Bradford reporter. (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, February 10, 1847, Image 1
THE :BRADFORD :-..REPORTER. rric;' , s 72E0 that character, to communicate on military sub jects with all administrations for about a quar ter of a century last past, I saw nothing in the nature of the request he had made to implicate either of us. He asked me for my opinion as to the future mode of conducting the war. I gave it to him, first in speech, fare to face, and 'afterwards in writing. And here it is! [hold the Senate, on .Monday, Jan. 25, Col. ing up a roll of paper] for I chose to retain-the lO N - made the following explanation in original for myself, while sending a copy to cation of himself and the President, rela- him. Here it IS ! and at the proper' ime the to the proposition for the appointment of public shall see it, but not now ; for I do not cut. General :• belong to the school that makes publication of r. BENT ON asked the indulgence of the plans of campaign—even rejected plans—in tele make an exposition of the circum- time of war. es un der which the President had propos-IThe President approved the plan ; and it so e appointment of a lieutenant general to happened that the nature of the plan required a nand the army in Mexico, and with which head to the army—one head to the whole bo. effluent his name had become connected. I dy—to unite and combine the whole into one d been intimated, he said, on . the floor of harmonious and consistent movement. It so 4. l w—hypothetically to he sure, but not' happened, also; that-enough was known of the ens intelligibly and forcibly on that account I ideas of the two highest in rank of the officers It there might be an ulterior and covert' of the army to know that their plans were dil e' in the proposition: nothing less than a ferent ; and ii is a maxim of fundamental ob. 11 on the port of the President to appoint . ser „,. „, in war, that no general is to be re urce,,sor, The Senator .rom North Caro- quired to execute a plan which he disapproves. Badger.) In his speech on the lieu- A new colninader became indispensable; and It general bill, hail indulged in that hypo- as any new major general would be subordinate s; arid as no !•11111111SitiOn mold be more to all now in commission, the solution of the moreinjorious to the President . difficulty lay in the creation of a new rank, Bo th, public service, or could descend from p er io r to that of major general. and inferior to .itor statf,'e. and as Mr. Benton) hap. the eonstitutional cninmander-in-chief. The 'lt" be i"1"'"""i°" of all the tarts "eces - creation of the rank of lieutenant general as :0 the ythrlic Won of the PreSitiviil, lie tie- hod twcn done in the year 1790, at the time of ta mike an ex p tsition u touch would show the expected war with France, was the solo .epaositioli to be untounded, and would thin of the difficulty. This rank appeared to rh Prerthlent*.s character and the public lie the natural and regular derivation from the Ire from the nyurr they W""Id "IT" if Presidont's own political and military charac eonatiori vv is allowed to go out uncontra- ter, and the proper connecting link between id :rum the ti.io r of the 'Senate. lie asked lion and the acme. As President. he was both • for: as t h e bill for the lieutenant gener- the civil head of the government and the rr.ili as int on the table, and as he would not • "ry head of the army. He was erimmander ' " up. cv.'uld not spank to it if in-chief of the army and navy, and of the mili ;l. ilt• tilt! !: itchnnsrto rorninit the tia or volunteers in service. They were all cot or' -jweell on some mete- t h en i n sorrier, an d in a foreign c.nintry. He he most throw himself upon the IP- Conic; hot go to Alexico io command in person ; ! pave of tl e Senate fir leave to make the prrarnount duties required him to remain here. ref I wte n nlrh the r-ise repaired. and He could not send orderS from the closer in -I, the .nt , .o.ilaa, of the Senator from North this coy. '['fiat was a folly of which there hid 117.1 rr oil rod nee, 10.911 Ito example since the tone that the Prince w and Mr Iterihin proceed Cogene lint Savoy) was arructomed to return f.,.! ;;,-‘1 Ow rein irks uneven , if. at the end of the campaigns. all the Sn. i•r or, 'North Cir 'a. orait rs n loch the Aulir Con' col was accustom r., I , the Prenid, ui loon' the et; 10 send him from Vienna. a • thirowal and dthgerthis which, The Piesident was bound to commar.d ;he t , h‘er of that S n tor cohld not so) to Nlexieri to command in person, • II: - 1.1 h im ; arid shall do so ui the and he eivild not command frith) Washington. -I , fin of a thicrinv••, repe inn' to rile The solution of the difficulty, which reconciled 3'l tn-o Inns taken pi ice between rite all Iniatradictions, and permitted the exercise ..!,- at 1:1V•I'll rel -non to this ap- of all duties, civil and military, was the ap- Mineril. sod thereby ell Oiling the Senate and p oninumt of a military deputy—a legatus—a . ;ompie ijudge of ;he *justice of the accu- locum teriens—a lieutenant to take the place 01 the constitutional commander-in-chief in the It wn= at the bcc.irining of the month of Sep- field ; to give orders in his name, and to take iiwr lair!, and lit the moment that I was , the responsibility of plans and movements, on: setting ou t to the West, that the Pr-si- while the generals at due heads of divisions, or sonr fir me, anil informed nii• that he had colionne, would only have the responsibility • for the purpose of offering me a high of execution. This, forreasons too well known ;continent. lie named it It was the nos- to require rehearsal in this chamber, it was tihrraiire• men heeinning savant by the thought, would he entirely agreeable to the el the c.: tie/nail Mr. King. of Alabama) generals of highest rank in our army iii M eXI .!I ornament to this chamber. I de- co ; it would secure their rear at home, and ,al e appoitittlient, and for reasons which leave them free to contend with the, enemy in coed 111, to declote birth appointments frmt. It was not intended to diminish the mi l'rathl e urs Jackson and Van Boren. Mr. fighting vocation of the two generals, but to wn kind enough to ask, ins to take dine reconcile and accomplish two desirable objects, I atiswered hint that there was namely : the execution of the President's plans, civd for time that the answer would still and the release of the major generals horn re . ilia same, after any length of r,onsideration; sponsibility for plans and movements. This .1,0, with thanks for the twinor he had done • it as the, view of the office of lieutenant general. • the ,appointment to the French mission As to the proposed officer, there was no breach is definitively der!ined. This was the be- ,of miiitary rule, law, etiquette. or propriety in )IC%! off Scn tend).- r last ; sri that. at that t im e, ' the proposed appointment. The office was I• certain that the President could have had original. anti belonged to no person. The such design as has been attributed to President had a right to nominate, and the at by the Senator from North Carolina—no Senate to confirm, whom they pleased. Per :lgo to make me his successor by virtue of , sonally, I would take nu concern in it. I only .:nary Cats to be perfrrnied on the low lands asked the President to make known the name :he table land of the Republic of Mexico.— • intended for the place to the members of Con s the contrary. a fertile imagination—such I gross, that all objections to the officer. as well the Senator from North Carolina sti happily ' as to the office, should be open to full inquiry. iissesses—might have seen, or thought it saw, 1 forbade my friends to say a word on me ac tin, proposed appointment. a sort Of polio; c runt. I would not say a word for myself. 1 deportation—somettitog like an exiling and would not even obviate a prominent objection .rn lilt! in a foreign Court—for a purpose the by reminding any one that in 1812 I was die -my tcycrse of what the Senator from North military superior of every general no in the has supposed. I say an tnrentive urn- service, and had a right to have commanded ' , man nirolit have seen. oilho't 0 saw, all the whole of them if we had chanced to serve Pos:essing nn such imagination. I saw , together. ono norm thins , . And inking the offer in the . I was then Colonel in tier service of the Ifni • in which it was made. as eminently lion- ted States. cornintssioned by President Madi '•a,ie.m itself, and a signal Evidence of the son, and led a regiment of my own rais l'"-"lent's confidence inme, and good will ing from Tennessee to the !diver Mississippi, made him inv thanks for it privately. , under Gen. Jackson. to meet the British then as I 'vox do publicly t and the affair was drop- expected at New Orleans, but who did not ' O L This. I repeat, was the beginning of come till 1914. I was Alien of a rank. and in last--only three mouths before the a position, to have commanded, if we had met, of Congress sn that. at that time: it every general now in service. Even in the clear the President hail such ino- regular tinny. in 1813. I was lieutenant colon -7.,-.laiti mid fearful design as the Senator finm el olide most nut the present generals were ' l ' Carolina has attributed to him. lip to company officers. and only one of them of the '''"nlP- up to the first of September. in the tank of colonel. Yet I scorned to mention rev I9l6—the Republic was safe. these filing even to bosom frends, while the 1 "Ill , lraely after refusing the mission to nteasure was depending. and only do it now f- wenteel° the Wes - 0- West, was min e until for the purpose of rescuing the President from tri ,, ntli of November, and had no conimu- a supposed breach of military decorum by the y kind, direct of indirect. nor up- appointment of a citizen from civil life (myself n r " subjci:t whatever, with Preaident Polk.: being that ritiz n) to the command of thearmy 'lakes all sof.; ;wain . for twn months mere. woul d imply in the opinion of the Senator from rP' ur "ed to this rite in November. where my North Carolina. lit Ar: , s, and where Conorevs was soon to ' Finally, and td conclude the vindication of The day after nit- arrival I called upon the President in this particular. I can say -that and here we approach the Mr: Polk is not the first President who pro emend Filar. in that first inter- in"" give one the command of the army b . acnially asked the my opinion about against Mexico—that Gen. Jackson himself f"fllre mode of eunduetiiig the Mexican Proposed it in 1836. When our affairs with that r ,, r tea ins not proper now to he stated, country looked warlike ; and that then,as now, s al the s validity which the country will I agreed to take It' Wit' have an opportunity of judging. the I And here. Mr. President, having fulfilled my Paw fit to ask me my opinion upon task of vindicating the chief magistrate of the hunt re mode of conducting the war.. This Union Irom the design. hypothetically impu hot strike me as being anything ted to him, of wishing to appoint his successor, ic"ige,or unreasoitalitc—either unbecoming in in my person. and by means of this lieutenant snake, or for me to comply with.— generalship. I might close my remarks : but as i s mY Senatorial I • -as been coupled with this business, capacitywas his ronstitu• my name r ' '"'lser on many great ( p i a st i o na, those and as I have remained silent. and even left my o .i nd w war ? inclus'ive, 'be my . poliiical seat, while the measure was depending. I must aa the supporter of his adtninis- now take leave, with the kind indulgence of n. and ready to oive hint Inv opinion on the Senate, to proceed a step further, and to ar As - eltair - man of the Senate's Corn- say a word on my own account ; and to show un„.. • . -utittarinducement y Affairs, and accustomed, in that seroce, and not rank, was my 1U VY uID L. DNESDAY, FEBRUARY 10. 1847 ' IRE LIEUT. GENERAL. Benton,s Defence of the President PUBLISHED EVERY WEDNESDAY, AT TOWANDA, BRADFORD COUNTY, PA., BY E. S " REGARDLESS OF DENUNCIATION FROM ANY QUARTER." to agree to-the offer of the President; and that there might have been cases in which I would not haie accepted the office of lieutenant gen- era! even• if it had been created I have already said that I will not now show what my own plan was ; but I can say of it that it was a plan which looked to a result, and promised an issue, and that briefly ; and that I would have had nothing to do with any plan of any other kind—nothing to do with any plan that contemplated a long and moderate war, or a war of masterly inactivity, or of re treat upon the Rio Grande, or of defending a line, or of attack upon the idle, solitary castle of San Juan of Ulloa—especially at the com mencement of the season for the black vomit. lo no one of these cases would I have been lieutenant general, or captain general, or major general or colonel general or any other sort of a general that ever was heard of. I know very well that the President hail no idea of any one of these most amiable plans ; but there is a way to give him an idea of them, and even ,to force them tOon him ; and that would be, by the simple process of denying him the means of doing any thing else. I shall not state my plan ; hut I will say of it, that, besides intending a result, it proposed to carry on the war, while there was war, ac cording to the usage of all nations in the case of invasive war—the invaders to be paid and subsisted by l the invaded. Contributions regu larly levied—duties regularly collected—would accomplish these objects, and leave the United States free, or nearly free, from the expenses of the war. I can say, further, that my plan was not limited to a mere military view of the subject; that it comprehended a union, of policy arid of arms—the olive-branch to go with the sword : ministers to treat, as well as an army to fight. A diplomatic mission, nationally constituted ,lioth in a geographical and in a political sense, was to attend the head-quarters ; and, while the ministers itood ready to negotiate at every step, the arms was to take an organization aid an attitude to give emphasis to negotiation.— And this combination of arms and of policy was not mere gue,s•work, the idle conception of fancy ; but the result of a knowledge of the • state of parties in Mexico—a peace party. for honorable pt ace ; a war party, for endless war was way so luminously shown by the Sena tor from New York (Mr. Dix) a few days ago. My plan „as a lapsed pt both qf these pirties— , honorable peace for one ; tie s.vord for the otter. The military part of the plan his fallen to the ground : the diplomatic part falls with it: and now it devolves upon those who have frustrate) the plan of the President to present him a better. I counted much on the efficacy of the diplo matte part of this plait ; for great errors prev it in Mexico with regard to our designs and feel ings towards them, and which nothing hut an authentic mission could remove. The war party is incessant in 115 calumnies against us, artfully contrived to operate on every class of the people, and to render peace impossible.— It has a falsehood for every class. To the re ligious orders the war is represented as a war of religion—the protestant against the Catho lic—and a war of sacrilege—the spoila non of the churches. To the creole Spaniards and the Indians of mixed blood, they present it as a war of races—the Anglo Saxon against the Spanish American—and the subjugation of the latter intended. To the unmixed Indian race, (nearly the one-half of the whole population, and the sole resource of the army for its rank and file,) it is presented as a war of extinction, or of slavery—their race to be extirpated, like so many tribes in our North America; or to be carried into slavery to work the fields of their masters, like the slaves brought from Af rica. And, to all, it is presented as a war of ambition and of conquest, in which there is no peace fur Mexico but in-the degradation of her citizens and the loss of her independence. A mission, such as I proposed, would authenti cally contradict all these calumnies, and show the deceived people of Mexico that just nil honorable peace is all that we want ; and that far from wishing her degradation, both policy and interest unite in making us wish to see her prosperous, happy, and independent. She is a Republic—our neighbor—who did us the honor to copy our fortn of government. and bad a great commerce with us. The in juries of which we complain were the work of a few, while the great majority of the people, who have done us no harm, are willing to do us justice, and reciprocate the wish for that close conne:tion. political and commercial, be tween the two Republics, which is necessary in their own prosperity, to the stability of the R•publinn system in all the Spanish American States, and to the complete independence of the New World front the Old. I counted much on the efficacy of the diplo matic part of the plan, and not less nn the imli tary the other failed. Of this I can say nothing but that it was not framed in total ignotance of Mexican character, Mexican coun try, and Mexican resources. Forty years ago I studied Humboldt, and did not overlook his chapter on the military defences of the country. and especially his imposing development of the greatelements of defence with which nature had endowed her ; the dangers of the coast when the north wind was blowing—,the black vomit when it was not—and the deep defiles of volcanic mountains. The plan may have been faulty, hut it was not conceived without some knowledge of the subject ; and it promis ed a result—peace to the country, if it succeed ed, and in the soldier that died, a death worthy' of the soldier—the battlestorm his embrace, the field of honor his bed, the lofty summits of Cordilleras his monument and his grave ! CURE FOR THE LOCR-JAW.—We see it stated upon what seems authority. that the lock-jaw can be relieved instantly by putting a piece of copper in immediate contact with the wound that cawed it. Simple remedies are frequently the most potent. If driedoess, either for coop or eating whole, are soaked tdl they begin to vegetate, (about I two days,) they will taste as well as green peas. I Veto Messages from Governcr Skunk, Of acts passed at the last session of the Legislature, changing the duties and jurtsdution of Jus ties of the Peace, in Bradford, Butler and Erie counties. To the Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania: GENTLEIEN :--1 have had under considera tion the bill, entitled, " An Act extending the jurisdiction of justices of the peace in the coun ty of Bradford," which was sen: to me in the closing hours of the late session. The essential changes which it proposes to make in the administration of the criminal laws of the State, so far as they affect Bradford county, constitute, with me, insurmountable objections to any action on my part which shall give them the force and effect of law. Refering generally to the positions which 1 have taken in two messages of this date, return- , ing the bills severally entitled. •• An Act to es tablish a cheaper and more efficient mode of collecting takes in Butler county, and to reduce public expenses and diminish litigation in said county," and An Act regulating actions be• fore justices of the peace in the county of Erie." I am constrained to say, that with reference , both to its constitutionality and general policy, this bill is liable to the same objections, lies-. • tsblishes, in one of our counties, a novel aud peculiar system of accusation, arraignment, and trial of offenders against the general law of the Siate—it dispenses altogether with the inter vention of grand juries—it extends the powers of justices of the peace over the liberty aud pro perty of the citizen to a dangerous extent, per nutting them to imprision for the term of six months—it devolves the charge and, conduct of public prosecutions upon such persons as acci dent, interest or hate csav invite to that office —and it constructs a series of township courts of Quarter Sessions, where criminal justice is to be administered with forms unknown to the experience of the Commonwealth. and without the safeguards which the Const.tutien Las pro vided. 1 cannot but think that on a review of this bill by the two Houses, these remarks will be found to have an obvious hearing upon the whole scope of its provisions. I therefore re turn it to the House of Represent-nivel'. where itoriginated. FRS. R..SHUNK. HARRISBURG, lan. 7, 1847. To the Senate and Rouse of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania: GENTLEMEM :—The bill of the late session.. To the Senate and House of Representatives of the entitled An Art to estahlieh a cheaper and Commonwealth of Pennsylvania: more efficient mode of cull.-cting taxes in But ler county, and to reduce the public expenses. GENTLEMEN :—The bill, entitled •• An Act and diminish litigation in said county," was regulating action• before justices of the peace presented to me for signature on the elat of last In the county of Erie," was presented for my spprobation, on the day preceeding the day of April. I his bill proposes to introduce tow the legit• the final adjourement - of the Legislature, at the lation of the State. on the subjects generally of last session. Having then no time to examine taxation and judicial proceedingt. numerous its provisions, I held it over for confederation. important innovations having exclusive apple I This hill provides a system of proceedings r a tion to Butler county. Among these are an for the collection of debts not exceeding one entirely new plan for collecting State, county hundred dollars, in the county of Erie. essen and poor taxes, verities new forme of county tially different from that which iseirdained by l evies . t h e creation „f new o ffi cers , t h e impost- the general law. for other parts of the Common tion of new duties on old ones, changes in wealth. It creates a mode of determining suits their rates and modes of compensation, arid a arising fro in contracts by arbitration, at the in train of modifications in the system of juries stance of either party ; a justice of peace in el and jury trials. feet selecting the referees in all eases of contest, I have in the message returning the bill, en- and himself presiding over their deliberations. titled oAn Act regulating actions before juett- and the award, if not exceeding ten dolloars, rev of the peace in the county, of Erie." re. being final and without appeal. marked upon the impnlicy and danger of spy- The bill is in me judgment objectionable on cell legislation for diatricts; of which the bill the score of general pulley, and is in doubtfol se. before toe is a striking illustration. It impriaes cordanee with the Constitution of the State. burdens anti penalties on the citizens of Butler If it he desirable to remodel our laws for the county, from which the other portions of the collection of small debts,—to extend the Dye. State are free—it increases very largely the tem of compulsory arbitration, and enlarge the emoluments and powers of one county officer, duties of justices of the peace, expanding at the and sequesters to the use of the county weasel- i same time the limits of theiL final jurisdiction, ry one-fifth of the compensation which may he no good reason has suggested itself to my earned by other like officers utider the laws of mind, for limiting the he ne fies of t he c h an ge, if the State—and it essenttaly, if not in express it is beneficial. to a single county. The law terms, assails the right of the freeman of that of the land" repeatedly referred to in the bill of county to trial by jury as heretofore." rights; as the great security of the citizen, im es, ae it appears to me, uniformity of the law The perilous importance of this last project• ed alteration in the ancient law of Pennsylva. thoughout the land I cannot realize the pro nto, may justly engross attention. -, priety or the safety of making one law fur Erie, In the fifteenth section of the bill it is made I and another for Butler, anti a third for Brad lawful to decide all civil suits by a jury of six ford, all professing one and the same object, men, if the parties shall content thereto ; and and based upon no difference of circumstances. the sixteenth section provides that if this con. j Why should the rights of one free citizen of sent be withheld, the jury charges to he paid Pennsylvania he either greater or less, and hi. means of legal redress for them he either Patti by the losing party shah be taxed twenty-five prov i sions, ger cent. ht her than in other cases. These er or more difficult, than those of his neighbor provisions, taken together, strike me as being across the county line ! a serious infraCtion of the hill of rights. It is by the uniformity with which our leg;e- Phe citizen may undoubtedly yield op by lotion presses on all parts of the State, that the consent his right to a trial by jury ;or he may. citizens of each part are enabled to rest with if he chooses, submit to a trial before a less safety on the wisdom and caution of the Gen- , number of persons than twelve. But it must eral * Assemble. So long as each member of be by consent, and that given freely and with- either house feels, that in the vote lie gives, he out condition or apprehension of prejudice.— is legislating foe his immediate constituents as The jury, so called for the trial of civil issues, i well as for those more remote, so long, and so has, lrorethe earliest period of the history of long only. will he feel in full measure theljete 'our law, consisted of twelve men, all h earing accountability which it has been, and is the the proofs and uniting in the verdict. Such policy of the Constitution to maintain. Let was the jury institution as brought over to the legislation once come to be merely local. Pennsylvania by our ancestors, and such it has l limited in its effects to a single county,or a sin remained among us, through all revolutions of tele township, and what security will their be political government. Ifor the rights or interests of so small a fraction The seecessive constitutions of the Common- of the State? Who shall guard the eitiz wealth, while guarantying this mode of trial to front oppression imposed by the representatives the citizens, have proteste d " in advance against lof others, when they who impose the burden, any legislative mutilations of this time-hovered are not to feel it theffiselves, and are nctere monument and safeguard. Over and again it sponsthle at the elections to those Who do ? has been declared emphatically in the bill of Because we are one State, thereforeaffioold our rights, that " Trial by jury shall be as hereto- I laws be uniform ; or if a different principle' fore." The trial by six jurors is a departure should come hereafter to be iheught wise. a as essential in principle, from the ancient land. county Legislature thoelerhe convened, e - . mark, as would be the trial by a single man,— liar with the wantsprits constituents. and elec- If we may reduce the number at all, what is to ted by them elop limit the reduction ? I harr2lhitled to the apparent confict be lt is true that the bill in question does not at tween}les bill and the Constitution. " Trial the first view appear to compel a party to ac- by,jtiry shall be as heretofore. and t the right cept this substitute for a jury trial. But toe ~l-ffiereof shall remain inviolate." is the emphat certain extent it does so nevertheless : itcalfs ieinjuiection of the bill of rights. It is untie von the citizen who elects to eejoyhis un- ceaeary to renew the 'discussion which has questionable constitutional riglii, : to do vu in I heretofore occupied our courts of law respect .open court, exposing him In,the imputation of I ing thei moon of these words in the Constitu 'desiring to multiply lite-chances of disagree- non of 1790. But under the same wordti ant went in the jury koxrand of being willing, by they stand in that Of 1838. I cannot , doub the increasedsApinse of a lull jury. to add to that a law . if now passed for the first time, ex the county--burthsos., There is a liability to, eluding a certain class of litigants from the /400DRICII & SON. prejudice• in this which should trot be connec ted with the assertion of a treeman's rights. But the bill goes further, and directly taxes his case with an increase of costs if he shall prefer a jury •' as heretofore," to the novel sub stitute which it cffers him. " The right of tri al by jury" does not " remain inviolate" when the citizens is specially taxed fur claiming it. There is no warrant in the constitution fur af fixing in this way a price to the ex'•rcise of rights which come to us as a birth-right, and which belong freely and without price to us all. The provision. like all others that infringe on constitutional rights, is calculated to press with most force on the poorer and less influen tial citizens. The. man whose Social position has placed him in some degree above the reach of prejudice, or whose pride prompts'him to disr,,gard it, will lint be controlled by that pop ular sentiment to which the more lincuble may be furred to defer. Thus freedom of choice, which the bill professes' to offer to all, is virtu ally withheld from some, or greately unpaired. In the same spirit the bill enables the rich sui tor, by refusing the smaller number of jurors, to increase the costs of conyoversy, and to. bear hard on his less prosperous opponent.— In a word, it is unequal in its operation. and that inequality regards the administration lit justice. By the fifteenth section of the a tax of twenty per cent. ou docket fees of attorneys, on fees received or charged by the prothonota ry, clerks of the courts and sheriff, and five per cent. on the fees cf the register and recorder, is levied fur the use of the country. f 4 ithout adverting to the inequality introduced into our laws by taxing this class of officers in a saigle county, it may he remarked that if their fees in Butler are not more than an adequate com pensation, then it is manifestly unjust to iaz theta for the benefit of the other citizens. If their compensation is too great, then the put , tore and those having business in the register's and recorders offieed, including widows ;mil orphans, are taxed to relieve their fellow-citi zens from taxation. This principle appears w me to be at variance wiih the uniform laws and practice of the Cuthmotterealth, and with the plain dictates of natural justice. For these reason+. without commenting on the anomalies which the bill presents in regard to the other *objects which it embraces, and in other of its details. I return it to the Senate, whi.re it originated. FRS. R SIIILINK. HARRIbiIIURC:, Jan. 7. 18(7. 'S;`'ZIEB3a33 S3Zo right of trod by jury which they have had •• heretofore," would he in conflict with the spirit and words of the Constitution. Such bit= the character of the bill before me, I am bound to refuse to it my signature. I therefore return it to the Senate where it originated, with these my objections. There are several provisions appended to the bill : one authorizing the Wil'iams Valley rail road and mining company to construct branch railroads. another relating to suits for register ed' taxes within the county of Philadelphia, rind another for repealing the art vacating Lake street to Kensington. To these the objections to the passage of the bill have no relation. I will only add that the unavoidable rejection of these provisions of the bill on account of their associations, illustrates in the strongest practi cable manner, the impropriety of connecting dissimilar and incongruous subject in the same bill. FRS. it. SHUNK. Ilannianunn, Jan. 7, 1847. The Working of the ,hw Tariff. Almost every paper which -meets our eye froth the manufacturing districts contains evi de_ncs of the increased operations which the manufacturing capitalists are entering upon in full view of the enactments of the tariff or - 1846. The New, Raven Register. in reply es the Palladium .of 'that city uhich has been ri - cently re-echoing the Federal cry •• ruin." tells us of three new cotton factories which are about to be started in that vieinicy. The Register says. very forcibly, in view of this clamor about ruin" from the tariff. of 1846. it this be so, how happens it that we are now exporting cot ton goods, in=tead of importing , thein ? Whilst we are competing with the world in the foreign market can we not compete with the foreigners at home! What nonsense is this A queer Illustrution. truly, of the operation of the free trade principles. The Palladium must go fur ther from howe for arguments to make out its case. Every branch of mechanical buisness is doing as well, to say the least, at the present time, as under any high tariff we ever W— rnaugre the false predictions of the Palladium." Nor is this prosperity confined to the cotton manufacture. Every day bring us fresh proof that the iron business is equally prosperous. Frain many similar cases we select only the ful- {ow Tits SP:VAGEIoN \YORKS.—The -- erations of this company coniirne to advance irAi rent). success. The hest feelings exist between the men and their employers. The company ate now engaged in making 'ron for the Pimadelphil. Wilmington, and Baltimore vidroad. It is of the H 60 lbs, to the yard. and thus far the rails are of a very su perior quality. A LAUGIIABLE INCIDENT.—One eummereven ing. at churcl,iii Poughkeepsie, it was found necessary to have all the windows open on ac count of the heat. The preacher became very eloquent. and then calming down into a solemn mood, he netted the attention of his audience. You might have heard the dropping of a pin. He then soared in a strain of eloquence •that carried his hearers along with him. He quo ted a passage of Holy Writ, and applied it to the hearts and consciences of his audience. It was a solemn moment—the preacher saw his advantage, and was resolved to use it; again he quoted the pungent passage. and beganjo apply it with all his skill. " Who of my hearers can say that in these circumstances he acted thus ? Who, I say, can say he did it ?" At this moment, an insect flew into the meeting house, screeching out, "Katy-did K3iv-did!" The whole audience become convulsed with frughter. The minister's eloquence went for n_ught ; he stood amaz , d, and vented an an -fry expression, while we thought. Truly there is but one step from the sublime to the ridiculous." FAMILY PRAYER.—In binding a family to gether in peace and love. there is no human in fluence like that of domestic prayer. Uniting them in a common object, it unites their sym nathies and desires. Raising their hearts to Heaven. it brings them all togetlin in the pre sence of God. The faintly altar is an asylum to which they repair from the cares and toils of life; uniting them in efforts of faith and obe dience for high attainments. Faith has no holier spot than a house thus sanctified by prayer—where the voice of supplication and thanksgiving concentrates every day : where the word of God is devoutly read, and young and old unite to show forth all his praise. It may he humble, but it is holy. Poverty may be there. and sorrow—but its inmates are rich in faith, and joyous in the holy Ghost. Sick. nes" may enter it. but it comes like an angel of peace and mercy. Cot. CHOC:HA:C.—A soldier of the Tennes see volunteers wnting honte gives the follow ing characteristic incident of the brave old Croghan at the storming of Monterey ; .• We were • exposed to a fire for one mile and a - half, from three of the enemy's batteries. Soon after we started from our last position thev'epened a most galling fire upon us. Just at'this moment we met•old Col. Croghan. the hero of Sandusky. with his hat off waving it in the Mr ; he rode between us and the enemy!s fire. and said, waving his hat. go on boys, go on Tennesseeans, remember you are front the land of Jackson 1 Go on and take that fort, and bear in mind that vita are from the land of Old nickory.—The gallant Tennes secan+ returned a loud shout and on they IMM SEVERE RF.TORT.-A 111311 who msrries a rich wife must expect oi e-tsionally to ►have it flung in his teeth. We have heard a report. however. which we think most have silenced such thrusts. A gentleman who had the mis- fortune. was once exhibiting the fine points of his horse to a friend. • • ttly horse. it you please.' said the wife : "my money bought that horse." " Yes, madam.' replied the husband, bowing. ••arid your money bought me."