to light It, Hlfalatfn We will j uat mention for the informa tion of the public, and as an apology for occasionally alluding to it, that there is another daily newspaper besides the Intelligencer published in Lancaster. It is not very large, just precisely the size of our paper, and is not known outside of the county. Even here it is only a second-rate concern in its party, the old Examiner being universally well known and recognized as the established organ of the Republican party in Lancaster county. The Express has, however, of late, made some attempts to force itself into a lecognition by the Republican organization. It has employed a mili tary editor. Some df the specimens of composition which come from his pen are silly in the extreme. Witness the following: The Express must take care or it will tread too harshly on the toe 9 of its own party friends. So writes a little correspon dent in the little Intelligencer of this week. The wretched slaves of a party, and the conductors of a narrow-minded partisan sheet, can never understand nor compre hend the position of the Express. It is be yond their intellects. Whew! What do our cotemporaries think of that as a specimen of “ hifa lutin?” Isn’t that an elevated style? Imagine our feelings when we read it. We own up. The Express does fre quently get “ beyond our intellects ,” and we defy any one to comprehend what it means when it ventures on an at tempt at profundity. Some of these days we will put on a pair of spectacles, try to look as wise and as stupid as an owl, aud write a column of stilted non sense, just to let the military editor o 3 the Impress see what an ass he habitu ally makes of himself. Beyond Our Intellects.” The Express , in noticing the recent speech of Thaddeus Stevens, declares that he always held “ that the insur rectionary governments should be pun- ished and not insurrectionary individu- als .” What on earth was the editor driving at ? How can governments as such, and as distinguished from indi viduals, be punished? We confess that 11 is beyond our intellects.” We have heard or read every speech Mr. Stevens ever made in regard to the States in re bellion, and we will do him the justice to say that he never gave utterance to any such ridiculous absurdity. If the military editor of the Express wants to know what Mr. Stevens’position really is, we advise him to read the Intelli gencer of yesterday. He may learn from our article, providing he does not find it “ beyond his intellect .” Two Pictures by One Artist. The following peu-pictures of Thad* deus Stevens are by that ingenious and versatile artist, John W. Forney: I am free to say that I think the elec tion of the Hon. Thad deus Stevens, as the successor of Mr. Cowuu, would pro- Imote lastiug harmo ny in our political household,and would unquestionably se cure to the State and the nation a champion of those great princi ples of matchless ex- Iperience, integrity and courage. This remar kab 1 e man, notwithstanding his greatage, constantly exhibits all the intel lectual vigor of his prime, anu while we :ure daily admonish ed of the"wisdom and the justice of the remedies he suggest ed nearly two years ago, we are con strained to admit that if they had been adopted many of the deplorable results of presidential perfidy would not now be dishonoring and dis turbing the laud. It is the simple truth to add that the senti ments and sugges tions of Thadaeus 'Stevens triumphed more completely in Pennsylvania in the recent election, and contributed more powerfully to that triumph, than the sentiments and sug gestions of any living American. The great Republican Union or ganization,including, as it does, hundreds ,of thousands of its [former political op ponents, frankly ac cepts und gratefully acknowledges him as its most conspicuous leader. If we in Pennsylvania elevate him to the position of Senator, wo simply respond to the gen eral desire of our po litical friends in other States; and in doing this I believe we would do what any one of them would do for such a man with in their own borders. Would it not be a ihappy termination to !an illustrious life— never so illustrious as during the successful overthrow of that dangerous institution which morothan half a century ago Thud deus Stevens was among the first and boldest to oppose—if Pennsylvania, through her Union Republican' Legisla ture, voluntarily ten derod to him the only high office she has in her immediate gift? J. W. Forney. In the Philadelphia Press , Dec. 14, 18(5(». Thtiddeus Stevens, we are glad to say it, t is not a Pennsylvuni* t an. His own history t proves that he came .« hither a stranger to ( her people, and has 1 continued, ut all i times, consistently! adverse to her inter- i ests. He has been, ( since his unfortunate t presence in the Legis* < fature, Pennsylvu- ] nia’s evil genius, and j if she has degenora- i ted ut all—and the i three past years of i her life provethatslie \ has—he planned the i misfortune. We will! not repeat here his ; utter destitution of:: reputation—for his i career is one of that kind which could only have been run < by a villain at heart. Pennsylvania has three blemishes on her escutcheon: The Masonic inquisition, the chartering of the United States Bank, and the present out rageous condition of affairs. The first, it is not requisite to say h c originated and completed. The sec ond was the fitting offspringof his brain; for he read that infa mous bill before the Hitner House of Rep resentatives. The last (the Buckshot war)is his own by every law of right. He began the anarchy—it is the sad consequence of his own plans. He dissolved the govern ment. He is now, urging the Senate to! go,on in its path of de struction. He is ein ph a tic a 11 y “ the power behind the throne.’’ Tho last is a desperate and final plunge. Jl v ill either ma k e o r u n m a k e him. If it is success luVlio cun cover up tiie festering infamy of his life and save himself and his com panion s from im pendingruin. Ifitis unsuccessful, ho will be spurned not only from the halls of the Legislature, buL from the very Slate—(/' the] law ft perm it his esrape. J. W. Fornky, In tiie Lancaster In telliyenccr in ls;is. The military editor If f the Express seems to think we devoted too much space to the negro expositor of Radical doctrine. We have heard the military editor aforesaid deliver several set speeches on the same subject, but never found anything worth reporting in his Billy utterances. Mr. Kchenck's bill to make Con gress “a permanency” pqpsed the House of Representatives on Monday, by a vote of one hundred and twenty-seven yeas to thirty nays. This Iniquitous measure, if it becomes a law, will add millions to the national expenditures; but the Radicals don’t care—they want power, and they are willing to buy it at any price, particularly as the people must “foot the bill.” The Radical organs ask why Presi dent Johnson did not talk In ills mes sage In the same style us In his speeches during Ills lute tour, The Presldentcun appreciate the difference between an Executive message and a stump-speech. Hut the Radical members of the Senate and House of Representatives show thut they cun't appreciate the dlfl'er enco between Congressional and stump speeches. By the lost census, the population of Pennsylvania was 2,905,215. By the usual ratio of voters to the entire popu lation we estimate the entire number. At the late election for Governor 597,370 votes were cast. Allowing one vote for every six and a half of the people, this would give 3,883,000 as our present population, an increase say'ln eight years of 970,000. By the same method New York appears to have gained 792,- 000 In the same period. This would give to these two States a population of ejghtand a half millions —an increase of one million and three quarters. The defeated Radical candidates for Congress In Maryland have applied to that body to give them tho seats of their successful competitors. Congress will no doubt do' It. If any Radloal any where wantß any Conservative’s seat In Congress, all that he has to do Is to apply. Senator Cowan on Female Suffrage, Senator Cowan plunged the Radicals of the Senate into hot water, and deep water at that, by moving as an amend ment to the bill conferring the right of suffrage on the negroes of the District of Columbia, that it be amended by strik ing out the word male. In reply to in sinuations that he was not in earnest, he replied as follows : Mr. Cowan, (Rep.) of Pa., said he had not intended again to take the door on this snbject; but it bad been said he was not in earnest inofferingthls amendment. This was not correct. He had been opposed to any change in the suffrage; but ii it was to be changed, if negroes were to be enfran chised, he was in favor of still furlher changes, so as to embrace women also. If white men could not be entrusted with political power for the negro, he could not be trusted with it for women. He who thought women were represented by their husbands might go to the proceedings of the Woman’s Rights Conventions recently held to learn differently. It was time to look facts in the face. He was willing to stand upon old institutions, sanctified as they were by the past, but when the time came to make a step it should be made in the right direction. He was surprised that his sincerity should be doubted. Radicalswere not like poets. They were made and not born, and when the time came he could be as rad- ical as any of them. He did not intend to let the Juggernaut of progress run over him. He bad as many reasons as Mr. An thony, and one more, for being in favor of this bill, for he had a wife, whereas Mr. An thony was a widower. He hoped, there fore, that Mr. Anthony would make abject apology to him for having expressed a doubt of his sincerity. [Laughter.] This new personage who appears on the politi cal stage to oppose the Jupiteriati system of legislation complains that you have been a tyrant to her. He (Mr. Cowan) proceeded to read from the proceedings of the twenty ninth annual meeting of the Pennsylvania Anti-Slavery Society the speech of Mrs. Francis D. (rage daring the session of I hat bodv. He would appeal to his friend from Massachusetts, Mr. Wilson, to express his opinion on the subject, and he felt assured that he would be firm on the side of humanity on this question. He could almost see from where he stood the bosom of his friend Irom Massachusetts heave in sympathy with this new issue— [laughter]—and now that they had two ne groes in the Massachusetts Legislature he could not doubt that Mr. Wilson would come to his [Mr. Cowan’s] position. He hoped also that his other friend from Mas sachusetts [Mr. Sumner] would vote right on this proposition, now that a change had come over his domestic relations. [Laugh ter.] He would not have alluded to this delicate suhject, but he found some remarks from Mrs. Gage in relation to Mr. Sumner's great speech of last winter to which he was compelled to assent. Mrs. Gage had dis covered that Mr. Sumner protested against taxation ami male representation, and not a word was said by that gen tleman agaiust the tyranny of taxing women without giving them the right of representation. He would say to the gentleman that Mrs. Elizabeth Cady Stan ton, Mrs. Francis D. Gage and Mrs. Susan B. Anthony were at their heels with their banners flying, and they wore after , them persistently uud sharply. Towards the close of his speech Mr. Cowan read a letter from Mr. Wade to Mrs. Susan 13. Anthony, written last summer, in favor of female suffrage. If this amendment was adopted he (Mr. Cowan) would vote for the bill. He would not bo afraid of negro suffrage il fe male suffrage went with it. lie would not be the first to propose any change on the matter of suffrage; but if any change was to be made it ought to be a radical and fundamedtal one of this kind. lie was in good earnest in offering the amendment; he was not so blind as not to see the signs of the coining times. A National Convention Called. Ex-Governor Perry, ot South Carolina, has addressed 'mother letter to Mr. Wood ward, of Philadelphia, in which be says if a proposition is made by the North for the calling of a National Convention of the wisest and greatest meu of both sections, the South would accede to the call without delay: “No danger,” says the ex-Governor, "could possibly result from sugh a gather ing, as the final action of the Convention would have to be submitted to the States for their adoption, and then ratified by three-fourths of the State Legislatures be fore becoming a part of the Constitution of the United States.” If two-thirds of the Legislatures of the States make application for the calling to gether of a National Convention, it will be come imperative on the part of Congress to order its assemblage, and he hopes it will be done. The ex-Governor does not despair of his country, believing, as he does, thut there is too much intelligence, virtue and patriotism in both sections to permit of its final de struction. The English Colliery Disaster—A Third Explosion. Barnsley, Dec. 13.—A third explosion took place at the Oaks Colliery, at ten o’clock this morning. There is no longer any hope for those in the pit. They must now all be dead. It is estimated that three hundred and fifty human beings in allhavo lost their lives in this terrible catastrophe. The mine is now on lire and tho flumes have burst from the mouth of the main shaft with great violence. The work of drawing out the bodies is suspended, and the mine is Hooded with water. The cause of the explosion will probably remain a perpetual mystery. STILL ANOTHER CALAMITY. Hanly, Staffordshire, Thursday night, Dec. 13.—A fearful explosion occurred at noon to day, at Falkshlll, near this town, in a coal pit belonging to the North Staf fordshire Coal and Iron Company. Two hundred men wontinto the mine thismorn ing, of whom only thirteen have been taken out alive, and they are badly injured. The rest, it is believed, aro dead. Up to the present moment forty dead bodies have been brought out of the pit. Thu excite ment is intense. London, Dec. 14.—The awful calamities in York and Stafford excite the most pain ful interest throughout the kingdom. A subscription has been opened for the si fering families of the victims. Funeral or Don Augustin «le Iturbidc. Tho funerul services of Don Augustin do Iturbido took place in St. John's Church, Thirteenth street, above Chestnut, yester day morning. Ito was the son of the Em peror of Mexico, Augustine de Iturbido. lie was f>7 years of age at the time of his death. He died in New York. His remains wore brought to this city by his brother, Don Angel de Iturbido. The burial ser vices were read, omitting the mass, by Kev. Father Itiley. The remains were interred in the burial place adjoining St. John's Church, wherein the bodies of the mother and a brother of deceased lie buried.— rhila. Age Knthcr Queer. ♦ [From the Hannibal Republican, Dec. 1.1 A lady, the second wife of n gentleman who resides in this city, presented her hus band a pair of line boys on the evening of the 2.'td. There is nothing queer or remark able in this, because it is a very common occurrence. Hut the remarkable part will readily be seen when wo tell our readers that this is his third pair of twins in twelve years. His lirst wife gave birth to two pair, two girls and two boys, at intervals of four years. They were born on the same day of the weok, saint day of the month, in the same month of the year, and all weighed exactly the samo number of pounds, jf it isn’t queer, we may say it is confounded regular. Trial and Acquittal of a Murderess. The trial of Hattie Hlane, a young woman who was indicted for the murder of her par umoiir, Willium Hlane, at Easton, in July last, was concluded in the Criminal Court of Northampton county last week, and ex cited considerable interest. The prisoner was ably defended by Messrs. Fox, Barnet and Doster, who made eloquent pleas in her bohulf, and asked for a verdict of uequittal on the ground that the deed wus committed in self-defence. Tho case was given into the hunds of tho Jury on Monday afternoon, and on Tuesday morning they came into Court with a vordlct of “ not guilty." Upon being discharged from custody, she Imme diately went back to the Jail and entered tho family of Shorllf Stelr, prefortlng to do so rather than return to her former ussool ates In crime. She lias made a Holumnpro mise, both to her counsel und her lriondH, to reform, and to try to live a virtuous life. She lihh written to a lady, Mrs. Henson, re siding In Philadelphia, who visited her while in Jull, to ask her Intercession, und, If possible, to obtain for her honest employ ment. Aftor her acqulttul, she was visited by Homo ol her old associates in crime, when she pluinly told them thut shodidnot wish to see thorn—that she intendod to live a dllforont life, and advised them to do so too.— Heading (hizcttc . The Memphis Post tells a story greatly to the honor of a son of Gen. Lee, At a dinner party in Richmond, one of the fuests proposed as a toast “ The Fallen ’lag.” It says: Colonol Loo promptly placed his hand upon tho glass und arose. " Gentlemen," said he, " this will not do. Wo are paroled prisoners. Wo now have but one Hag, und that is tho Hag of our whole country—tho glorious old stars and stripes. 1 cun recog nise no other, light for no other, und will drink to no other." Tlio Amcrlcun Claims In France. The United States government bus com menced legal proceedings in the Hrst tri bunal of the Holno, to recover tho umount os "MO,OOO francH paid M. M. Arinan Fils, by the agents of tho Coo federate govern ment, ou account for building flvolron-olad vonsolh, alleged to have been constructed for tho use of the Emperor of the China, but actually intended for the Confederate navy, though the vessels were never delivered, Important Debate in ConereM—Speech or maddens Stevens- On Tuesday, Mr. Wilson of lowa, from the judiciary committee, reported a bill to repeal certain parts of the act of April 30 1790, for the punishment of certain crimes against the United States. It repeals so much of the act as provides that no person shall be prosecuted, tried or-punished for treason or other capital offence except the indictment therefore shall be found by a grand jury within three years nextafter the treason or capital offence shall be commit ted ; and it provides that persons guilty of treason or other offences may at any tune be indicted, tried and punished therefor. Mr. Lawrence, (rep.) of Ohio, explained and advocated the provisions of the bill. Mr. Shellabarger, (rep.) of Ohio, inquired whether the bill would allow the trial of persons whose trial was now barred by the act of 1790. Mr. Lawrence replied in the negative. Where the crime was already barred no act could revive the right to prosecute. Mr. Spalding inquired whether the bill imposed any limitation whatever. Mr. Lawrence said it did not. Mr. Spalding asked whether it would not be better to simply extend the time for pro secution. Mr. Lawrence thought not. There was uo limitation for murder cases in Ohio, a State whose jurisprudence had been illustrated by his distinguished colleague. Mr. Conkling, (rep.) of New York, asked whether the whole purpose of the bill would be accomplished by repealing the statute of limitation, and whether it were worthwhile to attempt todo in this bill what was known to be unconstitutional —namely, to revive an offence which is, in truth, outlawed. If the offence was dead *my law that sought to revive it was an ex post facto law. Mr. Lawrence said that if this bill did not pass all the early treason of Jefferson Davis and those who co-operated with him would he entirely exempt from punish ment. He was willing to go to the verge of the Constitution for the purpose of reach ing the early treason of those who inaugu rated the rebellion. Mr. Stevens, (rep.) of Pa. I have always looked upon bills that have evidently been E repared for the purpose of ascertaining ow we can convict men whom we eanuot convict uuder the laws under which the crime was committed with great distrust. I do uot believe that it becomes this nation. I do not believe that it is safe for us to un dertake to puss laws by which we can Eunish men, however guilty, whocould not e punished under the laws under which the crime was committed. Can wo now alter the constitution so as to change the place of trial of traitors and say that the venue limy be changed, and that they shall be tried bv jurors summoned from another bailiwick? The constitution and our laws provide vory carefully that especial treason cases are to be tried in the place where the overt act is committed, or a district previ ously ascertained by law and by ajurv from that bailiwick. Any law that pro poses to change that in any of its features looks to mo so much like attempting a kind of judicial murder that 1 have been always afraid to touch it. lam aware that if the traitors of the South were to be tried under our existing constitution not one of them would ever bo convicted. I should never attempt to try them for treason. I should try them as belligerents under the laws of nations, and under the laws of war. A Member—That is what you would do if you were the administration. Mr. Stevens—l am speaking of what I would do when I get into the administra tion. [Laughter.] I know that any attempt to try them for treason would be a failure, although I would not discourage the at tempt. Hut I mention this to show that I am fully sensible that none of them, under our present constitution and laws, can over be convicted, and yet I would rather let every man of them run unpunished for ever than make a law by which they could be punished. I think our government would endanger its future existence and its character for justice before the world. I think that the British government suffered more from the murder of Lord llussell, although it was in execution of the sentonco of a court, than it would have suffered by the escape of forty traitors. I think this government hud better be careful how it tampers either with the crime or the remedy for it. It is better to fore go a remedy for the crime which the world will view partly as fclo de sc and partly as a political offence, than to at tempt now to pass laws lest malefactors may escape. This professes to be a bill to make indefinite the time for prosecution for one of those offences which of all others should he quieted by lapse of time. Murder is a different thing. There are so many engaged not only in treason but in rebel lion that there must be some quieting law, and there ought to be in my judgment for it. It does not follow that ever}' traitor escapes who is not prosecuted within three years from the time of the offence. The statute of limitation runs in any case, except it is impossible to enforce the remedy. It only runs from the time when it is possible to enforce it. For instance, Benjamin is in Europe; so is Slidell. I do not suppose anybody would sav thnt while Benjamin was absent beyond the seas, the statute of limitation would run. It only runs from the time when he nmy bo prose -cuted, and is not prosecuted. Whether that be so or not, during the con tinuance of the war the crime continued. It was a continuingotfence, and that offence continues up to the time when peace shall be proclaimed. It never has been pro claimed. I know that a gentleman up tho avenue has put forth some pieces of paper, which he thinks equal to the proclamations of James or Charles, but they are of no im portance, and tho question of peace or war is yet to be decided by Congress. I say there is no peace. [Sensation.] This nation is still in a belligerent condition, and the conquered belligerents are in the power of the conquerors, to be dealt with as captives and not as criminals. I can, thereJore, see no necessity of this bill; but if there wain necessity for it I should certainly object to any alteration of the law, as it now exists with reference to treason, which would en able the Government to convict whore it is confessed it could not convict un der the law as it stood when the crime was committed. I should bo very glad toseo con dign punishment inflicted on many of these men, although not capital punishment. I read Beccaria when I was a boy, and have never forgotten the principles which ho laid down. I have never been tor bloody pun ishment. Ido not consider that there was sullieiont atonement made by the execution of that maguiticent leader of the rebellion, “ Ricketty" Wirz, the Dutchman with the hump back, who only obeyed the orders of bis superior oftloers, and who, if he were tried in ordinary times, and according to law, would never have been convicted, be cause his government was answerable lor him. The idea that the starvation of fifty or sixty thousand men is to bo atoned for by the execution of one of the keepers of the prison, instead of being visited on his gov ernment, is absurd. Tlic Informer Aipnlnfit John ll.Mtirrutt* Why lie informed. |Spectal Telegram to the N. Y. Herald.) Romk, Dec. 11, 1800. The man who informed United States Minister King, in this city, against Jolm H. Surratt, tho Lincoln assassin conspira tor, previous to his first arrest when serving in tho Papal Zouaves, is a French Cana dian, named St. Marin. This man sorvod at one period during tho Southern American rebellion us a soldier in the army of tho American Union. After his discharge he went to Europo and entered the ranks of the Papal force, enlisting in the Zouaves. When St. Mario was In America both Surratt and himself paid their addresses to, in fact it is said both were deeply in love with, one Indy then residing in the city of Washington,*l). C. After thoir emigration, both having found employment and shelter in the Popo’s army, St. Mario recognized Surratt, and having fully identified him betrayed hirn; it is usserted hero through Jealousy. St. Mario huvh that John H. Surratt has already told Inm tlmt the ussussination of the late President Lincoln was tho result ol a preconcerted rebel American plot; that he, Surratt, had curried tho details of tho plot and plan of mode of Its execution direct from the Davis Cublnot in Richmond to Washington, and thut the subsequent as sassination was not only in full accordance with the desires of the Jelf Duvls govern ment and cabinet, but was done and ueeom plished by thoir directions and orders. Yankee Honesty, A Hoslon dispatch says: Tho result of the city elections yestorday, it hfumlerstood, is not acceptable to the police uulhorltloH. The Mayor elect, It 1h said, has determined to fully Investigate the conduct of the police and detective departments, both of which uru known to have been conducted In a most disgraceful manner for Homo time past—the object of the now Mayor being to place thorn on a morohonost basis. Money making, rather than roguo-catchlng, Is al leged to have boeomo too common ior tho public credit and safety. Air-Lino Railroad to Now York. On Monday tho President of the Senate laid before thut body (U. S. Senate] an act to authorize the building of a military and postal railroad from Washington to New York. It provides for the incorporation of Win. B. Astor, Ilonry G. Stobbins, Nathan G. King, Ac., Ac.. under tho nume of "The National Railroad Company," and author izes the construction of a railway upon us nearly as possible uu uir-llue, from Wash ington city to New York, through Mary land, Delaware. Peunsylvnnla and Now Jersey. Tho bill expressly forbids con- with any existing ruifroad company, and requires also that Hrst-clasa passenger trains shall go through In seven hours; socond-cluss passenger trains in fourtoon hours, und freight trains in twonty-four hours. Tho roud is required to cross tho Susquehanna übovo tido-wutor, und is do* clurod a national public highway and post road. and is requirod to bo in operation within throe years from the first eleotlon of directors. Tno company is oxpressly pro hibited from sollln/or transferring the con trol of the franchise to. the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Company or any other oor pofatfon,— Washington Star, State Itpma. A Division of the Sons of Temperance is about to be organized in Meadville. The number of soldiers’ and sailors’ or phans of all ages, admitted to the Pennsyl vania schools during the past year, was David Haines, of Wasnington township, Snyder county, recently shot a largo Wild Cat in Firestone Valley In the said town ship. 7 T. wo men named *Doe and Parker, charged with the murder of McArio, at Pithole Fast spring, were last week tried at Franklin, and acquitted. Barney Campbell, Chief of Police at Har risburg, was attacked by a drunken negro with an axe on Friday night, and narrowly escaped being killed. Officer Adams just caught the weapon in the act of descending. Catharine Troutman, widow of Beniamin Troutman, late of Somerset county, is the mother, grandmother und great grand mother of one hundred and tifty children, and is not yet seventy yeurs of age. The Hicksite branch of the Society of Friends of Philadelphia are erecting a spa cious college at Westdale, Pennsylvania, for the education of their own children. It will cost about $200,000, The aunual meeting of the Soldiers' aud Sailors' National Cemetery was held at Philadelphia, on Wednesday. Twelve of the States having dead iu the Cemetery were represented. The next meetiug will be held at Gettysburg in Juuenoxt. The Juniata Republican says Captain John J. Patterson, late provost marshal, has purchased a span horses for $1,200, but is so poor as to be able to pay income on only sixty-twodollars. Poorfellow ! Guess he lost heavily by the war. This is the centenary year of the intro duction of Presbyterianism west of the Al legheny Mountains, and meetings are there fore being held by different presbyteries in Western Pennsylvania and Kasteru Ohio iu commemoration of the event. These are not so much meetings fur devotion us Pres* byterinn historical conventions. William Johnson, son of Robert Johnson, of West Brandywine, Chester county, a young man in the prime of life, was gunning on Wednesday Inst, and when stepping from HsWimp on which ho had beon stand ing he struck the trigger of his gun. causing it to go off*, the whole load lodged n his breast, causing death in threo hours. On last Wednesday afternoon, William Denmin, a little sonofThos. Domain, about three years old fell into the race at Brooke A Nelson’s factory, m Sadsburv township. Chester county. He was found in tho beau race about half an hour, it is supposed, after ho hud fallen in. An inquest was held by LI. G. Thotnus, Fsq., und tho jury rendered a verdict of accidental drowning. Threo prominent gentlemen from New York city, who own slate quarries in Le high county, slopped in Fusion a few nights since, and tho police who were on tho look out for the burglars who robbed tho Court House, came near arresting them. Tho gentlemen found it necessary to stop over part of a day to set the matter right. The Reading Journal says Messrs. Win. 11. and Kdward Clymer sold three houses and a large lot of ground, 130 feet front cm Canal street, and 230 feel deep, located at the Guard Lock, foot of Franklin street, for sf),f>oo. This includes the old Hotel properly at tho lock. The smaller houses will bo demolished to make room for now build ings—the parties purchasing being about to erect extensive works for tho manufacture of Terra Cotta Ware at this point. An embezzlement to the amount of eight hundred dollars occurred at Bloody Run, Bedford'.county, Tuesday last. It seems that Dr. McNeil gave his teamster a check for the above amount, and sent him to a neighboring bank with it for collection. The teamster did as his master told him, but failed to return with tho money, and, made good his escape, passing through Huntingdon ifl his (light. At the lutesi accounts Dr. McNeil had not succeeded in capturing the scamp. On his way to Hun tingdon, ho gathered up u young woman at Bloody Run, took her to the former place, dressed her out in line style, sent her back, bought himself a new outfit, and then took to tho woods. He was too sharp to take the cars. Mr. James Stoevur, of Millersburg, Dau phin county, canto to Harrisburg on busi ness, during Court last week, slopping at tho Franklin House. After dinner Mr. Steever seated himself beside a friend and .engaged in conversation, when suddenly as thought, he lost the sight of one of Ids eyes. At first it was thought to bo a temporary affliction, aud hopes were entertained that in a few days his sight would be restored. Up to tho present, however, they have proved in vain, and Mr. Steever lias tho use of but one eye. Medical treatment has been baffled thus fur, und it is feared that skill and attention will fail. It is not often that we are called upon to chronicle an oc currence so unusual. It Is an enigma be yond human comprehension. News Itemx There is a young man named Bates, In Kentucky, who is 7 feet 11 inches high. Buenos Ayres raised about one hundred million pounds more wool annually thun tho United States. The world annually consumes, according to statistics, about livo ami a half million bales of cotton. A dashing widow has created a sensation in Saratoga as tho heioino in a inarriago and a divorce both in Lhospace ofsixty days. Parties of the highest respectability in Detroit are implicated in swindling a young lady of that of $lO,OOO by tfio con fidence” game. James Stephens is said to have arrived at Puris, after a stay ol a duy or two in Lon don. His visit to the old world aggravates the Fenian excitement In Ireland. John Walter, M. P., proprietor of tho London 7'iinr.s, sailed for Europe In the Scotia on Wednesday, from New York. Caleb Lyon, formerly Governor of Idaho, is the gentleman who was robbed of $-J7jooo on Wednesday, in the train from Now York, while on his way to Washington. Tho population of Indiana in 1800 was l,:tf>o,o<)U, now it is 1,700,000, and It will bo about 2,000,000 in IK7O. Theratioofincrease since 1800 has been -18 per cent. General Schofield bus decided that Dr. Watson, who was tried by the civil courts of Rockbridge county, Vu., for tho murder of a negro and discharged, shall bo tried by a military commission on lho 17th Instant. A lettor from Arizona says that hard lighting had lukon place between the sol diers and the Indians at Fort Mohave, m which tho soldiers weie compelled to use artillery. A convention in favor of a ship canal around Niagara Falls has beuu held in. Chicago, and a committee appointed to urgo the passage of tho ship canal bill before Congress. In many places in Western Now York the snow is over two fool deep. Railroad travel is much delayed. Tho Welland canal in < anudu is frozen over. Thursday was tho coldest day of the season In Now* York city. A riot between whites and blacks occur red in Portsmouth, Yu., on Thursday night. Throowbitumen wore dangerously wound ed, and several others, us well as a number of negroes, slightly. Gov. Worth and other prominent North Carolinians, aro In Washington. They are on u mission from tho Legislature of their State to consult with Congress as to tho best obtainable terms of reconstruction. Hon. John Hogan, member of Congress* from St. Louis, lias comrnencod an action against tho Chicago JYibune for libel, lay ing his damages at This makes $72'>,000 now pending ugainsl thut paper ou similar suits. Guo of the contestants in the Atlunllo yacht ruco was seen on Wednesday by tho steamship Cuba, at New York, at « dis tance of two hundred and sixty miles from Sandy Hook, bearing duo east, with ull sailsjset. Her Hag could not bo distinguished. Thero was a Hurry among tho mcdieul students of Cincinnati on Monday, caused by a search of all the colleges, at the In stance of a widow, whose husband’s body had dlsappeamHrom the cemetery. Several subjects were found, but not the right one. G. W. Smith was hung at Washington, Fayette county, Ohio, on Friday, for tho murder of John Gray on the llHIi of Octo ber, 1801. Ho made an Impressive speech from the scaffold, and died without a struggle. A New Jersey Central Railroad train struck a wagon in which a man uud wnmau were soutod, at Hound Brook, on Friday evening, killing both persons Instantly. A hmkoniiiii of a gravel train on the' Erie Railroad was killed by being run over near Penborn City, on Wednesday. Hon. Win, Johnson, president o' the Char lotte and Coltnnhiu Railroad, has donated to Miss M. A. Rule, of Columbia, N. a plantation of 100 aeres, ou a high und healthy ridge, with a cool and gushing spring of pure water, for a proposed school or college for Indigent orphans. Tho U. 8. frigate Now Ironsides wus. burned ut League Islamlon Saturday night. She wus built In Philadelphia, of Pennsyl vania oak und iron, uud wus considered the best iron-clud In our navy. Tho New Ironsides was launched ul Kensington in May, 1802, und did conspicuous, servlco during the rebellion. The tiro is supposed to have been the work of uu inceudlury. Tho Compton ilouso, ou Third avenue, N. Y., corner of Twenty-fourth street, wus the scone of an explosion on Friday ovuu ing, supposed to be u barrel of gasoline in the lump room, und aconseqontllre. Eight persons wore terribly burned, und three of them it Is supposed will not roeoror. The Humes did not extend above the busemont story, and the darnugo will uot umouut to more than one thousand dollars. Tbruo of tho victims of the recent Hro at tho corner of Second uvuuuo aud Thirty- Hrst street, York, aro ulreudy dead, aud two others ure still in a critical condi tion. Mrs, Margaret Wobb, whojumpod trom a fourth story window of tho burning building, dlod on Friday morning ut tho residence of her brother at the corner of Eightoonth street and First avenue, Tho other vlotlms are Mrs. Mary Sanford, and her Infant son, William T.> aged threo, months, who died at Belle yuo Hospital,
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers