A Distinguished Arrival.
Among the paseug< r who arrivrj in the
steamship Europa from Kurojw on Saturday
lust, was Mohammed Paschn, Ihe 1 it. kish lie .r
Admiral, witu comes to this country to con
tract for the const ruction of a vessel which is
to be the flag ship of the Ottoman may. The
Tribune furnishes the following account of this
distinguished personage and the errand which
brought him to this country :
The Rear Admiral Mohammed Pasciia is
n young man, being only thirty five years oi
age, and therefore may be considered one of
the regenerated school of the present time, of
which school many others will hereafter be
come distinguished as patriots and statesman.
After serving his country in various grades
of military distinction, Mohammed Paseha was
In IS.II promoted to the command of the frig
ate Mahmoudich. In this command he dis
tinguished himself during the recent war with
Russia, and was elevated to the rank of Rear
Admiral and made Lord of the Admiralty.
Having ft high standing with his government for
his practical knowledge, it was determined to
invest, him with the extraordinary powers in
effecting a contract for the construction of a
frigate in this eonntry. the first built here tor
the Turkish Government. The reputation of
American naval architecture in I'urkey has
been for years very high. Henry Lckford. an
American shijvbuikl'T, constructed many of
the finest vessels of the Turkish fleet, most of
which, however, were destroyed with the lurk
is!) fleet at Sinope during the war. The qual
ity of these vpoSels, and the superiority of the
vessels of the American mercantile marine and
navv which have visited Constantinople within
a few years, together with the reemmenda
tious of J. Horsford Smith, Esq.. th Otto
man Consul in this city, decided the Turk:-!)
Government to send for estimates to this coun
try, iu regard to the construction of vessels
here. These were sent, and proving satisfac
tory, it has resulted in the appointment of
Mohammed Pasclia on his present im-sion to
th : s country. He is accompanied by Hassiem
Ji-y as Colonel and Secretary, and Solyman
Effer.di as Naval Constructor of the Turkish
Government. They will probably remain but
a few days in this city. They wiil proceed to
Washington, and remain a sufficient time to
pav their respects to the President and the
heads of the Departments. They will return
then to this city, and remain until the contract
for the construction of the frigate is made and
the work begun, when the Admiral will return
to Turkey, leaving Solymau Effendi as naval
Constructor to attend to the completion of the
vessel. The Admiral will return and take
command of tmr when she is launched and
ready to sail for Turkey.
The appearance of Mohammed Patch a is
very different from that of the robed and tur
baned dignities who were his immediate prede
cessors. His uniform is of a dark brown cloth,
in the European style, with the exception of
the national fez. His whole bearing is digni
fied and courteous ; his dark oriential eyes full
of expression, regular and commanding per
son, combine to present a most interesting ex
terior.
We have hitherto had no official represen
tative to Turkey amongst us ; and, consider
ing the high rank of the distinguished individ
ual who is now visiting us, our community
should hail his arrival with a!! due honor and
cordiality, for ho is not to he regarded a- a mere
ship contractor, or an Admiral incognito, hut
as the emissary of a nation which seems desi
rons to cultivate friendly relations amongst
us.
Srß-Atlantic Tfi.EOß.vm. —The steam-frig
ate Xiagara left New York on Saturday, by
special commission from the Vnited States
Government, to renew the-attempt to lay down
tin ocean telegraph between Ireland and New
foundland. The British Government, behav
ing with equal liberality, has couimi>>ioncd the
Agamemnon for the same purpose. Both ves
sels will take the cable on board at Plymouth,
from which port they are to start it: June, sail
in company until they reach a point midway
between the two intended termini of the tele
graph, there unite both ends of the cable, and
then steam away from each other—the Aga
memnon speeding to Valentine Bay, Ireland,
a hile the Xiagara will make for Trinity Buy,
Newfoundland. The whole time occupied in
laying down the cable will scarcely exceed a
week, or ten days at the outside.
The cable, which was usrd last year, will
again be employed, with its length increased
from 2,500 to 2,000 miles. The machinery
for paying cut the cable will be materially im
proved. The rate at which the cable will be
laid down may be estimated at five miles an
hour. Mr. C. W. Field, of New York will
continue to act as general superintendent.—
There is to want of money to carry out this
matter to a favorable conclusion. Out of the
original capital of £350,000, as much as £34 7,-
893 was actually paid up. Of this £301,400
has been expended, leaving a balance in hand
of £45,098. If the communication between
tho New World and the Old he thus establish
ed, additional funds will be required, but any
amount can bo raised, once it is practically es
tablished that the electric telegraph can work
satisfactorily, under the Atlantic, between F.u
rope aud America.
Ssaf An attempt was made to burn down
the Coilege of Pharmacy in Philadelphia, situ
ated on Zane street, above Seventh, in the
Ninth Ward, about 2 o'clock Tuesday morn
ing. The incendiary is believed to have been
a person weil acquainted with the arrange
ment of the building The fire was confied to
the room in which it was discovered. The
books in the library were mostly saved in a
good condition. The cabinet of specimens wa?
almost all destroyed. The loss will probably
be from S3OO to SSOO, which is covered by in
surance.
Railroad Decimov. —The Supreme Court of
New York have decided that the rolling stock
of a railroad is a fixture of the same, and not
personal property ; and that consequently a
mortgage on rolling stock does not require to
be filed as in the ease of a chattel mortgage,
in order to protect the property against judg
ment creditors.
The Boston Journal gives an account of a
man, who, having got decidedly the worst of a
tight which he provoked, at the close of the
business expressed himself "sorry for what had
happened." The fellow's condition was no doubt
as sincere as that of a South Carolina Con
gressman. under similar circumstances.
tHar Monroe Stewart, when Gov. Packer
only lat week pardoned from execution, died
lat Thursday in the Allegheny Prison, of
t.ma!l pox
Tho Homestead Bill.
Among the many measures which will con
tribute to extend the cause of free la!>or in this
n public, and better the condition of the work
ing classes, there are few that have a more di
rect bearing than that proposed by the " Home
stead bill - ' which s before Congress ; for it
will contribute largely to the development of
the public do.[tain, now unoccupied or else con
centrated in the hands of speculators. As a
question of national policy aff-cting the spread
of our free institutions, encouraging individ
ual and domestic industry, resting the founda
tions of our government upon a strong, manly,
patriotic veomuury, and spreading before us in
to the wilderness the civilization that is the
pride anil boast of the age, it docs not admit
of argument. It is too the climax to that ame
lioration of the land system of the United
States, which has been so long maturing under
free democratic guidance, and which has ou'y
been partially expressed by the exclusive and
aristocratic tendencies of southern exteusiou
ists. Cash sales of public lands, pre-emption
to actual settlers, graduation of price accord
ing to qunlitv, have been the successive steps
iiAhe advance from the old ideas of govern
ment monopoly that first obtained All those
reforms tended to confirm tho soil to the pio
ncer, and were designed for that purpose.—
Tim finishing stroke remains, and that is to ex
clude speculation from the homes of the mas
ses, and vield the magnificent domain of the
west to the citizens who will reduce it to culti
vation.
In view of this progression, we are glad to
see that a subject of so much importance is
receiving tho attention of Republican members
of Congress : for from tho nullifiers we can,
with few exceptions, hope for nothing. Their
policy is to devote the territories to tho spread
of slavery and the cultivation of npgroes, and
of course, they oppose any modification that
looks to tilling them up with free citizens
To show this fact, it is only necessary to trace
out the congressional history of the " Home
stead bill" itself. In lsbl the first homestead
bill was introduced in tiie House which was
supported by some of the most prominent of the
Republican party. Among the ablest speech
es then made in its behalf was that of Mr.
Gaow, of Pennsylvania, who, froui that time
to this, labored incessantly fur the success of
this measure. The bill passed the House the
first session of the thirty-first Congress, in 1851,
and was last in the Senate by the refusal of
that body to take it up fur consideration ; the
slave extension interest generally opposing it.
Mr. HALE made an ell'ort to get it con.-il
ered, uud on the test to vote but one southern
senator voted with him. Mr GROW and oth
ers made an effort to have the homestead pol
icy incorporated into the democratic platform
at Bat more, iu 1852, but the effort failed.—
Iu the session of congress in 1853. Mr. GROW
introduced a homestead bi'l and again made a
telling speech in its favor, and was most a•-
tive and vigilant in securing its passagein tiie
House. It was again defeated iu the Senate.
On the test vute to lay on the table, but six
northern voted for tho motion, and but nine
southern tnen voted against it. In the last
Congress, Mr. GROW* again introduced his
homestead bill,which, owing to tlie press of bu
siness, failed to be reached during the Con
gress ; yet, on the first days of tins session lie
again introduced his bill, and it has now been
referred to the ccmuiittee on public lauds. Its
principal features are, to give any person who
is the head of n family, or who has arrived at
the age of twenty-one years, and is a citizen of
the United States, or who shall have filed his
intention to become such, as required by the
naturalization laws of the United States, one
hundred and sixty acres of the public lands,
on condition of occupation and culture for live
year*, providing he, she, or they shall become
citizens of the United States before the issuing
of the patent thereof.
Oar desire in calling attention to the sub
ject at this moment, however, is not so much
to evoke public expression from the communi
ty, for that was fully done, so far as St. Lou
is is concerned, by the declaration of the mass
meeting at the rotunda on the Bth of January
iast ; but rather to incite members of the pres
ser.t Congress to suffer no failure in bringing
the matter to tho test of a direct vote. It will
set before to the country au interesting record,
and show who ure prepared to sustain the cause
of land reform, connected with the free labor
extension, and also, who are fettered with the
ignominious traditions of government monopo
ly. If it fails in this Congress, it can only l>e
cuse it is opposed as heretofore, by the slave
propaganda of the southern seaboard, and even
■hould it fail, that defeat would only give re
newed vitality to the measure, and ensure its
triumphant passage when the present adminis
tration loses its baneful ascendency.— St. Lou
is Democrat.
SPEAKING RIGHT OCT.—That staunch old
Democratic paper, the Chester County Repub
lican, which lias fought many a galiaut battle
I under the I.ocofoco flag, and gone, in by gone
I days, as far as any that ever " bowed the preg-
S nant hinges of the knee to the dark spirit of
I slavery," in its last issue conies out manfully
| against the Lecompton swindle, and thus de
-1 fines its future position, denouncing the dicta
j torial course of tho South, and avowing itsde
termination to resist it, henceforth and for
i ever. Hear the manly language of the " l\e
| publican
" There is one good result seen through the
j gloomy result which overspreads the political
j horizon. There is henceforth to be a rebellion in
i the Northern Democracy against the imperious
I demands of the foes of this Uni< n in the South
ern States ! They have pushed us to the wall,
and if we havo the spirit of manhood coursing
in our veins we will refuse longer to bow down
and become their menials. We have already,
in our honest efforts to fraternise with them,
gone too far. They grow insolent under our
eon e sow, and there is nothing i< f; for us t>
do but conquer them, and when we do so we
shall give their power and influence to the
true patriots and Union, loving inen of the
South. The same imperious despots, whose
miuions have been the instruments of robbing
the people of Kansas of their rights, kept un
der the healthy sentiment of the Southern peo
ple ; but we rejoice to see it boldly breaking
forth, like a pent volcano, in the manly voice
of Henry A. Wie. His perceptions of right
are keenly alive, and we thank and honor him
for his brave words condemnatory of the giant
wrong of the age."
THE TONNAGE TAX.—There is considerable
opposition iu Pittsburgh to the repeal of the
Tonnage Tax, because they say, the Pennsyl
vania Railroad Company makes discriminations
injurious to the coal trade of that city. The
tax is justified, not as a measure of State JKI
- Gut asja retaliatory impost to remove these
discriminations.
HVraifartJlfjiortfr.
K. O. GOODRICH. EDITOR.
TQWAXPA:
vTtjnrs&ag ftlormttg, Xtlanl) 18, 1833.
—One Dollar ptr annum, invariably in atlvanct.—
Four weeks precious lo the expiration oj a subscription,
I notice will be girt it by a printed wrapper, and if not re
newid, the paper wilt in all cases be stopped.
' Ci.rpr.iNvi— The Reporter will be sent to Clubs at the fol
i lowtup extremely low rale :
i 8 copies for Woo* 15 copies for.. . ,f!2 00
10 copies Jor 800 i2O copies f0r.... 15 00
I ADVERTISEMENTS — For a square of ten tines or less. One
Dollar for three or less insertions, and twenty-Jit! cents
] for each subsequent insertion.
. JOB-WORK — Executed with accuracy and despatch, and a
reasonable price*—with every facility for doing Books,
Blanks, Hand-bills, Bali tickets, §-c.
I MONEY may he sent by mail, at our risk—enclosed in on
I envelope, and properly directed, ice will be responsible
j for its safe delivery.
FROM IIARKISBURG we have nothing definite
in regard to the proposed annihilation of this
| Judicial District. The Judiciary Committees
I of both Houses met last week, to hear those
interested on either side, but the result we
; have not learned. The Harrisbnrg Telegraph
j of the 12tli, says that the Senate Committee
, will report the hill with a negative reeonmen-
I dation, while the House Committee is untni
piously opposed. We cannot, of course, vouch
for the reliability of this statement. We shall
| next week, probably, he able to give some de
finite information as to the prospect of this
outrage being accomplished.
We publish, in another part of this paper,
an article from the Philadelphia Gazette, a
conservative commercial paper of Philadelphia,
and also an article from the Columbia Demo
crat, a radical Democratic paper in regard to
this matter. They are interesting as showing
how the attempt is viewed from different stand
! points.
| FOREIGN NEWS. —Lite arrivals bring one
week's later advices from Europe. The news
is of great interest and importance. Tue de
bite in the British Parliament on the C mspira
cy Bill, resulted in the defeat of the Ministry.
The majority of the opposition was only 19,
; but it appears to have been sufficiently large,
and sufficiently indicative of public sentiment
throughout the country, to compel Lord Pal
merston an 1 his colleagues to resign. This
they accordingly did, and Lord Derby, the
leader of the Conservative opposition was of
fered and accepted the Premiership. Parlia
ment had adjourned to the Ist of Mvrch.—
From Franco we learn that the four conspira
tors, Pierri, Radio, Orsini and Gomez had
| been tried and convicted of an attempt to as
• sassinate the emperor. Orsini, Radio and
Pierri were sentenced to death, and Gomez to
penal servitude for life. A large number of
arrests had been nude in Paris. A bill rela
tive to the attempts against the lives of foreign
sovereigns had passed the Belgian Chamber.
Later advices had been received in Euglaud
from India and China. The news from India
is unimportant, though it tends to confirm pre
vious report that the country is being gradu
ally tranquiiized From China we learn that
. Canton was completely occupied by the Anglo-
French forces on tlie 30th of December. Yeh
and the commander of the Tartar troops had
been taken prisoners.
feg" Our friend BEARDSLF.V, of the Wayne
County Herald , has a strange propensity for
interfering in the affairs of this D.strict. We
have suggested to him upon several occasions,
the propriety of attending to his own business,
| but with poor success, for on every opportuni
ty he seems disposed to undertake the regula
tion of matters in this benighted section. 11 i
i last interference is in the proposed change of
; this Judicial district. We would suggest to
him, that lie was once misled by the Montrose
Democrat, and found it necessary to publish a
retraction, which should at least have learned
him to be more cautious, even if it did not
j lessen his hatred of the people of this locality.
We believe that matters can be regulated
here without his aid or interference.
0®" The Montour Iron Works, say 3 the
j Danville Democrat, will he partially put into
operation, early this month by a committee of
j the creditors. Arrangements to that effect
have been made, ami there will be no mistake
about it this time. The Messrs. GROVE will
continue to superintend the Works ; Mr. XOR
RIS will preside over the store ; and Mr. THOM
AS make the purchases in Philadelphia. They
will at first employ 300 of the 1200 men in
Danville wanting work.
BURGLARY. —The store of I). W. C. DER
RICK, at Troy, was entered on the night of
the 4th inst., and goods taken to the amount
of $75 or SIOO. The burglars effected an en
trance by breaking out a pane of glass in the
back door, and then drawing the bolt. No
clue has yet been obtained ot the robbers.
RULOFF, who was confined in jail at Ithaca,
X. Y.. charged with the murder of his wife
and child some time since, and who succeeded
in making his escape in June last, was captur
ed and lodged in jail in Sandusky, Ohio, on
Friday last.
4®* It is now hoped that the Railway link
: between Port Treverton and Sunbury will be
made by June next. Theu hurrali for a com
plete iron road from Baltimore to Eimira, and
any place east or west.
IN THE LEGISLATURE we observe that a very
large number of remonstrances have been pre
sented against the proposed change in this
Judical District.
MCSICAL CONVENTION.— The Musical Con
vention at Troy, commencing on Tuesday week,
under direction of Geo. F. UUOT was highly
successful, being attended by u large number
of singers, and passing off to the great satis
faction and enjoyment of all participating.
During 1 lie Concert, which was well attend
ed, Mr. TOWNER, of Rome, " brought down
the house " by introducing, as one verse of a
song he was Ringing, an allusion to the late
nffray in Congress. The audience enjoyed
the allusion, and manifested their appreciation
of Mr. Gnow'a performance and pluck, by
spontaneous and unanimous applause.
—Still another Convention is advertised to
commence on Tuesday, 30th inst., at Lclluys
viile, to be under the direction of Prof. G. B.
LOOMIR— who once conducted a Convention at
this place, to the entire satisfaction of those
present. We have no doubt it will prove one
of the most successful of the season. The
eastern part of the County is noted for tiie
amount and excellence of the musical talent
it contains, aud the pleasant village of Le-
Raysrille is a central and convenient poiut for
holding such a meeting.
OFF WITH HIS HEAD.— The Hon. MAXWELL
M'CASLIN, of Greene county, formerly Speak
er of the Senate, but within the last twoyear<
Indian Agent, at Prairie du Cliien, has been
removed from that post, and Geu. Simi CLO
VER, formerly Canal Commissioner of this State
lias been appointed in his stead.
Mr. M'CASLIN had the courage, some two
weeks ago, to write a letter to one of the
members of the House of Representatives, from
his county, apprising him of the state of af
fairs in that unfortunate Territory, and warn
ing the Democratic party not to admit Kan
nnder the Lecornpton Constitution ; that civil
war would be inevitable, and that the Demo
cratic party would he destroyed. For this
audacity, the General had to be removed. It
is dangerous for office holders or office seekers
to write letters.
LETTER FROM GENERAL SHIELDS. —The St.
Paul Times, of the 23th ult., contains a letter
written from Washington, by Gen. Shields,
elected U. S. Senator, under the new State
Constitution of Minnesota, to Hon. It. G.
Murphy, President of the Minnesota Senate.
In this letter Gen. Shields complains bitterly
of the treatment that the representatives ot
the new State have received at the Federal
Capitol. He details the obstacles raised in the
Senate to the admission of Minnesota, depeu
dent upon the admission of Kansas as an out
rage on their constitutional rights, which, he
is certain, the people of Minnesota will resist
with one heart and one mind.
He aliudes to the course of the President,
contrasting iiis silence on the Minnesota case
with his zeal in favor of the admission of Kan
sas ; and while he admits the different circum
stances in the latter case, and expresses his
high respect for the President, whom tie is un
willing to blame, he thinks the President's
judgement has been biased by the suggestions
of selfish men, of inferior parts and question
able integrity. In conclusion, he declares his
determination to do his duty fearlessly to Min
nesota, and to resist wrong come from what
quarter it may.
fl®- A rumor has gained currency in some
quarters recently, that Senator DOUGLAS in
tended to resign his seat in Congress. Tiiis is
emphatically denied by Mr. DOUGLAS himself,
who denounces the report as totally without
foundation, and assures his friends that lie in
tends to fight the battle in which he is now en
gaged to the end, and that nothing shall drive
him from the position he now holds. Mr.
DOUGLAS has been confined to his house for
some liine by sickness, but expects to resume
his seat in the Senate this week.
XF.W HAMPSHIRE ELECTION. —The election in
Xew Hampshire has resulted in favor of the
Republicans. Returns from 158 towns give
Iluile (Republican) 29,000, aud Gate (Demo
crat) 24,000. The Legislature as far as heard
from stand 140 Republicans to 59 Democrats.
6®"* The Lecture of JOHN C. ADAMS, Esq.,
on Monday evening last, was largely attended.
The subject—" Ambition " —was treated iu a
masterly maimer, and the lecture throughout
was eloquent aud sensible. The approbation
of the audience was frequently aud freely
manifested.
Two CHILDREN SUFFOCATED. —Two children
named Robinson, in Shamokiu town, North
umberland Co., were suffocated on Tuesday
last. The mother having gone to a neighbor's
for a short time, leaving the children alone, on
her return home found the room on fire and the
children suffocated ami somewhat burned.
Their ages were about 2 and 4 years.
ft® 1 " The Middletown Press states that a
young man named John Freehold, employed
as brakeman on the Xew York & Erie Rail
road, was accidently killed on Saturday, 27 th
ult., near Sloatsburgh, by falling from the cars,
having both legs and arm severed from his
body by the wheels. Freeland was aged 21 j
years, and had been upon the road two months, j
He formerly worked at the saw factory iu Mid- j
aletown.
fit®- A desperate fight occurred, in the Vir
ginia States' Prison on Saturday last, between
a white and a negro convict, in the progress ;
of which the negro was literally chopped into
pieces with a broad axe.
ftaSr Henry Ward Beecher is not to go to
California ; but what is better, his &a!ary is to
be raised to $7,000
ftjr The following article is tukc n from the
Columbia Democrat, published at Bloomsburg.
We published last week, an article from the
Star of the North, protesting against this
measure ; so that the Democratic papers of
that Count j hare now both deprecated this out
rage :
" While the Senior Editor was on his way
to Harrisburg, he sent to the paper, the above
extract from some Harrisburg letter writer :
and in his absence, we take the responsibili
ty of reporting it to the people, and to all
whom it may concern, with a negative recom
mendation.
First—Wc deny that the Legislature has
any power, under the Constitution, to ulter
or abolish a Judicial District, other than by
creating a new one, in which the people shall
have the right to elect their Judge. A county
annexed to this District is deprived of its
Constitutional rights, by legislative enactment.
It is the exercise of a very doubtful power.
If a District is abolished, then in the dif
ferent districts to which the disjected members
of the old are joined, they have a Constitution
al right, in their new relation to a voice iu the
election of a Judge ; but the most insane and
vindictive exercise of power would not go the
point of sayisisr, that a Judge could be remov
ed, in order to let the people of a district thus
formed, into an election ; and if not, then
most certainly a portion of that District has
been deprived of its rights uuder the Constitu
tion.
Besides it is a most unwise and pernicious
thing, for the Legislature by its continual tink
ering with the Judiciary of the Commonwealth ;
to render the whole course of the administra
tion of the law, and the chief executive officers
thereof, dependent upon arid at the mercy
of a changing Legislature : a legislature, blind
ed perhaps by passion, unfitted uv prejudice,
unable throughout ignorance, to act properly
ou the subject.
With Judge Wilrnot we hare no sympathy ;
but we protets against so flagrant a violation
of vested constitutional rights. We protest
against so impolitic a cour?e by the majority of
the Legislature. Such an act ought to be
beneath the dignity of the great democratic
party. What if Wilinot has not met the just
expectations of his former friends ; he is now a
dead cock in the pit—there let him rest. You
seek to break a butterfly upon a wheel —you
load a cannon to kill a pecwee.
Don't do anything so very ridiculous, so im.
politic, so outrageous, so unconstitutional.
I'. S. Since the above was in type, we
have received a letter from the Senior Editor,
in Ilarrisburg, reiterating his views, favorable
to the abolition of the 13th Judicial District.
We think it due to him to state so much, and
due to ourself to say that we take the respon
sibility of the opinion above expressed. We
do not wish to make a martyr of David Wil
rnot : we desire not to embarrass the party in
the State, and we believe such aetiou would
have that effect.
Attempt to Legislate David Wilmot Out
of Oiflce.
tbc Philadelphia Gazette, March 11]
AD attempt is beiiug made as many of our
readers must already know, to abolish thy
thirteenth judicial district of Pennsylvania, and
annex the counties of Bradford and Susque
hanna, of which it is composed, to the twenty
sixth and eleventh judicial districts, respective
ly. The motive for this action is neither more
nor less than to get rid of Judge Wilmot, the
presiding judge of .the thirteenth district. As
the law now stands, a presiding judge is to be
elected by the people of Bradford and Sus
quehanna in October next, and the probability
amounts to almost a certainty that Judge
Wi'mot will be the choice of tho?e counties.—
Hence the attempt made by a portion of Wil
mot's political, if not personal, opponents, to
remove him from the bench by destroying his
district, and defeating the will of the people
of two counties.
Of course it becomes necessary for those en
I gaged in this attempt to assign some reason
: for their conduct, aud they are not slow to
charge Judge Wilmot with incompetency, with
entertaining political prejudices which which
warp and bias his mind, and with personal
habits unbecoming to an occupant of a judi
cial scat. For those who know anything of
Judge Wilmot, the first and last of these need
! no refutation ; and the second is wholly uu
sustained, so far as we are aware, by specifica
tions. The accusation is brought in general
terms, and might as well be leveled against
i any other occupant of the bench who is known
i to entertain political opinions of a decid. d
j character. Bills have lately been introduced
| into the Legislature with the object of effect
ing the changes in the courts for Bradford
and Stisquehana counties, to which we allude.
In both branches these were referred to the
judiciary committees, and the gentlemen who
appeared before these committes failed to
specify, much less sustain, an instance of of
ficial misconduct, or of an exhibition of undue
political bias on the part of Judge Wilmot.
All this trouble comes of au elective judi
ciary There was a time when judges held
themselves aloof Irotn party politics. The courts
of law, the seat from which justice was dis
pensed, were places from which partizunship
was in a great measure banished. It is so no
longer. Judicial station is made the reward
of party services, with much less regard to
the fitness of the judge than his political ser
vices and influence. And it is well if he is not
required to soil the ermine by stooping to the
advancement of party and political end-.
Judge Wilmot cannot be proved guilty of this, !
but there are others who can. And Judge
Wilmot, though innocent of the charges against!
him, is made the target of venomed shafts, be- j
cause he is a politician as well as a judge.
What is the general deduction from all
this? Plainly it is that judges should be re-j
moved as far as possible from the influence of'
party. It is notorious that party considera
tions are filling onr courts, the final resorts!
for justice, and the last refuge of practical and
constitutional liberty, with incompetent men ;'
or at least with men who will be largely sway
ed by partisan motives and public sentiment. ;
The question with the liar and the public, when ;
a vacancy occurs ou the bench, is not
wiio is the best man to fill it, but who is >
the most available in view of party interest |
and ends. And when a judge is ouce ou the
bench the same feeling makes men suspicious
of him, and oftentimes unfair to him. Thus
the court loses much of that respect which
should ever appertain to it. Nothing is more
significant of public deterioration than the
gradual decline that is taking place in the re- 1
gard in which our courts arc held. It is un
deniable that our courts, from the Supreme j
Court down, have lot very much of the con
fidence once reposed in them as conservators
>f law, and right. j
From Washington.
WASHINGTON. March li,]^
In the House to-day, at the concl Ds ;,
the morning Lour, Mr. Harris, of I'L. r-*
a privileged question. He said that in L.'
of seven of the Select Committee appoint
the House to investigate certain alleged
at the elections in Kansas, he wished V
sent a statement of facts. The Speaks *
that " no statement of facts can
the minority of a committee," and tu- 4
question raised by the gentleman was L 4
of privilege. Mr. ITarris aked if he • *
stood the Chair to rule against him I*%/
stated what his qnestion of privilege
this the Speaker allowed Mr Harris to •'
ceed to state the action of the COIEBT
when he was again by the S- ?
who stated that tie *-r.*>nrmn from
was proceeding wilfc ferxx from the if
ty Committee, wh > ,vt be
as the majority hvf tc.r i>r, reported
Chair therefore ru'ed v %:. \ was not &
lege question raised br Mr. Harris. 1-1
ter appealed from the decision of the r*
and called for the yeas and navg. M- ;
j phens, of Georgia, moved to lay the a--'
. upon the table, and upon that he called
yeas and nays. A motion was then ma* •
a call of the Hou<*, and the Honse rtfJ
the call by a vote of 99 to 108.
The question then recurred upon th?i
! of Mr Stephens to lay Mr. Harris' s,
upon the table, and the House refused
| so by the decisive vote of 97 to 112.
The motion then recurred upon Mr. H<-
appeal from the decision of the Chair >
I motion was made to adjourn, and the ven,
nays ordered, and the House refused •
| journ by a vote of 89 to 129.
| Mr. Marshall, of Kentucky, asked thr
! gentleman from Illinois would consent </
' his appeal lay over until to morrow
! o'clock.
Mr. Stephens appealed to Mr. Harris;
low the majority to make their reporth
! the Select Committee, and then there v
be no objection to letting in his privilege -
tion, or minority report.
Mr. Harris said he was willing tkn
Stephens' report should be received si
of the minutes and proceedings of thrfl
mittee, but he would not consent to
! submitted as the report of the cosrß
when it is a fact, as he ha eiideav
i state to the House that the committee
not executed the order of the House ■
majority had strangled investigation. ■
Mr. Stephens thought if the two —B
were submitted, the House conld judge:'-H
self whether its order had been obeyed -fl
He said there was no parliamentary !nl
sustain the gentleman from Illinois in ::-fl
traordinary question of privilege he beifl
; ed. Mr. Harris said there was a lawasfl
. lug him in the position he had taken. 1
After some further unimportant
t motion to postpone the qnestion cf
' until to morrow, at one o'clock, was .~fl
without a count. I
The following South Americans
the test vote ngainst laying the appeal oil
: table, and against the Administratis I
Winter Davis and H. Morrison Uarr.B
j Maryland, Gilmer of North Carolina !iH
' shall of Kentucky, Ricaud of Manias; fl
dtrwood of Kentucky. I
WASHINGTON, Friday, March 11/^B
In the Senate, Mr. Chandler, of M -flj
spoke agaiu>t the Lecorapton bill at .H
The House of Representatives pa?"*'!!i; !
sular and Diplomatic bill. Mr. Ginger Ml
ported a bill, which passed, to pay f r-:B
! of the Norwegian bark which rescind r
I sengers of the Central America. .A !
! passed authorizing certain officer- ari B
i the United States Sir John Franklin
, tion, to accept medals from the lUri?:.
j eminent. The pending question oi, ■
; peal of Mr. Harris then came up. Mr Efl
j spoke on the appeal. He argued ti.l
; Speaker was in error when lie ar--B
the minority of the Committee
a report. They merely proposed t;>
facts to sustain their action, and proeM
the majority had disobeyed the orb- I
House. Mr. Stephens replied to Mr rBH
He said no precedent for the course prM
by Mr. II could be found in the re."B
the English Parliament or any other
tive body. The question whether
was one of privilege was the one to b
ed. 110 said it was not. This moves;
(Mr. S.) considered the most imports#
made in Congress, being revolutiouan H
character. Mr. Grow caused the
under which the Investigating Corara-'H 1
appointed to be read, with a view of
what duties devolved upon the
perform. Mr. Stephens rose to a
der, and some animated passages
tween the two gentlemen, in the
which Mr. Grow referred to the
parliamentary conduct in constita'-M
Committee with a majority on it of "-®
opposed to the object. Air.
G., called Mr. Grow to order.
declined to interfere, and Mr. Grow r"B
ed. Mr. Stephens professed hi?
sliow that the Committee had
material fact in the Kansas case. M fl
lis!) inquired how the House wa? ' H
whether or not the Committee had'J
its duty, as Mr. Harris and .Mr.
j tradicted each other on this point, aj i: *
j mended that each branch of the t- 1
| should put in its papers. After
: debate, in which several mem'iers ]'fl
| ed, Mr. Jones of Tennessee in wed •'■
I pending appeal be laid on the tab- ■
109 to 111. Mr. Harris inquired oi -H
phens whether objection would he ® :1 H
after to a minority report. Mr.
plied that there would not. Mr. "1
said lie would withdraw his nppes'.
the majority take the chances for the-B
The House then adjourned. |
WASHINGTON, Sunday.
If the six South Americans he
other day in favor of compelling tb* 'H
Special Committee to investigate f 3 ';d ■
relied upon, there will be no difficu'
securing that result. The plan is K ' V
the Committee to report, and then > l 'm
a resolution recommitting the
and adding one South Americanara|
Lecompton Democrat to the Couira'
evades the question of privilege, w
partisan speaker the power to defes- -
ment by his ruliug, and brings the ■
the direct qnestiou with certain ?
movement uiay be made to-morrow.
subsequent day, if the
ocrats and the six South ■
arc sure.
There is little prospect of aii; |
this week. s