Clie Centre B cmoeat. i o w I BELLEFONTE, VAT Thursday Morning Aug. 29 61. | J. J.BRLSTFLK, EDITOR & PUBLISHER. W. \V. BROWN, ASSOCIATE EDITOR. PEOPLE'S COUNTY TICKET. ASSEMBLY. SAMUEL McWILLIAMS, OF FERGUSON.' ABSCCI \TE- JUDGED, PETER WILSON, OF GREGG. JACOB BAKER, OF HOWARD. , TREASURER, C. G. RYMAN, OF MILESBURG. COMMISSIONER, THOMAS HUTCHINSON. OF POTTER. A.UBITuR., . J. 11. McCLURS. OF BELLEFONTE. Court Week. This hao been a b'tisv and exciting week In Bellcfonte. Our streets have been throrg 'dd by crowds of our triends from the coun try, and our hotels and business places have been a "perfect ja'm." On Monday af'ter 'noon everybody went to hear Judge Lion's cbairge to the Grand Jury. The Judge de livered it and every union loving man pres ent waa bigr.ly pleased with the product : on and in a few hours afterward it scM readily in our streets at 'five" cents a copy. ' On Mon day night a'Union meeting was held in the Court Horse, at which Wm. 11. Blur pre sided. Speeches were made by Messrs. Ilale, McAllister,'Brown, Blair and Btbver. Resolutions, favorable to n union county ticket were adopted On Tuesday night the Democratic Convention assembled and nominated their county ticket ; their pro ceedings will be found in another columD, — It was reported through many parts of ohr county that the much talked of murder trial would come off on Wednesday, and conse quently the crowd was immense. The trial however, did not come off ; but was postpbn ed until next Session. On Wednesday even ing the Republicans held their Convention and nominated their county ticket. Pro ceedings in another column. On Thursday morning the disappointed office seekers of both pnrties, left town and consequently our streets were "almost deserted. The Grand Jury was discharged-on Thursday. Our paper is behind time this weeek. One of our hands has been sifck a' portion of the week, and our subscribers gave "us so little encouragement, byway of paying up, that wa cared but little whether the paper came out or not. "Our friends" will have to do with this number.of fho paper, like we do when we ask them for money—wait until they get it. Real "War about to Commence. No one can read the accounts of the mas terly reform* introduced by "Gen. McC'ellan in the a'fifiy, the 'thorough re-orgatfizatibn, the correction of abuses, the close attention to the comfort of the individual soldier, with out feeling that the real war has yet to begin. 'The desperate nature ot the enterprise un dertaken by the rebels obliged them to see to the efficiency of "every tfffieer in whose charge they put their men, we with a sort of blind confidence, thought we must c'on 'quer undrr any circumstances ; at least such ia'the only possible explanation lor the appointment of many irresponsible hangers on, to responsible commands. Now all is changed. Politicians are bum bled, and military merit- recognized. We have had our probation,' end may now ex. pect our triumph. It must not be forgot ten, however, that the eni-tOv has thrown his whole strength into Virginia'and Mis souri, and that we must collect an army large enough to ensure victory. A National Army. We heartily hail the new movement of ( Gen. McClellan in forming a National Army , —not an' army 0-' mpused of State Regiments j but an ai'my in feaoh regiment of which eve- j ry loyal State may perhaps be repnsen.f ' j We hail it as a step in advance in every j respect, and more especially as tending to j make us less a Confederation f.'hd more a j Nation. The founders ol our Government j did not make our national name indicative ] of a federation, but of a Union, and every - | thing that tends to make us more' Americans ; and less citizens of petty' Commonwealths, j is a step in a direction which dire Cxperi- j cnce hss shown to be the right oDe. Our State Governments ware intended for ; the administration of local affairs, and such > purposes the answer, more or less, will.— ; But the obnoxious dogma ot superior State a'lieg : ance strikes at the' vitals of our na tionality, end we see With the greatest satis faction every Step that tends to make us one great nation, rather than an assemblage of insignificant nation. ■ Judge Linn's Charge, "We publish, to-day. Hon. Samuel Linn's • eLarge to the Grand Jury, en-.panelled at the ; present term 'of cur Court of Quarter Ses sions. The Judge d : euncs the law in regard to J treason in a manner which seta to rest "the ! dogma that the freedom of "speech and of the | press entitles editors and citizens to the right | of assailing the Government, because they object to its policy when it is seeking to res tore order in times of public and private peril. Judge Linn understands, thoroughly : the present condition of affairs, and discuss es them like a patriot BDJ statesman- Tbi# production is worthy'of the man who con ceived it, appropriut Ho the place in which it was delivered, and should be read care- j iully by every citiien of Centre County. ' The Union Meeting. Iu accordance to previous notice published in all the papers of this place, & Union Meet ing was held in the Court Room cm Monday Evening. The meeting was organized by calling Wm. H. Blair cf Bcllefonte to pre side. after which Daniel Koons, Jno. Thomp son, Jacob Struble, Capt. J. B. Mitchell, i Maj. James Armor, lion. John Ilasson, Jas. CU Lucas, G. 11. Weaver, Esq., W. Vanvalin, Christain Derr, and J. Keller were elected Vice 'presidents. J. V. FostOr and M. T. MillTkeo, Secretaries. The meeting being ready for business, the President stated the object of the meeting by . reading the call from one of the papers, with appropriate rcmafks. 11. :N. McAllister mov :'sd fur a committee cn resolutions, to which . the chair appointed H. N. McAllister, John Way. A. 0. Furst, Adam Iloy, Wm. Allison, Jr., Jas. Gordan, Jos. Sehnoll, Sr., R. H. Foster, Austin Brew. ; While the Committee was engaged in the ; performance cf their duty, Hon. J. T. Hale, : was, on motion, called on to address the meeting. IT is not necessary that we enter j into any details as to the import of the speak j era address further than to say tb.it,"as usual, j he took a decided stand in Support of the : Govtrnment, and the vigorous prosecution of ; the war against the rebels and ei amies of j our common country and the Union The Committee on resolutions having r. turned in the meantime read a series of reso.utions j "which were subsequently, unanimously adop j ted. 11. A. McAllister, as Chairman of the i Committee on resolutions, supported the same in one of those speeches peculiar to that j gentleman, lie spoke with vigor, with a i f-ieiing of determination on his part to crush j the rebellion at once, and took particular I pains thet men occupying prominent posi j tions before the public, and whoso every act j and sympathy was in the interest of rhe se oeders, should be made known to the friends i of the'Unioo. Judge Linn was called on to speak, hut that gentlf'maa 'thinking ly. Col. Brown ar.d Capt. Stover'abb) 'made j short speeches owir'g to the lateness of the j hour. i _Tbe" following rfs-JuMohs were adopted: Is . Resolved that tin- present deplorable ; civil war has been fnic-d upon the country , by the disunioiiists of ttu Southern States, ; now in arms against the Consihutional Gov i eminent, and iti arms around the capital : j that in this national emergency, banishing all feelings of mere passion or resentment, jwe wouid recollect only or da:y to the whole country, that this a . .ot waged I on our part in aDj ep : -ersion or | for ar.v purpose of co -. - • jugati-n or purpose of ov-r:h-.ng or interfering with the rights or he-at- abed ios.i'utions of those States, hut to maiu aiu the suoreaiacy ,'cfThe Constitution, nwj to yro-erve the UnioD,'with all the y. equality and rights of the several S . -mb ..paired ; and thai as soon as these otj :i are accomplish ed the \yar ought to cease. 2nd. dissolved, that it is the duty of all good citizens to select for offices of trust and profit/without regard to their former party connection, such men as will co-operate with the gov.ronient in the vigorous prosecution of the \\ AR, in the successful issue of which rests our hope for the integ ity of the Union and the restoration of an honorable peace. 3rd Resolved, that a Committee be apDoint ed to confer'with the delegates of the Dem ocratic and Republican conventions to so- L I'ure. if pussible, the nomination of a - Union | Ticket worth of the support of every uocon i ditionii! Union man. A Committee was appointed to confer with the two party Conventions on the expedienby of a Union County ticket. The following is that Cotr mittee : Dr. J. M. McCoy, Bart Qalbraith; R. 11. Foster, It. 11. Duncan, S. Ilaupt,'Jr., "E. C. Humes, James 11. Mann, Constance Curtin. The mcetioGg then adjourned. The Presidents Proclamation. Prei-idtnt L-.t coin's proclamation, forbiding c\ mmercial intereo'ur.-e with the rebel states, and declaring the forfeiture of'ill property which is attempted to be passed, and of all vessels belonging to rebel owners, is a vigor ous and timely exertion if executive author ity. It is a strong evidence that the Presi dent feels the necessity ot acting with the utmost energy and'decision. We trust that the officers on whom the President relies to enforce-the non-intercourse commanded in the proclamation, will prove, by their vigi lance, activity and determination, that they are fit for their places. And it is further to be hoped that no more property Such as the President denounces will bo chartered or purchased by the officers of the governmt-rt as has been done for some time past here against the earnest protest of loyal citizens. Secretary Cameron and Cabinet. Mr." Cameron's labors in the cabinet are incessant, llis duties are continual, and in- ! elude a greater number of important details j than those of any other member of the cabi- ! net. The attacks upon bitn by certain j thoughtless or malevolent journals are beet I refutea by his own action. L'o him' the country is largely Indebted for the reorgani zation of ihe > r:-Y. e is no- probability j of his dismis-' i f "j. t ij-jn in which he j is so valuable; at /, i r; -(withstanding I the clamors of a n'flss, no changes i wiil be made in the 0a;..; if present. PROVISIONS FOR GEN. 1-0 FNOHANZ'S Alttir — We are conducting a large war in Western Virginia, and the extent of our military op erations may be easily estimated when it is stated that from fifty t> neve- five fins of provision are shipped daily from Cincinnati to the r.ruiy in Virginia. A week or two since the unount was four hundred and fifty tons, and in three days of one week about two hundred tins were sent. Senator, Landon, w>>.i w.i., present at the reception and spee. • D .v - I - "Dick inson, in Tubkh'inn V , up-rtch, whibh among other . in reply to Some coinp the crowd who cried out: To a 81-vt -.! is the peace maker," a . ou< : t ihe speaker replied, it says i. ;. .e Devil and he will flee from JDU," which brought down 1 the crowd. TCBEXB CSKTHS XMSMOCRAT. Excitement in Connecticut. BRIDGEPORT, August 24. A secession flag, uoder the name of'peace,' was hoisted at Stepney fen miles north of Bridgeport, Conn., this afternoon at 2 o'clock According to previous announcement a meeting was to have been nd'dres.ed by Schnable, a broken down politician frnm Pennsylvania; also by ex J Postmaster Good-" sell, of Bridgeport, and one BeldeD, a sixth rate lawyer from Newtown, Conn ; but bCo . fore one of these secessionists had time to j open his mouth a procession of carriages ap peared, containing one hundred of tlm first ! citizens of Bridgeport, ar.d twenty.five of the ; returned volunteers. In less than forty sec | onds the secession flag was trailing in the ■ dust, and in twenty eeeonds more it was torn ;in five hundred pieces. Several pitols md | ODD gun were taken from the secessionists, . who drew but dared not fire them. A Union meeting was then organized, of : which Elias Ilowe, Jr., was appointed pres . ident, and P, T. Barnam, secretary. | glorious Union resolutions, denouncing peace secession meetings, were passed. The volunteers-are determined to sack the Farmer office at Bridgeport to-night, but our ; citizens are endeavoring to have them wait the action of the proper authorities. 8} o'clock p M. The secession Farmer office has just been , gutted by toe volunteers, in presence of 3,000 I to 5,000 citizens. The wind JWS were stnu'kh- I ed, the type all thrown into the streets, and j the presses destroyed. BRIDGEPORT, August 25. In cleaning out of the Farmer and AdoUi i ser office last night,-a United States mail bag was found fiflol with papers addressed to ; leading secessionists in Alabamy, Georgia, ; nod other Southern States, also some two ; hundred wooden billies, turned and furnish led with strings for the rists. These clubs I were made from shovel handles, and were j probably furnished by a secession shovel i manufacturer in Bridgeport. Some curious , letters were also discoverod, exposing the i treason of politicians in Hartford and else • where. One of the editors of the Farmer has gone to New Haven, threatening to issue his paper from the Register office t(-mot row. | Grand Jury's Presentment of the Democratic Watchman. To the Honorable, the Judges of the Court of Ses sions of the peace in and for the County of Cen tre. AUGUST SESSION, A. D., IS6I. CERT RE COURT Y, SS : The Grand Inquest of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania inquiring in and for the County of Centre, upon their respec tive oaths and affirmations, do present the follow ing facts to the Court: There is a certain newspaper, the Democratic Watchman, edited by Cyrus X. Alexander and P. G. Meek, of this county, which is in the practice of encouraging the rebels now in arms against the Government, fcy expressing sympathy and agree ment with them, the duty of exceeding to "their demands, and dissatisfaction with the employ ment of force to overcome them. Said newspaper is published in the Borough of Bellcfoutcj in this county. The Grand Jury do not deer., it necessary un der the instruction of the Court to go into a long recital of facts, said publication being wcllknowu to this community, but in accordance with the dictates of conscience and the duty they owe to their country, they beg leave, respectfully, to make this presentment. I Attempt to take Gov. Thomas Prisoner. GRAFTON, Va., Augtis- 24. , Last evening, while Governor Thomas was addressing a crowd in front cf a hotel at Cumberland, some secessionist ra'sed a dis turbance which resulted in their being driven home, and the destruction of the Alleghanian office-, a secession newspaper. This morning the train bound west„whicb bad Gov. Thomas aboard, when about eight miles this side of Cumberland, came suddenly on several cross ties thrown across the track, and at the same time a number of armed men were seen rap idly descending a neighboring hiil. The en gineer increased the speed of the locomo tive, and succeeded in throwing the ties off the track with but little damage to the en gine. Some federal scouts then fired into the train, it is supposed by mistake, but without doing any darnare. The design of the secessionists was to take Gov. Thomas prisoner. LATER FROM FORTRESS MONROE SAUTXG OF THE EXPEDITION. i Brilliant Achievement Expected. ■ FOKTR; S MONROE, Aug. 27. Tho much talked of expedition from Old Point has tailed under comm'and of General j Cutler. ' It consisted of the frigates Jlinne j sota and Wabash, sloop of war Pawnee, gun | bats Malum •. and Harriet La:; steam | ers'Adelaide and George Peabodv, propellors i Fanny arid Adriatic, with a large number of | schooners, barges, etc. The Quaker City will fsdiow in a few hours. The vessels car- i ry over 100 guns and about 4,000 men.— ' ! Several powerful gun-boats remain at Old ; Point ar.d Newport News. A brilliant i achievement is expected from Gen. Butler i j and Commander StHfighain. Cols. Max" ! j Weper and flawkens take part in the expe- > dition. ~* . j A Calm in Washington. i WASHINGTON August 27. There is a perfect dearth of news to day ; everything seems quiet upon tho surface;, thtre are no sensation rumors all -at, DO gos sip worth noting, or no facts to record ; on thestreets are the customary throng at" the i War Department, tho usual audience in the aisles, and a larger portiuD cl officers than we have noted before. On" the door of the Secretary's office is a notice, " no visitors received until one P. M." The tall fo-rm of old ABE, and the epaulets of General Mc- Clellan, seen slipping in past tho notice would soem to indicate that the work was being arranged, and the calm we now feel is but the lull that precedes a elorm, the crouching ot the tigress before she lenps. ' JUDGE LINN'S CHAEGE TO THE Grand Jury, August Term, 1861. | GENTLEMLBN OF THE GRAND JURY: We eater upon the discharge of our official i duties to-day under very solemn and impres j sive circumstances. Since the last term of ; this'court, events have occufred in the histo ry of our National Government of the most serious arid startling character. I need not refer to'these events in detail as they form ; a conspicuous part of the history of the re bellion against which this nation is now j struggling, with which every iuielligen) cit izen is presumed to be familiar. We have fallen upon strange times and are experien cing a national 'rial, wuieh would eeem noi ■ to have iieeu apprehended by the fathers I of ibis Confederacy. In that j admirable Constitution by which the Union I and the compact of 'hese States were formed and under which, until recently, remained linked together by a strong and peaceful ; bond of union, there are no provissions which , contemplate either an amicable separation or au attempt on the part of any one or more iol the States to foiclffiy .vithci.aw from the Union, and, consequently, those public func . tionaries whose duty it is to provide for the 1 public safety and protection have been oc casionally noibarrasseet by constitutional resirictione, apparent or real, or waDt of constitutional authority to meet fully and ! promptly the exigencies of the times. I When we consider the magnitude of the j rebellion, the years which have been occu ' pied in diligent and systematic preparation j for this attempt to overthrow the government : —the number and.the character of the indi— I viduals concerned in it—the object and pur poses which, as we have rearon to believe, i have long been -ecretly meditated and are | now being openly HDJ defiantly avowed j—the acts which they have already done in j furtherance of their plans, and the further I Outrages and atrocities which they won Id seem to have in immediate contemplation, we canmit but consider it the uiost alarming event that has ever occurred in our history, j Tnere is enough in this to till the stoutest heart with dismay and terror. When our couniry is in the midst of such perils, every citizen has duties which fDw i from the allegiance that he owes to the gov ! ernment and which as a loyal freeman he is 1 ound to perform. Tfie sum of those duties | is that he shall do nli that in him lies to aid in protecting and defending theexistence and ; the honor of the nation. This is a demand to which a patriot is always ready to yield a cheerful obedience. Next to his Maker, he acknowledges that his country j has the biggest claims upon him. j We as a constituent branch of the State j Government have duties devolving upon us, which relate to the present condition of af fairs—duties which we should perform, promptly, faithfully, ai d without fear, favor or affection, but we should at the same time give to them a temperate and impartial con sideration. Of these I shall come presently to speak. 1 am compelled, though with deep regret, to believe that ther is not at the present time amongst the inhabitants of the ioyal .States, an entirely unanimous and hearty co-operation with the national government in the attempt now making to suppress the rebellion, nay, more, I am credibly informed that there are amongst us not only persons who secretly sympathize with the re bellion, but those also who boldly and pub licly avow sentiments which are in opposi tion to the authority of the goverutuont:— Such persons, whilst they merit the con tempt of the people of this, and every other civilized nation on earth, and are bringing di.-grace uuon themselves and their posterity, should nevertheless-receive the punishment which the law assigns totbem. "This leads us to consider and define the offences whieh may be committed directly .•.gains the government. Although some of these belong to the inclusive jurisdiction of the federal c..urts, it may not be out of place to notice them here in order that you and the i eople ol'the country woe happen to be pres ent may be made to understand something ol the nature end extent of the obligations which they owe as citizens. The present generation of Americans know but little ex perimentally of a sta-e of war, and it there fore should not surprise us that their atten tion has never been patticul&rly directed to the duties which at such a time fire incident to the relation that exists between a govern ment and its ci izens or subjects. I am therefore lead to take a charitable view of the conduct of those who may have seemed to forget or depart fn m their allegiance and to attribute most., if not all. such cases of delin quency, not so much to a disposition openly to violate the law or opp"Be the known au thority of the go.-, rnu:-n ,ns to entire igno rance of the law's demand* and of the na ure and design of the rebellion. I am led to more than suspect that :,rilul and wicked men are making it their business to deceive the people hv leading tli m into the errone ous belief that the war is waged for the su preniacy 01 a party, instead of being a strug gle purely for the life of the nation. True, that kind of loyalty, is not vpry praiseworthy or reliable whieti is not the spontaneous out go'ng of a patriotic heart, but needs the un yi lding last of penal sanction to keep it in j shape. Still it is better 'hen open rebellion. ' The ofiences which directly affi'cr or are J injurious to the government are Treason. Misprison of treason, aod certain positive i misprison or contempt of its -authority or \ supremacy. By t). law of England there were various | nets defied by statute which world render the perpetrate- guilty of treason, bu' by our National Constitution it is directed that trea son against the United States shall consist only in levying war against them or in adhe ring to their enemies, giving them aid and comfort. That 'he irihatdtants of those States of this Union which have assumed to to withdraw therefrom, ar.d form a new and independent government, have levied war upon the United states wiihin the meaning of the Constitution will not admit of acoubt. Giving and crmfort to such persons, by such overt acts as giving them intelligence, send ing them provisions, furnishing them with supplies, or arms, or the like, would be trea sou, and would render the offender liable to punish of death. ' Misprision of Treason, is the concealment cf (reason, by giving merely passive, for any assistance given to the traitor makes the par ty a principal as there are no accessor es in treason. This misprision is of a negative character, but, as Ims already been stated, there are other misprisions affecting the government of a positive nature, which we shall notice hereafter. Treason may be committed against either against the government of a State, or of the United States. When the offence is against the sovereign authoritv of a single Srate. it falls within the jurisdiction of the courts of the State where;-; i: vras committed, but where, es in the j .as it instance, war ia waged against the fi a vai government, the federal courts have exclusive jurisdiction— This court cannot, therefore, take cognizanco of any act of treason, or misprision of treason growing out of this rebellion inasmuch as the war levied by the confederate States, as they are called, is against the general government and not against the State of Pennsylvania. But, as has already been intimated, (here are misprisions of a positive nature, some of which are grave misdemeanors, and may, like treason or misprision of treason, be of fenees against State or federal authority as the case may be. I have heretofore neglect ed to explain to you that the term "mispris ion" is of French derivation, and means in legal parlance contempt or neglect. Titus, misprision of treason, consists in the neglect to give information of the commission of an act of treason and rs what is termed a nega tive misprision. The positive misprisions which concern our present inquiry and of which we shall now proceed to speak, are such as involve an attempt to weaken the -trong arm of civil power, or a contempt of lawful authority.— Thus, for example, to dissuade a witness from giving evideuce, or from obeying the process of subpoena, to pprsuade or assist a prisoner in custody to escape; to refuse obedience to the call of a police officer for assistance to quell a riot or apprehend an offender or en deavor to pursuade others to disobey such call, ate all mi-demeanors of this sort, based upon the principle that it is unlawful to of fer resistance to lawfully constituted author ity. It is safe to assert as a general princi ple, that any wilful attempt to resist the au thority of the government, or to prevent or hinder the success of its plans or designs in the prosecution of a war offensive or defen sive, or to induce or pursuade othets to do the like, is unlawful and punishable as a high misdemeanor. Now "apply this general principle to the present condition of our na tional affairs. A state of war actually ex ists. The President of the United States by* virtue of the power reposed in him, has is sued hie proclamation calling upon the Gov ernors of the several States to furnish their quota of troops for the organisation of a mil itary force sufficient to protect the govern ment and suppress a formidable rebellion.— The G ivernment of Pen n sylvan is in response to this demand has issued a proclamation calling "upon all able-bodied citizens within the Commonwealth, subject to military'duty, to form themselves into military companies, and regiments, to be called and mustered into the public service. Now it must be perfectly apparent to the most ordinary un derstanding tint any attempt to prevewt the carrying out of the design would be a gross insult to the gi verument and a daring con tempt of the author ty vested in it and there fore a high misdemeanor. For if the designs and plans of the g( vernment can with impu nity be thwarted and rendered abortive, then all our high sounding theories respecting the supremacy of the government, and allegiance and eovereignty ere hut beautiful figments i.f the imagination. Such toleration could spring from no principle other than would assert that the citizen is only bound by his allegiance to the government so long as its measures may be in accord at ci *vi h hh own vipws, and is obliged to obey only such laws as meet his entire approval. Suppose a riot to occur in one of our streets. 11 is" the duty of the officers bf the law to suppress it, and it is the duty ofall good citi z ns to aid and assist, for without such regu lation the public pence could nit be main taiaed. and we would constantly be in the midst of disgraceful scenes of tumult and dis order. -Now, suppose that on euch an ooca sion some irdivivual would take it upon him self to assembled multitude, denouncing the riot act and the administration under which it was pa-sed. and a--sailing and condeming the political views of the officers who are en deavoring to preserve the peace, and advis ing and persuading the 'bystanders to with hold any assistance for these or anv simila r reasons. How should a court and jury deal with such an offend.w? The 'question need only I e asked. And is not that man a thou sand times mure culpable who, by words or aciions, persuasions or threats, would attempt to prevent or persuade our citiz°ns from re spending to tie call of the cheif magistrate of the nation for aid to nut down a rebellion that tiic.l3 at the total subvPTS : on and over throw of the-government'? There is great misapprehension abroad on this subject. Many persons erroneously sup pose, that so long as individuals will refrain from on overt act of treason, thev may speak and act as they please against the govern mont, with perfect impunity. It. is time that such dangerous misapprehensions sbou'd he corrected, and in our remarks on this oc easion wo are doing what we ean to accom plish that purpose. There are other offences beside treason and misprision" of treason -which effect the government and its claims alLgiance, as has been already explained.— The late Judge Kane in his charge to the grand jury delivered in the District Cvurt of the United States a few ago, in refer ring to the case of United States v. Han way, a case which produced no little excite ment, uses the following language: " i't:?re Inis been. I-fear, an erroneous im- I presshm on this subject among a portion ol | our people. "It it has bepn thought Fafe tn ' counsel ami instigate others to acts of fnrci | b1 e oppugnation to the pro-,isiorig of a etat ! u e— to inflame the ni'rvls of the ignorant by j appeals to passion and denunciations'of the | law so oppressive unjust-, rev it'ing to the con | science and not binding on the actions "of ! men—to present the eonstitirion of the land ! as a com; act of iniquity, which it were mer j itorion-- to viola e or subvert, the mistakp > has bepri a previous one ; and thev who have j fallen int i it, may rejoice if peradventure | their pppeals and their e uos'ls have heen j hitherto without effect, lie whose conscience |• r whose theories of political r individual I right forbid him to supp'-rt and maintain i' | in its fullest integrity,' may relieve himself j from the duties ot citizenship hy devesting ! himself i,f its rights; hut while he remains | withiii our borders, he is to remember that ; successfully to instigate treason is to commit 1 it." The views that we have just expr.issed, do not, in our opinion, conflict in the least, with the frrvdom of speech or of the press. By i the constitution of the. United St.itos Con gress is forbidden to make any law abridg ing rlie freedom of speech of the press and the Si.cs'itution of this state provides that the printing presses shal 1 be free to every person vvno undertakes to examine the pro ceedings of the legislature or any branch of the government; and no law shall ever be made to restrain "the right tnereof. The free communication of thought and opinions is ore of the valuable rights of man; and every citizen may fully speak, write and print on any subject being responsible for the abuse of that liberty. What are we to understand from the words " freedom of speech ur of tho press" as used in the Con stitution ? The framers of that instrument, evidently recognized it ne a well defined, pre existing right, or they declare that it shall not be abridged. Certainly men of learning and experience, would not in so important a paper,' forbid the abridgement cf a right which was without any certatn measure or extent; for it would involve one of the most cherished rights of the citizen in a maze of confusion and obscurity. At the time of the adoption of the constitution, in 1787, when the freedom of the press was spoken cf, the people understood exactly what it meant—its boundaries were well marked, and have con tinued so to this day. Justice Blackstone in his commentaries vol. 4, p. 156, says, " Where Uaspheme " ous. immoral, treasonable, schismatical, " seditous, or scandalous libels arc pun " ished the liberty of the press, properly " understood, is by no means infringed or " violated. The liberty of the press is " indeed essential to a free State; but ' 1 this consist in laying no previous re "straints upon publications; and not in '• freedom from censure for criminal mat " ter when published. Every freemen '• has an undoubted right to lay what sen timsrits h.e pleases before the public to " forbid this is to destroy the freedom of " the press; but if he publish what is iir> • " proper, mischievous or illegal, he must " take the consequences df his own timer " ity. To subject the press to the re* I " strietive power of a license, as was formally done, is to subject ell freedom "of sentiment to the prejudices of one •' man. and make him the arbitrary and "infallible judge of all controverted points | •' in learning, religion and government.— But to punish any dangerous or offen " sive writings, which when, published, " shall, on a fair and impartial trial be "adjudged of a pernicious tendency, is lt necessary for the preservation of peace " and good order, of government and re !i ligion, the only, solid foundations of " civil liberty. Thus the will of individ " uals is still left free ; the abuse only cf " that free will is the object of legal pun " ishment. Neither is any restraint here "by laid upon freedom of thought or in " quiry ; liberty of private sentiment is " siill'left: the disseminating or making " public of bad sentiments destructive to " the ends of society, is the crime which " society corrects, A man may be allowed "to keep poisons in his closet, but not •' publicly to vend tbem as cordials, and l< the only plausible argument heretofore " used for restraining the just freedom of " the press, that it was necessary to pre " vent the daily abuse of it , will entirely '* loose its force, when it is shown (by a " seasonable execution of the laws) that " the press cannot be abused to any bad " purpose, without incurring a suitable " punishment; whereas it never can be " used to any good one, when under the " contiol of an inspector. So true will it be found that to censure the licentious, " is to maintain the liberty of the press." •Judge ADDISCX, in a charge delivered to the grand juries of the sth judicial District of Pennsylvania, in 1798, makes use of the following language * " Freedom of the press consists in this, that any man may, without the consent of any other, print any book or wiiting whatever, being in this as in ail other freedom of action liable to punishment if he injure an individual or the pub ic.— Such is the liberty of the press which the people 6f the United Skates of America, for its greater security, have made part of their 1 fundamental law. In their State constitu tions, they provide that legislatures should not make any Ijw restraining the lib erty of the press, that is, should lay no pre• vious restraints on the press ; or, as the Pennsylvania Constitution expresses it,-that * every citizen may freely speak, write and print on any subject being responsible for the abuse of that liberty.'' The same princi ple was afterwards adopted into the federal Constitution, and the scctiou established it there is to be construed in the same manner. So that the liberty of the press is precisely as stated by Justice BI.AOKSTOXE, it being free from all previous restraint, but, as all ■ other rights or liberties ate, subject to correc tion for its abuse.'' On this subject I shall refer to but one more au horily wh ch may serve to mark out the distinction between those publica tions respecting the government, which are •unauthorized and unlawful. The case of the Commonwealth vs Dennie, reported in 4th Yeats 267, was an indictment for libel tried in the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania in 1805. I quote here so much of the opin ion of the Court iu that case as is applica ble : The legislative acts, or of any -branch of the government are open to the public dis cussion, and every citizen may freely speak, write or print on any subject, but is amend able for the abuse of that privilege. No al teration is made in the law as to prir.i'e men lillected by injurious publications, un les 1 - the discussion be proper for public in formation. -It is no infraction of law to publish temperate investigations of the na ■ ture and forms of government. The en lightened advocates of representivc republi can governments pride themselves in the reflection, that the more deeply their system is examined, the more fully will the judge ments of honest men be satisfied that it is the most conducive to the safety and happi ness of a free people. But there is a mark ed and evident distinction between such publications and those which are plainly accompanied with a criminal intent, deliber ately designed to loosen the social bonds of union totally to unhinge the mmds of the citizens, and to produce popular discontent with the exercise of power by the constitu ted authorities. Such writings are subver sive of all order-and government. The lib ertj' of the press consists in publishing the truth from good motives and for justifiable ends, though it reflects on governments and magitrates, CroosiceWs Trial , pp. 73, G4. Such publications add to the common stock of freedom, while the latter insidiously in feet the public mind with a subtle poison, and produce the most mischievous and alarming consequences, by their tendency to anarchy, sedition and civil wt.r. Such con duct is punishable by the Constitution. It may be difficult to draw the line of demar cation in every instance, but the jury are to judge for themselves on the plain import of every word without any forced or strained, construction of the meaning of the author or editor. rnd determine on the correctness of the innuendoes. To every word they will assign its sense, and collect the true inten tion from the context." It is evident from these quotations, which are from highly respectable authority and should be accepted as a sound interpretation of the law, that ihe government by holding its citizens criminally responsible for every wilful design to interfere with its authority or its plans, in no respect infringes upon any personal right. Much excitement pre vails in many parts of the country because ; of the apparent sympathy manifested by ! certain newspapers anu public journals with | the rebels, and in some places printing press . es and the contents of printing offices have been destroyed by a resort to violence and | mob rule. This is much to be deplored on J account of the encouragement it affords to j that spirit of riot and insubordination which \ is exceedingly dangerous in its tendencies [ and never can be justified on any pretext ; whaicver. Such proceedings deserve the j condemnation of all good citizens, and we | trust there may be no repetition of them in ; future. It is sincerely to be hoped that i those who have control of the public press, I will conduct it so prudently as not to excite | angry feelings at a time when the public I mind is extremely sensitive to every appa ! rent expression of disloyalty or indignity to | the government—and, moreover, that if : there should bo any abuses of the liberty of the press, resort will be had to- legal au | thorjty, and not to the power of an excited* I mob. There is no necessity for a resort to ■ violence * the government has ample power j to correct such evils, and in such times as ; these has never scrupled to exert it when ; occasion ltquired. The right of self preser vation by all the means within reach in times I of imminent peril, belongs to the government as fully as to an individual, and it is a great mistake to suppose that in time of war a government may not remove every obstacle which tends to embarrass or hinder the suc cess of its military defences, or to weaken its power morakor physical. Neglect or hesi tation on the part of those who administer the government to resort to such measures, whenever exigencies arise that in their opin ion require it, would expose them' to the just indignation of their constituents, and would prove them to be unworthy of their high trust. During the revolution, an Act was passed in this State, on the 11th Feb. 1T79, the 4th section whereof is in these words: "If any person or persons within this State shall attempt to convey intelli gence to the enemies of this State, or the l.nited States of America, or by pub/icily or deliberately speaking or writing against our public defence, or shall maliciously anil ad visedly endevor to excite the people to resist the government of this Commonwealth, or persude them to returmto dependence upon the crown of Great Britain, or shall malic iously and advisedly terrify or discourage the people from enlisting in the service of the Commonwealth, or -shall stir up, excite or raise tumults, disorders or insurrections in the States, or dispose tbem to favor tho enemy, or oppose and endeavor to prevent the measures carrying on in support of tho freedom and independence of the said Unit ed States ; every such person being thereof legally convicted by the evidence of two or I more credible witnesses, in any Court of General Quarter Sessions, shall be adjudged guilty of misprison of Treason, and shall suffer imprisonment during the present war, and forfeit to tho Commonwealth one half of his or her lands and tenements, goods and chatties." This act having been passed for a tempo rary purpose, expired by its own limitation at the close of the war. AVe noticed that several newspapers pub lished in New York and elsewhere, which have rendered themselves obnoxiovs to tho ! people because of their alleged secession pinclivities, have been brought to the notico of our proper courts, and we may therefore expect before long, we shall be favored with an opinion on this subject from the Circuit Court of the United States. And the news- I papers report that the press, type and fix tures of a printing office in Philadelphia, which was alleged to be advocating the right of secession was seized by the Mashall of the Fiastern District a day or two ago.— This looks as though the government had determined to trifle no longer with those who disregard its rights or bid defiance to its au thority. AYe should rejoice at every indica tion of vigor and strength in our government • proceedings from a prud -nt exercise of its power in the suppression of the rebellion and of anything that aflords it aid. YFe have hitherto been speaking of a class of offences which lie beyond our jurisdic tion. Each State possesses the right, hoW : ever, to pass laws regulating the conduct of j its own citizens. The Legislature of Penn ; sylvania, at ils last regular session, passed an.act to which it is our duty to direct your attention. The lirsr section provides " that ; if any person or persona belonging to or residing within this State, and under the ' protection of its laws, shall take a conimis i sion