The Senate Oregon Bill.
MINORITY REPORT OK THE HOCSE COMMUTE!*.
O i Tuesday, the Senate bill tor the admis
sion of Qreg MI being reported to the House!
from the Committee on Territories, .Mr. G now
made the following minority report :
Viftr* tf n Minority of the Cton m iller on Ter
ritorirs, nil l/tr application of the people '/ '
Oregon for admission into Ihe I no u.
By section 3d. article 41 li of the Constitution j
it is provided that " .Vcir States m u he admit
td by Congress into the Union" The time j
mode and inanucr of admission are tiiereforc left j
by t li e Constitution wholly to the discretion of ;
Congress. In the exercise thereof States have j
been admitted, some with, some without a pre ,
vious act of Congress Authorizing the people of i
the Territory to form a Constitution and State
Government. The Territories of the Union j
have thus been transformed into States without i
uniformity in the mode and manner of preee, !
dure, and without any uniform rule as to the '
number of population—the whole subject of
the propriety of admission having been left to !
the discretion of Congress at the time of the i
applications of the proposed State.
The two Houses of Congress, however, at
their last session, declared in their action on the j
application for the admission of Kansas, as a
State, that its then existing population was
sufficient for its immediate admission into the
Union as a St ire S'ate ; hut, if its people were
nnwilliinr to come into the Union with such a
Constitution, then tlicy were ant horiz'd to elect
delegates to form a Constitution and State
Government preparatory to their application
for admission, whenever, and not before, it is
ascertained by a census dulv and legally taken,
that the population of said Territory equals or
exceeds the ratio of representation required
for a member of the House of Representatives
of the Congress of the United States That
lestriction upon the action of the people of
Kansas received the approval of the President,
and is a law upon the statute-book to-day.
The President not satisfied with his official
approval of the act at the time of its passage,
takes occasion, in discussing the Kansas ques
tion in his annual Message, at the opening of
the present session of Congress, to Ray, relative
to the admission of Kansas as a State, that
" surely it is not unreisonable to require the
•people of Kansas to wait, before making a third
attempt, until the number of their ink ibi/ants
shall amount to ninety-three thousand four hun
dred and /lenity. 1 '
Had the reasonableness of this requirement
suggested itself to the President in his Message
transmitting the Lecompton Constitution to
Congress, much valuable time in the legislation
of the country might have been saved, and a
dangerous sectional agitation avoided.
The President, in the same annua! Message,
further declares that any attempt by the peo
ple of Kansas to form a State Constitution,
before the number of their population reaches
the required amount, would be "in express i
violation of the provisions of an act of Congress," '
and in the judgment of the President,therefore, 1
could not lawfully be made. Should it be at
tempted, judging the future by the past con
duct of the Executive towards the people of
Kansas, the President would declare it a case
of rebellion or treason, and the army of the re
public would again be employed under the plea
of preserving " law and order,*' to suppress
constitutional liberty in Kansas.
This is tiie first instance in the history of the '
Government, where Congress has declared that
the same population, which is recognized as
sufficient for a Slate State, was not sufficient for
R Free. State, and the Chief .Magistrate of the
republic not. only sanctions such a discrimina
tion, but avows his readiness to in.i>i on it in
execution of the laws so far as they effect the
people of Kansas.
With this law on the statute-hook, and with
these official declarations of the President it is
proposed to admit Oregon into the Union with
a population less than the number required hv
this law, and from the best sources of infor
mation within the reach of your Committee not
exceeding, if equal, to that of the Territory of
Kansas.
The undersigned minority of your Committee
are unable to appreciate the fairness or justice
of this kind of legislation towards the people
of different Territories, and are unwilling to
give their sanction in any way to a discrimina
tion as to the amount of population required
for a Free or Slave State, and much less as to
the controling political character of the pro
posed State. The applications for both Kan
sas and Oregon to be admitted into the Union
were presented at last session of Congress.—
Neither had been authorized by a previous act
of Congress to form a Constitution. So that
in that respect they were both alike.
As nearly as could be ascertained—no census
having been taken in either since 1855—there
was little or no difference as to the number of
their population. Each had t lected " a State
Legislature and other officers and so far they
were alike prepared to enter the Union. The
only real difference that existed in the two cases
prior to the application for either was that
Oregoii had a Territorial Government not un
satisfactory to her people, and a Legislature
chosen by her own citizens, while the Territorial
organization of Kansas was a usurpation by
fraud and force, and its political powers were
wielded by usurpers and despots.
Without expressing any opinion as to the
propriety of a restriction on new States as to
population, if general in its character, or as to
the necessity for any previous act of Congress
Authorizing the formation of a State Govern
ment, and without inquiring whether the Con
stitution submitted by the people of Oregon is
republican in form and consistent in its provis
ions with the guarantees of the Constitution of
the United States, while the restriction 011 the
action of the people of Kansas remains on the
statute-book, unless made of universal applica
tion to al 1 the Territories, the undersigned feel
that their approval of the application of Oregon
under these circumstances, would be giving
their sanction ro an unjust discrimination be
tween the people of different Territories, if not
indirectly indorsing the odious distinction made
in the law of the last session of Congress against
free institutions and free States.
A FfOITIVF.SI.AVE IN* THE WIHTE IIoCSF.
Our Washington correspondent tells a good
saying by Thaddeua Stevens, the Republican
representative-elect from Mr. Buchanan's Dis
trict :
" A gentleman was referring, in presence of
Thad, Stevens, to the possibility of Mr. Buch
anan's turning against the South for the pur
pose of retrieving has lost fortune in Pennsyl
vania, and asked Mr. Stevens what he thought
would be the result. Mr. Stevens replied that
there would be no trouble about that, as the
South could reclaim him any time under the
I ugitive Slave la v ! The inquirer -ectned per
ftlv satisfied " M "
ißraiforli Bcportcr.
(>. (D)ODRII'H, EDITOR
TOW A NDA :
Thursday Morning, January 27, 1859.
r>'KM<— Out Dollar per annum, invariably in atlvanct.—
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lowing extremely low rates :
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for it* safe delivery.
DIKKICCI.TY BETWEEN SENATORS DOCGI.AS AND
FITCH. —The lie raid's Washington correspond
ent snys: "In* the executive session of the
Senate Friday, an angry and exciting discus
sion arose beteen Judge DOCGI.AS and Senator
FITCH, when words were used which it is
thought must lead to a duel. The debate oc
curred on the question of confirming Mr. POT
TER, of Ohio, as collector at Toledo. Mr. Pcuii
opposed POTTER'S nomination. As the man
displaced was his friend, he said if the Presi
dent desired an issue with him, (Prc.it,) he
was ready for it ; he denounced the appoint
ment and called on every Senator who was his
( PIGH'S) friend to vote against it. DOCGI.AS
responded, saving lie would vote with the Sen
ator from Ohio ; he then branched off on to
the Illinois appointments and said they were
dishonest, corrupt and incompetent. Senator
FITCII interrogated DOCGI.AS and said it was un
true. DOCGI.AS again reiterated what he had
said. FITCH again said it was untrue. Cries of
order were then made. DOCGI.AS continued
the debate. FITCII replied to DOCGI.AS with
great bitterness, and said that Senators knew
how to piize anything coming from that quar
ter. Cries of order were again made DOCGI.AS
then replied and was called to order. Motions
were then made that DOCGI.AS he allowed to
go 011 in order. JEFFF.RSON DAVIS opposed it
and said, turning to DOCGI.AS, he had listened
with indignation to the language used, and it
was that of a highway-man and bravo. The
debate was continued some time when a mo
tion was made and the Senate adjourned. It
is said the lie was given and most severe per
sonal remarks made.
FOREIGN NEWS.—The screw-steamship City
of Washington, from Liverpool, Jan. s,arrived
at. New York Thursday morning. She bring
iiews of uiisitnl interest. The anticipation of a
conflict between France and Austria upon the
Italian question has suddenly passed from a
possibility to a likelihood ; insomuch that the
money markets of Paris and London have
sunk beneath the panic, and the Press general
ly concedes the urgency of the symptoms. At
the usual levee at the Tuilleries, Jan 1, the
Emperor remarked to Baron IICBNER, the Aus
trian Ambassador, that he regretted their re
lations were so bad ; but his personal senti
ments for the Emperor of Austria were the
same as ever. The phrase taking wind at once !
caused serious consternation out of doors, which
was increased by an official correction issued
| through the Covslitutionnef, substituting for
the word " bad " the words " not so good a>
they were," but otherwise accrediting the
rumor. It was also stated that on the same
occasion the Papal Nuncio had retired disgust
ed with his chilling reception. These facts,
with the ardor of preparations in Sardinia, the
movement of Austrian troops into Lombardy,
and the intense excitement and insubordination
of Austrian Italy irive color to the intimations
;of war. The members of the British Cabinet
Iwd been summoned to London. Lord DERBY,
j it was said, desired to have Parliament meet
earlier than the time previously fixed. Of
general news, there is a little of moment. The
investigation of the Irish sedition was contin
ued without startling results. A staircase in
| the Polytechnic Institution, London, broke
down on the Ist inst., injuring fifty persons,
' and killing one child. The Spanish ministry,
with the approbation of the Cortes, has an
. nouneed its final resolution not to part with
; Cuba. The adjustment of the Spanish difficul
ties at Tampico is also officially declared.—
From Cracow we have rumors of a formidable
i insurrection at that place, in which several
Ilu-siaus were concerned. Its supression is re
ported. The revolution in Servia was still
successful, neither Turkey nor Austria having
las yet intervened. Ilumors of a revival of the
Herat quarrel between Persia and England
• had come from the East. In India, theOude
campaign of Lord CLYDE had been attended
with brilliant success, one of the principal rebel
leaders having been ntterlv routed near Futteh
pore. The intelligence from Australia is witli
i out interest.
KANSAS ELECTION FRAUDS.—A .Mr. Baft
Jones has written a letter to the St Louis
i Demoern', tiiat his name as judge of the elec
tion, was affixed to the return of Oxford dis
trict, in October, fSo7 j without his knowledge
and consent. Ex Governor It J. Walker, and
ex Secretary Fred. P Stanton, of Kansas, have
availed themselves of his statement to publish
an address to the people of the United States,
as the revelations made by him tend to sus
' tain their action at the time in rejecting the
' Oxford district returns.
GcOr In the Senate of Missouri, on Monday,
; the bill from the House was passed giving $30,-
: 000 to the Governor for the suppression of
- Kdifficulties
FROM HARRISBURG.
[• urr'-.poiidrnc; of tlic Bradford Reporter.]
11 AKRisBi'HU, Jan. 21,187?
E. O. GOODRICH:—Mr. PRICE, of Lancaster
read a bill in place directing tlie taxes arising
from Collateral Inheritances, now applied to
the sinking fund of the State, to be hereafter
applied to the school fund of the respective
cities and counties wherein the taxes are col
lected.
How many schemes there are invented to
continue the enormity of the present State
debt. Could all the schemes prevail, which
are now before the Legislature, the debt would
be positively increased instead of diminished.
As the distant and diin prospect of paying it
off begins to brighten, and the means come
within our reaeh, some one stands ready to
snatch them from us and leave the old incubus
bearing as heavily on ns as before.
The Collateral Inheritance tax of those old
towns and counties is lJrge, while in the new
counties it is comparatively small. No doubt
Lancaster would be glad to retain that fund
to relieve herself ot school taxes, and let the
State debt take care.of itself. It is to be hoped
however, that none of the revenues heretofore
sacredly applied to a reduction of the State
debt will be diverted into other channels. This
Lancaster scheme is evidently calculated to
operate injuriously upon the newer and poorer
portions of the State.
A committee of five has been appointed by
the House to impure into alleged abuses of
the franking privilege on the part of the clerks
during the recess of the Legislature, lho in
vestigation is proper, whether the allegation
lie true or false, these things cannot be too
closely watched.
Mr. DONIVAN', who committed tlie assault on
Mr. Cue Ron, member from Philadelphia. lias
been refused tlie floor of the House. Served
him right, that code of "honor'' belongs ex
clusively to the chivalry of the south.
I made a slight mistake when 1 informed
you that the cost of supplying the Capitol with
window tixiu's was about sf>,o()o, the House
alone cost Sd.BS9 25; the whole cost was not
less than $7,500.
A bill to exempt parsonages from taxes has
been reported by a committee with a negative
re to mmeml a lion. Proper.
MIM.KK, of Crawford, read bill in place to
authorize a commutation of the death penalty
in certain cases. The exact provisions of the
bill have not yet transpired.
A bill has been read in place making certi
fied copies of the records of Insurance corpora
tions evidence to the same extent as the offi
cial records of our Courts. What next ?
The tariff resolutions passed both Houses of
the Legislature—unanimously in the Senate,
but two voted against them in the House, viz,
GoErr and LAIRD. A sharp debate sprung up
in the House on its right to instruct. The
right, and even propriety, was never doubted
when the democrats desired and had the potcrr
to express their views on national questions,
lint it is the bull that has gored the ox this
The subject of the Legislative Record has
been again before the House. The history of
tlie matter is simply this ; the Legislature of
1858 made a contract with R.J. HAI.DEMAN
for the publication of a daily Legislative Re
cord at $7 per page. At the close of the ses
sion Mr. BCCKAI-F.W got into the appropriation
liill a very snaky clause continuing the contract
until some future Legislature should revoke it.
At the opening of the present session the
House appointed a committee to act with a
similar committee from the Senate, should one
lie appointed, to contract for the publication j
of such Record. The Senate refused to ap
point such committee. In the meantime Messrs.
Hergner & Co. made a proposition to publish
a Record, like the present one in all respects, |
for 20 per cent less than is now paid. The
House was determined to show to the world
that it repudiated that kind of favoritism which
would pay off a partisan press at such enor
mous rates, when a gentleman equally responsi
ble proposed to do the same work at a much
less cost. Mr. WILMSTON, therefore, introdu
ce 1 a resolution declaring the contract of last
winter at an end. This was stove off in va
rious ways for several days. Mr. KINNEY,
thinking very properly that an Act of the
Legislature could not be repealed simply by
resolution, read in place a bill repealing Mr.
BUCKAI.EW'S sly section referred to, and upon
his motion the rules were suspended, and the
House proceeded to the consideration of the
bill. Mr. FOSTER, of Pittsburg who seems to
be acting with the democracy in this matter,
talked to the hour of adjournment so a vote
could not be had. On the next day the reso
lution being reached, an effort was again made
to talk against time, but a vote was reached
and the resolution passed by yeas, 57 ; nays,
28 ; FOSTER, rep., voting in the negative.—
To-day, Mr. KINNEY'S bill was reached and
passed, by 54 to 25, FOSTER again voting in
the negative. Upon its passage a sharp de
bate sprung up betweeu FOSTER and KINNEY,
which is reported at some length in the papers.
The responsibility is now on the shoulders of
the Democratic Senate, and the people will
i soon see whether it will continue the publica
: tion of the Record at $7 per page, when a re
liable man offers surety to publish it at $5,60.
Mr. KINNEY has presented petitions for a
law for assessing and recovering damages on
the North Branch Canal.
Yours, PETER KLAUS.
fifeiir E\(i over nor Slade, of Vermont, died
at Midd'ebury, on Huuday last.
86arCnc of Dupont's powder mills, at Wil
mington, Del., exploded on Thursday last, kill
ing l o of the w urkiin u
LOCAL AND GENERAL.
SHOCKING ACCIDENT. — A fatal accident of a
peculiarly afflicting character, occurred in the family of
JOHN I3n ES, residing on Shores' Hill. Wyux township,
on Sunday evening last. The day being very cold, Mr.
BILES had built a fire in the sleeping room of his children
and two of them, a girl aged about 12 years, and a young
er brother, went into the room. In a short time the fa
ttier went to the room , and discovered the girl lying upon
the floor in front of the lire. lie spoke to her, when her
brother said " he was afraid he had hit her." He was still
standing in the chair, which he had mounted in order to
reach a gun hanging there. The horror stricken father
raised up the girl and found that the charge had taken
effect upon the temple, nearly blowing off the top of the
head and that she was already dead. The boy says that
lie took down the gun, (which had been loaded with a
charge of shot a few days previous,) and snapped it with
out thinking of his sister, and that it went off. This dis
tressing occurrence should warn every one to place their
fire-arms out of the possible reaeh of children—or rather
that they should never be allowed in the house when
loaded.
&£?*• Public exercises will be held at the Hall
of the Alpha Ilpsilon Society, on Friday evening next. A
discussion will held,and an address may lie expected from
Prof. O. S. DEAN. Exercises to commence at 7 o'clock,
precisely.
fi-ay-The Tioga Agitator appears in a new
and beautiful dress. We are pleased to see this evidence
of prosperity.for the "Agitator" is one of the most lively
and readable of our exchanges.
firo~Our old friend, THEO. SWITH, has dis
posed of the Srranton Herald to F. A. MACARTNEY, who
proposes enlarging and otherwise improving the paper.
SMITH has made a capital paper of the Republican, and
in his retirement we wish him a more prosperous and
pleasant fate, than tossing on the troubled sea of newa
paper-dom.
North Branch Canal Company,
have already commenced operations for re building the
aqueduct over Tunkhannock Creek. They intend to have
it completed by the time navigation opens in the spring.
The dilapidated condition of the old structure would not
warrant their using it another season.
TES""C. A. LYMAN, formerly of this County,
now residing at Lock Haven, has been admitted to prac
tice at the bar of Lycoming County.
figrThe Town Elections took place through
out the County, on Friday last. We shall publish a list
of the more important town officers elected, as soon as it
can be compiled from the returns. The following was
the result in this Borough, there being no contest for any
of the offices and a very light vote :
Judge of Elections —-B. F. POWELL.
Inspectors.—(i. P. CASH, J. H. NEVINS.
Justice of the Peace. —X. X. BETTS.
Tuten Council. —WS. ELWELL, E. 0. GOODRICH, HARRY
MIX, (2 years.)
Constable. — ANDßEW J. Xom.K.
High Constable G. H. EATON.
Overseers of the Poor. —WM. MIX, C. K. LAPP.
School Directors WM. C. 800 ART, E. H. MASOX.
Assessor -WM. C. 800 ART.
Auditor —O. D. BAKTI.KTT.
OPERATIONS OF THE BARCLAY RAIL ROAD
& COAL CO., rou 1878.—The following extracts from
the Report of JAMES MACPAKLANK, General Superinten
dent, shows the operations of this Company for the past
year :
" At the close of our last year's business the Junction
and North' Branch Canals, by which our coal is sent to
market, was injured by fre-hets. A dim near the State
line, had to he about entirely rebuilt, and other extensive
repa'rs more required. The commencement of this work
iiv the Canal Companies was delayed until late in the
spring. Navigation from Towanda to Elinira was opened
on the 21th day of July, and continued without serious
interruption until its close on the 20th of November. The
Canal has been in much better order the present season
than at any time heretofore, and a gradual improvement
in it from year to year is perceptible. In lsoilthe largest
boat load of Coal taken from Towanda to Elinira was 67
tons, the usual load leing from .10 to 00 tons, in 18.77 the
largest load was 71, the usual load being from 60 to 07
tons ; while in'lHIS the largest load was 82 tons, and the
usual 1 a<l in the latter pirt of the seison taken by good
I oats with two horses was from 70 to 78 tons. By next
season I have little doubt but tha* -7 tons will frequent
ly be taken. The improvement of tlie canals will lie fa
vorable to low freights. At Elmira a portion of our Coal
has been re-shipped, the boats destined fordi-tant places
on the main lines of the New York Canals being then till
ed up and taking from 95 to 100 tons. The Canals ot that
State from Havana northward are now enlarged nearly to
their extended size, having during the last summer con
tained (J feet in depth of water. A reduction of Canal
tolls fromTowandato F.lmira from 97 to 23 cents was made
by the Canal Companies on the opening of navigation. A
draw back of thirteen cents per ton was also allowed on
Coal cleared from Pittston and shipped to places north
of Geneva to enable the Wyoming Coal Companies to
compete with the Srranton Coal, but a similiar allowance
was denied to the Coal shipped from Towanda, although
a very considerable portion of it sold for steam purposes,
came directly in competition with the Scranton Coal—
This discrimination against us was more unjust in the
Junction Canal Company, as our Coal passes over the en
tire length of their Canal, and we pay them 0 cants more
per ton for the same service than is paid on the Coal from
Pittston. It is hoped that by next season a more equita
ble rule will he adopted, by which Barclay Coal will pay
the same tolls per ton, as Anthracite.
The transfer of the Pennsylvania Canal from the Co
mmonwealth to a company.is likely to be favorable to that
work, in as much as the necessary repairs will be done
more promptly, and it is believed the Canal will lie kept
in better order than it would have been under the man
agement of the State. There is good reason to suppose
that our misfortunes arising Ironi disasters to the Canal
are now at an end, the work at the close- of navigation
and at present is in good order, and we may fairly anti
cipate a full season of navigation next summer. While a
rail-road outlet for our Coal, communicating with those
of the State of New York, would be valuable to us, yet
there can be no question that a good canal is the cheapest
and best mode for the transportation of Coal and other
mineral productions.
The prospect of early navigation last spring was so dis
couraging, our Company did not commence mining Coal
until the 20th of April. We were without means, em
barrassed by our debts, and being warned by our misfor
tunes of previous years, we felt obliged to proceed cau
tiously. our intentions lteing to mine no more coal than
we would be able to send to market, and this plan was
j faithfully carried out. The quantity mined up to the 15th
;of December inclusive was 16,031 tons. At the close of
navigation, November 27th, we had about 400 tons of
; blacksmith Coal lelt at Barclay, and uo lump coal, or run
! of mines whatever, we were therefore obliged to mine out
1200 tons more to got a supply of lump Coal for our win-
I ter retail sales at Towanda.
The amount of Coal shipped by this Company by the
Canal during the season was 17,500 tons, a portion of it
being taken from the old stock left from 1X57. Of the
whole amount shipped and sold this season. 31 por cent,
was fine coal. 49 per cent, was the run of the mines, con
taining about one-half fine coal, and 20 per cent, was
lump coal from which the fine coal was taken by screen
ing. We have therefore sold more fine than coarse coal
this season counting what was contained in the run of the
mines.
Of the sales for the season 44 per cent, has been used
for blacksmithing and rolling mills, 20 per cent.for steam
boats, IX per cent, for stationary engines, 8 per cent, for
the salt works at Syracuse .and the remainder,lo per cent,
for glass works, burning lime, domestic uses and other
purposes.
As to the localities where we tiave found a market, it John Laugdon, to rear up to womanhood. She has since,
appears that 25 per cent.from sales have been atTowanda by extraordinary eSorts, IK*CU found aud restored to ber
and Montcrnnia, 23 per cent, at Syracuse and its ricini- father and friends. The reported particulars of her alt
ty. Id jwr 'cut at Oswego, and its vicinity, X per cent, at fence, as giveu by herself .as near as we have beeu ableio
i'l .• tid it-- vicinity, and n the Ulack Kiver and Che gather them are as followe :It eeeuiiht Catharine oa-
nango Canal, 7 per cent, at Troy, Albany, and vicinity.
12 per tent, at Rochester, and its viciuity including the
Genesee Valley Canal, and 12 per reut. at Buffalo And H*
viciuity. It should not however he inferred that the mar
ket for onr Coal will hereafter be distributed among
these places in the same proportion as in some instances
our sale at jairticular places have been greater, owing to
special attention and efforts being directed to them, or
or other accidental circumstances. It is also to be observ
ed tbat we have never yet beeu over the whole ground in
search of customers. There are many important locali
ties on the New York Canals, where Barclay Coal has
never been seen or heard of. It is intended during the
present w inter to mine out a larger stock of coal, and we
are making arrangements to extend our business as far
as it can be done consistently with safety, good manage
ment, and a good profit. In addition to the natural in
crease in the quantity of Coal consumed, it is also com
ing into use for new purposes, and in new places, supply
ing the place of wood, steam is being introduced on the
Erie Canal and hid* fair to revolutionize the business.
By next summer quite a numlier of boats will be run by
steam. This will greatly Increase the quantity of Coal
used, and no company will lie so much benefited by the
change as ours, for no Coal is better adapted to that pur
pose, and no Coal is cheaper than ours."'
Proceedings of the Musical Con
vention will be published next week. It was impossible
to prepare them in time for this week's paper.
AGRICULTURAL NOTICE. —A meeting of the
Bradford Connty Agricultural Society will lie held at the
Court House in the Boro' of Towanda, on Wednesday
evening, February 9,1859. A general attendance is re
quested. .
Festival at the rooms of the Sus
quehanna Collegiate Institute, will take place on Tuesday
evening, February Bth. instead of' Monday evening, 7th
of February, as was advertised last week.
We hope to sec a grand gathering of the friends of the
Institute upon that occasion. Let it be such a one,as wil'
do credit to warm hearts and liberal ones.
BSrThe Hon. GEO. SUOTT will accept our
thanks for a copy of the" Annual Report of the Board
Canal Commissioners, with accompanying Documents,
for the fiscal year ending Nov. 30, 1*58."
LUMBER ON THE WEST BRANCH. —We learn
from the Williamsport papers that for five years past the
prospects of getting a supply of logs to the mills upon
the West Branch, have not been so umpromising as at
present. Cp to this time, nothing like the usual number
have been put up in readiness for the spring freshets.and
even with plenty of snow between this and spring the
deficit can hardly now be made up. The shipments of man
ufactured lumber, next season, wili probably fall far be
low any for a number of years past ; for, in addition to
the prospects of a very short crop of logs for next years'
cutting, the quantity of dry lumber now in the hands of
of manufacturers is stated to tie less than has been kuown
in this month for the last six years. Serious doubts are
entertained by lumbermen about being able to get in any
logs, unless an unusual quantity of snow should yet fall.
In consequence of these unflattering prospects, the price
of lumber has already advanced two dollars, and holders
show but little disposition to sell.
PERIODICALS—The Ladies Home Maga
zine, edited by T. S. ARTHUR and VIRGINIA F.TOWNSKND,
deserves, as it receives, liberal prtronage. The points of
excellence upon which the high reputation of this Month,
ly is established, are the high moral sentiment and piea
ing style of its literature. The Home Magazine should
be in every home in the land. Terms : $2 per year. $3 for
2 copies. T. S. ARTHUR A Co., publishers, 523 Walnut
St., Philadelphia.
—"The Great Republic," comes to ns with its ample
pages well tilled. We are glad to observe in this new un
dertaking. a departure from the usual routine of periodi
cals. In-dead of being filled with original or selected sto
ries, in the "blood and thunder," or love and murder
style, we have in the "Great Republic ," history, biogra
phy, travels, talcs, poetry and variety. The work prom
ises to outstrip all others, in tlie race of popular favor.
—"The Monthly /.ate Reporter," edited by JOHN LO
WELL and SAMUEL M. QI INCY, ia published at the well
known house of CROSBY, NICHOLS A Co., Boston. The
February numlier appears to us to tie ot value to lawyers,
as it contains a large number of reports, discussions of
legal subjects, Ac .
—Uoiley, for February, is indeed a " great number."
Mi* Slinwiens, No. 2 appears, These papers are really
worthy the pen of their author of the " Widow Bedott."
M rs. Haven gives us her very best story in this number—
" Two Sides to the' Picture." " Homespun and Velvet,"
by Marion llarland, author ot "Alone" and "Hidden
Path," also graces this number. The authoress w rites
for no other magazffie. " Precoeions children " we re
comuiend every parent to re-ad. There are other most ad
mirable stories in the book. Indeed, we think the litera
ture of this number cannot be equalled by auy magazine
published in the United States.
NORTH BRANCH CANAL COMPANY.. —We are
informed by one of the Stockholder# present, that on the
lbth inst.,the North Branch Canal Company held the an
nual meeting at tbe office of the Company in Athens,
Bradford County, IV, at which tlte annual report to the
Stockholders was made, and the following persons elect
ed for the ensuing year : C. F. WELLS, Jr., President,
GKO. M. HOLLKNBACK, G. K. MASON, HENDRICK B.
WRIGHT, HENRT M. FULLER and JOHN LAPORTE, Mana
gers. GEO. M. HOI.LRNBACK was re-elected Treasurer, and
D. MITCHELL, Jr., Secretary, by the Board.
From the annual report it appears that the Canal was
opened for navigation north of Pittst<>n,on the 15th of
July last, but owing to several breaches requiring time
to repair and causing a suspension of navigation, the sea
son of effectual navigation was limited to about tbree
months, and closed on the Ist of December last. The
whole amount of tonage received on the Canal now own
ed by the Company was 104,777 tons, of which 57,448
tons was coal shipped north and 42,122 tons south. The
expenditures on the work for maintainance and improve
ment was for the year $75,025, and the amount of tolls
received was $32,457. The balance of expenditures over
receipts being made up from an assessment of 5 percent,
on the capital stock of $1,750,000, all of which has been
subscribed for and issued. The estimated expenditures
for the year 1850 for interest, maintainance and improve
ments is $128,043, and the estimated receipts is from tolls
$72,000, and from overdue assessment on stock $45,550,
making a total of sll7.sso—which will leave to be made
up by a future assessment on stock $ 11,093. The compa
ny estimate the coal tonage north for 1859 will reach over
200.000 tons, and they have reduced the tolls on Anthra
cite from Pitts ton to New York State line, a distance of
94 mills to 32 cents per net ton, and 5 mills per ton per
mile on intermediate distauees, which is one-sixth less
than their charter allows.
They have also practically reduced the capital stock
from 11,750,000 to $700,000 t>v an endorsement of the dif
ference pro rata on the certificates, (being for proceeds
of sale of the Lower North Branch line to the Wyoming
Canal Company.
The Company have now a bonded debt of £>oo,ooo pay
able in IS years with C> per cent, interest, which leaves a
surplus beyond the debt of SIIO,OOO to be applied to future
improvement of the work.
FIAY* EXCITEMENT IN TIXKHANNOCK. —Our
Tunkhannuck neighbors have been working themselves
iuto a very uncomfortable state ot excitement concerning
the alleged abduction of a young girl, a highly wrought
account of which appears in the Tunkhannuck Democrat
as follows :
"Our village has been the scene of considerable excite-
ment for a few days past, in consequence of the sadden
and mysterious disappearance, some two or three weeks
since, of a young girl, aged about thirteen years, by the
name of Catharine I.augdon, residing in the family of
NELSON I.EE, proprietor of the American Hotel in this
place, to whom she had been entrusted by her father,
attending school, and on Monday the 20th . f r\
last she was enticed away In company with ' " r
girl by the name of Sarah Sbanghne'ssev *
Hon. It. R. Little, where another Irish girl by ,1 ' r
Mary McGuire, was in waiting to receive h/ r r
was taken from then, e, in company with th'
to the house of Mrs. Coad, a widow lady'
girl being rather thinly clad, without clothii, - '
for a journey into the country, Mrs. Coad
nished her with a shawl, and she was taken !rv fur "
about a mile from the villuge, on the road b- j , e
Tunkhannock to Laceyville.wliere she loitered ''
ny with the two girls above mentioned, until a^' 1 '
Collins, soon came along, as if by arrangement '
her into his wagon and conveyed her to hi, h,' lv ' k
backwoods of Washington township, where re! i" l "'
ing would ever thought of looking, and there T"
kept for nearly a week, under the instructing jf .'
anybody approaching to secrete herself. Fr., m ,|T **
she was taken to Mcshoppin village where the (J? I** 1 **
priest was holding " mass, - ' who t.x,k charge of !
conveyed her from thence to a place called a ( V.
the township of Choconut, Susquehanna '
distant, about thirty miles—where she remain ]
accidentally discovered by her fattier a few dav, ". 3,1,11
" Mr. Langdun, who resides some distance fr-! m "! '
hearing of the strange disappearance of his dai.-- • !* a '
mediately made diligent search and inquiry f„ r cj* j*'
proceeded to this Mary McGuire, who had bee !
ed oi complicity in the aflair,and extoru-d from he "
fession of the whereabouts of his daughter, im-.,, * C
started in pursuit of her. Arriving within afoui? ?
miles of the institution above mentioned, he secured
services of two athletic men, and wended his Wlv .
place pointed out to him by the said Mary McGuire
arriving at the institution, he discovered his ddughier'"
the yard, either playing or carrying in wood t a 7*
daughter immediately recognizing him, ran to hi !c '
ing. " there is my father." The father immediate), uy
. his child into the sleigh and started at a raj, id p, j
wards home,before any one had time to imerfer * i
I progress."
j The Democrat claims that " this case of ~
| somewhat sirniliar to the Mortara case, which hw ra- J
|so much excitement in this and other countries;" q, 0 T v
\ we must confess we cannot see the striking resen i,>.V
;We strongly suspect there are two sides to this at. ir j 4 .,
. that we have only heard a very exaggerated one.
The Secret Doings of the Douglas Me-
The Pennsylvanian is responsible for thefo -
lowing revelation of the secret movements ■'
the lenders of the Auti-Lecompton Democrat
If it be true, it looks as if there were already
traitors in the camp, who tell its secrets toth e
enemy. Whether true or not, it is decided
funny :
A FACT has just come to our knowledge,
and we feel it to be our duty to the public to
announce it On Friday ni>rht last, a private
meeting was called at the Saint Lawrence Hi
tel, in this city. The persons who convened
. the meetinp, were the chiefs and leaders ofthe
late reception given to the Hon. Mr Dot GUV
I After the pentlemen who had been invited
j were assembled in a quiet and private war, the
object in view was made known by Mr FU
NKY, who acted as the spokesman and leader.
To them he made the bold proposal that mstant
and prompt action should be bad to invite Mr
I), COLAS to accept of an independent nomina
tion for the next I'residential election, and to
consent that his name should be put beforetbe
Union as a candidate, without regard to tl*-*-
: lection of the Charleston Convention. Mr At
torney-Genera! KNOX was also present and dis
sented from the proposal o: Mr FOR EV. The
ground taken by him was that it was inexpe
dient to act as Mr. FORVF.V proposed, and that
the wise and prudent course would be to sub
mit the claims of Mr DOUGLAS to the Charles
ton Convention and to make every effort to
secure the nomination for him at the hands of
that body - r but should be be defeated there,
that then he would leave the parti,
and with Mr. DOUGLAS for his leader, try ther
fortunes with the people. Oiher persons who
were present differed with both of those gen
tlemen, and particularly Mr. MCGINMS and
Mr. MCCORMICK, who were opposed toanyac
tion that would be contrary to the aui
discipline of the Democratic party.
THE TARIFF RESOLUTIONS. —The following
are the tunlT resolutions which have recently
passed both branches of our State Legislature
W BERK AS, The experience of the past and
present most fully demonstrate that it is a wise
and beneficent policy of the General Govern
ment which dictates the imposition of dntie,son
such products of foreign nations as come in such
direct contact with those of oar own country,
ns to injure and prostrate the t?ude ui our own
soil and among our wvn cilizms.
Aml whereas, for want of sncli aid, the coun
try is filled with foreign products, the result of
cheap labor; the monetary a flfiairs ot the nation
d sarranged by the exportation of specie, to pay
an indebtedness abroad,the ai tiza.ii>and labor
ers in many departments of trade are corapt --
ed to abandon their accustomed pursuits—espe
cially do our own coal and iron intents su*-
fcr ; therefore,
Hisolvrd, ly the Senate and House of Re
presentatives of the Common wealth of Peon
sylvania, in General Assembly met, That our
Senators in Congress be instructed, and our
Representatives requested, to labor for the
pa-sage (at the present session) of sueb an act
as will not only tend to increase the revenuebr
the imposition of duties, but afford ample en
couragement to all the interests of the country
injured by the productions of the cheap lbo>
of other nations, but more especially to urge
an increase of duties on coal and iron, iu which
a portion of our own people are deeply iutef
ested.
Resr-lved, That the views of the Preside* 1 .,
expressed in his late annual Message, in refer
ence to the advantage of definite or specif
duties over ad valorem duties, as more uniform,
less liable to frauds, and affording the ni --
certain and uniform amount of revenue, Q )( " -
our hearty approval. .
Resolved, That the Governor he reqne>'f<
to forward each of onr Senators and mem '
of Congress, a copy of the abore preamble 81
resolutions, informing tnem of their adoption
BsaF" At South Franklin, Massachusetts, on
Monday evening, Jonathan Wales shot -
Susan Whiting with a pistol, killing !i- r ' n
stuntly. Wales fled, but was arrested
day morniug. The cause of the act is sup| ,oS
od to be jealousy, as Wales formerly paid 1'
addresses to the deceased. Both are youngi
and belong to respectable families.
CttT' The State Sentinel, the new V ~
ic paper recently established at Harrisbu.?
says;— ..
" Indications warrant the belief that -
Buchanan and his Lecompton policy w' -I
idly he buried together, with none to
for him save a few traitorious feHows
would sell their party, uud with lUheir
for Mime petty dollur-a day office.