The Present State of the Doctrine of Squatter Sovereignty. Not very long slaoe we published some ex hortations addressed by southern journals to the slaveholders, instigating them to spend money freely in carrying the elections in the territory of Kansas. The advice seems to have been taken. An army of voters went over the frouticr'of Kansas, distributed itself in detach ments among the different districts, obtained the victory, elected Ihe pro-slavery candidates to the legislature, and came home again in triumph. A paragraph in another part of this sheet describes the return of a portion of the merce naries in this service to their own state. They come back like a conquering army to old Rome ; their return to the town of Independence was .a triumphal entry. There are two things to be inferred from the result of the Kansas election achieved by such means. One is the profound respect which the friends of the Nebraska act eutertaiu for the doctrine of popular sovereignty. While it was yet under discussion, the doctrine of its friends was that the inhabitants of the territory ought, even while the settlement was yet in its most incomplete and rudimcntal state, to determine for themselves what institutions they would tolerate, and whether they would allow the existence of slavery or not. Not even Con gress, it was contended, ought to interfere in any question of legislation for the territory.— This doctrine it was asserted in speeches on the floor of Congress, presented by the uews pajicrs in every form of argument, proclaimed at public meetings, and embodied in resolutions adopted by committees. The instant the bill was passed, these very men resolved that the inhabitants of the territory should not settle the question of slavery for themselves, nor even elect their own territorial officers. They swarmed over the boundary of Kansas, elected a delegate to congress from the territory, and • then returned to Missouri. A second election} took place a few days since; tiie friends oft slavery made a second incursion into the terri- j tory, won another triumph, and returned (o celebrate it in Missouri. Never did any party | make more scandalous haste to convict itself of hypocrisy and given the lie to pretences which it had just uttered and the echo of which had scarcely yet died away. The pretext of popular sovereignty was only used toget rid of the pro hibition of slavery in the territory ; as soon as it has served its purpose, it is discarded and sent after the prohibition. The second inference from these proceedings is. that the friends of the Nebraska bill, even while supporting it by the argument that it could never possibly carry slavery iuto any part of the territories, cherished the design of making Kansas perforce a slave state. The passage of the bill was the signal for an orga nized attempt to seize upon the territory for slavery. Their pioneers were first on the ground; the first public meetings held in Kansas passed pro-slavery resolutions. The execution of their scheme has never been allowed a moment's pause. They have their journals established in the territory ; their mercenaries, recruited in Missouri, went over and carried the first elec tion in their favor, and have now carried the second against the wishes and feelings of the actual and permanent inhabitants. Every circumstance in the history of Kansas, since it became a territory, points clearly to an original intention, on the part, of those who brought forward and supported the Nebraska bill, to make it eventually a slave state. Kansas, New Mexico and the new state which they designed to erect out of south California, were to form a barrier of slave states, completing the belt across our continent, to tlic south of which slavery was to propagate itself in security to wards the isthmus of Central America.—Even ing Post. ♦ THE KANSAS SWINDLE. —The Missouri com patriots iu Kansas of Douglas and Atchison thus telegraph to The St. Louis Republican the result of their labors : " INDEPENDENCE, (MO.) March3l, 9P. M Several hundred returning emigrants from Kansas have just entered our city. They were preceded by the Westport and Independence Brass Bauds. They came in at the west side of the public square, and proceeded entirely around it, the bands cheering us with fine music, and the emigrants with good news.— Immediately following the band were about two hundred horsemen, in regular order ; follow ing these were one hundred and fifty wagons, carriages, Ac. They gave repeated cheers for Kansas aud Missouri. They report that not an Anti-Slaverv man will be in the Legislature of Kansas. We have made a clean sweep." The election in Kansas took place on the 30th, and on the 31st "several hundred return ing "emigrants from Kansas " marched into the Missouri frontier city of Independence, and similar cohorts of course, into other Missouri town on the Kansas frontier. They were " re turning " emigrants ," you see, on the 31st of March—-just the season when most emigrants are hastening to their future home ; but these were returning from their pretended homes in Kansas to their real homes in Missouri. And the following dispatch gives the fruits of their labors at the ballot-boxes of apart of the new Territory : " KANSAS, March 31, 9 P. M.—Pro-slavery ticket triumped as far as heard from.— Total vote : Lawrence, ITS to 255 ; Tocmnseli, 220 to 31 ; Douglas, 330 to 0 ; Doniphan, 320 to 25 ; Shawnee Mission, 40 to 1(5 ; Leav enworth, 899 to 60 ; Hickory Point, 233 to G. Election passed oIT quietly, aud with very little disturbance." Here are 3,212 votes polled at only seven precincts—more than there were legal voters in the entire Territory, as ascertained by an official census four weeks previous. And the " voters" parade Missouri ojieuly next morning in triumphal, procession, with bands of music, banners and cheering on their return to their homes ill that Slave State. A ROMAN CATHOLIC ROW.—A MO -t disgrace ful riot occurred at Oxford. X. V. on Sunday morning last. It appears that a Roman Catholic, one who had previously been married by a Protestant clergyman, ami who, in con sequence, was excommunicated, entered the Catholic Church during service, whereupon the jwiest, Father Calton, ordered him to be "put out," which order was faithfully executed. At the door a light commenced, in which the priest is said to be implicated. Tiie exer cises in the clmivh were suspended, and the crowd adjourned to the nearest hotel, where a more general fight ensued between the Catholics and Protestants—the farmer coming off second best. The priest was arrested, aud is now in c ustody, as are 'several more of the rioters. Many persons were badly injured but no lives were lust [Froui the Presbyterian fluuuer.J Susquehanna Collegiate Institute. Tiie Committee appointed by the Presbytery of j'.ieiiunna, at their meeting in January last, to attend the first annual examination in the'Susquelmna Collegiate Institute, at To wanda, respectfully report: That they attended to the duties of that appointment. The examination commenced on Monday, 19th of March, aud closed on Thurs day following. The whole number of scholars', who have attended since the school opened in September last, is 170. The number during the last term was lis. Of these, 93 were males and 65 females. The faculty of the Institution lias consisted of three males and three female teachers, with some assistance in teaching, from two of the scholars. The services of a gentleman have been secured as professor of modern languages, music and drawing, who will take his place in tlic Institute, at the beginning of the Spring term, on the 4thof April. Tiie members of the committee present were unanimous in their opinions of the high credit due to the teachers, both in the male and fe male departments of the school, for the flatter ing success which has thus far attended their labors ; and should their health and strength hereafter prove adequate to the severe labor they have performed, during the past two terms, the institution cannot fail to receive the patronage of those who are able to appreciate the advantages of a thorough system of in struction. The ordinary daily exercises are so arranged as to avoid confusion and loss of time, as much as possible, iu dismissing one set of classes and calling another. Much is obviously gained by subjecting the exercises to a well di gested system. The examination was conducted in away to exhibit the real progress which has been made in the several branches of study, without any attempt to make a show in branches that were not understood. The committee were highly gratified with the thoroughness of the instruc tion given iu the school, as well as with the i progress which the students generally have ! made. Most of the students seem to have ' mastered the subjects studied, as far as they have advanced, and the advancement of many i seems to have been quite rapid. It was no part of your plan, in founding your Institute, to make superficial scholars, and send them out into the world with the name of having been educated. The faculty of the school do not wish to act upon such a plan. Classes were j examined in all the studies usually pursued in ' the higher schools in this country—and should ! the youth in those classes go on to still higher j advancement, they will, without doubt, (ind j what many have already found, that the ease, | and rapidity, and pleasure of their future pro- i gross, especially in matheinafies, ancient lan-! guages, chemistry and natural philosophy, and indeed in every other study, will be an ample ! reward for all the toil and discouragement and 1 hindrance it costs to cultivate a thorough ac- ■ quaintanee with the elementary principles at > tlm outset. As the experiment of starting a school, of a j higher order, among us. has been so successfully ' made, it is extremely desirable that the plan ! on which it was founded, and which its founders j have never lost sight of should be carried more ; fully iuto effect, as soon as possible. Other • buildings, and more apparatus, are much need ed. Appeals to the generosity of its friends i and public generally, have not been in vain ; and if that generosity lias been somewhat large- ; ly taxed, it has been taxed in a good cause.— ! Generosity loves to be appealed to in a good j cause ; and it will not refuse to respond to I appeals, while it lias means to give and objects ! upon which its means can be worthily bestowed. ! If we look upon those persons as doing a good work for the public, who construct canals and railroads, certainly we may regard those as aim ing at a higher object, who invest funds in well j conducted schools of learning, which are to act upon the minds and hearts of many, for succes sive generations, for time and eternity. He who has a mind and heart educated as they should be, has done a far more noble work than lie who takes a city or wins a kingdom. The value of a well endowed and well conducted school cannot be over estimated. As the school is yet in its infancy, and as much depends upon the wisdom of its manage ment at the first, it is to be hoped that so far as it is found uecessary to have positive regula tions for the school, and for the conduct of the scholars iu and about the buildings out of school hours, such regulations may be adhered to both by the scholars aud teachers ; and no law allowed to become a dead letter. (Signed) In behalf of the Committee, CHARLES C. COKSS, Chairman. At the close of the exercises alluded to above, one of the part runs of the school offer ed the following resolution : Resolved, That we hereby express our grati fication at the ability with which the school has been conducted, in both the male and fe male departments ; at the proficiency of the student iu their several studies ; and the thor oughness with which instruction has been com municated ; the institute thus giving early promise that the hopes of its friends shall not be disappointed. ; The resolution was adopted unanimously. It was then on motion Resolved, The said resolution be published in the County papers. Tiie Rev. A. H. Winfield of Paramus X. J. then moved that the same resolution be publish ed also in papers in the cities of New York, and Philadelphia, which motion was also un animously passed. DID HENRY CLAY SWEAR ?—A Now York correspondent of the Cliarlestown Mercury, speaking of Harper's Magazine for April says : I note in the Editor's Drawer, among a variety of interesting anecdotes, one of a passage between Mr. Clay and Calhoun, in which a little verbal inaccuracy occurs, which somewhat lessens the effect of the lattor's re tort. When Mr. Clay said, " The gentleman lias gone over to the enemy." he continued, "and i leave it to time fa disclose his motive," the answer of Mr. Calhoun, us we remember it, was : " Unfortunately for the senator of Kentucky, when he went over to the enemv, he did not leave it to time to disclose his mo tives." The impulsive speech of Mr. Clay, on receiv ing this retort, has been omitted by the editor. He said, sot to rr.ee, but sufficiently loud for those immediately about him, striking bosom at the same time, " A clear hit, by !" It was, indeed one of the most exquisite of retorts —the more happy, as so prompt, so clean, so entirely within the parliamentary proprieties —nothing coarse, rude, vulgar—but a graceful thrust of his polished rapier, casting off the enemy's foil, and following up the advantage by a direct thrust into the bosom. llraWortr importer. E. O. GOODRICH, EDITOR. TOWANDA : Saturhan XUorninp, Skpril,, l r 4, 1855. DEMOCRATIC corx- TY CONVENTION—The Democratic Standing Committee for Bradford Comity, hereby call a Convention to be composed of two Delegates from each election district in said county, to be lmldenat Towanda ooks the name of every subscriber, who had not complied with our new terms.— We now repeat that announcement, and also that no discrimination will be made, but the pa per will be positively stopped in every ease, ex cept where it is paid for in advance. To car ry out this arrangement, and to give every sub scriber notice and fair warning that we shall proceed to collect whatever amount is due us, we noweonnnence forwarding bills to those iu arrears, with the amount of their indebtedness. We trust that before the close of the present volume, which will be with the issue dated June 9th, that every subscriber in arrears will adjust his account, and pay in advance. We have upon our books the names of some who have not paid us a cent in years—if they suj>- pose that they contribute to the prosperity of an establishment, they are very mnch mistaken. We have waited upon such for a long time, in patience—and if we must wait upon them again it will he by proxy. The accounts which we shall send,will be made to the end of the volume, at the rate of $2.50 per year—if paid by the 9th of June we will deduct at the rate of $1 per year—but after that time, the full amount to which we are lawfully entitled will be expected. If any errors should be made, they will be cheerfully corrected. The low price at which the Reporter is now furnished imperatively demands advance pay ments. It would be ruinous on any other terms. We shall be obliged to confine our selves very strictly to the rule. In commenc ing this plan, we expect to part with many of our old customers who have paid us regularly, but not in advance, hut we trust that in time they will be satisfied that the arrangement is better for both, and also that it is impossible for us to discriminate in particular instances— but necessary that we should strike off every subscriber's name, when the subscription ex pires. It there are any of our subscribers who know they arc in arrears, but flatter themselves that their names will not be erased, we assure them that they will be mistaken. It is the careless and negligent who are the greatest draw backs to the country printers. Men who are aware of their indebtedness, and the necessity which exists for their promptness, and yet who delay for years. We shall revise our list, " without fear, favor .or affection." In this connection, we might say, that we have already received unmistakable evidence of the general satisfaction which the adoption of advance payments gives to our patrons, and to all who wish to take a County paper. Very many have already complied with our terms, and have expressed their appreciation of a mea sure which is better for both patron and pub lisher. gig?" I u 1 tali a collision has occurred in Salt Lake city between the IT. S. troops stationed there under Col. Steptoe and the Mormons, growing out of the soldiers expressing j their opinion that Young and Kimball are rakish I old reprobates. Some of the sons of those worthies being present, a grand fight ensued, in which the boys fought with fists and clubs, and the soldiers used their guns. After much trouble, the military and civil officers succeed ed in stopping the riot. A portion of the mi litia were called out and placed in the streets on guard. ANOTHER EDITOR PROMOTED.—A. J. TROUT, Esq., editor of the Sullivan Conuty Democrat, has beeu appointed by Gov. Pollock Aid-de- Cantp with the rank of Lieut. Colonel. LOCAL NEWS. CAPTTRE OF A BEAR.—Oa a recent surveying expedition on the waters of the Scbrader branch, in this County, the County Surveyor, Mr. J. A. PAINE, discovered directly in his path, a huge she bear, with a litter of cubs. •Leaving two of his assistants to watch the motions of the animals, he repaired to the near est settlement, some two miles, to procure a gun. Having obtained an excellent ritle, he returned, and approaching within twenty feet of the ferocious auimal, (his attendants about as far in the rear,) succeeded by a very judi cious shot, in disabling licr so as to prevent any unpleasant consequences. The first shot took effect through her heart aud vitals ; and a second shot through licr brain, rendered it safe to knock her in the head, with an axe, and so tenacious of life was the huge auimal, that she still attempted to rise. After finally despatching the old bear, which measur ed 7 feet from the end of the nose to the tip of the tail, the party succeeded in capturing three line young cubs, the offspring of the old one, aud conveying them safely to Monroeton. BARCLAY RAIL ROAD & COAL Co. —The mo ney article of the Iwalgcr has the following in formation in regard to the prospects of this Company : "We have often referred to the mineral deposits of Pennsylvania as the great source of wealth to her enterprising and rapid lv increasing population. The early comple tion of the North Branch Canal has turned the attention of some of our enterprising caj>- italists and business men to a coal and iron ore region in Bradford county, Pa., heretofore but little known beyond its immediate locality.—- During the past year the Barclay Railroad and Coal Company was organized for the de velopment of this region It was chartered bv Legislature at the last session, and has an au thorized capital of $1,400,000, with power to eoustruct railroads, Ac., for all purposes prc- to its business.' Its property consists of 2000 acres of land, in which, we are inform cd, a six feet vein of semi-bituminous coal has been proved to the extent of 11 50 acres with in the outcrops, and a vein of iron-ore from from three to eight feet thick, underlayiug 1 f>oo acres within the outcrops ; also large de posits of fire clay of a good quality. The Com pany own a large basin for bra ding boats, at the pool of the State dam at Towanda, and 24 acres of land in and contiguous to the boro' limits. From this jwint to their mines the company are now about makiug their railroad, which, when completed, will be the avenue of transit to the North Branch Canal of all the coal, iron-ore, lumber, Ac., in that region—em bracing a coal area of over 5000 acres within the outcrops ; an iron-ore area of over 10,000 acres within the outcrops, and 50.000 acres of the best timber land. The proj>erty of the Company is said to be free from debt of any kind. Of its authorized capital it has issued s<>oo,ooo of stock, reserving the remainder, SSOO,OOO. fur the use of the Company. Of the SOOO,OOO sold, SIOO,OOO was given for its real estate, and $200,000 sold for cash, at par and appropriated to building their railroad and other improvements. The property of this Company lying in the most Northeastern ex tension of the bituminous coal field of the State, about 30 miles South of the New York State line, and 275 miles from tide-water at New York city, it is believed, must prove to the owners of its stock a profitable investment, and add largely to the tonnage of the North Branch State Canal." TOWANDA FEMALE SEMINARY. —The next term of the Misses HANSON'S school will commence on the 30th inst. By a reference to the ad vertisement, it will be seen that arrangements have been made to give to the scholars advan tages of the highest order. Indeed the facili ties for imparting to young ladies a perfect ed ucation are not equalled at any similar institu tion. It is the design of the teachers to make this school a jK-rmanent institution—the num ber of pupils being limited—in which a scholar may commence with the elementary branches, and continue until a geuteel and useful education is acquired. The Misses HANSON are in every respect qualified for the duties which they as sume, and bestow a care upon the mental and moral training of their pupils, which should commend them to the confidence and eucourage uiout of the public. fiaT" During the last week, a fine rise in the Itiver, has enabled our lumbermen to forward to market, a large quantity of lumber. From above, an unusual amount has floated past here, on its way to the lower country. We have as yet, no report as to the state of the markets. Lumbermen, generally, are confident, notwith standing the large quantity which will be of fered, that fair prices will be obtained. BatT The Letting of the Barclay R. 11., ad vertised for to-day has brought quite a number contractors to this place and the bidding is quite spirited. The allotments, we understand, will bo made in a few days, and the work is to be immediately commenced. SNOW STORM. —A snow squall commenced on Tuesday night, and continued through Wednes day, giving a wintry aspect to the budding Spring. The snow, which was some inches in depth, was too uuwelcome a visitor long to re main. NF.W YORK MARKET. —The Tribune of W eduesday last says breadstuffs continue to rise with small stocks and good demand.— Good Flour is now worth $9 50 a $lO, Wheat $2 50 a275 ; Corn $1 07 a $1 08. Fork and Beef are firm at high prices. Cottoii con tinues steady but is not active. Letter from Harrisburg. HAKRifIBrKO, April 9, 1855. The course of the members from Bradford, in regard to multiplying Bank charters is es pecially worthy of commcudatiou. Though in the minority, they are uniformly found voting against the reckless schemes which are now almost daily being rushed through the House. On Thursday, the House voted to take up the bill to extend the charter of the Southwark Bank, Philadelphia. Iu Committee Mr. La porte moved to add a proviso to the first sec- j tion, requiring said bank to pay into the State j Treasury a 1 Minus of two per cent, on its c&pi- j tal stock, in consideration of the renewal of the charter thoreof; which was not agreed to. The bill was then taken up on second read ing, when Mr. Laporte renewed the amend ment offered by him in committee. Mr. Laporte said, the Houesdale Bank had been chartered, subject to this restriction, and he was informed the Erie Bank also. If this restriction had not been imposed on other in stitutions passed this winter, it should have been, audit was time its imposition should lie commenced, and the people, to that extent re lieved. His constituents were opposed to the increase of banking capital in the Common wealth, and lie intended voting in accordance with their wishes. He hoped their district would be found the " star" district of the State on this subject in this House. Mr. Holcomb followed in favor of the amend ment, as due to the tax-payers, whose burth ens were most heavy. He would offer this pro vision hereafter to all bank bills, The amendment was negatived, and the bill passed finally. On the same day the bill to incorporate the Lock Ilavcn Bank passed the House finally. During the discussion, Mr. JjAroirrfi said, over $.'1,000,000 of new banking capital were authorized by bills which have already passed the Hourc. He was opposed to the increase of banking capital, and did not believe the people would sustain the men or party who undertook to make this increase. He spoke at some length on this subject. The bill relative to estates, held for corpor ate, religious and charitable uses, the sixth sec tion of which alters the manner of hold church property in the Catholic church, was under consideration io the Senate, and the section so obnoxious to the ecclesiastics of the Catholic church was adopted, with but one negative vote. This strong expression of sentiment shows that the Senate does not consider that any flagrant injustice can be done to the Cath olic church by repealing the act of 1844, which permitted church property to be held in perpe tuity by the Catholic Bishops, Iu the House of Representatives, on Thurs day, a letter was presented from Col. JohnH. Brant, Postmaster at this place, stating that he had been directed by the Postmaster Gen- j cral to say that, the State having provided by ; legislative euactments for the payment of the postage upon all mail matter sent to or from the Executive, the Departments, or members of the Legislature, aud these facts being known to the Department, all letters addressed to said parties, without the jiostage being paid at the mailing office, should not be classed as unpaid letters, but must be rated with a proper amount of postage to be paid at Harrisburg, where provision for such payment has been made. The House of Representatives passed a bill to repeal the charter of the Erie and North East Railroad Company, and to provide for the disposal of the same, yesterday, after discuss ing it nearly the whole day. This bill has been pending since the commencement of the session, and has been earnestly advocated by the Representatives from county, who were elected with special reference to this ques tion, until this successful result was obtained. The majority on the final passage of the bill was large, much larger than any vote in its previous stages. It is now iu the Senate, where a majority are supposed to be iu favor of its passage. But appearances, in these railroad matters, where there is a great foreign interest which will be brought to bear with alt the en ergy and persuasion that has been so success ful on former occasions, and exceeding decep tive. At this late period of the session, a bill of the interest involved in this, which will ex cite a great deal of discussion, may be obstruct ed aud ameudod, aud a final vote be prevented until the days of the session terminate. The bill repealing tavern licenses passed the Senate to-day by 15 to 14. It prohibits the granting of lineenaes after the first of July, but does not interfere with the existing licenses.— It has to be returned to the House, in cousc quence of amendments. "THE MISSING BRIDE."'—T. B. Peterson, 102 Chestnut st., Philadelphia, has now in press, and will shortly publish a book with the above title, by Mrs. Sorriiwoß-rn. This cele brated authoress has taken apositiou in the'very front rank of American writers, her works hav ing been universally admired by their readers. For engrossing the interest of readers, the work of Mrs. S. are not excelled—while there is a chasteness and purity in all she writes, which have a peculiar charm. Her pictures of life are virid and truthful. Altogether her works are the most readable of any published. The work will be sent by mail, postage free, bound in cloth for $1 25—in paper sl. MILITARY COMMISSION. —The X. U. Tribute states that the Department at Washington has detached Col. Richard Delafield, of the Engi neers, Major Alfred Mordeeai, of the Ordnance, and Capt. George 11. McClelland, of the Cav alry, on special duty, to proceed to Scbastopol, to inspect the works there and view the, oper ations of the war. They are ordered to depart as soon as possible. • * ITEMS OF NEWS. —Report says that Hon. Abbott Lawrence of BOH ton, IN going to erect a College at Lawrence City, Kansas, in the spring. —On Monday, 3,100 applications for boun ty land were received at the pension office in Washington. —Governor Ilarstow, of Wisconsin, lias ve toed the Prohibitory Liquor I .aw recently passed by the Legislature of that State. —The quantity of land required to satisfy the claimants under the late Bonnty I .and Act passed by i Congress at its late session, is estimated at seventy-five I million of acies. i j —Telegraph wires have been extended cn j tirely arross the peninsula of Hindostan, from Calcutta to i Bombay, a distance of 1200 miles. —The first cargo of Pictou, Nova Scotia, coal since the proclamation of the reciprocity treaty, a r rived at Xew \ ork on the 22*1 ult., consisting of 200 tons. It on sale, afloat, free of duty. —Lola Moutez is about retnrnining to the stage, in her doable capacity of actress and danseuse She has made an engagement with Mrs. Sinclair, and after a brief tour of California, will return to " the States." —lt is proposed to start a penny subscrip tion among the Aids of Governor Pollock, for the purpose j of purchasing a magnificent sword, tola? presented to bim i at a convenient season. —The bankers of Sacramento, California, 1 have determined not to receive cheeks on each other in i payment or acceptance?, nor will they certify to checks due each other. —The San Francisco Mint, during the six days preceding the 2.7 th ultimo, coined $345,009, which is at the rate of nearly $00,00(1 a day. The coinage for the month of February would reach about $2.2.10,000. —The colt Morgan, from the original Black Hawk, owned by David Hill, Bridgeport.- Vermont, five years old, was sold in New York, by James M. Hill to Mr. B. E. Fields, of California, for $4,000. —There are employed on tlie canals of New- York state, during the season of navigation, about 21.000 boatmen and 6,000 boys. —A boy in Terre Haute, la., has recovered i SIOO damages from a liqnor dealer who sold his father a i glass of liquor on the day he was drowned. j —The health of Martin Van Buren, jr., who i is now in Paris with his father, (ex-President Van Buren.) ; is in so precarious a state from confirmed consumption j that but little hopes are felt that his life will be much long j er preserved. —lt is stated that the Thorwahlsen group t of the Twelve Apostles, on exhibition at the Crystal I'al- I ace, has been purchased for the Catholic Cathedral now \ in progress of erection at Philadelphia. —A sleigh, rigged tip with sails, made a run ! from Glen Haven to Skaneatelas (X. Y.) on the ice, in less thau an hour, with a party of five persons. The distance ! is about sixteen miles. —The Ericsson experiment—propelling ves ' sels bv caloric—is at an end. The invention is conceded ! to be a failure, and poor F*rie*6on Is a ruined man* j —The Green Bay Advocate, speaking of the ; cold weather, cays an Indian was found dead, froui Wbis ! key freezing in his stomach. —Mr. Mitchell, brother to John Mitchell, has invented a machine for setting ty)e. and with its aid ' he has just finished setting up an octavo volume by Ban- I croft, the Historian. —Col. Kinney, has, it is said, sold his fine : ranch at Corpus Christi, Texas, to a French Company, for $150,000 —cash down SIOO,OOO. —Joseph Keemnn died in the Washington ' county (Md.) almsicsiso last week,iu the 107 th year of his : age. —Nearly all the wine on the Mosellee lias j been purcha-ed hv the French Government, to be sent to | the army in the Crimea. | —The Indians are dying of starvation in the ; country round Wcy'montacbinqwe, a trading post of the j Hudson's Bay Company. —A Mulatto woman in St. Louis, named I Margaret Sullivan, recently gave birth to four living chil ! dreu —two boys and two girls. —Navigation on the lake at Buffalo, is not j expect to be resumed till the Ist of May. Tlw ice in the j lake extends from the American to the Canadian shore. —Pinto, who was recently executed at Ha vana, had a private fortune of $200,000. He was the fa-' ; thcr of six of seven children, some of very tender years. I —Mr. Eli Cookson, a respectable citizen of Warrington township. York county, I'a.. sold a lond of grain at Y'ork on the 9th ult., and on the 11th left a ! friend's house for home, since which he h is not been seen, j His family entertain fears that he has been murdered. i —E. J. Bay, formerly a colored barber, of ! Terrehautc, Indiana, but now of Liberia, Africa, lias been I Speaker of the House of Representatives of that Republic, ; was a candidate for the Presidency, aud is now editing ! paper in that country. —R illis Hester, who had been previously convicted of Xegro stealing in Chatham, X. C„ was last week sentenced to be hanged on Friday, 4th of Ma v. It i is said that the citizens arc getting up a petition for bis j reprieve. —Hon. Ralph Metealf, Governor elect of New Hampshire, is seriously ill at his residence, in Xew j port. —The celebrated race horse Lexington won the $20,000 race against time, at New Orleans, on Monday last. He ran lour miles in seven minutes and nineteen seconds, being the quickest time ever made by any " land animal," except a " Locomotive." W HAT is A TON W EIGHT ?—lite Supreme Court of Pennsylvania recently decided, that according to the laws of this State a toil weight consisted of 2000 lbs., and that a greater number of pouuds could not be legally exacted in purchasing a ton of coal, notwithstanding the custom of giving 2,240 in one part of the . State, and 2,268 in another. The United | States District Court at Philadelphia lately decided in a suit in admiralty, that the legal weight of a ton of coal is 2,240 lbs., ami thai the coal dealers have no more right to give less, than grocers would have to give less than sixteen ounces to the pound. As the CVusti j tution of the United States gives to Coagrfc* the power to " fix the standard of weights and measures," we suppose that the act of 1834. passed by the Assembly iu Pennsylvania, must : yield to the higher authority, aud all the laws of this State prescribing the siac of the yard measure, the cubic contents of a bushel nutlet a gallon, are null and void where they differ from the United States standard. If this be : j the case, the Sealer of Weights and Measures 1 j aud other analogous offices iu the Uouuueie j wealth are entirely useless and illegal. " R ' State laws will doubtless be made to confer" 1 to the United States laws iu those points where , they now differ. The importance of ha (in? ■ but one staudard will be perceived from the - suits at law to which various standards ?' vC i rise.