fP)e Centre # & Or m ureal. MIIGFRT \ FOHSTKH. F.ditors. VOL. I. 'She (Centre Torm* >1.50 pur Anuuni.iu Advance. 8. T. SHUOERT and R. H FORSTCR. Editor*. Thursday Morning, December 18. 1879. IT being necessary to put our office in repair the DEMOCRAT will not bo i—nod next week. The first nuruber of the second volume will ap)ienr on IIUR Ist of January. THE Cincinnati Southern Railroad to Chatauooga, Tennessee, has lcen completed. The city of Cincinnati ■has expended about S1 hm t,tm it to open this important line of communi cation with the Southern States. THE Indian murderers concerned in the assassination at the White River Agency arc to be surrendered, on con dition of their trial taking place out side of Colorado, where they ailege they could not obtain justice. The government has agreed to the terms, and will try them by military com mission at a point to bo agreed upon when they are placed in custody. I'tiE Altoona Daily Sun, under the proprietorship of a publishing com pany, made its appearance la-t week. It i- a seven-column paper, neatly got ten up. newsy, and Democratic. W. I*. Furey, a native of this county, a gentleman of large experience in jour nalism, with ready tact and a fertile j" ii, i- the editor. We wi*h the enter prise success. With three dailies [><>-- ses-ing large merit. Altoona ought to flourish and become great. THE late firant demonstration in Ohio would seem to indicate that h<- is a greater man among the Rurkeyi thun Sherman, and unless the latter is exceedingly industrious in plying his most adroit tactic* the former may carry off his delegation to the Nation al Convention. Cameron's State has silready been assigned to the great traveler, and the assignment will lie ratified this week in I'liiladelpbia,Vn ele John's hopes to the contrary not , withstanding. F.X-SKNATOR A TEXAN DEI! KAMSEY, of Minnesota, has been appointed and unanimously confirmed by the Senate, without reference, Secretary of War, vice McCrary, appointed to ij District Judgeship. The new Seerctary is a native of Dauphin county, in this State, and lias filler! many important trusts satisfactorily, lioth to his native Slate and the State of his adoption. Jle is a worthy and popular man—too good to be the adviser and political associate of a mere Fraud. A I'AI'ER in St. Louis, edited by colored men, charges that the exodus relief board has sipinudcrcd the monev contributed to help the colored emi grants, appropriating large sums to themselves. Why do these simpletons * complain of this dis|iosition of the fund*? Do they not know that the money is raised for that purpose? It is the reward of the unprincipled agents engaged in the disreputable work of seducing the poor negro from his home, to subserve the base, selfish ob jects of stalwart politicians. AT the Grant bamjuet in Cincinna ti, last week, one of the speakers, Hon. W. 8. Uroesbeek, declared himself a* follows: " I would not give to the federal Government as much additional power ? es I could put in the hollow of my hand. I would not take away from the .■state Governments a much of their jxjwer a* i rould hold in the hollow of tny hand. Hecesaion and centralisation, political monster*.—.Hcylla and (.'hary h dia. The channel of safely lies between them. May we be able to keep it. may 'e move watchfully, and ever take our reckonings only from written constim lions." . It is reported tliut these sentiments were received with much applause, and that even Grnnt was constrained to endorse thein. If so, w hat becomes of the stalwart plea for it strong gov ernment with power to crush out the reserved rights of the people ami the HtHtlW ? Ourselves. i I'nder many difficulties, and with constant predictions of failure rung into our ears, we commenced the pub lication of THE CESTUI: DEMOCRAT one year ago. This iv-ue complete.* the first volume of our paper. How far we have met the expectation- of the public we can only infer from the steady increase of patronage that has been awarded us without personal so licitation on our purl. One tiling is certain : we have endeavored to meet public approval by close attention to the collection of such matter to till the columns of the DI:MOT R\T as would lie iuterc-ting and instructive to the reader, striving al the same time to avoid all that might offend good ta-tc or do violence to enlightened public, sentiment. If we have succeeded in this, one of the principal objects of the publication has been attained, and we will enter upou our second volume with the approval of our own eon science- in having jwrformed our duty and redeemed our promises when we sturted our enterprise. We shall pro ' eecsl into the coming year with renew ed and encouraged determination to render the DEMCM RAT in every re-pect still more worthy of the favor and supjKirt of the intelligent people of ('♦• litre county. While freely noting and criticising the deeds ami words of public characters, the actions and prin ciples of political parties, and the pass ing events of the day, we have entered into no personal qunrrels with oureon temporaries or others, nor is it our de- , -1r or intention to do un less driven to it to repel wrong or vin ' dieute the cause of truth or ju-tice. The tir-t IIUIUIHT of the second vol ume of the DI MO< I! VT will a|.VK of the noticeable features, the Pittsburg /W remarks, of the Grant reception in that city, was the anxiety to provide every comfort for Judge Agnew by those who, a short time ago, pushed him aside like old furniture. He desorvw all the attention he re ceived and was justly entitled to a central |M>sition in the business of the day, but it will badly coni|ensate for the deadly jostle lie received at the bands of these same Republicans at the Judicial Convention. Kvidcntly i the Judge's charity covereth a multi tude of sins. ' ■ HEN ATI IR W A HE d I A M i TON, of .South ('arolina, has accepted an invitation to deliver an address liclbrc the Grand Army of the Republic at Pittsburg, at stieh time as may bo convenient for hirn to do so at an enrly dale. The Grand Army cannot view the "Rebel Rrigadier" as a vcryvlangerous animal alter all. They will at least have the pleasure of henring an interesting ad dress. Their temerity in introducing a dangerous Reb into the loyal City of Pittsburg will doubtless be rewarded. AI. AND KXA< r jrrri' K T< ALE XIK.X, or WIIATICVKH MATS. OH I-KHMAHION, ai.uniot * OH I-OI.ITK AI.."—J.FFRT HELLKFONTIC, FA., TIIFKSDAY, I)K( HMIKh is, |s7!. Tlio PrCMs and tlio Courts. The power of the Press for good or evil cannot be over estimated. In the wise economy of si free -y-teni of government the ncwspu)ior hu* liecn awarded tlie post of lionnr. It litis been placed on the battlements of freedom as the sentinel of the people, and, following closely in the path of usefulness so clearly marked out for it, hits eoiue to be called the fourth estate, it has become the educator of i the masses. It shapes the policy of stall -men, and reverses the attitude of cabinets. It must IK? assiduous in ex posing wrong; must be the fearless champion of right, and at all times and under all circumstances should i endeavor to fulfill the high mission to which it has been called by an en lightened public sentiment. It is now a mighty engine in the machinery of society, and so potcut a- to hi conic dangerous when used by designing men for improjier purjarses. It is not the province of the l'p-s- to rcdr< ■-* private grievance-, or to revenge itself upon individuals. When it does this it cease* to till tin - lolly j>-ilion ac corded it by all men. In it- criticism upon passing event the ticw-papcr is naturally brought to record the doings of courts ami the find ings of juries. A- a matter of news it is neee-.-ary for the progri>-ive jour nal to lay before its reader.- every thing that transpire- in the County, State and Nation, and therefore it i entirely proper for the niw-pa|*r to give to its readers, in it- own way, a well the proceedings of our courts as of the National Coiigre-s. lint the : editor should not dip his |M-O in the gull of penomJ btU, or'writs under the shadow of jer>oual spite. He should calmly and dispassionately give farts and not lata its.. He should fol low the lienten path of truth, and ma give his rcad.-rs distorted stat< tnents that convey false iniprv—xms. even if they do not openly bear u|Mn tln ir fare the finger marks of malice not unmixed with envy. We are led to th-e reflections l\ an untruthful report, -itiee widely eir eulated, of an incid< nt that oeeurnd in our criminal court three w.ek* ngo. We refer to the story of the sentencing hj dodge ffrvis of a criminal to the |ienitentiary for three years tor the alleged offence of conteuipt of court. One of our contemporaries, with an utter disregard of the actual facts and circumstance* of the ease, tirt gave this palpable misrepresentation to the public. Whether our neighlror n moved by enmity towards the judge* on the l>eurh thus to overstep the hound* of truth we do not know ; but we do know he has done not only himself n grievous wrong, but has endeavored to intliet a serious wound U|tou the administration of justice in this coun ty. Of all things that should be held -acred from the petty jealousy of am bitious politician* and scheming place men our courts stand tir-t and fore most. It is not meet that the tires of hate or malice should slumber nt the foot of the altar of justice to IK> fan ned into a flame at the convenience of a personal foe. However the journal : in question may regard our judges, it I should remember they sink their in dividuality on the bench. They are simply there "to carry out the sen tence of the law," and that is precise ly what was done in the ease which has been so grossly misrepresented ami 1 has called forth so much unjust criti cism. The prisoner at the bar —call- ed a " hoy," though he is twenty four year* old—had plead guilty to two scparntc and distinct indictments found against him by the grand jury —one for "breaking and entering in the night with intent to commit a felony," and the other for "larceny." j The court had a proper right to pass sentence u|Kin both, hut the judges, alter due consultation with each other, thought best to sentence him U|K>U one and withhold seutenee tqsin the other, subject to the good behavior of the prisoner should he ever return to the county, 'i hi- was accordingly done, hut before leaving the court room the young man gave such luimi-takahle evidence el his ti ue chariu te|- that tin- presiding judge felt con-trained to sentence him, us he could have doiie in the first place. U|HIII the other in dictmeut. I hi- is all there was of it, and yet our m ightier, seeniinglv true to the behest-of that almost inexplica ble watehliiltie— which lie alwav- ex ell-i.e. over the intei < st of t In- erilllilllll classes, immediately proclaims, H froui the house tup-, that a boy ha been sent to the |>i-uite||tiury for three years 1r eontcm|t ot' court. < on-id • ring the dim'timi iu which tlii- un truthful charge originated it i- ea-v enough to uecouut for its aninm-. Perh|>S it may he too IlllK-h to • v pect anything better from the satin source, lint that journals like tin I.uuca-tcr hitrl/i'/i nrrr ami the llol lidaysburg -hoiild have been deceived into giving currency to so ab-urd a libel is a matter of regri t. S> far as tin-criminal i-< uieerneil, we might -ay something about his ad venture- in the line burglary ami rob bery at M ullaceton, High r ami Riui Rail, iu I lenrtiehl coiintv, on tin night -in ding hi- operation* in the -nine line at Philip-burg, iu tlii* coun ty, hut it would In usele-. to do so. A- a -• quel, however, to the euniiingly devi-ed -torv ol hi* iuearceration for an additional term of three vi-ars lor contempt of court, we mav re mark that when tin- sheriff took him to AHi gh eny ami c<>ii*ig(K-d him to tin Ii nder on rcii-s ot' the warden of tin jieiiitentiary, he wa* iinim-slint>lv n-eogoi/. 1 by that official, from a photograph in his |*i--e*ion, a- an old offender for whose apprehcu-i>>u a reward wa* standing. A- soon as liis term of iniprisounient expire* ho will be wanted at Rrooklyn, X* Y., to un -wer to eriininal charge, similar to tho- tor which he i- now tin iergoing the |* nalty of the law. Tin. Courts have tin ir sphere; so ha- tin- I'n —, bill whetn v. r a in wpn|H-r -is-k- to in vade the domain of ju-tiee it should he brought to a full ri-alixation of it.- proper | o.-i11 ,u. Tin-nevrspap. r- which pnlili-lieii tlii- parody on truth there fore owi it t . Is. - and tin ir readers to make mi explanation iu accordance with the facts. When the mi-reprc-' ntntion of fact in tlii- cac tir*t appeared, we deter mined not to notic it. believing that the othi-ial standing of Judge Orvia would sufficiently vindicate hint home, but a- the story wa- taken up by other- ami circulated abroad, we have since felt it our duty to offer this ; correction. I HE total vote of the late election in Louisiana was 1 being fd.twsi less thnu in 1 s*7*. 'I he falling off in New (Mean* WAS 'JH.IMNI, ami iu the country 'Jf.tKHi. The vote for (ov. W ill/, was T.j.'Mlti, and his majority •'HI,(Mb ihe vote for the ' >n.itulion was N7.(ksi against The ma jority for the debt ordinance was 1 I,inh. 1 lie rejHiri? of violence are untrue. The only disturbance in the state dur ing the late election was the capture of the ballot-box ami returns by a hand of men headed by the Republi can candidate for Lieutenant Gover nor, (iillespic, and the killing of two ; nun by Detiego, the Republican can didate tor Sheriff in St. Martin. •♦> WAR Soulier's Legislative Commit tee snubbed at Pittsburg by General Grant? There seems to have been n hitch of some kind between the Com mittee and the Governor'* Btatf a* to which should have charge of him, ami it is rejwirted in the Philadelphia newspapers that Grant, to fix matters between tliem, informed the cum mi tee that he was first the guest of the citi zens of Pitlslmrg and then of the staff. Furthermore, it is said that the com mittee wa* only taken on the special train by sufferance of the stall. Sni der must explain. He should not for the honor of the Btat |N*rmit oue of its representative bodies to la* tivnteil with indignity. In New oik. remarks the Harriv burg I'nlrtiil, the Democratic I' tnrn ii' hoard rcln.-i-d to go 1 >•-1■ ii• turns. Tlx- law forbid their doing what lie Republican* d-- maiided. in Ni work the observance of the law ben. tilted the Republicans: in Maim- it sei ni- to have opt rated to tlx-advantage ol tlx Democrats and (trraobackers, Heooe tbe satisfaction of tlx Republicans with tlx work of tlx- returning board of New York ami hence the hitter howl of disappoint ment ol tlx-e same lb puliliian* at the outcome in Maine. You see tlx- law i- an exce]lent thing when it give- tlx lb-publican- of New • >rk a lieut< naut governor ami other officers, but a !• r rihle intliet ion when it give- tlx- ■ i*mr Talmug. i- a prominent actor, bids fair to rival the turbulence ot js.htieul aniuio-ity in Philadelphia ami el-ewh( f. I h>- ewi-ton, Rath, Rockland and Saro to be fatally defective. The Republi cans make awful face-over this result, but it lias I men reached in nccordance with their own statutes, and iu what ever Oov. (iaroolon and the eouueil have done fhey have followed the strict letter of the law. . . CONHRKIW will adjourn to-morrow for the hididay reoes* ami reconvene again on the fith of January. Thus far the House has shown a commend able di*|>o*itiou to push along the pair lie business, and we hope it will con tinue to do so after it gets together again. TKiniN: Aiiiiiiiii. iii Irlviiine. OiNtKAI- NEWS. \ li- w g! . c >iti|>fiy |i been form "d ill I'lll uig. v..11l .1 capital -to. ki ! . II MM), I he- <'orititienb.i Hot. ) ;it Allinnr.., Hi...., ii burned at an ntrljr boat on >alif|.|y morning. IJ <• I. r■ -m nt i \ K.-nna. of We-l V,r ginia, baa already raited 9<*>oo a an ring the ni. iul.iTrt ..I i In- llotiM- for ih. rein I of tli>. |oor in Ir.-luid. '■> it f*!l of toi •lutein Fau-t i!lir*rv. ii<- r I rem • t. Ii: i.iv morning. I'n I. < irk il iv, .lolin I'.n kl.-r hikl .. lu.y natii <"l .luting were in-l.uitly killed. An F-rigi.-h |,!i\ >,i hi report* mriy inat :ince# w itlnn I.:* .- \ |,.-i i.-ri.'*. wfi.T.. tli<. '.oxi ng of children * earn l,v parents iin.l teacher hi- n-ilt.-d in d-alne—. 1 .<• railroad miner* in t),.. vicinity of I'.:'-. in.- nM 1 |j lll| an aided to -k Sj cent* par buthel for dig ging. 110 r.j i.iior" will not grant it. A cunotj- sight n jrc-.nted at I.x gtai.go, Georgia, la-t week. In the tni'frtt of a . now -1 '.mi might have been ■•.■il green yim. uii'l the jea-'li ami* {.ear tie.-, in I lo on. •'n 1 bur* it Mr. K i..r, of Brim me.-Viile. {.ur.'hit'e.J a", <*) residence in A ilent-ovn. I hat night liin wile kw i.ei.*lt ol her I#-...0n ami had to he ye moved loan in.ane uj i.ini. >ecr. rge Winie, rector of Calvary '; " p-'d el.lll. I. 1,1 Memph.s, Was stricken on Sunday with patalyaia wbilo a l'ir esmg a >unday < Ikkil class, and i in mi extremely eriti. al condition, lie i . Il')■ two vear* of ape and Utli- Verr.ily re.j.ected. I a-, youi 1i i • ■, May Wiiiiatnii, ■i .upht. r of • Uilge \ ill-ton, and .lante Wail. daughter of C. C. Watt, ship I.u. I r, who w.-t. -katitig on the river at Newca-tle, X. 8., on Saturday, broke through the ii. and were Urowiieit. 1 heir bodi.-- wic re- >vered. AiM Miop John llenni,who i* .ving < : .ticaliy ill at M Iwaukee, i* seventy . S t eaM Old, and celebrated the senri- CiUt.nniai annmi-aty of hi' prieat h.." i VJiring, He ha* i en hi.-ho|> ol ll.euifKy-. id \\ ii.viiirtin for neaiiy a <|iiurter of a century. In accordance with mi. a 1..| ted by to.* hoard of 1 .duration in IYi. raburg, \ a . ail the J.ubhc -eh.w.l- there ck*ed on i nd.iv tor one month, in conae .{ti.-nce of the fact that the State failed to contribute .1- full otiota of fund* to cury thein ■ n. and rather than rniuta Uie-aiaru of te.> her* the Educational | Board c-.ii -i- .i .) tc'l to give a win ter \ acatioti. M. W. U niton, Pr-ident of tin, Second Saltonal Hank, hi* kou. A. Hew ing:. n. hi* T.n-in-law, Tbouia* i.ivey, and hi- hi other in . .w, I aac I leati. w.-r I arieated at l.anca-ter i.i>t Monday, charge.! with ii>m]ic,i.iil\ con-juring to defraud the l ink ol g|.;.'i,t*io, on oath ■ ol • .eorge S. <>iKv|ale. receiver. I'llev gave hail in the -uni of f-il.fvai. I lie following to'egrani vr< receivcl hj >-re:ry -chutr, Monday afternoon, dated at Un i'moa ag. i.ey, li: "< ura_v ha J.-f t lor the hand* of I \\ Into Ifiver I so- to ii -.-t in (.ringing in the Indian- o< manned. It i a cei -1 t-ii".|i dial the Jii-i .i, w ill !• -nrren.ler ed i • any thing that can (>'• relied uj.ou with Indian*. Adam* 1.-lt lor Henver y.-terday." Signed Hatch, commander. \\ boievale nrrerla have lu**n tnadw i l-v to" |wi! ~c aiiilioritie* at Bed Bank, New Jeraey. on Monday, ol negroe* for the coni| ii .tv in the robbing of farm er* in thr,t vicniitv. tine of th>- negroea on Iwmg arre-t.d made a mnlrwioa, implicating a dccen other*, and Mon day night the Sown lock up Wasafull of |ored priaonr rr. Tiieir depredations cover a period of aeveral month* and have | utiled the |>o|ice fur a long time. (Jener.l (• ant naturally got amonj; the ex C.inlede;atea m l.e.ui-ville. A* he atood (.elote a Tenneaaee delegation hi* eye chanced to fall u|s>n a man who atixid i.p*rt from the other*, lor a moment (iinnt'a head went down, aa though he were in deep thought. Then hi- Mcpped forwaid, graaped tbo atratiger'a hand and aaui : "I have aeen you before. a:r; but where 1 cannot call to mind. >-*, fieneral." -aid thn at ranger, "you aaw me at Tort lonel •eti. I then commanded a Tentuaaeo ; regiment,and with the l-*t portion of my men knocked my way out of tha fort, avoiding rapture." "< h. yea," re apnndcd the ex Prcaulent, "I recollect j you perfectly now; vou are Colonel i Wilton."' A grand yet awful calamity happened to the town, of Bed Hock, McKean county, on Friday morning, of lael week. Thura.lav evening a roan with a lantern went into the derrick of one of Kineraon'a oil vata, aitnah-d above the town. Thi Iwratne ignited and in torn act fire So aix hundred barrel* of oil, which exploded and next fired an oil tank containing twenty five thous and harrela of oil. Five hundred men labored earn, ally in digging dttchea to direct this flowing stream of burniaK * oil away from the town. I>ut their effort* were fruitless. It lushed upon the town utterly dettoying it. No live* were lost, but a quarter million dollar's worth of property was destroyed and three hun dred familie* rendered homelcsa, no. ;>i.