21)r (Centre life Democrat.
SHIGKKT A FORSTER, Editors.
VOI.. I.
©he Centre democrat.
Trau tl.&O per Annum, la Advance.
S. T. SHUQERT and R. H. FORSTER, Editor.,
Tharsday Morning, March 20, 1879.
Gov. PouxK-k has again Wen ap
pointed by Mr. Hayes naval officer, at
the port of Philadelphia. His nomi
nation will be Bent into the senate as
soon as an organization is effected, and
no doubt confirmed without delay.
Gov. IIOYT is preparing for war,
and has announced the appointment
of his staff, numWring twenty-one vet
erans. With this extensive surround
ing and the eight thousand militia un
der his command, our brave command
er-in-chief must lie invincible.
THE vote in caucus for the nomina
tion of B|>cakcr, was, Ilandall 75,
Blackburn 57, Cox 4, M'Mahon 3,
Morrison 2—total 141. Mr. Ilan
dall was therefore nominated on the
first ballot—certainly a very high
compliment, and one well earned and
well deserved.
THE attempt of Secretary Sherman
to withhold the arrearages of pay
from the soldiers entitled to receive it
under pretense that it would interfere
with resumption will not lie at all pop
ular with that class of citizens. John
wants the money to reward thieves,
not soldiers.
INGAUIJ*, the Senator from Kansas,
seems to be getting into deep water.
He is charged with attaiuing his elec
tion to the Senate hy ffagraut bribery
and corruption. A republican mem
ber of the Kansas legislature swears
he received a bribe of SI,OOO directly
from Ingalls, and other representatives
from Kansas in Washington make
similar charges.
CONGRESSMAN TOWNS END, of Ohio,
speaking of a conversation he had
with Mr. Hayes, says:
"I am satbttcd that ho will veto any taw
repealing any section referring to marshals
of elections. He regards the puiity of
elections as at tho foundation of tho Gov
ernment, and will do all in hu power to
protect it."
And is it the fraudulent occupant
of Tildon's office that now sets himself
up as an instrument to protect the
"purity of elections." This is indeed
sublime impudence.
IF the republicans arc serious in
their attachment to the African as
they pretend to be, why is it that we
do not sec the name of Senator Bruce
brought prominent to notice as among
the distinguished public men of the
party. He is the peer of any of them
and certainly the superior of many
claimiug recognition in the presiden
tial race. He is at least, a gentlemen,
and his nomination for Vice President
would seem to be but an act of justice
and a fitting testimony to the sincerity
of republican profession. Hero is
their opportunity. If they do not
embrace it, it is their own fault, if not
their misfortune.
A HEWSFAFBR correspondent, says
the Washington Pod , predicts that in
the event of the republicans carrying
the next Pennsylvania legislature, Mr.
Wallace will be retires! and old Simon
Cameron returned to the place be cur
rendered out of his abundant regard
for Don. That will be a spectacle, be
thinks—father and son in the Senate
at one time. It pains us to be instru
mental in any way in repressing the
enthusiasm of a Cameron roan, and
yet our mission is to at all times main
tain the veracity of history. The
spectacle might be inspiring, but it
certainly would not be unprecedented.
In 1849, Henry Dodge, the father,
represented the new state of Wiscon
sin in the United States Semite, and
A. C. Dodge, the son, the equally new
state of lowa in the same body. They
were sent there, too, not because they
"owned" the territories in the Cameron
sense, but because they were the fittest
men to be found for the place.
"XqUAL ANO KXACT JUSTICE TO ALU MICH, OF WIIATKVKH MTATK OR PKRHUAHION, HKLIQIOL'* OR POLITICAL. "-Jtffsrtun
The $4,000,000 IHot Hill.
[ Every one known that an effort i*
being made to force a hill through our
State Legislature, providing for the
payment of the damages canned by
the Pittsburgh rioters of 1877, out of
the State treasury. These damages
are estimated at four million dollars
The immediate effect of the passage
of this hill would lie to increase our
State debt hy the umouut of these
damages, as there is no money now iu
the treasury to pay them.
By an act passed May 81, 1841, the
county of Philadelphia was mnde lia
ble for all projerty destroyed or in
jured hy rioters within its limits. By
an act approved March 20, 18411, the
provisions of this act were extended
to the county of Allegheny. These
acts remaiu unre|>ealcd upon the stat
ute books of the .State. We do not
now propose to discuss the justice or
wisdom of these laws, nor contend thut
they should be repealed or extended
to the other counties of the IState.
The principle underlying these stat
utes is plnin and simple, viz: the peo
ple of a county, if they elect pro|>er
officers, and projwrly sup|K>rt them,
cau at all times repress open lawless
ness, and prevent any serious riot and
deal ruction of property. If the |>eoplc
fail in this duty they must pay the
damages caused thereby.
Whether Allegheny county is legal-
I ly liable for all the damages caused
j within her limit* by the riot* of July,
1877, is a question not for the lcgisla
! litre to determine, but for the courts-
If the fact* and circuimtaucc* attend,
ing these riot* nre such a* to relieve
Allegheny county front the liability
imposed by the act of March 20,1 H4i t
this can lie fully established before a
judicial tribunal. No additional leg
islation is neceasary to settle that
question finally. If it shall ultimate
ly be determined that Allegheny coun
ty is not liable, then the question
would fairly arise, shall the .State as
sume and |my these damages ? Those
in favor of answering this question iu
the affirmative, should lie ready to
provide the ways and means of pay
ing this large sum. Section 4, Art. 9,
of our State Constitution provides:
"No <lcbt shall be created by or on be
half of the State, except to supply
casual deficiencies of revenue, rejiel
invasions, suppress insurrections, de
fend the State in war, or to pay exist
ing debt, and the debt created to su|>-
ply deficiencies in revenue shall never
exceed, in the aggregate at any one
time, one million of dollars."
The damage* resulting to person*
hy the destruction of property during
the riot* of 1877, cannot IKS classed
in either of the above exceptions.
"Casual deficiencies of revenues," "re
pelling invasions," "suppressing insur
rections," "defending the State in war,"
and "payment of existing debt," arc
one and all entirely different from as
suming the payment of damages done
to the property of citizens hy rioter*.
Suppressing an insurrection and pay
ing the damages caused hy the insur
gents, are two quite different things.
The legislature is thus clearly pro
hibited from adding the amount of the
Pittsburgh riot damages to the debt of
the State.
If, however, it should be ultimately
determined by the courts that Alle
gheny county is liable to pay these
damage* under the act of March 20,
1849, there i* another constitutional
impediment in the way of the State
relieving that county by assuming to
pay these damage* out of the Btate
treasury. Section 9, Article 9, of the
new constitution provides:
"The commonwealth (ball not uum
the debt, or any part thereof, of any city,
county, borough or town*hip, unlete luch
debt (hall hare been contracted to enable
the State to repel Inraeion, euppreM do
medic ineurraction, defend itaelf in time
of war, or to aaeiet the State in the die
charge of anjfportlon of ite preeent in
debtedneee."
If Alleghany county ta liable to pay
three damage*, the State ia plainly and
positively prohibited from aaeuming
BELLEFONTE, FA., THURSDAY, MARCH •.(), 187!).
its liability. We arc aware that in an
address to tho legislature sigued hy
ex-Chief Justice Daniel Agnow, Geo,
W. Biddlc, George Shiras, Jr., and
Stephen 11. Geyer, tour very distin
guished lawyers, tliis difficulty is at
tempted to be overcome by the mere
technical quibble that damages is not
a debt until alter a final judgment.
But the Supreme court has repeatedly
decided that the words of the Consti
tution are to lie given their popular
and not a technical mcauiiig. When
we s|>oak of u man's debts we mean his
liabilities, whether they arc technical
debts or claims for damages. When
the Constitution prohibits the com
monwealth assuming the "debt of any
city, county, borough or township," it
just as clearly prohibits the State as
suming any liability of such city, coun
ty, Is trough or towuship, whether such
liability is iu the form of a technical
debt, or an unliquidated claim for
damages.
Every member of the legislature
has taken an oath "to support, obey
and defend," the Constitution of the
State, including the provisions of the
IX Article; and we hardly think the
people will excuse any one for violat
ing that oath, on the flimsy plea that
the word debt does not include dam
ages. ,
R. W. Murkey.
In the litigation growing out of the
settlemeut of the estate of Robert W.
Maekey, it ap)>car* that geutleinan iu
his life time was connected with ex
tensive and profitable gambling estab
lishments in Philadelphia and I>ong
Branch. In Philadelphia the firm
was known as "The Pennsylvania
Club." Its business was faro. It was
under the management of a man
uamcd Philip Daly, who also keeps a
wine store in rear of the Continental.
Mackey's executors brought suit
against Daly for $15,000, who resists
payment, stating that he has vouchers
in his possession, showing that he had
already |>aid Maekey over 840.18)0 as
his share of the profit* uf tbe club.
We all know that the late State
Treasurer was an accomplished politi
cal gambler, and not at all choice or
sensitive as to the means he used to
procure success for himself or hi*
party. But it is quite a surprise to
learn that the deceased politician was
asmx-iated with institution* of the
character of those referred to above
SENATOR TIU RMAN, in commenting
ou the law authorizing the appoint
ment of U. 8. Deputy Marshnls to
control the elections of the people,
said, "Of the ten million dollars here
tofore appropriated for the Attorney
General's office, SIIO,OOO has been
spent in New York, $50,000 in Penn
sylvania, and SB,OOO iu New Jersey
and $5,000 or SB,OOO in a single coun
ty in Ohio, on account of which four
teen or fifteen member* of Congress
were elected. Over two hundred depu
ty marshals were appointed in the city
of Bt. Ixiui* alone, and the democratic
majority in three districts wa* over
come by these means—that the money
of the people of the United .States was
being expended by hundred* of thou
sand* of dollar* to corrupt voter*."
It i* time these obnoxious laws were
expunged from the statute books ami
the people of the state* left to manage
tho election of their representative*
without the interference of the official
partisan rabble appointed annually to
corrupt and control the Imllot. A
democratic Congres* ha* now the
power and it i to be hoped there will
bo no failure to Rpply tho correction
*u much needed, and *o imperatively
demanded.
IIENDRICK B. W BIGHT, of Pennsyl
vania, wa* the Greenback candidate
for Speaker, and was voted for by the
following members:
D La Matyr (lad.), Ford (Mo.), For
■ytha (III.), Gillette (la.), Jones (Texas),
Kslly (Pa), Ladd (Ms.) Lowe (Ala),
March (M*.), Russell (Mass.) Stevenson
(111.), Wmver (It.) fad Yocum (Pa)
Hamlull Elected Speaker.
Hon. Kninucl J. Knndnll was re
elected Hjieuker of the House of Re
presentative* on Tuesday. The vote
was as follows :
Randall, (I).) lit] Garfleld, (R.) 125
Wright, (O.) 13.
The Speaker, on taking the chair,
addressed the House as follows :
JlejTfsentativft; Hy your votes I am
elected for a third time to the exalted
office of sjM-nkrrof this house. For this
evidence of your approval and confi
dence I offer you my heartfelt thanks.
The responsibilities ami duties ini|>os
ed upon me are heavy uml difficult.
With tho blessing of God 1 shall dis
charge them wit bout personal bios or
ignoble partisanship. Observing strict
impartiality as to men, measures, par
lies and sections, it will be to me un
speakablo joy if 1 can help to bring
about that substantial fraternal union
which come* alone through wikdum,
moderation and justice.
This new congress meet* in its first
session under the call of the President.
Owing to irreconcilable difh-ience* upon
vital issues important ami necessary ap
propriation bills (ailed to pass at the
previous session. Then the political
sentiment of the two houses was antag
onistic. It is now in complete accord.
This house, fresh from the people,
bring* with it their latest will. We are
here for such legislation as their neces
sities, welfare and honor demand. That
will, as expressed hy the majority in
CAIIU and decorous form, let us hope,
will meet with universal acceptance.
Moreover, the country CX|KCU of this
congress that it will wisely and deliber
ately legislate to remove the burden*
that have 100 long weighed upon the
patriotism ami prosperity ol the people,
and with the fervent hoje that the
•pint * well us the letter of the consti
tution shall be the controlling influence
in directing such legislation. Imi now
prepared to take the oath of office.
George M. Adains was then elected
clerk; John G. Thompson, sergeant
at-arui* ; ('has. W. Field, door keeper;
Jas. M. Stewart, pcst-ma*t-r, and Rev.
W. P. Harrison, chaplain.
THE royal marriage, which came off
at Wiudsor on Thursday between the
Duke of Connauglu and the German
I'rinccm, Iui*a Margaret, was iu all
respect* what a royal marriage occur
ring during the Lenten season should
be. A lord primate and three bishops
were considered necessary to tie the
silken knot so that it should hold. The
presents given hy the royal relations
are surjiassed every day in merely
money value, but they are priceless to
the recipients iu tbeir antiquity or be
cause they represent the product of
the doner's good taste and industry.
The Princess of Germany nttolod her
love for true art by the presentation
of a painting of her own execution.
The Duke and Ihichcss of Mccklin-
burg-St relit* gave—the former a clnret
jug of fabulous value, and the latter a
fish-slice and fork of silver, presuma
bly antique. Queen Victoria gave her
daughter the regulation jewelry. Un
like most royal unions, this is said to
be the result of a real love which the
young couple entertain for each other.
May they live long and prosper nnd
unite wtill closer the countries they
represent
CONGRESSMAN WHITTAKER made
the trip from Oregon to Washington
in five day*, in time to jiartiripatc in
the democratic caucus.
The Cincinnati Kmparcr of a late date
says: "We were yesterday permitted to
inspect the working model of a machine
which, we think, successfully solves the
problem of aerial navigation. We are
not permitted to describe the machine,
as the inventor has not yet patented it,
but we can aay that we saw it in opera
ration, and. though it weighs but eight
pounds, it raiser! a weight of twenty-one
pounds three ounces, and kept it in the
air for nearly half an hour and propelled
it against the wind aa fast as a man
could run. Unlike the generality of
aerial machine*, this one does not de-
Send upon any balloon or gas-bag for it*
uoyant powers, and its propulsive ma
chinery is operated by a new motor
that is extremely light, reliable and
powerful.
SIXATO* F.DMCSDS baa confessed that
the constitutionality of tbe Federal
election law* hang* on so frail a sup
port aa the single word "manner" in the
clause of the Constitution relating to
the election of Congressmen. The New
York Wnrtd is led to infer that Mr.
Evarta. "will undoubtedly hammer it
Into the mind of tbe President that
Alexander Hamilton and tbe framers of
the Constitution never Intended, by the
use of the word "manner" to authorise
Davenport, with his supervisors and his
deputy marshals and hi* iron ceges, to
corns into the Klate of New York and
overhaul every ballot east at any elec
tion at which a member of Congress
happens to be voted for."
GENERAL NEWS.
Ex- United States Senator George Gold
thwaite, of Alabama, died suddenly on
Sunday at Mongomcry.
lid ward Lonergan was struck by a
train at New Haven, Conn., on Satur
day night, and instantly killed.
President llnyes reviewed the St.
Patrick's day parade at Washington.
The snow storm marred the pleasure of
the march.
Madame St. flair, who attempted to
walk quarter miles in as many
quarter hour* at New Haven, Conn.,
withdrew early Sunday morning after
completing 1,250 quarters.
It is reported iu lioston that the Rev.
Joseph T. Duryea, I). D., of Brooklyn,
has accepted the call of the Central
Congregational church,of that city, and
will commence his pastorate in April.
Governor I'rescott, of New Hamp
shire, lot* ap|Ktinit-d Charles H. Hell, of
Exeter, Senator for the extra session, to
fill fhe vacancy occasioned by the expi
ration of the term of Senator Wadleigh.
Mr. Hell bus accepted.
A Vicksburg (Miss.) despatch soys
that the Murrell Convention at Delta
ha* nominated ex Governor Pinchback
and M. G. Ho he. Republicans, and H.
K. Lucas, Democrat, a fusion ticket, U r
the Constitutional Convention.
A Portland (Oregon) dispatch says:
"General Howard and General Terry
have gone to Yakima City to see Chief
Moses, arid also to investigate the situa
tion ol lndion affairs. Should the civil
authorities attempt to arrest Moses seri
ous trouble will undoubtedly ensue.
The Pittsburgh .Southern railroad was
advertised for sale on Monday by tbe
Sheriff, who has two executions, issued
by J. H. Hopkins ami A. T. Sliultz.
I be sale, however, was adjourned until
April S, at the instance ol the execu
tion creditors.
Mr. Weaver, United States Consul at
Antwerp, informs the Slate Department
that the new post office building in Ant
werp ba* been completed and occu
pied. ibe noteworthy fact in connec
tion therewith is the adaptation of Amer
ican lock boxes, with tbe celebrated
Yale lock*.
The case of Mrs. Mary 8. Oliver
j against Hon. Bimon Cameron, for breach
of promise to marry, in winch damage*
are laid ot $50,1X10, was on the calender
lor trial Friday in the Circuit Court,
at Wash log ton, but there t/cing several
j esse# ahead of it, the case did not come
; to a hearing.
General Grant left Bombay February
18. While there he was entertained
royslly, aud *i escorted to the rail
way station hy a guard of honor, lie
arrived at Tatulpbur on the 20th, and
left Allahabad on the 22d. He wa* ex
peeled in Calcutta March 10. to go from
thence to Madras and Ceylon.
Hy the will of the late Deacon Asa
< >tw. who died at Norwich, Conn., the
American Board of foreign Missions is
made residuary legatee. After bequests
amounting to $75,000 are duqiosed of,
the balance of ibo projierty, amount
ing to over half a million dollars, will
goto the Foreign Mission*.
Two freight trains on the Northern
Central railroad came in collision Mon
day morning nesr New Cumberland.
Both engine* wi re wrecked and thirty
car- were throwft into the Susquehan
na river. Charle* Delvancy, hieman.
had b leg torn oil. One conductor
was slightly injured.
The Macclesfield (England) weaver*
have accepted the ten |>er cent, reduc
tion. A general strike of the Durham
miner* i* expected. The masters of the
Midland glas* trade have announced a
reduction of fifteen per cent. The
workmen will probably resist, and the
Olaaamakers' Union throughout the
Kingdom have promised to assist the
sinker*.
Count Von Eulenberg stated in the
Reichstag Monday that Prince Hismarek
snil even the Emperor had lately re
ceived a good many letters threatening
them with assassination. Infernal uis
chine* had l-een actually discovered in
Berlin nnd East Prussia, although it
was said that the East Prussian machine
wa* only constructed to secure to the
inventor an informers' fee.
Mrs. Sarah J. Colbert, while walking
on the track with her husband and
daughter, was struck by the Philadel
phia express east at Braddock, Friday
evening, and knocked twenty feet, kill
ing ber instantly. She stepped out of
the way of a freight train and got in
front of Philadslpuia express, with the
above result.
At about 5 o'clock Saturday afternoon
an unknown man,evidently intoxicated,
daggered through tbe street* of Red
Rock, Pa., carrying on bis shoulder* a
bag containing eight quart cans of nitro
glycerine. Fifteen minutes later the
town was shaken and the inhabitant*
terribly frightened by a terrific explo
sion. Investigation revealed the tool
the man had slipped down, causing the
explosion, which scattered fragment* of
his body in every direction. All that
could be found of him would not fill a
collar box.
General Thomas W. Sherman, who it
is mid obtained entrance at West Point
bv the pluck he showed in walking to
Washington and asking for it, died at
Newport, K. 1., on Monday in hi* 64th
year. He graduated high in his das*
in 1836, and was assigned as Heoond
Lieutenant to the Third or till err. He
was made First Lieutenant iu 1*36, Ma
jor and Lieutenant Colonel in 1861,
Colonel in 1863, and Major General on
tbe retired hat in 187a He woe con
spicuous for oourage in the Mexican
TERMS: sl/>0 |M*r Atiiium, in Arivniir**.
war. and wan rewarded with the rank of
Brevet.
The terrible calamity at firegedin,
Hungary, which our general newa hint
ed at last week, became a reality, and
baa resulted in the terrible destruction
and suffering which was predicted. As
warning had preceded the ful calamity,
the drowned di<l not number many,
but thousand* of people are rendered
homelcaa. All charitable aocieliea. how
ever, are supplying their want, and of
fering them relief. The Kmperor
fruncis .Joseph, it is aaid, donates what
would otherwise lw spent on hi* silver
wedding to their relief, and the Kmper
or and Krnpre** donate 40,000 florins
from their private purse.
A panic took place in the Itoman
< atholic Cathedral Monday while high
IIIUSK wn- I cing celebrated in honor of
St. Patrick's day. A drunken man
raised a disturbance and some men im
mediately about the door rushed out.
Cries of murder and tire were raised,
and the five thousand people in the
church jumped to their feet. The
women and children screamed and rush
ed to the doors, but the men retained
their presence of mind. The seirioe
went on, cboir began to sing, and order
was restored. Notwithstanding the
great crushing about the doors and the
great excitement that prevailed nobody
was hurt.
rhe most successful A rru-ricsn ever
making bis home in England since tb
dsys of Ix>rd I.ynton, who wu a Muiv
cluuvetu man. ia Judah P. Benjamin.
He wan extradited from this country
and established firmly in law practice
in London. Ilia income—the interest
of bis brain—is now *150,000 a year.
He could be appointed to judgeship,
but with his Israelite eye to buaineaa,
declines the same because it pays but
five thousand pound*. Benjamin' lives
in splendid stylo in London and in
Paris, and is exceedingly popular. He
i* entirely a self made man. rising from
an unknown office-boy in New Orleans
to national d suction in thia country,
and now to a world-wide reputation.
Great excitement was caused in politi
cal circles because Mayor Cooper of New
York. Saturday sent a sharp letter to Po
lice Commissioners Erhardt. Smith and
Nicholas declaring that the discipline
and efficiency of the polioe force have
deteriorated, and that the Police Com
missioners have not cau*ed the stations
to be cleaned, and that the Commis
sioners have allowed |>ersona] disaen
•iona to preclude the proper exercise of
their official duties. The Mayor noti
fied the Commissioners that they must
answer on Monday next, at noon, a to
why they should not be removed from
office, Comm'r Wheeler ia aick, but a
simikr notice will be served on him.
A Wallul* dispatch of Mondsv *ay§ j
|' lovernor Kerry and General iloward
will go down in the morning to I>ake*.
where they will meet Chief Mote*, in
company with Captain Winter*, from
Simcoe Reservation. Hon* w* cap
j lured a few day* ago and arretted by
i the Sheriff. A bond waa given, and
Mow i* now enroute to Vancouver,
) from where a Urt for Washington will
be made. It i* thought by Genetml
Iloward that Smoholla, the moat rcst-
I le**, influential and dangemu* Indian
on the coast, i* in company with Mom.
General Howard and Governor Ferry
both feel confident that thia action on
, the part ot More* and other chief* vir
j tually end* all proltsbilities of Indian
ho*tilitie* the coming Hummer. Thia is
the opinion of the general public.
Right Her. Bishop Gilmour ha* ia*ued
j pa-loral letter to the clergy of the
j Cleveland, Ohio, diocese which con
demn* the Iruh World, published in
Sew S ork. aa being antagonistic to
! irue Catholic principle; condemn* la
bor union* for their ecre*y ; forbids
Catholic parent*, under threat* of ex
j cominunicalton. sending their children
to public school* wheie Catholic paroch
ial school* are ea*y of access ; gives
Hibernian* s severe reprimand for not
allowing the priest to act aa their spirit
ual advisers and for not allowing tbem
at all their meeting*. The Biahop
urges upon Catholics the necessity of
subscribing to the diocoseaa Catholic
journal in preference to all others, and
repeats hi* order to young Calbolio* not
j to marry outside of their religious faith.
Hi* letter conclude* with important
suggestion* a* to funerals, etc.
The Boston Port claims to have ex
clusive intelligence to the effect that
the American Cable Co., of New fork,
has just closed a contract, through it*
general sgent in London, by which it
i ha* secured the sole right to a new in
vention for sending menage* by cable
or otherwise. The results of this pro
cess are given, though the nature of it
it, for the present, suppress*d. One
: party to the contract agree* to send tea
itie**age* of twenty word* each per
minute by the cable. This is iu mini
mum speed, while it* maximum would
send in thirty minute* a number of
word* equal to the number of words
contained in one number of the Lon
don 7W* or the New York Ittrmld.
It i also claimed that by this process
an entire number of either of them
journal* could be dispatched from Lon
don to New York, and reproduced in
/er mmiU on a stereotyped piste ready to
be printed, in thirty minutes. The
American Cable Co., hat now exclusive
control of inventions by which this new
process can be brought into practical
operation. By its u*e, it is also mid,
cable messages between New York and
any of the five European countries con
nected by cable can be sent at the rate
of from three to live cents per word,
end at the nine time the company pen
eim 101
NO. 12.