Proceedings of Congress. WASHINGTON, March 15 In the U. S. Senate, Mr. Chandler, from the Commerce Committe, reported adverse ly the bill authorizing,transportation of imported goods from the port of first arrival to Chicago, Cincinnati and St. Louis, with out inspection or appraisement, and it was indefinitely postponed. Mr. Abbott intro duced a bill for distribution of arms to the Southern States for their militia, which was referred. The House resolution, making an appropriation to the widow of ex-Secre tary Stanton, Was cones rred in. Mr. Sher man, from the Finance Committee, report ed back the various propositions relative to increasing the currency, and, at his request, they wore tabled. The Georgia bill was discussed, and Mr. Drake offered an amend ment, providing for the sending of troops by the President to any of the lately rebel States, and, the declaring of martial law therein, upon the representation by the Governor or Legislature that organizations exist there for the perpetration of violence against persons or property. Pending con sideration of the bill, the Senate adjourned. In the House, Mr. Schenck moved the reference of the Funding Bill to the Ways and Means Committee, and Mr. Garfield moved its refer ence to the Ban king and Cur rency Committee. A discussion followed,in the course of which Mr. Garfield said the latter Committee would leave to the I louse the question of what form the increase of currency ordered by the recent resolution should take. Mr. Schenck stated that s part of this bill had been written by himself, in confereme with the Secretary of the Treas ury. Finally, Mr, Qartield's motion of re ference was rejected—yeas 65, nays 711—and the reference to the Ways and Moans was agreed to, Mr. Butler, front the Revon struction Committee, reported a bill fife the admission oi'l's x as, similar la the Virginia and Mississippi bills, which was passed.- - Thu Deficiency bill was considered in I 'fan mittee of the Whole until a late hour. WAsif Nov's, March 16, In Ulu U. S. Semite, Mr. Itanisey intro duced a bill to liwilitate postal intense eve with foreign countries, which was referred. The Georgia bill was taken up, and :qr. 'levels, the colored Sesame from Mississip pi,. made his tirst speech in t h e Senate, Or posing the Bingham proviso. Mr. orlon, of Indiana, after complimen bug Mr. Rev els, followed upon the saran side. Mr. Howard tlwn look the door, when the Sen ate went into•l?xecutive Session and soon after :eljourncd. In the House, Air. Stevenson, front the Election Committee, made a report in the Louisiana ease of II lint ys. SIO,IIIOII, deel r ing St101(1011 entitled Lo the seat. The la•ti eienry bill was passed. TllO \rte York and \Vashington Air Line Railroad bill was considered, and all atoolollllollt aVaS ad./a lai, reserving to Progress the right to alter and amend the °barter. The previous 11111,- IAI/11 was urdrro , l, o'lloll, 010 morning hour expiring, the bill went oser. Bills were in troduced by Mr. I Lit pr,111101.1, u•rna- Lional coinage, and, by Mr. I the redemption of outstanding [tined States notes and bonds, and the resumption of specie payments." :qr. Logan, front the Military Committee, made a report that Representative Butler, of Tennessee, had appointed a non-resident of his distriet to \Vest Point, tind subsequently received money from the y o u lug tom's father. The report is aecompanied by two resolutions, each signed by half the members of It o committee, one Of which censures and the other expels Mr. Butler. They were or dered to he printed, and laid over until to day. After briefly ettti,itiering the 'l•:u•itl' bill hi Committee Mil.. Whole, the II:Flw adjourned \f:urh 17 In the United states Senate, :\ Ir. Draltid from the Naval Committee, reported the 1,111 providing for a system of naval ap prenticeships. Mr. Chandler from the (2ouitineree Committee, reported a bill regil lath% the consular service. It abolishes a ntiniber of von,ilialcs and changes salaries or ”the,... Uou,uls lieu real for Lo n don, Paris, Berlin, Vienna, ll:iv:ilia, Montreal, t'tilcutta,. Constantinople, ltet rout, Alexandriaandtiltatighai. TheConstil General at London is to receive the highest sahtry, s.ll),ene; that at Paris comes next with 36,1x)0. The hill abolishing the Fr:nil:- log privilege was made the special order for ~i Tuesday . next. Mr. Ferry's resolution for 11 the ..derati,m I,laniluxtaiiiti treaties in open S(14,11011 was referred n, the 11 . 1oreign Committee. Ali. Rico introduced a bill 01111- solitlating fine Indians tinder a territorial governlnent, giving the Indian territory the nameof Oklahoma. Ir. Penton introduced a bill for the relief of ship builders. The thJorgia bill \l'll.Slll , l,llSsllll, ,\ll,l-11,. I hnvard and Sawyer apposing the Bingham amend ment. Pending its vonsideration the Senate went into executive session, and soon after :tdjourned. In the llonse, Mr. Platt asked leave to oll'er a resolution looking to:mother rtssei struction of Virginia, LuL objection was made by Brooks, of : , 111W Yorl:. Sargent, from the :qining 'ommittee, re ported a hill, which was passed, allowing placer mining claims to he entered upon the public lauds and patented, at the rate of 2 50 per acre provided that no 1111011 141111 i 1.1:C1,1010 flint arced. '1 . 1111c1a,14 Repre,ellta live BULler, of l'ellllt'Ssee, I•llargeti Wil.ll pointing :LS 1.11111.1. a 1,,111114 Hu/11111a 11•044111 g in MS 111.11'11a, annul afterwards receiving money flan,t lino yolltil'S rather, W 1111•11 he 14,1011.111 r plaitll.ll.l WaS lakell up and the testimony read. The gm-4iuu teas thou taken 111,111 the 1,1,4111.11111 .4 1111111, W 1111•11 aVaS 11,4 1111. want of n two thirds vote--the yeas being lir2,and the nays GS. A resolution vensuring n 1 r. Butler was then adopted unanimously. 'rile l'arild mitt cans 1.11011 111,10,41 Ni at an ON'1•1111111, 141.11,4011. W.\ I:1:11111N, :\111.1,11 In the I'. S. Senate the vote indefinitely postponing the bills hir transportation of impaled Inerehaddise, without examina tisn, to Western citie+, %vas re4•4insidercil, itinl they wore pheyd on,•alenilar for n 0.., action. Nit. l'onkling, from the Judiciary L'imunittee, reported bark the credentials of lleneral Allll.B, With a resolution that hr is not eligible as a Senator from >1 ississippi. r. Sumner intivduced an amendment to It bill previously introduced, providing for the retirenemt of the fractional currellCy before the end or the fr 111,1.111 yr:u•. 1111. hrnlou 1111+1•111,1 11 resolution providing for a survey of the Isthmus of Tehatintepec for a ship ,:utal. Thu tieorgia hill Ivan taken up, and Mr. Wilson 4illercil au amendment continuing the Legislature until after the Nii‘ - cinlier election ill 1872. Mr. I\ lotion's amendment repealing the lief prohibiting militia organizations in the South, N 1.11., agreed to. \I1•. Drake oiler.] an atnenilment authorising the President to send troops into the Southern States to suppress organizations lhr 'MITI's, It VIII- Jew, ot• to resist the lit,vs, and ,giving the commander power to prochtint martittl law and levy money in the troubled district,. l'ending its consideraiiiin the Senate ad journed until Nlontlay. 111 the House, bills for ealcnsioti of va rious patents were intsseil. Mr. Stevenson spoke against the ill 'Dill the IN'ltole. 11r. Morgan desired to Mier a resolution directing (111 inquiry as to whether nwinbers who were utlirora u 1• stockholders of national banks, or holders of Government bonds, ought to Sane on the Funding bill ; but objection was made by Maynard. The Mousse adjourned, with the understanding that to-day's ses sion NVI,IIIII 110 only for debate. SATU I, March The'U. S. Senate was not in session on Saturday. The !louse met for debate on the tariff, Intl us few mein hers were pres sent, and no one desired to speak, an ad journment speedily took place. MIMIIIIM=I In the S. Senate, Mr. Abbott, from the Military Committee, reported a bill, which was passed, providing for it ili,tribution of arms among, the Soot kern :states, actiording to their quota. Mr. Spentair int roil need a bill, which trite 1,001,11, providing that Supervisors of Internal Itet ennui shall be appointed by the President, and conarmed by the Senate. Air. (tinkling gave notice that he would ask the Senate to consider the report against t it.fl. Ames, Scnatoroilect from Mississippi, to -day. The t Borgia bill was taken it;., and Mr. I/rid:Cs:intend ment 55101 1,101,11111114 /1'1"1.111,1.111. P 1,1110111.1, send troops into the States on requisitions of alio tiOVerllitl, 1.0g1,1:11111,,, :11141 pro viding that martial law may be established in the troubled districts, :mil a levy 1111010 Herrin for the payment of transportation of troops. NI r. 1100:11,1 111,0'0,110 out the 1111111011 1111t111/11Z111g the levy or seizure 111* 111,11/eriy, 11101 1114,111.1110 1111 as sessment 1 . 01. age: 111 1,1,1, 01 . 1141101100 011 tilt! 111111110111:11 01111101'010S. \\ltllolll disposing of the bill, the Senate seclit int., executive session, and soon after adjourned In (lie House, bills were introiluveil by Mr. Lawrence to reduce the taxes and pay the public debt; Le \I r. Ncgley, "to pro mote commons. betweeli the Stales, cheapen transportation of mails, - elO,l by r. ;Litz, relating to lilts/111C tali 011 prtlooolls 01.1,11ild ingittul savings iISSOCiatiMIS; 11101 l\ll.. flanks, to promote isinititerce and rriiittil slp with :Slexico. Mr. Iltirchard iiifore.l a resolution declaring for a redistribution of banking 01111.0110 y, 01. 1111 111,111,11i0 111 . it, for the benefit of t11,,(` sections 11:1V111,14 10s than their 111,0111.1.1011, was referred, the previous question upon it being refused. Mr. Williams offered a resolution, which \VII.B adopted, declaring that the debt should be funded into long hoods, at a lower rate of interest, MIL 0pin,111 , 41.110 conversion of greenbacks into interest-boaring bonds.— Mr. Kerr olfiossill 11,11111ii401, NVIIII.II seas adopted, declaring the judgment of the House to be in favor of pub lie land grants to 1•:1111,11c1111111 01.1101. t• 01110- 1.10.1011 ii. V 11 1 .10104 1,4011010101 a 11011111. y were agreed to, 1110111t111114 0110 11,1111112; 111- furmati(at or Commissioner Delano in re galld to the 'rice meter. The r l'arill bill wits discussed, dismissed, debate being continued at a night session. The House Committee 011 11111i:111 Affairs havo finished their lOU reorganizing the system ulgoverning the Indians. It divides the Indian Territory into four districts, with a general superintendent for each, anti ono agent for ono or more tribes, under the charge of the superintendent. Indian trea ties aro abolished. The hill is approved by the Secretary of the Interior :tad' Indian Commissioner Parker. Cul. S. F. Wilson one of the editors and proprietors of the New Orleans Picupote, died in that , city on Saturday last. Col. Wilson was an able writer and pusessed an ample fund.of.political, statistical and gen oral information. He had long been a se vere sufferer from heart and spine disease, but ho never fully laid aside his pen until about three months since. His death was tranquil. Just previous, he took the hand of his only surviving partner (Col. 1101, brook) in his own and said, "You are the last of us " Lumsden, Kendall and Kul litt had fallen, and now a fourth partner was to depart. Only Col. Holbrook re mains. The State I...twit/Ware. TUESDAY, March 15. In the State Senate, bills were introduced making the Aldermen and Councilmen Su perintendents of Highways in their respec tive wards, with the exclusive control of highway matters; and providing for a rail road from Jersey Shore to Buffalo. The bill fixing the location of roads in Fair mount Park, and incorporating the Clear field and Buffalo Railroad, were passed. Mr. Ileiaszey introduced his Metropolitan Police bill, and it passed a second reading. In the House, bills were passed inflicting a fine for failure to register property, and vesting the powers of the Receiver of Taxes in Councils. WEDNESDAY, March Ph In the State Senate, a bill was introduced authorizing the City Councils to order. and regulate street paving in Philadelphia. The " Sewage Utilization" bill was reported favorably ; also the bill for a railroad from the Susquehanna river to Buffalo. A bill was passed authorizing one additional Judge of the Common Pleas. In the House the bills allowing the people to vote upon the:License question, and to punish gam bling were passed. Both Houses recalled and passed the Diamond street bill, amend ed so as not to cut through the Odd Fellows' Cemetery, awl also passed the bill author izing a loan of SSUO,OOO for the South street bridge. THURSDAY, March 17. In the State Serrate, the Metropolitan Police bill catne up on its third reading, and was postponed until to-day. The Susque hanna Railroad NU NV AS passed. In the I louse, the bill increasing the number of Supreme Court Judges to seven was amend: ed so as to allow one, of the Judges to sit on the CULDDIDD Pleas of several counties, and passed ; rise, the bills restoring the second section of the joint land tenant act, and re pealing the act making Good Friday a legal holiday. The Susquehanna and Minh; Railroad bin was passed to a third reading. FRIDAY, Mardi IS. In the Senate, a resolution adjudging \\'. W. Irwin guilty of contempt. was Made t h e special order for Wednesday. The Metro politan Police bill wits then taken up and passed by a Vote or Di to It Adjourned. II the I louse, the Senate railroad aid 1;i11 u•as passed by 21 cute Dr5D to 31. A djourned 1H ON DA Y, Mareil lIIIBMII=II=J2= DI hilt 111/11,0 a MIMI/0r i,l private hills were i11tr1,11111 . 0 , 1, but uo Intsint,s gent.ral ititerest transacted. The Imperils] Homicide. PA tits, March —The I Ugh Court 6.r the trial of Prince Pierre Napoleon Bona parte for the homicide of Victor Ni fir con vened at 'Pours yesterday. The Prioress Bonaparte and her children have already arrived there, and immense crowds nt nodplc eolleetcd around the railroad depot to see the, distinguished Visitors, arid the City is crowded with strangers. Prince Pierre Bonaparte, the prisoner, now fifty-live years of age, is a corpulent Mali, above the middle height, and wearing a heavy moustache and imperial. Ire walks with difficulty, I'rom hating gouty feet_ Having been long in the Foreign Legion, he has all the air of a military man. Dur ing his military career he gave frequent proofs of courage and of energy. Ills mar riage, in Idttd, at Epieux, a property he owns in the Ardennes, made some noise, his wife being the daughter of a workman in the Faubourg Mt. Antoine. That union, however, legitimatized a son of twelve years of ago and a daughter of four. At the present moment the Prince is in morning riir the death of his father-in-law. M. t;ambetta and other lawyers are spok en Of as the advocates of the faintly of Vie tio- Noir, whose father and brother will de inaml .lamagesa..4 civil pl.•tiutitls in the trial Prince Pierre Bonaparte. The defence will be the argument of a justifiable homicide under extreme provo cation. .t II or ei hie Deal h--A Resident of Brook lytt Ities in the Agonies of Hydro phobia. BROOK lAN, VlarrL Ili.—Sonic 111110. Sillee man nafficcl Henry Klean, residing in Queens County, I.ollg Island, was bitten liy a ferovious dog. Ito hall his wounds and in lt low day,: reCoVerell usual health, apparently. Yesterday he complained of dizziness, 11311:e0 Mill great nervousness, whieli exei t...l n snspioion that he had (-aught hydro phobia from the animal. He asked t'or a wntvr, and as soon as he sate it, .lashed the vessel to the ground and began to sere:1111 with terror. This was followed by terrible 1.111,, Ilelirilllll, and f.,thing at the mouth, tniatet: Avert , :triminitaerril, but nothing seem,' to have any cited. and in order to plit him out of his misery, he NV:LS smother etl hetorru feather beds. Mr. K lean leaves a hive tinnily well 114,WeVer, was a 111a11 C1111:1111121.111,11' 1111•11)iiiNti, Vit., Alarch have not changed lintel, since last night. 114,111 Ellison anti Mayor l'alloon had interviews with I ieneral Cattily this morn ing. Cahoon's party, with the exception lit three or lour, %vile \vere starved out 111111 out this 1110rIling, still hold the lower station-house. They have been since Wed nesday night without food. Samuel I lenderson leolnredl was shot and killed this morning by a special police -111:111 reSktillg hits while clearing out the street, around the hover station-liouse. )1 aytir ison's pol ice dill have posses sion of therill', except the station-houses. This .tftertionn .;eneral lanby interfered with thi• inwtiripal trotthi., by sending a gintr.l of soldiers and raking the siege at the I..iver station house, giving free egress ..n.l ingress to all having. Inisiness there. Thi,.•ti",,, he sacs, has no reference to the .inestion of the . :‘lityoralty, but is tal:en purely as a preeaution against any acts of disorder or violence. action is ap plauded by the friends of l'alloon. and etas protested against I.y Ellison as unwarrant able illtOrit . l . l . ll , e With the Civil IaAVS 01 the State. When thennilitary tool: possession of the station-house, >lavor s Imbue left, and being stoned by the crowd of colored men, charged them. About tiny shots were fired, and two or three colorer linen were wounded. Affairs have since q Meted down. 'fo-morrow both Mayors will have a police force in the streets and hold independent eon rts. Trouble is apprehended. Ito• it MOND, Mara] City Councils to night passed an ordinance abolishing the station-houses now in the hands of Ca hoon's police, authorizing Mayor Ellison to roll out the fire brigade as police, pledg ing the city to pay all special police sworn in by Ellison, authorizing the city court to he held in the city hall, and pledging Mayor Ellistin the earnest support of the court in his efforts to maintain the peace of the city against the lawless men conspiring against The city is quiet to-night. The casual ties or thi• 'lay hay(' been one killed, anti three 'wounded. Cahoon has his head quarter, at the lower station house, where the military guard it. Eli son's head quarti•r, are at the City Hall. Ellison's po lice patrol the city to-night. A Big . Tannery Elk county, in this State, has the largest .anew ill the world. It is kinovn us the • Wi t,ix Tannery," and was built three . ears ago. The proprietors 0wn22,000 acres If land on the Clarion river, all heavily •overed with hemlock. The bark mills of he is incern are in a building-13 by 100 feet, wo stories high, and capable of grinding evenly-tive cords of bark per day. These rills are driven by an eighty-horse power ',Wine, and the only fuel used is spent tall. The leaching house is 38 by 210 feet, and wii stories high. It contains twelve leaches If immense size. The" sweat pit "is7o by .10 feet, of stow:. Seven hundred vats are nose ill list'. 'fire company makes nothing lint sole leather, and of this the product is 120,000 sides per annum ; though trues the tannery shall he err 200,01/11 sides will he turned out. The consumption of bark is 11,1110 cords per prat% The company has crectol twenty-night tenant houses, and employs front 150 to :wo men, at wages ranging from $2O to $7O per month. The capital invested foots up about s.",uti,i•no, and nearly 15,000,000 feet of hemlock lumber is imumfactured sentry year at the eompane's mills. l'he hides used are imported front South America. It trill scarcely Ire eredited that fifty tons of hair are oiler tea and sold annually at this monster establishment. Amung oilier "incidentals" are the " tleshingsl " and a hundred barrels of soap grease obtained 1 . 1 , 111 them. lindieal 111,411 l ire Itiel 1. At Ifirhmnnd, Virginia, there is trouble growing out of the refusal of Mayor Cohoon, impointed by the military, to surrender to Ellison, elected Mayor by theEity Councils. has possession of the City I 101 l and .ither buildings, while Column holds the sta lion-houses, the old police force being about equally divided betwi..en them. Last night 1505 besieged iu a station - house by Ellison, with a large force of special officers, and deprived of gas, food and water and the use of the telegraph wires. I lovernor Walk er sides with Ellison. The refusal to yield is on account of the alleged unconstibition ality of the act under which Ellison was elected. floc error 'anby has sent in troops, to be used in case of distUrbance. Ellison and the Chief of Police having refused to allow revenue °dicers to see Cohoon, as U. S. Commissioner, have been held to answer for their refusal. Ex-Governor \Vise is one of Cohoon's counsel. The latest about the Mayoralty trouble in Richmond is that Ellison, with '250 mon, holds the city, and Cahoon with only dll men holds ono of the station houses. Cor respondence has passed between Governor Walker and General Canby, the formerde claring that the latter had no right to inter fere, and Canby saying that he did so merely to preserve the peace and not aid either contestant. It is understood that Judgo Underwood lots granted an injunction against Elison. Last night the Ellison Police were tired upon by a colored mob while clearing the street in front of the Cahoon station house, and one of them was killed and another wounded. They then fired upon the negroes, but it is not known with what effect. Michigan has very fine peach ero prospects this season. The Rhode Island Democratic Con vention met yesterday. Lyman Pierce was nominated for Governor; Charles B. Cutter, •for Lieutenant Governor; W. H. Willey, Secretary of State ; Geo. H. Bliss, Attorney General, and Philip Ci Ryder, eneral Treasurer. Ti -LAN-C.A.SThrtAVEEIK_LY- LATEST NEWS BY TELEGRAPH FOLLEIG2I NEWS Trial of Prince Bonaparte.---Fenian .== PARIS, March 22.—1 n the trial of Prince Bonaparte, now progressing at Tours, the prisoner, on being permitted to make his statement, said that no man of spirit would have acted otherwise than he did under the circumstances. He denied having armed himself purposely to meet Rochefort, as had been stated. He had always been in the habit of carryings revolver. Rochefort has been cited to appear as witness. Loa sox, March 22. Mr. Gladstone has intimated that it is the intention of the Government to liberate the Fenian prison ers immediately, on the present orders in Ireland being repressed. Now York Affairs,—Deotrvell re Fire, /re. NEW Yonx, March 22.—A fire this morn ing destroyed a largo five-story brick building, the works of the New York Hy draulic Machine Company, in Crosby et. A brick and framo tenement adjoining, was slightly damaged. The valuable ma chinery in the factory was destroyed. The total loss amounts to two hundred thous and dollars. Postmaster Jones denies that there is any truth in the reported attempt to re move hint. Front Washington ASII NOToN, March :I-I.—Associate Jus tiro Strong has been assigned to the Third Judicial Distriet, embracing the States of Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware. Associate Justice Bradley will be assigned to the Fifth District, comprising the States of Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana and Texas. It has been for some time past attached to the Sixth, to which latter Judge Swayne has recently been re assigned. MiLwAugEk, Wis., March 2.2.—Yester day, a two-year old son of Frei lerick Math ells, residing on Second Street, Sixth Ward, was fatally scalded by upsetting a pot of boiling tea upon himself, while attempting to drink froze the spoilt. From Dayton, Olmlo DAyrux, 0., March 22.-1 MOllllOll El der is arousing indignation by preaching Polygamy in the towns anil villages of this vicinity. The Third District Revenue Assessment, exclusive or the 50 per cent. tax on spirits, amounted to 519,611, in February. Horrible Mining Accident xEnsvILLE, Pa, March 22.—A terri ble explosion occurred last night at the col• fiery of Audenreid, not far from this place, in the Schuylkill County :SI inebill' Region. The large boiler attached to the mine blsw up, killing several and badly wounding a number Mothers. The engine house tells blown to atoms. Up to this time the names of the killed and wounded have not been learned. The cause of the ex plo sbm is also unknown. Further prrtieu lars are expected soon. Illness of a Ms bop Va.,--Bishop Thompson of the Methodist Episcopal Church, is ly ing dangerously ill in this city. /Local futrlligracc. CAPITAL. PUNISHMENT Mr. Royce's Lecture---Disemer i lie tweet the Lecturer and the Rev erends Nevin. Robinson and Suesserott. The announcement that Mr. Ifoyee, the well-known champion of the abolition of capital punishment, would lecture in this city, drew out a large audience, among whom wore several clergymen and many Ineml.ers of their flocks. Mr. Boyce was introduced by Judge Hayes, and opened the question by saving that he desired any person in the audience who might wish to ask any question at any time during the lecture, to rise in his place and do so. He further stated that he would give opportunity fur reply ut the conclu sion of his address. Mr. 'Joyce then pro ceeded to the argument. Ile denied the right of the Commonwealth to indict the penalty of death as a punishment for crime; held that as all govermental power was de rived from the people, the State could ex ercise no higher powers than the individ ual man possessed,—that men had the right to seize each others property by con tract, therefore the State had the right to seize our property in the way of taxation, the consideration being the protection of life, limb and property. 'Phut man had the right to sell his services for a Consideration —the right to go into voluntary servitude or labor for the consideration of wages, &c.; that the State had the right to restrict man in his liberty as a punishment tor crime, having in view a beneficent of jest, viz: the protection of society and the re formation of the criminal. Mr. Buyee then spoke of the sacredness of human life and road a letter from John Bright, of England, in support of this view. The lecturer said that the best commentary ho could offer on this point Was the fact that the "Quakers " had always inculcated a deep reverence For 'Milian life, and mur der among this sect was unknown. Mr. Bovee thought the Commonwealth 1,111- Mated a strange blunder when it undertook to illustrate the sacredness of human life by judicially murdering the criminal. Many instances were then cited, showing that innocent persons had suffered death, among them Charles Boyington of Mobile, Pr. Hamilton, of Ky., Margaret I lough tailing, of Colutnlfia county, N. Y., all of whorl' were executed and afterwards proven innocent ; that human testimony was fallible and judgment and memory often at fault ; that a mistake under this ' law was necessarily a fatal mistake; that property might be increased or diminished, liberty taken away and again restored, lint neither executive nor legislative power could light the lamp of life when it lout ono , been extinguished. The lecturer then dwelt upon the demor alizing effects of capital punishment; citing instances where men had gone home from executions and committed murder; held that the lesson of the gallows were bad ; the effect pernicious ; that whenever the government educated the people in blood they became imbued With the same spirit, which manifested itself in acts of cruelty; that "like begat like," love begat love, hate begat hate; that our children should he tat alt lessons of love and forgiveness instead of brutality and wickedness. The mode of selecting our juries, in cap ital cases, was then rebuked. It Was shown that under our present system the law would have none but ignorant men, and those who believed in the hangman's rope. The experienco of those States winch had abolished capital punishment was then cited. Michigan abolished capital punish ment in ISA 'and for twenty-juur years-had demonstrated that society was better gov erned without the gallows than it would have been with it. The lecturer cited official documents showing that the crime of murder had diminished thirty per cent. Michigan has never returned to the old law, and every effort to restore capital punishment had toot with signal faihire. Rhode Island followed Michigan in 1859, and for eighteen years had refused to make hangmen of her Sheriffs. The united and concurrent testimony of Governors, Su preme Judges, Attorney Generals and prison wardens was to the effect that society was better protected, and the crime of mur der more certainly punished than under the old law. Rhode Island had taken no backward step. Wisconsin followed next in 1514, and fur nerenteen years had illustrated the bene ficial effects of the substituted law. Wiscon sin had taken no retrogressive step, for the statistics and statements of prison war dens, conclusively proved that the crime of murder, considering the increase of popu lation had decreascd nearly filly per cent. - ; that convictions were made easy when proof of guilt was clear, and that those terrible struggles between the people and the law were no longer apparent as before the law was abolished. Mr. Boyce then invited any gentleman present to reply, when the Hey. Mr. Nevin took the floor in defense of the gallows.— Instead of replying to the points Mr. Bovee's argument, he proceeded to argue the question of self-defense and made an appeal to the passions rather than the judgment of the audience'. Ile said that Mr. Boyce was undoubtedly opposed to defending his own family, and would un doubtedly say a benediction over the mur derer and let him go free—that this age of progress was carrying us into extremes, and undoubtedly would lead to free 1 , /V -r. Boyce ill reply said that lie had never advocated letting the murderer run at large, and as for the benediction, that part of it had long since been in the hands of the clergy ; that the clergymen who attended these executions had very nearly estab lished the fact that the gallows was the great spiritual agency fur the salvation of souls, and that nearly every criminal was swung from the gallows into Heaven; that 'when the elerg - 2,f. had succeeded ill Making this point a HWY more clear, then indeed may wo look for an increase ul murders, for the gallows will then he re garded 11.0 the straight and narrow way that leads to everlasting life. Now, said the speaker, this is true or it is not true. If it be true, then the gallows possesses no ter rors for the criminal, and if it be not true then there is a hollow mockery of religious professions. The Rev. Mr. Nevin arose and denied that any Protestant clergyman ever offered such assurance, and asked for the names of ally such clergymen. Mr Bove° replied that the press of the country furnished that information almost con stantly. Mr. Boyce then took up the Bible argu ment which he handled in a very able manner, showing that the statutes of the Old Testament had been susperseded by the new dispensation; that the coming of Christ established a new order of things.— At this point the Rev. Mr. Robinson said that Christ declared that He came not to destroy the law and the prophets, but to fulfill them. True, said Mr. Bovee, and how did he fulfill them? .The apostle de clares that ":cive worketh no ill to his neigh bor, for love is the fulfilling of the law." The clergyman resumed his seat The Rev. Mr. Nevin arose and said that John declared that no murdererbath eternal life abiding in him. Mr. Bovee, called upon the gentleman to quote the passage correctly, " He that hateth his brother is a murderer and it-la written no murderer bath eternal life abiding in him." The Reverend gentleman seemed to perceive the application and felt a little confused. The Rev. Mr. Snesserot asked Mr. Bovee, " Do you believe' . the moral quality of an action resides in the intention?" Suppos ing I should say yes, replied Mr. Bovee, which is probably your view orthe question, what of the moral quality involved in hanging witches and wizacds at Salem ? Mr. S uesserot replied that that was an age of the grossest ignorance and superstition. Yes, said Mr. Bovee, and there is consider erable of this ignorance and superstition remaining in Pennsylvania to-day. One of the clergymen asserted a little excitedly "there is a 'modicum of sound sense, I thank God, still left in Lancaster county."— " More than a mere modicum I hope, re plied Mr. Boyce." The discussion during the evening au:sulli ed a wide range and terminated about 11 o'clock. Mr. Boyce had one decided advant age over his opponents. He maintained his self-possession and composure throughout, while his opponents betrayed a little ner vousness which seemed at times much like irritability or ang er. The disputants each had their friends, and whenever a telling hit was made it was followed by laughter and applause. A general desire was manifested to hear Mr. Bove() speak again; and by a vote of the meeting he was invited to address our citizens again this evening; which he con sented to do. The lecture will be at the Court House, and will commence at 7i o'clock precisely. Free to all. Thesubjeet will be "The better plan t,r orlott c/tall be done with the eeitnitotl. CELEBILATIoN OF THE ADOPTION of THE Firn.d.:sTu AMENDMENT. — A Meeting of the colored citizens of Lancaster was held in the A. )1. E. Church, Strawberry street, on Wednesday for the purpose of making arrangeuteu IS to celebrate the rad tication of the Fifteenth Amendment, when the Pres ident issues his proclamation. Rev. Robt. Boston was called to the chair, and Daniel Sweeney and Joseph Williams were ap pointed vice presidents, and J. 11. Butler and John W. Waters, secretaries. On mo tion a committee was appointed to make arrangements for the celebration. The committee is as follows: Edward llarris, David Bryan, Win. Thomas, IS. Jones, Rev. R. Boston, Peter Itilyard, H. Reynolds, \V. Wilson, D. Sweeney and A. Thomas. Rev. It. Itoston presented the following resolutions, which were linanimonsly adopted : NS lIEILEAS, We, the colored citizens of Lancaster, Pa., in unison with all others of our rare throughout the United Status, do hail with heartfelt gratitude to God, the. giver of all good, the recognition of our rights in the Constitution of our country. Axle wltEateas, We recognize the band of the Supreme Ruler of the Universe in bringing us out of human slavery and ehat _ tledom, and placing us upon the high plat- Ibrin Anieriesn citizenship, :old cal uatity before the law. That we will ever venerate the means employed by an All-wise Providence in bringing about such favorable results; namely, the martyred President Lincoln, the Army and the Navy, and a Wise Congress. AND witEREA,4, it has been arranged by the National Executive Committee at Washington that the event of the issuing of the Proclamation of the Fifteenth Amend ment by his Excellency the President of the United States, should be appropriately observed and celebrated by the colored people throughout the whole country by the suspension of all business upon that day, and to attend Divine service in their places of worship, forth° purpose of prayer and thanksgiving to Almighty Uod,for His great mercies and goodness manifested to this our land and nation. Therefore— Resoired, That we will suspend all busi ness on that day ' and will attend divine service; iind that there shall be an appro priate diseim rse delivered, and prayer and thanksgiving rendered to Almighty (hod cm past blessings, and invoke his blessings fur the future. Resolved, That we will Lace IL procession: in the afternoiin of said day, and in the eve ning a 'nubile meeting in the church-or Court I louse, where there will lie speeches made to suit the occasion. . . ReNu/red, That we will extend an invita tion to our friends in the country, and all are invited to attend without; distinction of color ur former condition. R,sol red, That we look upon this event as the greatest and grandest epoch of A meri,an Independence, for only now is the nation free from oppression and slavery. Res, I red, That our never-ending grati tude is due to the abolitionists of the nine teenth century, for their labor and work of love in Congress, in State Legislatures and in public and privatelife—such as Stevens, Sumner, Wilson, Giddings, Kelley, Fre mont, liotler, Garrison, Phillips, L. Mott, and John Brown, and many others whom we cannot enumerate, who have all con tributed to this grand epoch; of American Independence. Resolved, That we will ever try to so conduct ourselves as to be worthy of the new relations which Providence has brought about, Cm, we trust, the good Of 1110 whole CI anary. Re.sol red, That . w o Will be identified with the party that has been our friend in the past—if they continue to be in the future— through chose efforts measures fraught With interest to our advantage have been carried through rongress and the several State Legislatures ratifying the Fifteenth Amendment,mid towiimuMlEllllo,l4ing grin it ale is dim . . Jecs,,/,', , ,/, •I'hat in our "pinion it Nvoithl be bt•euutiug for every citizen to eclebrate the event of the ratification of the Fifteenth \ men,lment by suitable tlemoll,tration,. 'nu. 1110).01,g then adjourned. local legislation has recently heel) had in. Ilarrishurg with reference to Lancaster' COUTIIy : Warlel Inas presented a rellloll - I'l,olll tit ZVIIS of Lancaster county, against the passage I,l* any It lowering the standard of Leather Inspector. A ko. a petition ill fitvor of the Local ()talon Li cense !till. In Committee. Senator liillingrelt intros ured an art relative to the 114,01111 ts att.' Treasurer of the Lancaster County Prison, roluiring hint 1.4) tile the saws in the Register's Office thirty lass before the time for auditing the same. Also, an net in relation to the l'reas- rer i,f the It, of Poor Directors, of like sport. In Committee. In thu.llou