*NORIO alpovter.
rime Soh, Frio Speech. Free
at ;:;1
Freedom for free Territory.
E. 0. GOODRICH, EDITOR.
Towanda, Saturday,.Apnl - . -- 3, 1.552.
sow c►TAt tosonsooxits,
T3I. SEARIGHT, or Fayette county
Terms of ?he Reporter.
02 00 per annum—if pa:(1 within tho year no cows tylit
ISsidedocteti—fo , cosh oni,literually 1n adrance /111 00 will be
ONlneted. No paper soot overiwo years. witless mutt far.
orsirrtsawears. per scittare of ten lines. SO Opus for the
firs , 1114 cents for each salor-rictont ineert , on
in... Office in this trinon Work." north side ot,the
door to the ItrisOfori I:ntraqe be.ween
;tsars Adorns` and Elwell's law offices.
The Governooe
4 We invite the attention of onr reatlerAn the late
Message of Gov. fited.ra, upon the sntriect . of the
fbiances or theCommonweahh, and the comple.
tlon of-the North Branch canal. It will be read
with groat ileasure bY the citizens of Bratlfercl
Con.,.y. I! is an able and we I written State paper,
straight-forward and to tho•point. Its suggestions
um the dictates of sound policy, and proves Gov
Bigler to be, what Wp have ever considered him,
and upright,:al,le an) consistent man
The Governor recommends that advantage be
„taken of :Le preterit reduced rates of interest, to
'negotiate a loan for 'the purpose of paying off the
debts already due, and that which will soon be
sarne due . . There is now due and unpaid two
millions four hundred and ninety.one thousand two
.hundred and fifty five dollars of the bonds of the
Commonwealth, bearing an interest of sit per cent
find a balance of near ono thousand dollars due to
domestic creditors, beatin,g a like rater - it( interest,
besides one million three hundred and ninety thou
, sand, at five per cent ; over two millions will tall
dim in ISO, and about three millions in 1854.
Capitalists would be eager to negotiate a loan at
Eve per cent , and probably at even a lower rate of
interest to repay this debt, which would save the
State aunnally a considerable sum, besidesliffirmg
her in a situation mote consister4 with her resour.
ces and dignity.
f'pon the subject pfthe North Blanch the Cover
nor speaks plainty and fraikly. The people of
Brad ford will recognin in his suggestions, the same
policy
,which hi advocated in "his speech at this
place last tall. le urges upon the Legislature the
importance of making immediate provision lot the
completion .of the wot k. A. , the amount of sirpine
revenue will - he small, under :he most favorable cir
cumstances; he! advocates a loan for the purpose of
completing „this improvement—and poiit's out
the benefits' 'which will result from its completion,
tc_ithe people of the North, and to the Wiasury of
the State.
If any thing was needed In endear Gov. BIGLLR
to the citizens of the North, this message, would
make him esteemed end respected. We hear it
spoken of by all parties in terms of the highest
commendation. It proves him to be actuAted by
no spirit of demagoguism—no halting, triging, tricky
policy=but proves him a man of enlariod arid lib
etal views, fearless n the utterance of what he
conceives to be the right, and honest and true in
his friendship for the interests or the North We
have no desire to draw coMpariscrns with the late
administration, but we are fiim 'r; the befief. that
if the same honest and frank policy had character-
'zed its conduct towards the North Branch—d Gov.
Jonstrtos had been willing to atiow it to stand np•
on its merits as a great state work, and untrammel.
led by small,notes or " Sinklng" fund, the sound of
the boatman's harn would now be heard along our
We take pieaante in commending Gov. Biottn's
administration tt us far. fie I rma mamilAifetl
position te bring the administration of our State af.
fairs back to the sound and healthy mode; of
The people of the State will stand by, and
ei,:pport him in his laudable undertaking, as they did
that honest and good man. We do not approve of
everything be hasione, nor do we expect that
everything in the future will be exactly to please
our own views—but we believe Gov. B. in all his
acts, to be actuated by honest and upi4lit motives,
doing what he deems most conducive of the public
pod, and promoting the interests of the Common.
weahh, and so far as our exertions can go, they
small !be freely given to sustain him".iin the indepen.
dent and democratic course his conduct seems to
foreshadow.
Witte. Sr.xe Couvrxrms.—The Whig State Con
vention assembled -at Harrisburg on Tuesday; a full
delegation every district of the Stale being in alien-
dance. Hon. Wituant Jessee,ofSosquedannacn.;
acted as permanent President, supported by a Isrge
number of Vice Presidents and Secretaries. A mo.
Iron was carried to proceed visa voice to nitres*
the prcterence of the Conventipn for a candidate for
Presidency ; when Gen. IVtericLuScorr received
113 votes, and fiwrere given for " the nominee of
the National Corraention " Es Gov. Wm. F. ions.
@TON, MORTON Mo.sltcriAtr., and Jettic C. KONNCL ,
were appointed Dolegates the National Convene
Lion from the State at large. lion. Wit-mot Jose?,
is the Representative Delegate for 1114 District. At
the evening session, on the'third ballot, Sams
NAY, Eq. o 1 Beiks, was nominated as tl:e Whig
Candidate for Canal Commissioner ; which porni
nation was then unanimously ratified ay the Con
vention. At.cassineu E. Baovre,ol Northampton ;
JO:MVAI POLIIICK, at Northumberland; and Samoa.
A. Pcravisace, of Butler; were appointed Presiden
tial Electors for the State at large. M. C. Illkacca
is the District Elector for this District. A series of
resolutions were unanimously reported and adopted
and the Convention adjourned sins die with nine
cheers fur General Scott.
t*... The member of the State Central Commit
tee
.from this region is Hon. Gcoacc- SANDERPON of
Bradford. The personage- who formed that Com
mittee is a notorious advocate for the re-charter of
the Easton Bank, and we have heard some citrinai:
ty expressed to see the vote in the Senate upon the
re-charter-of that institution. The heap may be all
meal—brit there is a strong feline smell about it,
which ka-VoFpicioup.
Will the Senator wile' Le next writes his friends,
e.editots of the Afro', send the yeas sal nays 1
Passige of the N.B. bill.
"
or We have just received . a telegraphic
despatch, from Harrisburg, dated April first„
iitinouncinithat the bill appropriating EB6OO
004 to the North Bmuch, had passed both
Houses, and would be signed by the Gov.
(Eof dr . _ Reporter
Enquiry.
EDITOIII :—ls the Mr. Ward who has been
appointed a Delegate to the Baltimore Convention
the same who came up to this plitce.in 1844 to re-
claim politicil sinners and secure totes for Henry
cisy t and who fteuiatively illuitrated the beau
ties fVt higeery and Democracy, in eontrast.by the
use of alable of a woodchuck and polteaU Putting
down the polecat as the representative of the Demo
crat side of the house ?
fitnyo : • 0 word POMO power the tittle ire es
Bbeshrquin, March £B, zB5:
(We presume that the two persons men•loned
by our correspondent in his inquiry above, ate the
earn.. lin we have no s before us t .the " Bradirrd
.Ir,rs" dated May 11, .1-81.1, which contains,:lhe
proceedings of the " Bradford County Clay Clitio,"
Isom which we extract the following :
"The audience liktene4' very attentively till after
midnight, to the able, eloquent and logical argu
ments of Messrs. Bota.occ, Aosxs. B and
WARD, upon the principles and operation of the
tariff, (with which is so intimately coanected the
Distribution of the Proceeds of the public ;domain)
the Bub , Treasury ; the refutation of Clay and Ad
ams' "bargain and sale ;" the severi sides of Ole
"never-erring Democrat" Martin Van Buren; the
claims of the two great generals Markle and Mull
lenberg, for the Gubernatorial chair, &c. &c."
This was quite a programme for a Delegate to
the Democratic National Convention—and must
have afforded ample scope for all of Mr. Ward's po.
thical learning and eloquence.
fn this same piper we find an account of the for
mation of a Clay Club in Columbia, at which Mr,
Ward, strangely enough, (' happened" to be p i es.
ent, and overcame his native modesty sufficiently
to address the meeting. So our correspondent will
observe:that Sheshequin was not the only place
enlightened by Mr. W to during the campaign of
1841 - ; whether the oderiferous compatison made
in S. was indul g e in at each place visited, we are
unable tilsay.—td. Rep)
QJr Our friendWltrov, will get out.-of humor.—
We Can't keep hiin good.homored:' We have
coaxed and petted the testy wasp but every now
anihthen the Columns of his talented little sheet
fairly boil over with the efleresence of his rag %
Perhaps it is fortunate—his editorial columns may
be a sort of safety.valve,•by means of which he can
blow MT the superabundance of seam which might
otherwise be datigeroui. He calls us all sorts of
hard names-in his last paper, and comes down up.
on us so like a " thousand of brick," that we are
nearly demolished Worm., certainly can cow
afr.rd to be generous and forgiving. We know that
the Senatorial manoeuvre4was not particularly.prol
itable, and.the Congressiofial still less so, but what
a vast field of speculation ;L is now opened for the
talent of the Delegate to the National• Convention.
Here is a snm in the rule of three :—lf tis worth
tt&l to withdraw from the field as a candidate for
Senator—how much can a Delegate to the Demo.
crash:, National' Convention make out of his posi.
tion The product ought to be, at least a good fat
office.
By the way, speaking of buying and selling, pats
us in mind of an anecdote we have haunt of Wts.
DY, at the Harrisburg Convention of August 1848,
which is worth telling :
At that Convcntion, whizh met to nominate a
successor to the lamented SHUNg, Messrs. Long.
streth, Bigler, Black and Eldred, were the chief
competitors. The first day's balloting failed of a
nomination—LONGSTRZTII lacking but one vote of
being successful. Of course, during the evening,
there was csvcussing and consulting, and plans to
raise the needed vote on the morrow. In the midst
of this a gentleman from Luzeme county said—
" there was a Delegate here from Wyoming coon.
ty who come here on purpose to sell himself—l
wouldn't speak to him, but you can boy him, if you
wish I° l7 l am certain." Upon this hint, a couple
of the canaille's withdrew, and soon mega/mkt wri , h
the information that the matter was arranged. We
shall draw no conclusion but on the first ballot next
morning is recorded the note of our friend WINDT
for Longatreth.
04r We find rhe following telegraphic despatch
in the Pennsylvanian of the 30th nit.
C AAAAAA TON, March R9th.—Th• Democrats of
Jackson county, Georgia, have resolved to support
the Baltimore nominees, if they art not Preis boilers.
If the Democratspf Georgia have the right to
make such a reservation in regard to the Baltimore
nominee, we knower no reason, why Democrats
in the North, may rot exercise a like privilege, and
say who they will not support. We should like to
have this matter clearly understood, whether any
body is to kick ) at the Baltimore nomination under
any circumstances. It is a game which can be play
ed almost anywhere, and we most confess it the
Democrats of Georgiar-Ire disposed to open the ball
thus early, by declaring in *dears whom they will
not support, we have a strong inclination to take
some part in the game.
Stmn BY Ma. Craow.—ln the telegraphic ac
count of the proceedings of Congress, we find the
following notice of a speech Jeliwered by Mr. Gum
on Tuesday last:
Mr Gao maintained that every person has a.
right to as pooh land as may be necessary for his
support, astir has to the air, water and sunshine,
and took thp broad ground that every man settled
on the putylki domain is madera consumer of loreign
products i from which our revenue is to be raised.
As a question of revenue, then, it becomes necessary
to make donations of public lands as designated by
by this bill, while the natural rights of man imper
atively demand this He opposed internal improve
ments by the General Government, and took the
Jackson doctrine as hi s guide in this respect.
We shalt.prOably receive his remarks in full in
a few ilays4 when - we will publish them.
0;:r The Pientsy/vanian has passed into the
hand of W. H. Hope, late of the Baltimore Argus.
It is herealtir to be issued as a penny paper. We
trust under Os new administration it will exhibit
more liberal - views than it has at late, and consider
the;vralfare of the great democratic party, rather
than become the organ ot a single man.
EVROPt —The news Flom Europe presents little
marked importance. The New Ministry has an
nouncer: the intetulett dissolutiosofthe British Par
liament. Thritounjry is wide eyelike for the new
Election, to be con'tWerl by a ro, privileged so.
tern Fiance is as tre4goil u tyrrany can make it
Spain is sending out t new Governor-Genual and
more troops fur COOL •
T', Ad -
RELATIVE TO THE PUBLIC DEBT AND THE
FINANCES IDF THE STATE.
To the Sena and House af
of the te
CommoswwilA fireftensyloania
• Comitsuca dad intended, imiznedistely af.
ter my induction into office, to communicate with
Fon ou the aubjectof the public debt, and to sahib.
n the actual financial condition of the Common
wealth at that period. After the necessary exami
muion, however, I dicovered that I could not do so
a WI that precise accuracy which should character.
ize the statements of an official commuujcation.
There are outstanding debts on the public works
unpaid claims and balincea of appropriations for .
last year, :he amount of which could not be ascot.
mined in time for this purples. lam therefore, 1
regret to say, compelled to foregb the performance
of this duty, anvil dug intwaing al the .next
lure. I cannot, however, refrain from expressing
the views I entertain and the anxiety I feel on a
few subjects connected 'with the financial and other
affairs of the State. •
X. Y. Z.
There is now due and unpaid Iwo millions lour
hundred and ninety one thousand two hundred and
filly-five dollars of the bonds of the Commonwealth
bearing an interest of six per cent., and a balance
of near one hundred thousand dollars due to do
mestic creditors, bearing alike rate of interest, be
sides one million three hundred arid nir.ety thous
and, at five per cent ; over two millions will fall
due in 1853, Ind about three millions in 1851. •
I respectfully suggest to the Legislators the pro
priety of =skirl provision for the cancellation of
these matured bonds, and such as may fall doe do
rit.g the coming year, by authorizing the State Trea
surer to negotiate loans for that purpose, and issue
that bonds of the Commonwealth, re-imboraable at
the expiration of ten or fifteen years, at a rate of in
terest not exceeding five per cent., with interest
certificates attached or in the usual form as may be
deemed proper. The present reduced rates of in
terest in Europe, and the abundance of money in
the principal oitizens of this country affords ample
assurance that such loans can be negotiated at a
rate of interest mitch below that which the State is
now bound topay on these matured bonds. t am
fully satisfied, by information which has reached
me through private as well as public scources, that
the bonds of the State exempted from taxation,
could be negotiated at such a rate of interest, as to
amount to a very desirable saving to the TressUry.
h is not so much the present rate of tax on that bomb
that would injure the value of new ones, as the
sensitive apprehension entertained by capitalists,
that such rate of taxation might at some future time
be increased Besides these inducements to can
cel the matured bonds we should not forget that it
is not benefining a 'great and prosperous State like
Pennsylvania, to have s matured and unpaid debt
I resting upon her. Such a state of affairs is not
consistent with her dignity arid her pride, and is
well calculated to have an injurious effect upon her
credit. Her ability to pay cannot be doubted, and
the fidelity with which her people have ever re
sponded to every reasonable demand to sustain her
dada hasexcited unlimited confidence in her itneg
lily amongst the capitalists of this country and Ea
rope I therefore, most ream:trolly submit this
subject to your consideration.
_ The receipts into the Treasury for the year 1851
deducting the temporary loan of $98,200, amount.
ed to 84,472.393.93 and the expenditures for the
same year to 84,780,667 53 : or 8308,363 40 more
than the whole receipts. In this expenditure is in•
eluded 8185,13891, which was paid to the Com•
missionsrs of the Sinking Fund, and cannot, there
fore, be properly regarded as an expenditure, as it
was used to cancel a like amount of the funded
debt leaving an actual balance against the Tattoo
ry of 3123 255 49
After full consultation with the financial officer of
the State, and a careful examination of the data
which he has kindly placed withie my reach, 1 have
arrived at the conclusion, that the receipts and ex
penditures for the current year may be estimated as
follows, to wit :—Receipts $4,323,000, ex penlitares
3 1, 027,000 leaving a balance of receipts over ex
pen:limes of $298,000 including in this expendi
ture an squinted payment to the Commissions...
of the Sinking Fund of 8220.000. But it should be
observed, that in the expenditures for last year, is
included the sum nt 8142,196 applied to the North
Branch canal, and $30,000 for the inclined planes
on the Portage roan and the Western reservoir, ma•
king in all 1475, 188 expended on new work dur
ing the last season. It will be seen, however, by
reterence to the State Treasurer's report that the bal
ance in the Treasury on the first of December, 1850
was 3754,252 81, whilst at the same period of the
year 1851, the ba ' ance was bat 8553,079 21, being
a difloienee against the Treasury for this year, of
$210,252 80, which sum together with the Mo e
000 of temporary loan to be paid out of the receipts
of the present year, amount to 8510.252 60 being
838,155, 60 more than all the payments for new
work, and on this data the balance in the Treasu
ry at the end of this year, is reduced to 259,744 40.
Thus it will appear, that should no accident occur
to the public works during the present season, we
may reasonably anticipate a surplus revenue of
between two and throe thousand dollars. Should
the improvements. however, be visited by any thing
like the extent of damage,,which befell them dor.
ing the last year, this balance would be reduced to
a sum too meagre to desene wake. It is, there
tore, apparent that we cannot rely upon the surplus
revenue of the Treasury during the current year, for
the means to prosecute the work on the North
Branch canal and the Portage teemed with that vig.
or which the interest of the State seems for to de.
mend
I remarked at the time of my induction into oL
fice that I regarded tho speedy completion of the
North Branch canal as consuitent with the truest
principles of economy. 'the examination which I
have given the subject sines that time, has tended
;neatly to increase my confidence in the truthful
ness of that declaratin In this view, I seem to
concur in opinion with my 4ble and experienced
predecessor, who took occasitin to recommend this
subject to the favorable consideration of the Legia4
lature in his last annual message. The policy of
resuming the prosecution of this work is no longer
an open issue and need not now be discussed.
This question was settled by the Legislature 011849
since which time about 8650,000 have been expen
ded on the work ; all of which, together with two
and a.half millions originally expended, and the
amourd of retained per centage, and the usual dam
ages to the contractors on the abandonment of the
work, must be entirely lost, unless the canal be
completed.
The whole length of this improvement is ninety.
lour miles ; fifty miles of which are folly complet.
ed, and the remaining forty.four are under contract,
or ready to pat under contract so soon u the Legis
lature may Make provision for the payment of the
same. According to the estimate of William B.
Foster, the experienced engineer on that line 772,-
000 will be sufficient to complete it ; and that should
the means be promptly furnished the whole line
may be brought into use in the early part of the
next season. Can it be doubted, for a moment, that
the next annual receipts on this work will largely
exceed the interest on this meagre suml I am
confident that those who have given the subject the
least attention wilt not hesitate on this point. I con.
fidently believe that they will not only do this, but
that they will be sufficient also to pay the interest
on the $650,000 expended since 1849, and on the
two and a-halt millions expended prior to 1841,
and leave a balance to go into the treasury besides.
I need not give you my reasons, in derail, for this
opinion. The data on which it rests has been prop
sensed to you in more forcible terms than I could
employ It requires but a glance at the operations
on the completed part of that improvement...at the
vast district of country which would be supplied
with the anthracite coal through the medium of this
canal—the rapidly increasing consumption of this
article wherever it hattbeen brought into use..-40'
satisfy the most incredulous mind that the tonnage
on this improvement must, in a law years, be al
most equal to its capaoity. Some timely-five cone.
ties of the State of New York, rich, populous, and
grouring,Xmbracing a number of incorporated ch
war now paying high prices for fuel, to hemp.
plied with this utile - tor domestiertoectranicaliend
manulaccuring reposes ; _ta ,, atom for wthlactott
canal would to some extent. be freighted with Soh,
plaster, ,/t0., 81c. Th e growth of the anthracite coal
bleinessin the State is almost incredible. If we
may be allowed, to take Ibis increase as • data on
which to Wenn estimate of the future business of
this cans), it Will morethin *qui thsexpectations
of its most saffitaitte friends We can scarcely res.
ILIA the hmst that the operations in this article have
growilroneB6o 000 tons in 1840 to near 4,2000 0 0
tons in 1851, and in all probability the amount
will exceed 6,000,000 for the current year !
If, then, it be so apparent that - the income. from
this welt will pay the interest on its cost and 1 e
a surplus for theme of the Treasury besides, w
policy would seem to indicate its speedy comple
tion. I most respectfully and earnestly urge upon
you the favorable consideration of this subject at
the sarliass day : The 111110 for doubt and
delay, it seems to me, has gone by. This work
revs either -be finitthed-wrover -three millionsot
the prphes money, already expended - on it, must
be throWn away To depend upon the present
means of the Treasury, would, I am confident, lead
to vexatious and injurious delay. The sum neces
sary to complete it should, and, I am assured, can
be obtained on a loan at a rate of interest not exceed
ing five per cent., re-imburvtabsl at such period as
the revenue therefrom shall have reached the a
mount of the interest and principle. lam aware
that there is a proper sensitiveness in the minds of
the-people on this subject of borrowing money ;
and I am sore that 1 /Wahl not recommend any
measure that would have the effect of increasing
their bantms. But I 'sincerely believe that the
tendency of this manure will be to lawn rather
than increase them-s-that it is the best financial
measure the Legislature can at present adopt.—that
its ultimate tendency will be to aid the Treasury in
the liquidation of the present debt ; certainly much
more so than the alternative of allowing the sum
already expended to be lost. The complet.on of
this work will also give an impetus to the growth
and prosperity of the northern potion of the State
woold invite men and money into that rich section
of the Commonwealth, and would be an act of jet'.
tirte to the people diktat region - who have ever,
with a true spirit ol loyalty ar.d generosity, Contrib.
Wei their proper share towards sustaibing the Icon.
or and dignity of tjte State.
The importance of prompt and efficient action on
this subject cannot be °vended? The citizens of
the State of New York, who intend to construct the
connecting link between our improvements and
the Chemung canal, in that State should have early
assurance that our improvement will be:rompleted.
Business men, who desire to operate on this line,
will not make a proper arrangements to do so until
ample provisions is made for its completion. Ev.
ry confederation ol interest and economy, it seems
to me, dictates prompt and efficient action an this
question.
The avoidance of the inclined plains on the Al
legheny Portage raeroad was also commencers en
der the late administration, and in my opinion, is
a necessary work, and should be prosecuted to
completion as rapidly as the means of the treasury
will permit. It is an important link in our main
line of improvements, and has ever been (and un
less the planes are avoided, will continue to be) a
seams of heavy expenditure, great delay, and dan
ger in the transportion of tonnage The annual ex
penditures to keep those plans in order has been
extremely heavy. It is estimated that near a hun
dred thousand dollars would be saved yearly in the
expenses of this railroad were the cufe of the planes
dispensed with. One hundred and seventy-five
thousand dollars were appropriated for this purpose
by the last Legislature. The old material on the
mad is continued at • value of 8248.650. This,
with the additional sum of 8591,350, it is estimated
by Mr Fines, the engineer on that line, will ac
complished this desiaable end. lam also assured
by the same officer, that with the necessary tipper
Fifteen, four of the ten planes may be avoided
during the coming season.
In connection with this subject, I need scarcely
remark, that our main line of improvements is
about to encounter a most powerful rival forth* ton
nap of the West in the Pennsylvania railroad,
which work will probably be completed during the
year 1853. The avoidance of the planes will do
more. I am confident, to strengthen the main line
against this competition than any other improve-
ment that can be made. I respectfully recommend
this subject to your favorable consideration.
The absolute necessity for the expenditure of large
sums of money to complete the improvements to
which I have referred, will, If am confident, al
monish you of the propriety of confining the appro.
priations to the lowest possible point that the pub
lic service and the interest of the State will permit,
including nothing for whic h she is - not legally and
morally bound to provide. - Riged economy in the
expenditures indispensably necessary to sustain
the credit of the State, fulfill the engagements she
has already made, and meet therreasonable expec•
tations of the people The public improvements
of the State are one of nor principal sources of re
venue, and shoal at all times, receive the special
care of the Legislature. Every proper effort should
be made to increase the receipts and lessen the
expenditures on these works. I have not had the
oppormnity of giving the subject of their manage
men) that thorough examination which is indispensr
bly to the formation of a correct opinion in refer.
ence to the details of their operation; but I have
long entertained the opinion that no &lion of the
Legislature could have a more salutary effrct upon
the management than the adoption of the cash sys
tem in paying for the labor and materials necessary
to keep them in. successful. operation. It is, my
opinion, to the loose system of contracting debts
now in practice, as much, if not more, than to any
other defect in the present policy, may be attribut
ed their failure to meet expectations of the people
as a source of revenue. The most vigilant eflorts
of the officers could not: prevent th. 2ayment of ex
orbitant prices for labor and materials, if obtained
on credit The State always pays dearly for such
sesemodation. Besides, this custom affords the op.
portunity of most palpable imposition, if nr t actual
frauds, upon the State. The very idea of a set of
officers-being allowed to throw the credit of the
Commonwealth broadcast, to be taken up at some
future period by somebody else, is almost startling
I regard it as a most dangerous policy, calculated
to beget a spirit of careless prodigality in the man
agement of public affairs, and to incite impositions
upon the treasury. It should, in my opinion, be
abandoned at the earliest day possible I, therefore
respectfully suggest the property of fixing a period
by law, afar which the officers on the public works
shall not be allowed to contract debts for-any pur
pose whatever, directing the disbursing officers to
make monthly statements of their accounts tome
Canal Commissioners, showing the amount of mo
ney disburse.' and the materials purchased, and-re
quiring all outstanding accounts to be presented to
the Canal Commissioners or Auditor General for
settlement. Under a cull system, the actual in
debtness of the State could at all times be - readily
ascertained, which would be a great copvelience
for the Legislatere, as well as a satisfactrion to the
people. In the introduction of a new system of this
kind care should be taken to place at the command
of the proper officers the necessary means to carry
it into operation.
It might be well, also, to take some action on the
subject of claims for damages incurred in the con.
'erection of our public improvements T-htesubject
should be finally disposed of. Although many
Years has passed by since the construction of theso
works, every year brings nut some new item of
this kind. Mach of the time oldie Legialiture, and
the Canal Commissioners, is clammed in the air 'si
tuation of these. claims,
and for the list ten or
twelve years they have absorbed the means of the
Treasury to the extent of from fifty to eighty thous
and dollars annually lam informed that claims
are now being pressed for damages, which, it is al
leged, the Commonwealth incurred more than twen.
ty yeara sines it trust be a most difficult task for
dm Canal Commissioners to ascertain all the facts
in MOM so long defeiverl I suggest the propriety
of dissenting this subject by some summary mode
of pnateenlirsf
In conclusion, I beg to be indulged in a sugges
tion on the inl ie =sc o l legislation. I am con
fidant-6M the 'bly will agree with me
that some Mown en 1111,104 w is much needed.
- ,
The whims ot , oar Ulm for . dee maim et .111111/ 1
and OA, compared with those of previous yaw l
show that our legislation is increasing to en alerts
ins degree: By reference to these volumes her the
yeas I have named, it will be seen deo but geom•
pinetivelpimell portion of the leree - they contain
are Oa general*taracte, being mainly. for local
or pinto porposes.• These eolumert, *heti com
pared with the "tames ermeted eight or' tea -yeate
since, or With those annually ensated. 4 by Coorseei
or any of oar sister States, well into an astonishin g
magnitude. This evil is on the increase, and it
seems to me that a rowdy is imperiously celled
for. Much may be done to arrest this evil by the
adoption of a pew well digested general laws Fcir
the purpose of attaining this desirable end, I respect
fully suggest far your consideration, ptopriety . of
constituting a commission of tau or three a:porton
eel' legal pa ifirpor!„ whose 'duty it shall be to pm
! pare general biers to meet this object, to be submit
! ted to the consideration of.theriest Legislature. , I
know (tom experience how difficult it is for the
representatives of the people, after their arrived at
the seat of government, to 'find the iterapeeary leis
ure and privacy loanable them them to prepare and
digest intricate pineal laws. Each dad seems to
bring its labor upon them, and the session runs by
before a subject Of this kind can receive the necesc .
ray consideration
The subject of regulating ehtetion districts, nam
ing election houses, which initially occupies much
of th e time of the egislators and many pager of
'
of thp Journal and Statute &piths ' might be safely
emirate, to the Commissioners of the respective
i
counties
:The subject. of divorces should, , it seems to me,
be left entirely with the courts vas well, also, as the
whole subject of selling real estate by trustees, guar
thins? eel those acting in a representative capeci
ty. nese measures, together with a few more
general statute+. on the subject of corporations,
would, I think, have a most s lutary edict on leg
islation. As far as possible, our laws should be
general; and those that are so, should be sternly
maintained against special innovations.
WILLIAM BIGLER.,
I Ex rcenve Cuanies,
Harrisburg, March 25, 1852. i
- '
•
Tim TIAI2CD, —The Fairmont :I
rrne Virginian, of Saturday last, gives the follow.
ing additional account and particulars of a tragedy,
which has already been noticed* telegraph :
A report was biought here on Thursday, by the
mail carrier from Clarksburg, to the effect that
horrible and wholesale merrier was committed in
West Union. Doddridge eoun jr, on last Wedrrea.
day night. Six men and one woman are aid to
have been cruelly murdered. Money is supposed
to have been the object, as twenty two thousand
dollars are said to have been taken by the perpe.
tattoo. It is thought that this crime and the es
cape of Oxen from Clarksburg jail, were both ef ,
tecttd by three neon, strangers. who came to Clarks
burg on the Sunday evening proceeding, and who
are now suspected to be accomplices of Jacques
and his gang. .
They are thought to have helped Omens' out of
jail by letting a rope down the chimney and draw.
ing him up. He is known to hove taken a boat at
Parkersburg, on the Ohio river, and it is feared he
will escape. The other parties lett Clarksburg on
Wednesday, reached West Union the same night
Stopp , ng at die same house with a party of persons
moving west, and either knowing or learning that
the mowers had money, the villains roe in the night
and murdered every human being but themselves
about the house, and escaped.
John Owens who is here referred to. has been
confined in the jail at Clarksburg. since November,
on the charge of setting fire to the buildings burnt
there at that time, and escaped on the night of Sun-
day, 14th inst , by crawling op the chimney.
State Central Commltteer.
The officers of the 4th of March Convention have
appointed the following State Canna] Committee:
Wm. L Hirst, Chairman, Philadelphia.
Hon Wm. Dock, Harrisburg.
Col. Samuel C Stambaugh, Lancaster.
Henry S Mon, Milford, Pike county.
t Thomas 3. Femon, Philadelphia. •
Francis C Carson, Hurl:ilium
Charles Lyn an, Potter countr. 7 l
William Canis, Philadelphia."!.
Thomas Watson, Washington.
Benjamin Parke, Harrisburg. _
Hon. R. Rneass, Philadelphia:
John Lehman, Adamscounfy.
William Lilly, Carbon
Philip Missed!, sen., Easton.
Dr. Charles H Hunter, Reading .
Dr..J. H. Seltzer, Morgantown. Reiff' eo
R. J. Nivens, Susquehanna county.
George Sam'emon, Bradford.
William H Welsh, York.
John C Clark, Westmoreland.
Jesse Lemur., Greene.
Johr D. Stiles, Allentown.
Wm. H Lambenon, Venango.
Wm. Badger, Phila delphia.
John B. Bretton. Carlisle.
Dr. David Marshall, Libation.
RosatiLz Mutton IN Esszon.--Abont 11 o'clock
last Monday night, a shocking murder was perpe
trated in ^a house at the Northwest comer of North
ampton and Juliana streets in the borough of Eas
ton. It appears that BAIXEY ANDREWS, a day-la
borer, has been living on bad terms with his wife
for a long time, and had frequent qcarrels with her,
said to be owing to her bad conduct: There is no
doubt that she was an unfaithful and loose woman.
and it is said she frequently taunted her husband
with her own infidelity. She had her husband put
to jail last winter for illtreating her, and he had
been out ten or twelve days. It i_ said that on Mon
day night, he went into his house, and had some
words with his wife, and while they were quarrel.
n:, two men came and tapped on the window out
side. Barney went out to see who was there, and
while he was oat she locked the door and refused
to let him in again. . _ He then broke open the door.
knocked Ids wife flown, and drawing a razor from
his pocket, cut her throat from ear to ear. lie con
fessed the deed, surrendered himself and was corn
milted to jail.
BOUNTY LAND WaRRAPrIII —The bill making the
Land Warrants of 1850 assignable, has passed both
branches of Congress, and the Washington haw.
licences' says there is no reason to doubt that st will
at once receive the signature of the President, and
thus become a law. It wit! benefit manrof the
recipients of this bounty of the Government, who
possessing warrants for lands, are themselves una.
ble to locate them.
This bill stithotize■ all warrants issued or hereaf
ter to be ;armed under any law of the United States
to be agrignable according to the useal forms, and
also fives to the State troops of the War of 1812
that were ultiintitel% paid 17 the National Govern
ment, the benefits of the Act of 1850. Any person
entitled to pre emotion right to any land, *llBll he
entitled to noe an, such warren, in payment of the
same. at 81.25 per acre. Warrants may be loitated
in one body upon any lands ol the United S.tites.
subject to private entry at the time Mauch locations
at the minimum price. When said wartan4"shall
be located on lands which are subject to entry at a
areal minimum that 81.25 per acre, the locate, of
said warrants shall pay to the United States, in cash.
:he ififfnrence between the value nt such Warren's at
81,25 per acre, and the tract of land located on.
RAPPINO Dst.srains —The Oneida chief, printed
at elution, Oneida comity, N Y., says that a family
in that place, the member, of which have been
persuaded by the rappinue. had been complenioy
broken op—a mother has left her ymmu children
sick arid °neared tor. and take up her boanl and.
report says, her bed, with one of the muculine
spirits. says ,
further says. that this male tapper.
in order to make room for his neighbor's , wife, has
discarded hi• own gising her a written discharge,
which he calls a bill of .divorce, and that though
she still remains in his Wili, it is in the chancier
of servant, and not sea w ise.
p f oceethwei the Pais tegiditv-t
SZMaTIL.
W/311110DaT, March N .
k. Cm*" repotted a bill for the relief e i L lI •
Greet, Mir of a revolaionary abtd ou i r
- wartaken lIP and Awed. . -
t.
G ete pee read Joshes a bill lb i
thg,liawregaaville and Oswego Railroad c o
nip s ?
vry.
hi f . Hoes .ad a billto incorporate the':
later co ll egiate institute •
nu k .
fasitice mid sl eliattro
foreign corporation.
•The bill supplements:7:of the act ktoo e p orir
the Sunbury and Eris railroad was mien bp :I
discussed at length. It was finally referred to err
committee on corporations
The bill for the immediate completion of
the
North Branch canal was then taken up. •
• 'Thii - cluesticth being oo the adoption of the
of the committee of the whole, authorizing the y .
mem of the interest on the loan to b e ,„ od p a e a
the rate of 54 per ~gent., instead 016, which wal
negatived: .
Yess-41essol. Barnes, Carothers, Canon, D e .
.lington, Kinzer, Kunkel, McKaslin, Malone, Mme .
blublenberg, Myers, §lifer, Walker, Speak s ,
,-13. . • ' •
Nara—Messrs. Bailey, Bnckalew, Crabb, Fer n .
"on, Forsyth, Frailey, Fulton, Guernesey,
Hoge, Jones, McFarland, Packer, RObanson, S ae .
derson, Shimer-16. -
The question then recurring on the final passag e
of the bill it was ;greed to by the following s e w..
ygam....blesans. Bailey, flames, Buckslow, c a bb
Evans, Fenton, Forsyth, Frailey, Guernsey, H em
n, Hamlin, Hoge, Jones McParham!, Itici
Packer, Sanderson, Shinier—lS.
•
Nara—Messrs Carothers. Carson, Darlingto n
Fulton. Kinzer, Kunkel, McCaslin, Melons, M.
thins, Mati'either& Myers, Robertson, Slifer, %VC.
ker Speaker --14.
The bill entitled an act for the relief of the creel.
hors ofthe Susquehana canal company anti forst&
et purposes, was taken np and 'passed third MI
ing
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
The bill tram the lionate authorizing the loan of
9%50.000 for the completion of the North Brantl t
COMM. we• taken up, but postponed, incanaeyveuq
of the Neki.ess of sevetel frassirla of I'm bi 3
rhe supplemem lathe set missive to the ken.
diction unit it( were of courts eatemling the chan.
eery power. nt tie Supreme Cowl, was taken ap
u•id passed- second reading, as it came from lb.
Senate.
suseral unimportant titivate . ills pasted and the
House adjourned. .
AFTERNOON SESSION.;
Ths bill to inraiporate the An hrachus - Bitak a
Tamaqua, passadlrst reading, sod was, then pa.
piloted
The bill to protect the creditors of the Schuylkill
Navigation Company, was taken up and passed 6.
ribily—y ea* 71 nays 5.
The bill to repeal the law taxing the - dividends
de c lared t•y the Bank of Pennsylvania, was taken
up and so amended as to allow the journals of the
Legislawre to be aped as evidence in any soil be:
tween the Bank and the State, and was then dis.
cussed apatite boor of adjournment. Adjourned.
LOOS Of TUC CLAY hiII:DAL..-The splendid gold
medal. which was recently presented to the Hoc.
Henry City by tenomber of citizens of New York,
in teettminty of their admiration for his great public
service. is said to have been lost in that city on
Saturday evening. It appears it was entrusted by
Mr. Clay so Miss Lynch, in Washington, to be de
livered to Mr. Ulman in New York, sod that she
left she former city on Friday, in company wi h the
family of Charles Butler, Fog , who induced her to
place it io hie carpet-bag. which he bold in his boil
until he arrived in New Ynrk on Saturday ahemoon.
It was then placed on the drivers seat of the hack
which conveyed them to the dwelling of Miss
Lynch, but on their arrival in Ninth street the tug
with its valuable contents was missing. Search wn
immediately instituted, and a reward, of S5OO offer.
ed for its recovery—but, so far, without success. It
was of solid gold, enclosed in a massive silver ram,
and cost $2,500 Mr. Butler has wiled a duplicate
of the medal to be prepared at his coat, in case the
missing one is not recovered, but in a letter, an.
nornicing the loss. he says:—
" I indulge a hope that will be recovered I
can hardly conceive of an Amencan,, or man, into
whose hands inieh a treasure might fall., who would
not count it his highest privilege and honor to return
it to the owner."
It is smee stated that the liberal oiler of Mr. Bet
lar to furnish another Clay nu d.d at his own es.
pens., in place of the one recently Icat, here been de.
dined by th. , committee of presentation the ref,
men who rre- , etiied it having ordered ano her t •hi
struck itt every respect similar and equal to the hut
one.
TILIARISLC CASUALTY AND Loss or MOM
lamentable arcident occuited yesterday afternoon,
in the East River, at Hefigate, glitch has been for
some months past, the scene of M. Maillefett's op
erations. M. Maillefert, at the time of the casual
ty, was engaged in blasting the ledge of rocks call
ed the Frying Pan, had already fired one charge,
and was preparing to fire a second, when a cane
ter of powder exploded, killing two men, and se
riously wourviing three others It appears that the
charge contained - in the caiii-rter was too light to
sink upon the rock, and was therefore kept floating
Hi , riga-de one of the boats, with a view of taking it
on shore and emptying it, as soon as the last charge
was fired.
By some unaccountable mistake, the galvanic
wire attached to this canister, instead of that con
necting a ith the charge upon thegock, was handed
to M. Mailletert and &red The boat neareeteo the
earii-ter Was 'livered •Ain fragments, two well
instantly killed. and Mr Southard, the pilot, We'
seriously injured. One of the bodies, which Wil
identified to be that of a man named Joe, was hor
ribly mutilated, the leg•, arms, and part of the atoll
being blown nfl. The body of the other man hat
not been found, and it fe supposed that it sunk, or
was blown to pieces. Mi. Southard. the pilot, was
OD seriously injured that he deed this morning.
So great we. the three of the explo.ion. this. M .
Maillefert himself, and a man named William
Smith, both of whom were in a life boat. we.
Warn to a height of forty or fifty feet, and faille:
iiitnyhe waver, sank to th l e bottom. As they were
both, however, able to swim, go t hold id the
stern of the life-boat which was kept afloat M• its
sir-chamber. and were dips enabled to buoy them
selves up till some periwigs came to their assistance
from vessel*-which were near the scene Of the ac
cident. Althnegh M Mailletert was severely injor
there isshret: hope* nt his recovery Milani
Smith is said to he not of clanger —Re. Poet.
RCPAIIIOI TO TOL CONORIL*SIONAL
estimated that the repairs to the Capitol builihng et
Washington, in consequence of the fire in ihebbre‘
ry last winter, will cost $72.000. The alcoves,csst
es, galleries, doors. window shutters, endings, and
brackets that support them, are all desigileil to be
cast iron; the shelves for the books, of thick plat°
Wass or enamelled iron ; the framing of the rod .
wrought iror ; the abetting of copper, and the &tor'
of stone Thus, no combustible material a ill be
used in the reconstruction of he library. Ace aol•
Mit in the plan submitted by the architect, it is pm.
posed to' enlarge the libtarc, so as to emlttacif• the
entire western projection of the Capitol.
Tee CAPTURCN RZWA MUM —The man
n imed Cd.tarterla. at hocaptured Lopez. has return•
ed to Havana, laden with honors. The Queen
nave hi ,000 and made him captain in the
rural militia with a salary of sitte a mnnth.} ten
negroes and a tract of hand have been given to ham
The order of Isabel decorates his Person ; his chit'
alien are to be educated at the expense of the gov*
eminent; and while in Spain, he wan permittel
the arcs of kiesii2 the hands of the Queen and the
little prince's Ile cep nei'ller read tor wrre•
Adjourned
WsnmmiDAT ? blamh 24