Lancaster 3ntelligcncer.
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 12, 1870
Our New Dress
We present the INTELLIGENCES to Its
Many readers to-day, at the 'beginning
of the New Year, in an entire new dress.
That it makes a handsome appearance
we think all will admit. The type is
the same In style as that formerly used,
and we think it cannot be surpassed in
beauty or clearness of impression. .It Is
from the Foundry of that well-known
establishment in Philadelphia, still
called Johnson's, but now owned and
conducted by McKellar, Smiths ..Sc Jor
dan. The appearance of the IN - TErm-
CIENCER has always been a matter of
pride with us, and we have made some
minor changes which, we think, give it
a still more attractive look..
With the beginning of the New Year
the WEEKLY INTELLIGENCER enters
upon its seventy-first volume, having
, had a prosperous existence for nearly
three quarters of a century. It is one of
the largest, and confessedly one of the
handsomest weekly Journals :published
in the country. The DAMN" is non• well
advanced in the sixth year of its exist
ence, and the paper was never in so
flourishing a condition us ut present.
With tluinlis to Our many patrons,
and good wishes to our multitude of
readers, we come to them in our new
dress, determined to make both our
DAILY and WEEKLY editions all that
can be demanded or expected. To that
end all our energies shall be directed,
and neither expense nor pains will be
spared to accomplish our purpose.
We would suggest to our friends that
the present is a good time for them to
exert themselves in prOcuring subscri
bers to the Wi:EKIN ENCEIL
A little effort on the part of each reader
would be productive of most satisfactory
results. Let each one see if he can not
induce a neighbor to subscribe. Try it
friends! You can say to all with truth
that no better or cheaper paper is pub
lished in Pennsylvania.
The Law of Libel
The Pittsburgh Citron/0/c, the Harris
burg Telegraph, and other Radical jour
nals are culling for a revision of the law
of libel in this State. As it stands at
present, the law of Pennsylvania is as
harsh as that which hail its origin in
the infamous Star Chamber Court of
England. The press of this State is ef
fectually muzzled by it, unless editors
choose to take the risk of prosecution,
imprisonment and fine for telling truths
that ought to be made public. In such
prosecutions the truth is nut allowed to
1w given ill evidence as justification.—
Even the constitutional provision guar
anteeing free discussion of the conduct
of radii, °Mein's, has been so narrowed
by judicial decisions that it afthrds no
adequate protection. The press may
criticise the official acts of men holding
public positions, but great care must be
taken not to exceed the narrow limit of
indulgence. The old English rules
which hedged about kings and nobles,
and kept their persons sacred from criti
cism, are the rtdesadininistered in pros
centimes for libel by our 1 . 01/rIS jus
tire
to-day. N 0 newspaper editor dares
to speak freely of any man who may
bold °Mee without rendering himself
liable to prosecution. We usury know
that men who assume to make laws for
the people aro gamblers, thieves, keep
ers of a bawdy house, or what not ;
but wc can not 11111,11 as IMMO the
fact without being rembml liable to
prosecution for liable.
I'liis is 1101 as it should I under It
Itepublivaii form of government, where
J 1 free 1115e11 , ..+1.11 01 the ofllcial nets and
the private elutraeter of our piddle ser
vants k the only safeguard of our insti
tutions. The nbi Star ('bomber law of
libel tt - as. one, abrogated by ie't of As
sembly in this State, and for some years
editor, were :Motels! to give the truth in
evidenee as 11 jtistifivation for what
they might publish. 'rile existence
of such a wise 111111 enactment
did not lead to any undue license.
The press of Pennsylvania ova never
11101'e flei,n)us in it , conduel than
it \vas duringtheexistem.e of the statute
introduced by llon. Lawrence l;etz.
Newspaper men :ire la,it to abusp their
l'hey 11re less 1111111011Vell
by private I/11,45111111 /11111 individual ani
mosities Than any other class of people.
When they speak harshly of public men
they n re 211111" st in variably moved thereto
proper vonsiderations. Let them be
held to the strictest accountability fur
the publication of any falsehood which
may have a tendency to
.bliteken the
character of any 'nail living or dead ;
hut let there I,' no law in our State to
dishonesty and to prevent the
exposure corruption, fraud timl4,ras
entity.
muter in which not only
Ow Kest-, but lit' people of the State
hare out ittlerest ; no honest mein
lir et . the Eng i n:l:wire trill 'infuse to vote
fur a proper modification of the law of
libel. Not,* k the Inuit to effeet the de
sired cleanse. lal it-i lifive a hill pre
pallid and pro-tinted tinily in the present
sty++inn. Lei the prtiss of the State unite
in dont:lndite; he pitsi-ligc or a law which
will prolent editors from malicious proa
ntuition, he 111111 who dare not bring an
tuition in the elvil Courts, where the
truth of the matter itilltlittlied Can he
eXllliiilleil iuio. lin the itnproperdis
tiurtinu:ltot wenn pro , tioution, for lihrl
and aeliun< fur away
Nvith. Let 111, truth be :Is freely given
in One vase as in the oilier. No editor
in the Conine:lnt - n:llth will :nil: itnything
sad tint iliny haw a right to de
mand. If nialte ihn thiniantl in a
proirr Innuner it will t•tirtainly
Trld: Philadelphia 11;1,
a lettra• from larri , hurg in which we
lirul the follot\ in very ,igiiilloant item :
The ti.lill-Findlay ilillteSt has not yet
keen deohled in the Senate, Inu as this
(vi, made the SII id a eallellS,
tta i. searrely any detiht that the former
trill reveiN - e his seat. The matter not hav
ing, heist derided ell Friday, there will now
a legal question as to the-right at m r.
Findlay to tile a petition of contest, as the
speeitied time I . ol,llhlllitlillg . .llell 11
already
Tile only inferenee to be dr;ncn front
the that the ea , e was
derided in ad\:uu•c bya ?linens, before a
single partiele of time testimony was
heard, and that Ir. Findlay is 11011' to be
deprived of his right to contest, because
regarding himself as the sitting member
he I tech tied to admit that he had no
id:del:4 to Hindi a position. It is at once
a confession of the utter laek of honesty
Nvitich prevails attiong tile Radicals of
the State Scuttle, and an mint is.sion that
they have deliberately determined to
c nitwit a glaring outrage.
A v Itiota tt - s attempt Was made to
secure the admission of Virginia imme
diately upon the re-assembling of Con
gress, and a majority of both Houses
seemed to be in favor of it, but the
extreme ltadieals refuse to allow the
state to conic in until the Legislature
ratifies the Fifteenth Amendment. They
r,.sorted to tillibustering in the House to
accomplish their purposes. What is a
constitutional amendment worth which
has to be carried by such means? It can
never be properly regarded as legal or
hin ling.
THE Indiana Democratic Convention
met at Indianapolis on Saturday, and
nominated James L. Worden for Judge
of the Supreme Court, and B. W. Hanna
for Attorney General. Resolutions were
adopted declaring for a tariff for revenue
only, a revision of the taxes, greenback
payment of the Five-twenties, and the
taxing of L S. bonds, denouncing the
ratification of the Suffrage Amendment,
And opposing any change in the natural
ization laws.
Thttrtiions of Georgggggge of Brook
lyn,-ngod revoctivo -1, 0 and 11 yens,
were drowned whiles ntiftg a t...NrorwJell,
,Conn'., on Saturday.
The Gerernor's Message
The Annual Message of Gov. Geary is
of almost interminable length, and many
people will be deterred from wading
through so many columns of solid type.
The small Radleal newspapers in the .
country districts will be compelled to
devote all their space to it for a month
to come, to publish it in sections, like a
serial story, with the words "to be con
tinued" appended to the . different Instal
ments. It is a pity the Governor em
ployed so verbose a writer to get up the
document. All that it contains might
have been given to the public in better
and stronger English with less than half
the amount of verbiage which the Mes
sage contains.
That portion of the Message which
relates to our local affairs will meet with
very little unfavorable comment. The"
State finances are not in as good a con
dition as they might have been under
wiser and more economical manage
ment, but the taxes gathered have prov
ed sufficient to allow for immense waste
and to leave a balance to be applied to
the reduction of the debt. - . During the
year the ordinary expenses of the Gov
ernment reached the' very high figure
of $2,1F35,114.27, a sum vastly greater
than was ever expended under Demo
cratic rule, and much larger than neces
sary. Of Interest on the State debt there
was paid at the State Treasury $170,-
085.74, and by Commissioners of the
Sinking Fund $1,72.5,587.97. Of loans
there were paid during the year the fol
lowing sums : Loans redeemed by the
State Treasurer, $109,914.08, loans re
deemed by Commissioners of Sinking
Fund, $302,792..09. The receipts during
the year were $5,241,711.28, and the ex
penditures $4,8.53,714.19. The amount
of the State debt on the Ist day of De
cember was $32,811,510.95. Most of this
debt was incurred for public improve
ments, and the works which cost so
large a sum have been passed. into pri
vate hands without any material reduc
tion of the debt.
Governor Geary boldly assails the
present system of apixdnting a State
Treasurer, and condemns tlie method
now employed in the handling of the
State funds. He declares that the men
who have latterly held the office have
mysteriously grown rich on a salary of
seventeen hundred dollars, and calls
upon the Legislature to * effect a com
plete reform in this matter. ()I course
their will he no objection on the part of
any Democrat to the inauguration of a
reform which the journals of the party
all advocate. Mr. NVallace has already
introduced a bill to effect the object so
strongly urged by the Governor, and he
will urge it with the same vigor with
whichlhe advocated a similar measure at
the lust session. ff the present corrupt
system iscontinued:the Radical majority
in the Legislature will be solely respon
sible.
The Message presents a statement of
the condition of the common schools,
which is satisf:wtory in the main. Atten
lion iscalled to the fact that there are not
less than seventy-five thousand children
who do not attend any school, and the
Legislature is urged to do all in its pow
er to correct this great eelt. 'the
vol
itier'.s Orphan S•chools are commended
to the continued care of the Legislature,
and, as the sum appropriated, has fallen
short of the amount expended during
the year, it is recommended that the de
ficiency he made up. For the year end
ing May hat, 1871, it is estimated that
$-5:4,. on will be required to sustain these
schools. There h:n•e been rumors of
jobbery, corruption and extravagance
in the management of these schools,
and the matter (night to command the
attention of the Legislature. The (My-
error says nothing about these reports.
The A g ricultural College is favorably
spoken of, though we doubt whether
the facts would justify any laudation
of that institution, a , al present con
duted.
The (loverner regards the militia of
the Mate as an efficient organization,
and speaks loudly in praise of the vol
unteer companies of Philadelphia. Ile
has a good word fora work which seems
to have been very badly done so far 'as
it hn, progressed, and recommends lib-
ern! appropriations for the benefit of Mr.
Bate, , , the incompetent Who has been
tingagedin compiling; a history of the
Pennsylv'ania volunteers. The estab
lishment of a home for dii:aliled sol
diers is strongly recommended, and
kill Collllllall , l the attention of the
Legislature.
The institution of an Insuranee De
partment is urged, and also the taxation
of foreign insurance companies doing
business within the State. This is an
important mutter, and descrying of seri-
,us consideration.
The Avondale disaster is mule the
subject of extended comment, and the
passage of a stringent law for the pro
tection of miners is insisted upon. We
have no doubt full justice will be done
to that numerous class of our laboring
population at the present session.
The Board of Public Charities estab
lished last winter is complimented ; a
new I teological survey is recommended;
the appointment of tias Inspectors for
ditli•rent cities is asked for; the estab-
lisliment of a Bureau of Statistics is
urged, and other suggest ions made which
wouhl ineroa,e the number of public of
ficials.
We are glad to he informed that the
Commissioners appointed to revise the
Civil Code of the State are inakfng
satisfactory progress." That is more
than was expected of them, and we
suspect the opinion of the legal
profession will diflir from that of the
Governor when the result of the labors
of the Colinni-.ioners is given to the
public.
The Governor concludes his review of
State Aftitim by a long and strong ap
peal to the public to discourage applica
tions for the panlon of criminals. His
rest course in this respect has shown
that he is capable of turning loose dam.
gerotts parties, and he begs to be deliv
ered from further temptation. It is to
he hoped that his prayer will be regard
ed, and his virtue be left unassailed by
pardon broken:. So shall rogues and
ruffians suffer the proper penalties for
their crimes, the lawless be deterred
from evil doing, and the safety of the
community be assured.
It would have been better for the
reputation of I ktv. Geary if the writer of
the Message hail induced him to end
with Iris remarks upon the subject of
pardons. When he enters the domain
of national politics he makes an exhibi
tion of marked ignorance anti stupidity.
He is unnecessarily strong in his advo
cacy of a high protective tariff, indulges
in a ridieulous laudation of national
batiks, and seems to think a depreciated
paper• •ttrrenoy preferable to gold as a
circulating medium. But he reserved
his force for a loud Waist in favor of the
Cuban patriots. He flies in the face of
111 - toll's Message on this question, and
insists upon taking immediate action fur
the purpose of annexing the Queen of '
Antilles. Whether he expects the
Legislattwe to organize an expedition
for that purpose, and to put him I
at the head of the military power
of Pennsylvania, or contemplates some
other impracticable scheme we know
not. Certain it is that " the hero of the I
battle above the clouds " seems to be in
dead earnest about the Cuba business.
Query—did he get a portion of the
fund raised by the Cuban Junta?. The
Express ought to examine into the mat
ter. Geary and the Philadelphia Post
are in the saute boat. We call the es
pecial attention of our neighbor to this 1
significant fact.
THE New York Tribune publishes,
with approving comments, a long and
able letter from a distinguished Repub
lican statesman, in which the fatal here
sies of Drake's assault upon the Supreme
Court are mercilessly exposed. We are
glad to see that there is some slight evi
dence that the Republican party are not
ready to go in a body for the perpetra
tion of the last and grossest outrage
which has been proposed.
THE LANCASTER WEEKLY INTELLTGENicETz„Ny - gp - N - Espity, JA.NITARY 12, 1870.
A Meeting of Farmers—Wages to be Be.
Certain farmers of Upper Oxford and
adjoining townships, in Chester county,
held a meeting last week, to consider
the question of farm labor. A free (1197
mission of-the condition and piospecti
of the farming community in this sec—
tion of Pennsylvania was had: The
opinion expressed by the speakers was
that'farmerg - could not continue to raise
grain without a decided reduction in the
price of labor, and a resolution was pass
ed pledging those present to reduce the
wages of farm hands twenty-five per
cent., and recommending other farmers
to-follow their example.
Other branches of industry have been
complaining grievously for some time,
And the agricultural community Is now
feeling the effect of unwise legislation.
While grain is down to a minimum
price, with little likelihood of a rise, al
most everything that the farmer uses is
made excessively dear by an Incon
gruous system of taxation. The eleven
tariffs which have been enacted within
the past ten years, have all been framed
in accordance with the dictation of cer
tain interests which have combined to
secure legislation for their exclusive ben
efit. A ring has been formed by the
monopolists, and Congress has been
controlled by agencies shish are potent
in our degenerate days.
Every body of capitalists, which could
command money or political influence,
has kept a set of lobbly agents at Wash
ington to manipulate legislation. The
manufacturers of salt furnish an exam
ple which ought to be sufficient to open
the eyes of every farmer to the iniquities
of the present tariff system. I:p to
IS6O, the duty laid upon this article of
prime necessity was merely nominal. In
March, 1861, when the party which pre
tends to protect industry began opera
tions, the tariff on salt was increased to
four vents a bushel ; in August, 1861, it
was raised to twelve rents a busheband in
.July, 1862, to eighteen vents per hundred
pounds, and that hi gold. The invoice
price of salt at Turk's Island, averages
ten cents per bushel, at Cadiz seven
cents, at Liverpool eight cents. The
tariff duty on this article is, therefore,
from 100 to 175 per ventage, on its
foreign cost ; and this the consumers are
compelled to pay without receiving any
compensatory benefit. Salt in 1861 was
about 23 cents a bushel ; it is nose about
three times that. It enters largely into
the consumption of every farmer. It is
one of the prime necessities of life for
Man and beast. It is used in a thousand
ways. To see how Congress has been
legislating against the farmer and in
favor of greedy monopolists It is only
necessary to refer to the books of the
Onondaga Salt Company of New York,
which shows that it started in 1860, just
in time to come under the Morrill tariff
bill with a capital of $160,000. Up to the
end of 1867 it had already divided among
the shareholders within a fraction of two
million dollars of profits. We commend
this single specimen of Radical legisla
tion to the consideration of the farmers
of Chester and Lancaster counties, with
the assurance that it is hot a sample of
bat has been done.
A pretense has peen made of favoring
the agricultural community by the party
iu power. No direct tax has been_ laid
upon the land or its erode productsTand
because they did not meet the Federal
tax-gatherer face to face many farmers
were foolish enough to think they were
the subjects of special care on the part of
our Radical rulers. While all agricul,
t ural products commanded an exorbitant
price the farmers had no sympathy for
those who found it difficult to buy bread.
They were selfish in their good fortune
and did not foresee the evil day which
has come upon them.
The f a •niers of Lancaster:old Chester
counties, have been among the strong
est supporters:of the policy which is now
pinching them so severely. A majority
of them have steadily voted for Radical
candidates, and against the Democratic
party. This they have done, partly from
mistaken motives of self-interest, and
partly on account of a blind and unrea-
coning prejudice.
They have helped materially to sustain
a false financial system which makes
gold HMI silver mere commodities of
merchandise, and floods the country
with a depreciated and fluctuating paper
currency; they have . propped up a
national banking system which takes
twenty million dollars a year out of the
pockets of the producing classes, without
rendering them any compensatory ben
efits therefor ; they have aided the ring
to frame and keep in force the most
odious tariff that 'vas ever devis
ed, for the purpose of discrimi
nating in favor of a few greedy
monopolists and against the great body
of consumers; they have assisted in de
stroying American ship building, and
have thus prevented their grain from
being carried abroad at cheap rates;
they have voted against any reduction
of the exorbitant rate of interest now
being, paid on United States bonds, and
have thus locked up capital which should
circulate freely, and have added largely
to the taxes under which they now
groan ; they have encouraged a constant
increase of the vast army of useless offi
cials, a majority of whom are mere idle
drones in the hive of industry; and have
given countenance and sanction to the
grossest and most unrestrained extrav
agance in National and State Uovern
ments. They have not only steadily
voted to keep up these abuses, hut they
have used all their hilluence to compel
those under them to vote with them.—
For these sins of omission and commis
sion, they ought to repent in sack-cloth
and ashes.
The Itadical farmers of Chester county.
may succeed in grinding the faces of the
poor. They may compel working men
to toil from daylight until dark, for one
fourth less wages than they now receive.
They may make the home of the labor
er utterly cheerless. They may deny
him all the luxuries of life, quid place
many of the necessaries beyond his
reach. They may compel him to go
about clad in patched garments, prevent
his wife from wearing a decent Sunday
gown, awl clothe his children in rags.
They may reduce those who toil in the
fields to the degraded condition of the
peasantry of England o• 'lreland.
But, they will find in the end that the
evils of which they complain are not to
be remedied by airy such narrow mind
ed policy. The whole country is suffer
ing from the effect of false and perni
cious legislation. What is needed just
now is wise and pure statesmanship. So
long as a corrupt Congress is controlled
in its action by a cabal of monopolists
the farmers and laboring men, the pro
ducers of the country, may expect to be
ground down by an accumulation of
burthens too grievous to he borne. Let
the axe he laid at the root of the tree,
which produces such evil political fruit.
The Fifteenth Amendment
The Democratic Legislature of New
York has promptly repealed the ratifi
cation of the proposed Fifteenth Amend
ment, and the Reform members of the
Ohio Legislature have united with the
Democrats in the organization of that
body. The attempt to force negro
equality upon the country seems likely
to meet with serious eh eck Fi when its
advocates were just congratulating them
selves on the ace:implisliment of their
design.
strike of the operators of the
'Western Cnion Telegraph Company
seems likely to break down. Fifteen
operators in Philadelphia have returned
to work ,and signed a card, regretting
their connection with the Telegrapher's
League. An attempt will he made to
make capital out of the strike for the
project of placing the telegraph under
Government control in this country.
That such an arrangement would prove
to be improper, we have always believed,
and we have no doubt that results would
speedily prove the soundness of the
views of those who oppose the projected
change.
A Creditable Contrast
The action of the Pemocratic Mem
bers of the Lower House of our State
Legfidetare presents a decided and most
creditable contrast to that of the Midi
eels .
The election of a Speaker from that
body was regarded as the test question
between the corrupt ring afid its .Il.ppo
nenta; The thieves and the corruption
.
ists, the roosters and the pinchers. were
all fast friends of Butler B. Strang. He
has ability, but not a particle of politi
cal. honesty, or official integrity. He
was the champion of the extra pastels
and folders last session, and the best
prop and reliable support of every piece
of corrupt legislation that:was presented.
With hint in the chair, the roosters of
the ring will have easy work to Insure
- the success of every villianous scheme
they may contrive or present.
In order to break the force of Strang's
election, and with the deliberate pur
pose of shutting the mouths of honest
men, and silencing every newspaper in
the State, the creatures of the Ring de
termined to force the nomination of
Samuel Josephs on the Democratic cau
cus. To that end Ex-Speaker Clarke
and other prominent Republican mem
bers of the Legislature labored most dil
igently. New Democratic members were
threatened and coaxed. They were told
that they could not get places on any
committee without the assistance of Jo
sephs, who was declared to he the spe
cial favorite and confidential crony of
Speaker Strang.
The game would not work. With
commendable integrity and marked
honesty a very large majority of the
Democratic members determined to
have nothing, to do with Sam Josephs,
and as little to do with any num he
might recommend. The result was that
immediately after Josephs resigned in
favor of Dr. Porter, of York, A number of
those who Mel supported the Doctor
went over to r. Brown. of Clarion.—
Mr. Brown is a man of unimpeachable
integrity. His record shows that he
voted steadily against every corrupt
piece of legislation that came up last
session. To that he owi, the fact (I f his
re-election.
'l'he Denuicratie ',arty of Pennsylva
nia is honest, and will reward political
integrity. It will Irc a lumpy day for
the State when it again come , into
power.
The Contested Seats In the Legislature.
If the Radical majority of ourStateSen
ate consummate the deliberate outrage !
of summarily ejecting Hiram Findley
from the seat to which he is unquestion
ably entitled, and allow Mr. Watt to
retain that to which Alexander J. Dia
mond was undoubtedly elected,they will
do so In spite of the solemn yearnings
front the newspaper press of their own
party. Radical journalists have the good
sense to sec that their party can not afford
to disregard the result of the ballot, and
to treat elections as if they had never
been held. That kind of political brig
nudism will assuredly be rebuked by the
honest voters of Pennsylvania. They
will not hold con neetion with any party
which Is ready to belie every profession
of honesty, and will not tolerate palpa
ble perjury on the part of a majority of
the State Senate. There is not an hon
est Republican editor in the State who
does not know that Mr. Diamond was
deliberately cheated out of his rights by
a rascally hoard of return judges, and
that Mr. Findley was legally elected.
Quite a nmnber of Republican news
papers have already spoken out in refer
ence to these eases. The Express of last
Saturday says:
In the name 'of all the honest portion, in
cluding nine-tenths (and more ice hope) of
the Republican party, we protest against
deniding contested seats in the Legislature,
wit according to their real merits and in
favor of the candidate who received an
actual majority of the legal votes, but W.-
cording to the party predilections of a
majority Of the members who are to deter
mine the case. The action of the Senate
yesterday in refusing the motion of Senator
Lowry in regard to the contested seat in the
twentieth (Bedford and Somerset) district,
impels us to utter this caution, though it
may he that the vote upon his motion doss
not infallibly indicate the predetermination
of the majority of the Senators to go for
party, right or wrong. We trust the result
will demonstrate that the Senators who be
lieve that honesty is the host and the only
I true policy, are at least suffieiently
Otis to have the casting votes in that body.
The two Senators front Lancaster
county have had the reputation of being
honest and conscientious men. Now is
the time for them to show whether they
deserve to be so esteemed. They can not
vote blindly with their party on these
contested election cases and expect to be
thereafter looked upon as men of integ
rity. If they wish to stand clear in the
eyes of the world let them boldly dare
to do what is right.
We notice that by singular good luck
the Democrats have chanced to secure u
majority on both the committees drawn
to determine the contested cases in the
House. We expect them to act with
perfect Unless, to weigh well all the
testimony and, laying aside till partisan
prejudice, to decide :tccording' to the
evidence. The reputation of the Denio
cratic party for fairness and integrity
must not be impaired by injustice, no
matter what our opponents may do.
flow the Pelee of Coal hi to be Raised
The coal operators have hit upon a
plan to increase the price of coal without
incurring any direct responsibility.—
They propose to reduce the wages of the
miners, alleging that the price of coal
has fallen so I.Ny that they cant no longer
afford to pay according to the terms of
the " basis "n. it is called. This basis,
or agreement, was entered into at the
time of the last suspension between the
Coal Association the operators) and the
Miners' Union. According to the basis,
when the price of coal at Port Carbon is
$3 per ton, then miners' wages should
be $l4 ; inside laborers, $l2 ; and outside
laborers J t per week ; and for every 2.3
cents that the price of coal advanced
above 53, five per cent. was to be added
to these wages. They propose to reduce
this " basis " 40 per cent. A partial
strike has already resulted, and a com
plete strike will likely follow in the
valleys. The operators think that by it
the supply of coal will be kept back anti
prices enhanced ; that they will be more
titan repaid for a mon t h or two of idleness
by this increased price; that by their
own action in proposi ng a reduction they
have staved ofl'a demand for an increase,
and have it in their power at any time
togo to work at the old prices, or, perhaps,
to effect a compromise at a reduction of
these. Nocoal is beingshipped at present
from the Schuylkill region.
The Contest for State Treasurer
The contest for State Treasurer ended
yesterday in the nomination of Mackey
by the Republican caucus. What have
the Express and Father Abraham to say
to this undoubted triumph of the ring?
We hope their virtuous indignation has
not oozed out. Now is the very nick of
time for them to speak out in denunci
ation of the corrupt means by which
Marker's election was secured.
Tit 5: Clerk:- in the office of the Con
gressional Printer have made applica
tion to Secretary Boutwell for an increase
of compensation of twenty per cent.,
running back two years. They make
this claim on the ground that the
laws give the offie. 2 rs of the United
States Senate this compensation,
and that they are by construction a
branch of the Secretary's office of the
Senate. Secretary Boutwell has refer
red the matter to the First Comptroller
of the Treasury for decision as to the
correctness of the ground on lvhieh the
claim is based.
The Beading Adler
This able German newspaper, famili
arly known -as the " Berks County
Bible," has entered upon its seventy
fourth year in new type. It is just three
years older than the I NTELLIOENCER,
and like ourselves has increased in size
and prospered from the beginning. We
wish our ancient cotemporary a contin
ued career of financial and political
success.
The Monthly
_ . Btatement. of
_the _ Pnblie
Increase of 53,819,390.
. The statements in regard to the pul:1 ,
`lle debt which are put forth monthly by,
Mr. Boutwell do not make an honest
exhibit. They are fraudulent - and de
ceptive. The following statement from
the financial columns of the Philadel
phia Ledgershows how a decrease of the
national debt IS made apparent when
there has been an actual increase for the
Past month of nearly four million dol
lars. It mays :
The form of the monthly debt statement
as it emanates from the Department, is not
universally followed. Many of our cotem
poraries include the Pacific Railroad bonds
in the debt, and they certainlyare aliabill
ty of the Government, though their pay
ment may be abundantly secured by the
Company. Others again deal directly with
the principal of the debt, omitting altogether
from the statement the amount of accrued
interest, which serves more to confuse than
to enlighten. Observing these forms the
debt statement of the Ist inst. shows that
the debt bearing coin interest has increased
$l,lOO during the month, if no account is
taken of the $13,000,000 bonds that have
been purchased. The currency interest
debt has decreased $140,000. The debt
bearing no interest has increased $4,184,380,
while the ;natured debt outstanding is
$151,090 less than last month. The net In
crease in the debt is thus $3,894,390. The
coin in the Treasury has increased $3,189,-
5%, and the currency $971,197. Taking in
here the $13,000,000 of bonds purchased, we
have a net increase of $17,160,723 in the
Treasury assets, and a diminution of $13,-
266,333 in the debt, leas assets in the Trea
sury. According to the Secretary's state
ment, ignoring the Pacific Railroad 3ulisidy
bonds, and combining accrued interest
with principal, the debt less assets in the
Treasury, is $2,448,746,953—a diminution
of $4,812,781 during the month, and
$70,716,306 since March 1, 1869. The
coin interest accrued according to the
Secretary's Statement is 848,797,638,
against $41,270,486 last month. The
currency interest is stated at $1,120,900
against $1,118,900 last month. The interest
due on the matured debt is 8544,906; last
month it was $558,506, The interest on the
Pacific Railroad subsidy bonds, of which
the Secretary makes no account • in his to
' tals, is $1,890,856 ; a month ago it was 81,-
536,205. The Pacific Railroad Companies
have, during the month, repaid by trans
portation $24,3.59 of the interest already paid
by the United States on these bonds making
a total repayment of $1,861,089, leaving still
to be refuniled $3,123,732. According to the
Treasury statement the amount of coin in
the Treasury at the close of 1869 was $159,-
000,000. From this deduct the following
coin liabilities:
Deposits against eurtineates :440,170,000
Interest due January 1 31,8411,000
MM=3
Leaves the present coin liabilities. n,2..50,000
Deducting this $77,2.50,000 of present gold
liabilities, the Treasury holds $D,909,000 of
coinnot - snbject to present demand. Of
this balance, however $11,717,000 is to he
regarded as accrued interest, payable in
March and May; leaving on the Ist of
January, $20,192,000 of gold which can be
regarded as strictly belonging to the Treas
ury. The above 877,250,000 of coin due
from the Treasury to the public, upon one
account or another. represents so much
supply virtually within the control of the
market ; and adding to this, say $7,500,000
for coin, in the hanks and private vaults,
the total supply of gold on the market
would appear to be about $..55,00,1,000.
The Truth About Geary and his Message.
The Philadelphia Pod does not seem
to feel itself hound to eomplhnent Gov
ernor Geary and his Message at the ex
pense of the truth. It says:
The Governor's Message is a fitir docu
ment, though none of ttssueets are treat
ed with more than average ability. In this
respect it is like all other messagss of the
kind : it is very rarely that Mayors, Gover
nors or Presidents in their official essays
upon public affairs show the comprehen
sion of the subject, the skill in suggesting
remedies for evils, the power and clearness
of statement, displayed by the leading
journals of the country. Anybody can ho
an average Governor, with a Cabinet to al:
vise him and a hundred newspapers to
teach hint the will of the people and debate
the great questions of the hour. Even
Governor Geary can send forth a message
to the legislature which will generally re
ceive public approval, yet if he were to
undertake to edit a daily paper in Philadel
phia ho would ruin it in a week. It is a
notable fact that almost every idea in this
Message was first suggested by the press of
Pennsylvania.
We attach no particular importance to a
message of this kind. It has come to be a
formality. Last year the Legislature
treated some of the important suggestions
of the Governor with indifference. and this
year it is not unlikely that they will repeat
their contempt. The suggestions may be
intrinsically good, but the governor has no
power to enforce them. Governor Geary
is not respected by the Legislature, nor by
the people, and this deprives what is good
in his Message of the weight itshould prop
erly have. It is not the least misfortune of
the State that this should be so.
Geary County--The Name to be Handed
Down to Future Generations
Hans Geary desires to make sure of
having his name transmitted to poster
ity, and proposes to have a new county
framed front parts of Westmorelandand
Indiana, which is to embrace the birth
spot of our illustrious Governor and to
hear his patronymic appellation. The
Harrisburg correspondent of the Phila
delphia Post says:
There is a movement on foot to form an
additional county from Westmoreland and
Indiana counties. Who the father of the
bill is, has not yet leaked out, but rumor
has associated the name of the Governor
with the project. Whether this is so or not,
may be learned from the following;
The birthplace of his Excellency is known
11.9 New Alexander. "There," in the lan
guage of the Governor, "is the branch from
which I cut a fishing pole; there is the tree
front which I shot a squirrel ; there is the
rocky bluff on which I gathered a bird's
nest.: In closing this exceedingly classical
and characteristic speech, he said, "Mittel
I think a morn partakes of the geological for
mation of the eonstry in which he was born."
The idea now is tO fence in the hallowed
spot, to the end that it may be kept in re
membrance by a grateful people who re
cently recognized the personal popularity
of the Governor; to surround it with suffi
cient ground out of which to form a county
that shall for all future times be known as
Geary County. The matter has been fully
canvassed in the section of the State which
is to be thug honored, and a majority of the
residents are said to lie in favor of it. I low
ever, there is a lively tight going on is to
the selection of the town that shall be desig
nated as the county seat. The birthplace
of Geary is anxious for the honor, while the
inhabitants of the progressive borough of
Blairsville claim that, hieing more populous
and more centrally situated, and, in addi
tion, a prominent railroad locality, they
should be favored. There is scarcely :u+.•
doubt of the passage of this measure.
Tilt; Legislature of Maryland, which
assembled on Tuesday, is unanimously
Democratic in both branches, as it was
last year. It numbers among its mem
bers many of the best men in the State.
It is not considered to be good reason for
suspecting a null's honesty to know
that he is a member of the Maryland
Legislature. That is a stigma which
has been brought upon Pennsylvania by
the Radicals.
A LIBERAL PA wry is in power in
South Carolina, most of them negroes.
There are of it as officers and members of
the Legislature 165. An adjourn n lent
was had for thirteen days, and it was
voted that each member and employee
should draw his pay during the adjourn
ment. The cost is just $12870 to the
State !
Orpraniuttion of the Ohio Legislature.
'I Humph of the Democrats anti ('on
•errati Veil.
('om: m flys, .lan. 3. —The t teneral Assem
bly met at ten o'clock to-day. The Senate .
organized by electing C. T. Hall, (Rep.)
clerk, and H. F. Churchill, t Dem.) ser
geant-at-arms. The House partially or
ganized by electing A. T. Cunningham,
(reform,) of Hiunilton comity, Speaker.
The vote stood : Cunningham, S ; Dennis,
54; Hitchcock, 1. Cunningham received the
entire Democratic vote, and by voting for
Unnself was elected. Amos Lay mom( Dem.)
was elected clerk. Three reformers from
Hamilton yowl*: voted steadily with the
Democrats.
The house completed its organization
last evening. Alex. Reeler, (Democrat,) of
Hamilton county, was elected sergeant-at
arms. The organization of the House, in
the main, is considered a Democratic tri
umph.
Resotutions ratifying the Fifteenth
Amendment were introduced in the Sen
ate and referred to the Committee on Fed
eral Relations.
Tho annual message of Governor Haves
was delivered to the General Assembly
this afternoon. It is quite short, and only
alludes to national matters by recommend
ing the ratification of the Fifteenth Amend
ment to the Constitution. Referring to the
State finances, he estimates the receipts for
the current year at f 4,701,144 50 and dis
bursements at 54,477,899 GO. The total debt
of the State is given at $9,855,935 27. The
Governor recommends a revision of the
financial laws of Ohio ; the adoption of a
plan for the classification of convicts in the
penitentiary; that provision be made for
the establishment of an agricultural college,
and that aid be rendered to the Soldiers'
Orphans' Home.
The cannon presented by Lafayette to
Gen. Cropper, now in the Central Park
Arsenal building, was cast In 1751, and
bears on its surface the motto, " Ultimo
ratio regain "—the last argument of
Rings. it, Is inscribed also with the
names of Renri d'en de' Bourbon and
Charles Comte d'Angouleme. It was
east by Berenger, of Duaehe.
DOINGS AT THE STATE CAPITAL. P
The Fight Oyer State Teeamurer
Desperate Elibrt to Beat Mackey.
The napiad Ba ees.
Railroad Man interested.,
- _
Another. Trinittph ' r Shawl Cameron
and llu lion Don.
Bad Conduct of Radical Senator. In the
Findlay Case.
John Cessna on Hand With an Axe to
Grind.
Comparative Talent of Parties. In the
Leasialatare.
Fight Between Geary and Radical Rem
bees of the Legisdature.
Perfect Organization of the Ring
Contrary to expectation the fight over the
rich spoils attaching to the office of State
Treasurer did not end with the organiza
tion of the two Houses. The Mackey men
regarded the election of Strang as a positive
triumph for them, but certain knowing
supporters of Irwin predicted on Tuesday
morning that both Stinson and Strang
would indicate their opposition to the gay
and festive Pittsburgh bank clerk in their
speeches, and throw the organization of the
two House.] in favor of Irwin. This proved
to he but an HI-founded rumor, and it was
dissipated as soon as the two Speakers had
got off the little addresses they had pre
pared so carefully. Then It was reported,
on what seemed for the moment to be good
authority, that the Pennsylvania Railroad
was going into the fight, as the champion of
Irwin, with a determination to bent Mackey,
let it cost what it might. An existing feud
between Tom. Scott and Don Cameron gave
strength to this report, which had some
props to sustain it.
It seems there are certain " unpaid bal
ances" of the money promised to members
for votes given in the Radical caucus last
year, when John Scott teas nominated for
Senator and Mackey for State Treasurer.
The secret of that disreputable transaction
is substantially as follows: Simon Cam
eron, knowing that the Pennsylvania Rail
road intended to mix in the Senatorial con
test, went to J. Edgar Thompson, the
President of the road, and suggested a
union of forces in favor of John K. Moore
head. Mr. Thompson could not see that,
but intitnatedthis preference for John Scott,
of Huntingdon. Simon considered, and
concluded that by "hunting in couples"
with the Pennsylvania Central on the Sen
atorship, he could oust Irwin front the
State Treasury, and administer the coup de
grace to the Curtin faction. Irwin was
strong personally, but the "solid
argtt
mentr' adduced by Simon's astute son and
able Lie utenan Donald Cameron, proved
stronger than the pledges already made by
certain Republican members to Mr. Irwin.
Sonic sold themselves cheap, and others got
more than they ever made honestly for a
single vote. It is said that a cheekier ,5.10,-
000 was handed over to he divided between
three of the Lancaster county members.
We heard, on good authority, that Mr.
Hopkins refused to pocket the itii,soo tints
tendered to him ; but we never heard it
hinted that the other two were troubled by
any such scruples of conscience. It is said
many members only got a part of what was
promised them, Don Cameron claiming
that the Pennsylvania Railroad was to
bear its proportion of the expenditures.
Out of this the feud between Tom Scott and
Don Cameron is said to have grown ; the
Pennsylvania Central having refused to
"fork up," leaving Don Cameron with his
promises to purchased m rim burs only partly
fulfilled.
On Tuesday afternoon midnight the fight
between Mackey and Irwin raged fiercely.
Late in the day Sam. Moon, a reputed lobby
agent and financial representative of the
Pennsylvania Central, is reported to have
written to Gen. Irwin: "The time for con
cealment has passed. The war shall now
begin, and it shall be prosecuted unrelent
ingly." This letter was written just sub
sequent to an interview with a gentleman
prominent in the Mackey interest, at which
the following conversation is reported to
have taken plats , :
Visitor. " Well, Messrs. St rang and Self
ridge are elected. flow are you on the State
Treasurership?"
Agent of Penn's It. It. " I 11111 for Gen
eral Irwin."
Visitor. "That means war."
Agent. "Call it by what name you will,
that is the position."
As soon as Don Cameron learned this he
telegraphed to T. Edgar Thompson, at Phil
adelphia, to know whether the Pennsylva
nia Railroad Company was thus going into
the fight. Mr. Thompson replied as fol
lows:
"J. I). Cameron—l hare not intimated
any preferonee with referoneo to the State
Treasurer. No one has any authority to
use the name of the company in this mat
ter. J. EDOAR THOMSON.-
The contents of that despatch saddened
number of members who had heretofore re
fused to commit thernsetres,in the hope that
a big tight between two such important in
terests would make votes worth almost any
price that might Ice named. Thos. A. Scott
shortly afterwards intimated that he occu
pied a position similar to that of M r.Thomp
son, and Stun. Moon found himself to be a
financial agent without finances to make a
fight. The backers of Irwin put up all the
money they could raise, and were lavish of
promises, but a vomiter noses soon showed
that Mackey had the inside track. Still the
friends of Irwin kept up their boasts, and
threw out mysterious hints about develop
ments yet to be made. All was excitement
about the Lochiel, and the halls and corri
dors were filled with an anxious emu,' up
to a late hour. There w;ts the usual liberal
consumption of whiskey, and eonsequent
loud talking. Not until after midnight
was quiet restored. lists were
opened for the signatures of members
during the evening, and by the time the
crowd about the Lochiel dispersed to sleep
off the fumes of the liquor they had imbib
ed, those who were posted knew that Irwin
was "a dead cock in the pit." As we said
in a former article the nomination of Strang
WILY the trtunph of Mackey, so understood
to be at the time it was effected, and the
Lancaster delegation wore not ignorant of
the fact. We do not know that there was
much choice between the candidates for
State Treasurer. Certain it is that both
used money freely, and that they were
backed up by certain banks which expect
ed to profit largely by having large sums
of the public money deposited with them.
But for the smothered feud between Tom.
Scott and the Camerons, father and son,
the tight would have ended with the tri
umph of Strang. The hopes of the Irwin
faction were only kept alive after that by
undefined expectations, that the influence
of the Pennsylvania railroad would be
thrown in the scale against Markey. It
was by means of money to be furnished by
that eorporation that they expected to sue
reed. The moment it was known that the
bottom was out of that tub, the greedy ad
venturers,who had been holding their votes
for disposal to the highest bidder, hastened
to place their names on Markey's list of
supporters. Strang wanted the eaurus call
ed at °nee, but Stinson held out until
Wednesday fronting when he yielded.—
Twelve o'clock of that day Wfam fix
ed on as the hour fin- meeting, but
It was two hours later when the
Senate adjourned, and rho as
convened. Senator Graham wan elected to
preside, and on the first ballot R. W.
Mackey received fifty votes, and W. W.
Irwin eight. Billingfelt, Reinoehl and Clod
sheik, supported Irwin, the balance of the
Lancaster delegation voted for Markey, or
were among the absentees.
Since the decision of thew:wens there
has been some loud talk about bolting, but
knowing Republican politicians say It is
only what one of them styles "a little
pinch"—that is, an effort to extort more
money from Mackey ft Co. It has been
suggested that the Democrats might be in
dueed to go for Irwin, and thus elect him,
but that rumor has no foundation. They
regard Irwin as very little better than
Markey, and hove looked upon the con
test as a disreputable struggle between two
aspirants wino were NI tally ready to achieve
their object by corrupt means. They might
he induced to go hr a body for a new and
perfectly honest candidate, If such a man
should be put forward, but it is not proba
ble that such a thing will be done.
Irwin is in reality no bettor than Mackey.
tinder him the same evils prevailed, and
he and his friends did not scruple to use
the same means that his opponents em
ployed so successfully. The evils con
nected with the office of State Treasurer lie
too deep to be healed by the selection of
any individual incumbent. They are to be
sought In that system which allows the
State Treasurer to distribute one or two
million dollars of the money belonging to
the State among different banks, or to place
it as loans in the hands of his friends and
favorites. Although there is a nominal
balance in the State Treasury of nearly a
million and a half, and has been during the
past year, a leading Republican paper says
it is not long since the State Treasurer or
one of his officials begged tbr time for the
t payment of two-fifths of an appropriation
of twenty-file thousand dollars due the
State Lunatic Asylum. If ho had not
at command $lO,OOO, out of $1,500,000 of
fundi, it Is high time the people should
know where the money was. Cash or bona
fide bank balances being, according to this
rumor, not under his control, how was this
sum represented. Did it consist In part or
in whole of the due bills of influential poli
ticians, or the notes of speculators. If so,
the people of this State may expect such a
system to end, where It has ended'in other
States, and to find themselves subjected,
not merely to a continuous loss of interest
throhgh a series of years, but finally to the
loss of a largo portion of the principal,
which is handled In this dangerous and
dishonest manner. The bill presented by
Mr. Wallace, which provides for a complete
change in the management of the State
Treasury, ought to ba promptly passed.
Thus shall the safety of the State funds ho
secured, and ono great source of corrup
tion and debauchery be removed.
10=1
There are four contested seats. Two in the
House, both from Philadelphia, and two in
the Senate. A remarkable fact connected ;
with the cases in the House is that on both
the committees, which are drawn by lot, the
Democrats though largely in the minority
secured a majority. This will insure a fair
hearing for the Democratic claimants. In
the Senate the committee drawn in the case
of Diamond vs. Watt there are five Re
publicans to two Democrats. In this case
the right is so clearly with Mr. Diamond
that the result ought not to be doubtful.—
Messrs. Lowry and Warfel are on the com
mittee, and they both claim to be conscien
tious men. Should they pay the slightest
regard to the true state of the facts
Mr. Diamond will certainly secure the
seat to which he is entitled, His oppo
nent only obtained a certificate of election
through the most high-handed outrage on
the part of the return judges. Judge Ali
son, when the ease WIN brought before him,
denounced the fraud which was perpe
trated as it deserved, and the Morning Not
and other Republican newspapers of Phil
adelphia, have declared that the Republi
can party cannot afford to decide this ease
in favor of the Radical claimant. We shall
see how much honor and honesty there is
in the majority of the Senate when this
Case comes to be decided.
When the 20th district was called, Sena
tor Wallaee moved that. Hiram Findlay be
sworn, and presented the credentials of
that gentleman, signed by a return Judge
of each of the counties conwosing the dis
trict. Such a document Jvas held by Cup
gress sufficient to entitle Alexander Coif
roth, elected from the same district, to the
position of sitting member, and his Repub
lican opponent was compelled to contest.
Mr. Scull, the opponent of Mr Findlay,
had no return to make except a paper
signed by a single election judge of Som
erset county, in which the vote of one
township was entirely omitted. The motion
of Mr. Wallace was usual and proper, and
the position taken by hint was impreg
nable in law, and in accordance with
established usage. I tarry White, prompt
ed byJohn Cessna, moved to refer the case
to a committee, to determine who shall be
declared the sitting member. Morrow Be
Lowry acted the titan in this matter, and
stood by Senator Wallace, disregarding the
lash of party drill. Mr. Findlay not only
held the only regular return, but he had
the return having upon its face a record of
the largest number of votes. Upon that very
point a ease was decided In the House when
Mr. Billlngfelt WWI amember of that body.
John Cessna has a personal interest in this
contest. He narrowly escaped being beat
en for Congress in that district, receiving
only a little over ono hundred majority
when the the usual majority has ranged
from six to seven hundred. There is great
dissatisfaction with his distribution of the
offices, and he desires to appoint a Franklin
county man to the position of Collector,
which Mr. Scull now holds. Ile has been
very busy In the pending contest, and was
heard to declare that he had "much experi
ence in drawing committees." We suppose
he expects to get avhance to exercise his
peculiar skill in selecting a committee to
decide this case. Harry White's committee
reported in favor of making Scull the sit
ting member, Mr. Davis making t minori
ty report in favor of Mr. Findlay. This Is
no more than was expected. White, acting
as the tool of Cessna, had pre-determined
the case contrary to law and precedent
when he moved the appointment of the
committee, and his Radical colleague was
a mere tool in his hands. When the report
W 11.9 made Mr. Lowry moved that the hour
for adjournment he extended until the ease
was disposed of. The motion was lost by a
vote of 14 ayes to 10 nays, and the Senate
adjourned until Tuesday afternoon at 4
o'clock. Senator Lowry lies shown manly
independence in this matter. lie Will not
stultify himself and commit n gross out
rage at the dictation of partisan necessity.
In the Senate the Democrats have the
advantage in point of talent. The Radicals
have no leaders equal to Wallace and
Buck:dew. Mr. Wallace has already intro
duced a number of important bills, among
which is one looking to a complete reform
of the abuses connected with the State
Treasury. Mr. Buckalew has moved in
the matter of cumulative'voting, 2t.project
of his awn origination w hich has excited
much attention on the part of thoughtful
men of both parties. Besides Wallace sold
Buckalew the Democrats have other able
men in the Senate, and in talent the minor
ity is confessedly more than a match for
the majority. In the lions° the Democra
cy aro also well represented. There is
more than the average of talent among the
new members and SIMI(' of them will not
fail to make their power felt. The corrupt
ring will find precious few tools among the
Demfwratie members who now represent
thepartysitllarrishnrg.
There is no love between Geary and the
leaders of his party. lie has behaved so
badly that even the roosters and pinchers
are disgusted with him. The other duty,
when the usual motion was made to print
his Annual Message, Republican members
cried 1M! no! and the resolution WIIS 511111-
marily tablet!. Tins made Hans furious.
lie declared that he regarded such conduct
as a direct personal insult and raved wild
ly. lie avowed that the Republican mem
bers could be bought and sold like sheep
in the shambles, and vowed that he would
clean out the A ugean stables. A member to
whom the Governor's words were report
ed, suggested that his Excellency ought to
read the confession of Adam Titus, in
which that wretched fellow declared that
he had tech "brought to the grallim l st by hla
UngroVerllable passion. - The fend is open
and bitter, and is likely to Ire kept tip.
(ieary was nominated Brat by Simon Cam
-01,11. and fir some time was the subservi
ent tool of the Winnebago Chief; lint he
has now fallen into the hands of the Curtin
faction. Ire nut only displactsl lion. B. F.
Brewster to make room for his illegitimate
brother, F. Carroll Brewster, but he has
since selected as his Adjutant General., A. L.
Russell, who was 11011011110 Pa not long ago
on the floor of the United States Senate in
the bitterest terms by Simon Cameron ;
and it is said lie intends to make a near
relative of A. K. ]['('lure, Deputy Attorney
General. It is not likely that Geary will
be aide to give much increased strength to
the Curtin faction, as he is almost entirely
destitute of political influence even within
the ranks of his own party. The inaugu
ration, which takes place on the Pith inst..,
promises to be slimly attended, and very
little interest is taken in the affair.
The present legislature has been organ
ized with special reference to the kind of
business which engages the attention of the
Ring,and there will be a perfect avalanche of
paying bills brought in when the Commit
tee fairly get to work. Lobby agents are
already swarming about the hotels. It is
supposed prices will range high this winter
as the Ring was never so perfectly united
before, and so completely master of the
situation. With Stinson and Strang to en
gineer matters the •' roosters " and " pinch
ers" will have "a high old time." Every
fellow will be ready to take his divv,"
and no one will attempt to "pull out" his
comrades " hook ;" which means, being
interpreted from thieves' Jargon, which
is used at the State Capitol, into plain Eng
lish, that bribery and corruption will stalk
abroad, and legislative stealing be made
the order of the day.
The breweries of flan Francisco man
ufacture'l3s,ooo barrels of beer includ
ing ale and porter, annually ; employ a
force of 200 men, and consume 13,500,000
pounds of barley, and 200,000 pounds of
hops in the production of the above
amount of malt liquors. • The barley Is ,
raised In California.
State Items
An immense printing house is to be
started in Harrisburg.
A new rolling Mill at South Bethle
hem is to use gas for fuel. •
A. restaurant keeper of Bethlehem Is
under arrest for serving up free lunches
of dot/ meat.
Two ten-year-old boys were recently
picked up In the streets of Allegheny .
City, in a state of beastly intoxication.
A man named Rhine, of Wernersvi Ile,
Berks county, was badly injured last.
week by being run over by a wagon.
The scarlet fever still continues to
prevail in Reading with many fatal re
sults.
Three persons have died of hydrophc
bia within twentymiles of Philadelphia,
within the last fortnight.
It Is estimated that the stock of Hour
In Philadelphia, in the hands of com
mission houses, exceeds one hundred
thousand barrels.
Albert Price, aged about :SO years,
formerly a bar-tender in Reading was
recently found drowned in the Schuyl
kill Canal, near Bushong's paper mlll,
in that city.
E. T. Casidy, of Pittsburg, has been
appointed by the Governor and com
missioned by the State Department a
notary public for the term of three
years.
A small child of John Hanlin, of
Bridgeport, Montgomery county, fell
into a vessel of boiling water lately, and
was scalded drea,ifully. It Is not ex
pected to live.
Wm. Haight was found frozen to
death 011 a road near Ph il i i psburg, Clear
field co., 11 few days ago. Ho loot it bot
tle of whiskey, partially emptied, in his
pocket.
The Rev. Frederick Dripps, of Brook
lyn, L. 1., has been called to the pastor
ate of the First Presbyterian Church of
Germantown. Mr. Dripps is a graduate
of Princeton, and a young man of abil
ity.
A brown noire, with white spots on
her forehead and breast, and without
shoes on her hind feet, was stolen from
Joseph Lindemuth, of Upper Bern twp„
Berks county, on the :id inst. A rewarAl
of $2.5 has been oll'ereil for her revoverir.
A young mint named High, residing
in Frystown, Berks co., had part of his
nose blown on' and his cheek injured
while "shooting New Year." lie had
loaded an anvil, and the charge went aft'
prematurely, with the above result.
The soldiers of the Mexican war and
members of the Scott Legion intend to
Participate in the inauguration cere
monies at Harrisburg - on the 18th inst.
tiov. (4e:try himself is a member of this
association, having been a soldier in our
war with Mexico.
If thin should meet the eye of Adam
Ruff, or any person acquainted with him,
now about twenty-two years of age, who
left his home in August 1867, nitre when
nothing has been heard of him, a line
addressed to his father, John ti. Ruff,
Easton, Pa., will tend to allay the men
tal suffering of a parent.
Rev. Mr. ('urn, of Carlisle, Presiding,
Elder of the Methodist E. church, has
appointed Rev. Mr. Westwood, of Balti
more, to till the vacancy occasioned in
York by the death of Rev. Mr. Mills,
until Om meeting of Conference, in
March. The appointee intend to take
charge of the congregation immediately.
Hon. Wm. McKennan, Judge of the
Third United States Circuit, arrived at
Erie on the 15th inst., and the oath of
office was administered to him bv Hon.
Wilson McCandless, Judge of the
'I tiled
States Court for the Western District of
Pennsyrvania. His Circuit embraces
the States of l'innsylwaniii, New Jersey
and Delaware.
Recently two fanners named Bean
and Thompson, from near Waterford,
Erie county, traveling in a wagon, were
assailed by foot pads who sprung from a
clump of rmshes by the roadside. The
pads fired revolvers upon them, ond ball
passing through the hat of Mr. Bean,
but the horse taking fright, ran ,dl' out
of reach of the assailants.
During the past year the Water De
partment of Philadelphia has supplied
water to 74,801 dwellings, 4,088 three
quarter dwellings, and 15,702 half dwell
ings, making a total of 94,69 S dwellings.
They have also supplied 27,177 bath
tubs, 11,2.5.5 water closets, 16,1127 horse
stalls, and 111,994 wash paves. The steam
boilers and engines that draw their
winter front the city mains report an ag
gregate of 12,426 horse power.
The Stettin colliers belonging to the
Philadelphia and Reading Railroad Co.
are doing air extensive business. The
Centipede sailed from Philadelphia on
the 4th, for Boston, with tioo tons of
coal. The Rattlesnaße left Philadelphia
on the sth for Allen's Point, with 606
tons. The Company expect to launch
the new collier Anglifies, of 1,000 tons
capacity, early in February, and they
are now building three others.
The Reading Railroad Company gave
notice that in accordance with the terms
of the lease, they will pay, on and after
the 18th of January, 1870, at their Phil
adelphia office, .i. 11.50 per share clear of
taxes, to the stockholders of the East
Penn's. Railroad Company, as they
shall stand registered on the Ist of Jan
uary, 1870. The transfer books of the
East Penn'a. Railroad Company were
eloscd on the Ist i tsr. , a n d Will he open
ed again ()II the Ilth.
A Mrs. tiller, of Wissahickon, near
Philadelphia, recently met with a dread
ful death. She intended to urge her
kitchen fire by pouring mai oil upon it
from a ran eon tainting about a quart of
the fluid. The moment that the oil
readied the flames, the whole quantity
in the van exploded, and the WOlllllll
was enveloped in flames. She was so
badly burned that the flesh eame front
the 11011(`S, yet she ling,ered several tars
when death coded hersufferings. Mrs.
Miller was forty years of :age, and leaves
hosliand and fourteen children.
I=l3
i;tISt2IN 1 . 1 Sheritt . of rook
county, has With
from !Ztn,Olul t1 . 1!7•2.1.01)0, ImrroNved funds.
The Philadelphia Salubtil .Ifereary
has entered upon Ow (rerrr(ir/h Ntyri• of
its cxistence, being the oldest Sunday
Journal now published in that city.
John Nixon, a respetaahle eit izen, was
shot dead at a elute house in New Or
leans On Saturday night. No arre , ts
have been made.
At Helena, Alontana, on Saturday
evening, Moses Bow'ding, a private of
the Thirteenth infantry, shot dead a bill
carrier of the Varieties Theatre. Bowld
ing watt drunk at the time.
A large expedition has left St. Peters
burg for the Milken Bay of the Caspian
Sea, to attempt the discovery of a means
of connecting the Caspian and Aral seas
by the lied the ancient river Amudja.
Texas cattle can now I,e driven into
Kan,iiis until March I. Already a vast
army of laiVilleS is in 111eliell, turd the
plains are alive with lung horned " crit
ters."
A lady's apron, inado of creani-eolored
ni roccoloather,beautifullyetabollisped
in a border of gold :Lad colors, has been
sent to Miss lila Lewis, of NewporLas a
testimonial from the employees of a
Providence
A colored Man, 1111111H] Johnson, who
had shot and dangerously wounded a
fanner, named Cox was taken front jail
at Atchison, Jfo. , on Tue-day night, and
hanged by a nioh.
An envelope containing the will of 11.
It. Wing., of Glenn's Falls, was found in
the stre,t . ..ts of Alhativ, N. V., on Satur
day. The will, which wan partially
burned had been stolen, with other prop
erty, front the (;Icon'' Falls Bank ou
Friday.
Kerr yon Diugelsu u lt , director of the
Vienna Opera House is about to Break
through the traditions of the ballet. He
believes the ballet to stiffer from an en
tire want of humor, and proposes to deal
with the next new ballet in a facetious
number. Amusing scenes are to awak
en the sympathy of the public, and Herr
Berg, a farce writer, has been charged
with the task of providing a libretto full
of absurd situations.
The real estate belonging to the heirs
of Ft. F. \V. Allison, late Governor of
South Carolina, was recently sold under
a decree in equality. Five plantations,
containing 4,108 acres, which (list, orig
inally 522'2,500, were sold for 542,700.
Large quantities of pine and swamp
lands were also sold at from 8 to 22 cents
an acre. The purchase money is to be
paid one-eighth cash and the balance in
one, two, and three years.
There were 1,122 visitors to this won
derful valley in California in the rear
1869, against 147 in 1804. It Is one of
the wonders of the world, and Is destin
ed to be a resort as long as its unique
wonders and beauties exist. The valley,
together with the Big Tree Grove near
it, was granted by Congress to the State
of California in 1864, and the Legisla
ture of the State, In accepting the grant,
did so " on the express conditions that
the premises shall he Itch! for public re
sort and recreation, inalienable for all
time." The valley, therefore, Is pub
lic park,' open to all the world :. But
there are two occupants living ht it who
claim 320 acres of itknren, and as this
claim covers a considerable proportion
of the 1,100 acres of level area, It is pro
posedpress that the
two squatters by the
tttheers Californiabe bou ' ht out and induc
ed to leave the valley to the undisputed
guardianship of the mammoth trees.
!ELst of Nembors'of tbo Legialainre.i
The following is a list of members of the
State Legislature. The names of Demo
crats are In Italics, those of Republicans in
Roman letters. Alexander J. Diamond
was legally elected in the 18th Senatorial
District, and contests the seat of W. W.
Watt. In the 20th District, Hiram Find
ley, Democrat, was not only legally elected,
but so returned. Tho Radicals refuse to
give him the seat to which he is prima facie
entitled. There are also two conte,toil
cases In the House:
SENATE.
Districts—lst, Contested • 2d, A. W. Her.-
zey ; 3d D. A. Nagle; 4th;George Connell;
sth, C. IL Stinson and H. J. Brooke; oth,
R. J. Linderman ; 7th, R. S. Brown : Bth, J.
D. Davis; 9th, IV. M. Randa/1 10th, A. G.
Drodhead ; 11th, P. G. Osterhout ; 12th, S.
G. Turner; 13th, A. G. Olmstead;
John R. Beck; 15th, 0.. R. Buckalete ; 16th,
David Munima; 17th, E. Ilillingfelt anti
J. 13. Warfel; 18th, .4. O. 2lfiller: 19th, (.M.
Duncan; 2001, Contented; 21st, J. K. Rob
inson and C. J. T.' M'lntire; 2.2 d, Harry
White; 23ti, ..4. Wallace; 24th, A. mil.
Purm an: 25th, S. L. Graham and Thomas
Howard; 211th, Jan. S. Rutan; 27th, James
Kerr; 28th, H. Allen ; 29th, M. It. Lowry.
irousit OF REPRESENTATIVES.
Philadelphia—L. B. Thomas, G. Max
well, 'Sam. Josephs, Wm. Elliot, Edw. G.
Car/in, J. F'. Mooney, Rob. Johnston„ lax.
V. Stokes, Samuel D. Dailey, Elisha NV.
Davis, Bunn, Alex. Adair, J.Por
vita., John Cloud,Atiani Albright,Marshall
C. Hong, Watso n Comly, James Miller.
Adams—A. B. Dill.
' Allegheny—M . . S. Humphreys, Alex.
Miller, Joseph Walton, Jas, Taylor. D. NV.
\Vility, John H. Kerr.
Armstrong—M. M. Steele.
' Beaver anti Washington—NV. C. Shur
lock, A.. 1. Millington, 11..1, Vank irk.
Bedford, Fulton and Soinersi/t—J.
Longnecker, F. B. Long.
Berks—lleary It room , .l . T, e II: ell er•
11. IL ir art
; Blair—Joseph Robinson.
!Mulford and Sullivan--J. F. Chant's-,
Lain Jas. 11. Webb.
Bucks—.lo,thia c. McKinstry.
Butler, lawrenee, arid \I error—C. \V.
M'Craeken, D. Craig, NVlieeler..%les
! Leslie.
1 'ainbria—.John Porler.
canwron, clinton anti NI K eon .1. H
.I ruist rimy.
Carbon and Monroe— Wm. B. Leonora
f liester.lns, C. Roberts, Jos, C. K 14.11,
. Darlington.
clarion and Jetlernon --R. It. Bruit,,
crawford- -11, C. Johnson, F. \ s'. . int , .
Elk, alai
flail.
Cento - --./teNdi Mryty:.
rolninlan and Montour—(:,tirge
' ctunberland —Joh a it. 1,1 t, I ,
Dauphin --.1, C. Smith, John E. Porous.
Delawary—Thos, V. Cooper.
Erie—C. o. Bowman, I/, It. SIt•I 'rear,.
Fayette----T. II ly
Franklin and Perry---/:. ll'. oaaor 1,.
lireene - JION.
Ihlntinglinn, 311111 M, and .1 imiata 11. I:.
31e. , tiver, :1. /loner.
Indiana and Wnsflnnreland- D. Si. mar
shall, A. M. Fulton, Jiteob F. 11 reps.
Laneoster—.k.tioilsehalk, .it. r. Reinoehl,
E. 11. Ilerr„lohn E. Wiley,
Leitanon- .1. It, Deininger.
Lehigh --Jr bt m 11"nohTer, D. If.
I Luzern° - Ir. Fee's,( John I'. 31eNla
bon, George Cory.
LyoominF, :111(1 Sll,ll`l. TIIOI
/11,1+11111, 1 homaseltureli, a. 11. Dill,
Montgomery —J.IIIPN 1....1111.11Ch, Jr. 1.,) .1,
littrucy.
Northampton --.xosire/ Boaeoy. banal
Enylent
Northinnberland—R. Myntyymery.
I'ike and WaVlll' Infl. II . Mum t• A .
Potter and Tioga- -B. B. Strang, J. It.
Solltivlk ill .1. Irwin .`ite.•:.
F. Ir. knyd..l..
Susquehanna and \V . v.,.ling- h•orgf. •
F:v.tsett, A. P. SlllllOll4.
V1.11:111g0 and Warrvil A. It. Nlo•J tink in
l'hum NV. Stole.
York—Geo/yr R. Ilurdb It. V. I'ort,•,.
Ex...ttlortn.y General Ilrenaler lh
l'lncllny-Senll
Ile Sustain% Senator I.ini ry'w Position
and shows that Mr. Isitiiilay Is En 11•
==:=l
'rite subjoined letter, from the I tontwAlsir.
Benjamin lfarris :Brewster, Into .l.thsrnev
I teneral of Pennsylvania, urn 1..011 rts•Ji vett
by Senator Lowry. It will ho se.n, tkat
,1,. Brewster regards NI r. lay, 011,11'•
ly entitled to his seat in the Solutia, pnliot
facie, for the 'l'Nvontietli Senatorial ltistriet
The letter 111.01I'l no 1 . 4,1111110111. It s 11•31:,
1"1,1" itself.
71w; T ST., P1111,1 , E1.P111
January 7, 11711.
.1/y /teat. Lowry :—I ant tot ovoupied
that I cannot answer you at freely as I
would like to do. bop never, the whole
question is within a very narrow compass
and will not admit of much elaborate ills.
enssion. You ask me if you have taken the
right ground, and you say you are an xime.
not to go astray. You are right. Part)
has nothing to do with this. Principle
alone must Le eonsidered, or I,llf 11411 ill unit
legislative anarchy will be the result. The
matter has been determined over and 1,1,.
Indeed, no precedent can be found to uphold
the proposed course. The man who holds
the vertincate is the elected man, and enti
tled to his seat. Those who dispute his
eel:titivate moat mutest. No legislative
Ludy eau be organized oil any other princi
ple. The return judges having:certified by
a majority that A was duly elected:A in ust
take the seat. If II law a dissenting 'min ion
from ono judge, or a minority, that 110
more entitles hint to the seat than it would
give a citizen a,judgment in a court of law
when the majority of the murt had
resolved the other way. In either
cane, the renuftly is by appeal. In the
meantime the occupant holds, or he must
be ejected by judgment in the whole ease
as presented to the 'higher court, and that
court in this ease is the committee as pro
vided by law. But there is no oven:don to
illustrate by analysis in this el.e the law
the law in imperative, unit to revoke it for
the mere purpose of upholding party
supremacv, or from any legislative whim,
must be destructive of all trite logislarive
organization.
years ago I gasp an l/ilillil/11 t/1
like eharactor in Judge Kings I . 10:0, alat hi .
I . olllllll,ollOrhal. Mr. rt . . L. Hirst United.
kith 1111` ill that opinion. 'nre papers yon
van get no doubt in the Soeretary's °Mee,
and s., 1 derider. is the Covodo and I , °str•r
1,1,11`.
'onsistent action and strict adllerell4, to
dip lute is essential in such eases. The
method of solving such disputes is a part
of parliamentary history in England, :Ind
the course provided awns adopted after numb
contention, and has been accepted as the
NV me, list unit impartial way, and being
accepted procured tranquility on a imhject
which before was the cause of much imus
thee. The Yaw, as it has been applied Mullett
gentleman who now holds his seat in your
body, must be applied to this ease, or you
will all Of you "Ko astray. -
Truly your friend,
lIENJAmis ILA RUIN Itleaysrtat.
To Iron. M. It. Lowry, Senate,
burg.
Re...tattling the flntillention of the
teenth Amendment by tho New York
lAwnsinture.
j The New York iferaidi gives the follow
ing aemunt of the action of the New York
Legislature on this important question :
The event ono-day is the rescinding and
annulling of the resolution passed last ses•
sion ratifying the Fifteenth Constitutional
Amendment. After a brief debate, partici
pated In by Senators Henry C. Murphy,
Thomas .1. Creamer and the Republican
Senator Woodin, it was rescinded by n party
vote of sixteen to thirteen, and at once sent
to the Assembly fur concurrence. Here it
met with some resistance from Mr. Mated,
of Westchester ;Alvord, of Onondaga, and
J. 11. White, of New York. They claimed
that the business had passed entirely out of
the hands of the Legislature; that they
could no more revoke the resolution of leaf
session titan they could dr:clare that Reuben
E. Fenton was not United States Senator,
and that they should proceed to elect an
other one. tin the Democratic side, Mr.
Murphy, of Albany, and Colonel Patrick,
of Cheinung, replied, the former taking
grounds that the action of last year Was not
complete, because the purnal of the House
contained no record of the faet that the Hov
ernor had sent the resolution to the Secre
tary of State. All arguments, however,
Were mere Waste of time, beeallse the (wes
tern of eoneurrenee was a foregone midriffs
Om. John C. Jacobs made a most brilliant
speech In favor of the resolution and Was
loudly applauded]. After a useless debate
of an hour's duration the Senate resolution
was concurred in by a vote of yeas 69, nays
511, and thus the ratification of the Fifteenth
Constitutional Amendent by the State or
New York is recalled, rescinded and an
nulled, as far as the Legislature ran do it.
The Chinese laborers, who have polio to
Texas for the purpose of working on the
Pacific Railway of that State, before enter
ing into the contract of hiring, insisted that
a Chinese store should be established nmir
the place of labor. The articles of agree
ment provide for the establishment of this
store, and contain an inventory of the stock
that must be laid In. Some of the items,
and the quantity to he purchased, are us
follows; 5000 quires Chinese visiting card
paper ; 10 pairs crape suspenders ; 10 boxes
too chuck, or bean curd slicks; 20 pounds
orange peel ; 100 pounds pak ko ;50 pounds
sugar ('ands'; 2000 pounds salt shrimps;
50,000 fire crackers; 10 sets chop sticks and
bowls ; jos paper and jos sticks; 52 pounds
dried oysters; 10,000 (11inese cigars; 50.
pieces of silk cord, for queue strings; any
quantity of salt fish, salt alicem, preservea
olives, peas, betel nuts, lion's, dried melons,
dates,. mellone, him ell:at, ,•rnmlada and
peppermint on.
Another Explorer Heard Front
Another missing explorer in Africa--•
' George Seil vein fu rth—has been heard from.
Early In 1809 he had taken up his residence ,
at the great Scribe or Ghattas, in lam,
seven degrees nortlr latitude. Ile had
passed the greater part of the rainy season
without Buttering from fever, and was en
gaged in exploring the neighborhood. He
intended shortly to make an excursion into
the land of the Istlam-Njams, a hilly country,
the animal andvegetable "productions of
which are widely different from those of
the adjoining districts. His journey has
been very successful in a scientific point of
view, and a part of his zoological and bot
anical collections may be expected In Ett
rope next spring.