Zip Republionl 41rompiler.
4ETTYS33IIA+I, -
MONDAY 'MORNING, 'JAN. g, 15554,
Free LeCttiie.
Dr: A: O. Gartene;*of Philadelphia, propo
felt to deliver a Leeturs_ on the use. abisse_and.
Afructeire of the ICye, some evening this week.
probably Tuesday or Wednesday. The time
And place may be known by posters. Being
designed to benefit the public and enlighten
thejcninmuility on that val nable sense...the eye-
o i g t i s a jth , L A l oi
38,1,F . :kg t .,9 th•nt . all may
tive.nature; and the Lecturer, Dr. Greene, the
press sq. is,eloquent, and handles his atitiject
with greet ability. Let all attend.
are under obligt ! tions to Hon. S. L
Itufsat,l. for valuable Congressional favors.
Qra Tuesday last, the Directors of the
"
ofJ..J. BALI:TiI. resigned. Autienga Co
seAN was re-api.ointed Treasurer ? and JouN
&UTT steward.,
VV,..twou Auanno.tvag, Esq.. hag been ne
appointed Mercantile Appraiser for the county,
v.& O. WeREAux, Esq., was re 7 appointe4l
Auditor of the Public Oificzs, at the late Court.
trztbe - Concert of the '.Singing Birds,"
(Prof. A. J. Parraavuum Conductor.) on Mot,.
day evening, drew an audience of ladies and
gentlemen which packed the Courthouse to its
utmost capacity. It is thought that there never
before - was a larger crowd of persons in the
building_at one time. , And the exhibition was
fully worthy of the handsome turn-out—far
stlrpassing general expectation, as it did our's,
and evincing a degree of cultivation in singing
really - astonishing in children so young as the
.-Singing Birds" generally arc. But the hap
py; 'film 'and gay dresses and • beautiful
groupings of the little tblks were.not the least
interesting features of the exhibition—the Sight
was„Toith _ a quarter to look - upon: .The
4.Philharmonimi," under the leadership of
Dewar 'Dkryarut, were 'also present, and
delighted the audience with a number of pieces
of itistruniental music.
The Concert was repeated on T uesday
evening, to accommodate those who could not
lind•room on Monday-evening, and the atten-
dance was again large.
Estrum PisIODICALS.—The attention of the
reader ill directed to LaroNARD SeOrT & Co's.
prospectus, in another column, entitled .'Brit
ish Periodicals," embracing the London Qum.-
terli, The Edinburgh, The
.Nnrth British, and
The Westminster Reviews, and Black wind's
Edinlnkrgh - Magazine. To adopt the truthful
language of the publishers:a-These periodicals
are the critical censors of the British scholas
tic and literary world,. By their criticisms,
they aid readers in the selection of standard
valuable- books ; and by e the epitomes which
they Present, often obviate the necessity or con-
suiting works too voluminous for general ex
-aniff-uttlon. They fill - a phi - oe — Which - A - tuerican
magazines cannot supply: for they discuss
topics relating , more strictly to thnlairairs, po
litical, religious. scientific, and literary, of the
continent of Europe. They are conducted by
the best talent of Great Britain ; and are en
gaged with the most important questions which
interest or agitate the civilized world. Who
ever subscribes to Ulm all, may read the
ablOst'representaties of the principal parties
into which the people of Great Britain are di
vided..
.11:7In the House, at Harrisburg, on Thurs
day, Mr. MoCLuot_ presented the petition of
G. Eyler, for license to travel as a foot
pedlar in the county of Adams. Also two pe
titions from citizens of the townships of Union
and Conowago, in the county of Adams, pray
ing for a repeal of the Act of last session au
thorizing a State road frOm Gettysburg to the
Buck tavern, in the county of Lancaster, so far
as relates to the said townships, .
Mr. McClean also read in his place and Pre
sented to the House, an Act to repeal the Act
authorizing said road, so far as extends to, the
entire county of York, and the townships of
ir
Union and ConowaA in the county of Adams.
tV'D. McCoNA 1", Esq., the Honorary
SeCretary for
and
county of the "Cosmo
politan Art and Literary Association," receives
and remits subscriptions,- and furnishes certifi
cates of membership, and distributes works of
Art, &c., to members. Persons desiring the
advantagesof membership will call on him at
his office. Distribution on 30th 41 January.
_MR. BIICIEANAN.—The Lancaster (Pa.) Tn
telligeneer says that Itorn letters received by
friends of Mr. Buchanan, in that city, it seems
he intends to return home in the month of
October next—and not in the spring, as stated
by some of the papers. He will then have
remained abroad more thanotwo years, the
period he expected to be absent when be left.
Mr. Sickles, his secretary, who returned home
in the Atlantic, tendered his resignation before
leaving London.
DIRD OF nts Isloaiss.--31r. Samuel 1 . "1 ntts.
of York, Pa., who met with a severe- acddelit
about a month ago, on the railroad. by which
both his legs were very badly crushed. after
suffering extreme pain, died on Friday week.
He leaves a wife and ten children.
OIIIt MEDIATION.--It is stated that Lord El
gin. during his late visit to New York, express
ed no confidence, or rather an entire want of
confidence, in threffitii.cy of arty proposal from
P .•t _ . :.• "& te_beti ftet ...r • r
ligerent powers in Europe.
$70049 IN GOLD COMING.—.The steamer
Star of the West left San Joan, on the 234 for
New York with 250 irassengen and $700.000
in gold.
. 4 ,l7Texas idvices state that Ron. Sain-Ffons
iin his re;figneli his seat in the United States
-- -aste„ to take effbet at the end of the present
.I.ebsius.
ad - Sit:wire of Railwa(/ yak= to-day.
Meeting of the Legislature.
".TheSt;tcLegiGlatreconv,ened,in accordance
with"-law. at, Harrhburg:on 9londay• last—
querunis being had in both Houses.
The - Elente, after. the calling of the toll,
(thirty members bcing'present.) proceeded to
the election ',of: Speiker, with the following
result:
. Messrs. Brown, Cressvrell, Fry. noodtrin•
Haldeman. Iliester. Hoge. Jamison, M 'Cii n tock
Platt, Quiggle. Sager, Walton, Wherry-14
voted for Byron D. Hamlin. Democrat. •
Messrs. Crit hb. Ferguson, Flenniken. Frazier.
Frick, Jordan, Killinger, Lewis, Mellinger.
'Sellers; Shninanac inner, Taggart—l3 voted
for James 11e - ndricirs,Whig and Know Nothing.
•
Four votes scattering. - • •
lend themselveS to the Know Nothing bar
gaina- which the trading - Whigs had made,
threw their votes away, and no organization
was effected. After several ballots, the Senate
adjourned. Mr. klainlin,_and Mr. Hendricks
vo edlq-various--partrfriends.---Mr.—Bucka
lew,. Democrat, has not yet returned from
South America.
The House was called to order by Mr. 'Jack,
the Clerk of. the last House. Ninety-nine
members answered - to 'their names. An elec
tion for Speaker was then gone-into, when
Henry K. Strong, Whig and Know Nothing,
was chosen on tie first ballot :
Ear_FlenrY_K•_ Strong, Whit; a
Nothing, (of Phil ade I phia)—Messrs. A very,
Baldwin, Ball. Barry, Bergstresser, Beal, Bow
man, Caldwell. Chamberlain, Clapp, Clover,
Cresswell, Cummings, of Philadelphia, Cum
mings, of Somerset, Donaldson, Downing,
Eyster„ Fearsott„ Fletcher, Forster; Foust,
Franklin, Free, Guy, Gwinner, Haines, Harri
son, Herr, Hodgson, Ilolseomb, llubbs, King,
Kirkpatrick, Krcpps, Lune. Lapot to., Lathrop,
Leas, Leidertmut, Lou, Lowe, McCalniont,
McCoombs, McConkey, McConnell, McCul
lough, Altuldock. Magill. Mingle, Morris, Mor
rison, Muse, Page, Palmer, Pennypacker,
Powell, Reese, Rittenhouse, Ross. Rutter,
Sherer, :Simpson, Smith. of Allegheny. Smith,
of Blair, Smith, of Philadelphia, Steel, Steh
ley. Stewart, Sturdevant, Thorne, Waterhouse,
Weddall, IV ickersharn, Witmer, Wood, and
Zie?ler_76. •
For Richardson L. Wright, Dem., (of Phila
delphia) Messrs. Baker, Bush.Carli4e. Christ,
train. ei , Dougherty, Dunning. Edinger. Frailey,
Fry, Gross, Johnson, McClean, Maxwell, Otr,
Saliade, Stockdale, and Thompson —ls.
Messrs. Wright and Yorkes voted for Charles
Frailey, Dein.; Mr. Strong. fur R. B. McCombs.
Messrs,Cmvford and North did not vote.
Mr. .Wright was the Democratic caucus
130111111 CC.
Ti — iv iv, as such, made no nomination for
Speaker, although. it has always heretofore been
their custom to do so. Mr: Strong was nomi
nated in secret Know Nothing conclave, and
as the choice of such secret arrangement, re
ceived •every Whig and Know Nothing vote.
Upon thiS fact th'e Pennsylvanian remarks :
"For the first time in the history of our Gov
ernment, a Secret Society has obtained the con
trol and management of this great Common
wealth, together with the duty of protecting
our lives and property, and do not hesitate to
say, that every thing connected with such con
trot is arranged in their Lodge Councils. Every
other party that has ever had an existence in
our State or Union, has met, without knowing
precisely who was to be their candidate for n:
,post like that of Speaker, .until the matter
should be determined among themselves, with
the recommendation of their - `,con - stituenta.
But in the instance of which we now speak,
.
everything was previously arranged in the
Lodges of the Know-Nothings, and the _mem
bers directed to vote for a particular candidate,
without a question as to its propriety. No
exercise of judgment is, permitted—no prefer
ences acknoWledged. The Secret Council has
spoken, and its mandate must be obeyed. To
question its authority, is to draw down.the
direst . maledictions."
The Senate, on Tuesday. proceeded with the
balloting for Speaker, and having got as far
As the 18th ballot without a choice, or change
in the vote, adjourned. Nothing of importance
transpired in the Houk.
The Senate organized on Friday, 14 the
election, on the 29th ballot, of 11on. W[LLIADI
H. WESTER, Democrat, of Berks county, as
Speaker, by a majority of one, over Mr. Skin
ner, opposition. Mr.ioarsie voted for -"Mr.
Mester, and Mr. Price did not vote at al!.
In the Muse, A. W. Benedict was elected
Clerk over - Mr. Jack: Benedict 69, Jack, 20.
Henry 3. A,L. Hennershots was appointed
Assistant Clerk; S. Bentley was elected Ser
geant-at-Arms ; J. J. Horn, Doorkeeper ; and
E. D.' Evans, Messenger.
The Governor's Message was sent on
Friday. and read to both Houses. It is an ad
,nimble State paper, and should be perused
and pondered by, all. We give a part of it
to-day,---the remainder will appear in our next.
r -- " The Know Nothings of Baltimore are
having ' , quite a time of it" over Mayor Hinks's
nominations for city officers. Nor is this to
be wondered at, when it is considered how
inordinately hungry the crew-is with which
he has to deal. All who had ever had a chance
at the public tit, and had got the taste .of
office, as well as the hundreds who had spent
their lives in the hunt of place. but ..couldn't
come it," hopefully calculated that the election
of Mr. Rinks would be the certain means of
accomplishing their desires ; and as there were
piubably twenty of these hunters after the
same bane, the race was unusually animated,
and the disappointment to nineteen of them
unusually great. Hence expressions of
dation are loud and deep, because all the Know
Nothings have not received apPiiiiitments,
when they have a Know Nothing 11Ia vory
Some of the Mayor's nomMations are objected
to because they are unavailable and impopa,
lar—some are charged with not being members
of Know Nothing lodges—and- in other cases
the Mayor is faulted with overlooking and
disregarding the claims of other parties who
bad been pressed by their friends for the seve
ral situations. Of the first batch sent in_ by .
um. six - were - confirumh - three rejected, and
one laid over. Beautiful 'harmony !
But the most important fact connected with
this business is, that nine out of len Mayor
liinks's num inees were lately whiffs! We, from
the first, expressed the belief that Know Noth
ingism was but a trap and a cheat to gall Demo
crats, and when it had then sworn to its self
ish put-cases, to use them in helping the disap
, pointed into power and place. Now let us
watch the result:
It is rumored that Mayor Hicks talks of
resigning. He is gettiag vaure thaw he' liar
gaiiital her:
communleao. A Message from the President.
Ma. Eorron :—Permit me, through your pa- In the douse - of Representatiies, on Tues
per,
to return my sincere thanks to the ladies day last, a - message was' received from the
: President of the United States and read. Ile
of the Ger. Ref. Congregation, of this place,
sa . ys. inturn . ing . e House of•Representa
for the agreeable surprise they occasioned my
taves. inwhtch it o r igi nate d, the bill:entitled
family. a short time since.. in the way of a an act making appropriations for the repairs,
regular old fashioned pastoral dopition. I will preservation and completion of certain public
not undertake the task of enumerating all the works, heretofore commenced under authority
articles presented : suffice it to say, each men- j of law, it became necessary for him, owing to
the late day at which the bill was passed. to
ber of my family—and mine ianot a small one, state his objections to it very briefly, announo
only eight responsibilities—was nicely remern- ing at the same time a purpose to reserve the
subject for more deliberate discussion at the
tiered.- Moreover. it would fail me to say, how
pssion Cong, while by no
many good things, in the shape of cakes, pies mreea nssent
ins se ensible of
to the ress ardu for
arduousness of the
and sausages, accompanied the above, all show- task, he concedes the two houses of. Congress
ing the thoughtfeliness of the donors at a Christ- are entitled to an expression of the considers- -
tient; which have induced dissent on his part
-mar season. To needy ministers such Isarks"
from their conclusions in this inStanite. •
:rf---tetripoisal--Itintlne.se-are---Amt=only-protita-ble;
these times of high prices,• but exceedingly internal improvements ? What. dores it em
pleasant to dwell upon. Once more I.' say, brace, and what exclude? No suoh language.
ound in - th e co nstitution.-
stiNot is lt
- thank you for all these titnely gi ft s ; and may p l ot
• an expression in the contution ord but it
the good Lord supply
_all your spiritual need 'has no sufficient meaning to be of any value
with the higher and richer blessings of 'his as a means for a safe *conclusion, either . of con-
JACOB 74EGLER- _stitutional law or practical statesmanship.
If there 'is any •poWer to construct railroads
and canals-there' ust,
_by_ the_ same
_forced
construction, be power to construct bridges.
and drain - marshes. and provide means.: of
irrigation-An fact. improvement of the earth
for the developMent of natural resources.
Ile says he had - occasion more than once to
express as - his judgment, and took it for grant- -
ed that it was alundamental proposition,. that
the Federal Government is the creature, of the
States—that sovereign power is in them alone ;
nod all power of Federal governments' s deriv
• alive. All power not delegated to the govern
ment is reserved to the States, respectively, or
to the people. Starting from this, and deny.
ing that power for a system of internal Improve
ments is to found in the preamble to the Con
stitution, he proceeds to examine the various
clauses in that instrument under which power
. for a system'of internal improvements. is claim
ed, coining to the conclusion that there is no
specific power for such works, and no provision
broad enoughte'cover them. This view has
been Maintained by the soundest expositors
of the government.
Congress can only construct such works as
may be necessary to carry out a specific power.
lle refers to the views of Jefferson. Jackson,
Polkand others in rommendatioo and approval;
and then estimates the vast expenditures which
would necessarily be involved in's 'systeinef
internal. improvements. if the improvement
of the navigability of a river or. harbor be
necessary fur a iii ary or - naval purposes, the
subject isthen a matter for legislative discretion.
The message was quire a long one. In con
elusion. the President says the considerations
he has submitted, added to:the embarrassment
of the - whole question, impels him 'to suggest
the policy of confining ap nations by the
general government to W ,;:meeessary to be
sex:lnstructed- frotn-Tits-uml powers: and
of leaviog all others to indivi .al enterprise,
or to . separate States, to be provided for out of
their own resources : or, by a recurrence to
provisions of the constitution which authorises
the levying of tonnage duties with the consent_
of Congress, for the improvement of harbors;
graco.
Gottyabure-Pa.
7The Derniftcratic members of the house
of Representatives, at. Washington, in caucus,
on Wednesday,evening, passed a resolution to
the effect that the duties imposed by 14w on
the goods; wares and n►erchandize imported
into the United States , from foreign countries,
should be so modified at the present session of
Congress, preserving the principles of the tariff
of 1846, as will Materially diminish the amount
of revenue annually eolleCted from customs.
d Kno
THE FIRST OP JASVARY IN WASUINGITON. , .-••
The President's mansion was thrown open on
Monday at noon, according to custom, and
thronged by an immense number of visitors, all
of whom were received in that plain, 'hearty
manner which has ever characterized President
Pierce. Besides the receptions of the President
and Members of the Cabinet, Mayor Towers,
Ex-Maftws Maury and Seaton, Mr. Walter, the
architect, Col. Berra, City Postmaster, and a
large number of the prominent citizens of W ash
ington. kept open houses for the reception of
their friends. -
"Tug Umati."—We noiiee by the Philadel
phia papers - that the Union Hotel of thdt city,
has pasued into the proprietorship of Messrs.
EVAN EVANS and UPToN 5. NgweosrEs. '
rnerhaps the best joke of the season, says.
the Boston Aurtial, iy the fact that after the
election in L •nn, it was discovered that one of
the newly elected Aldermen, clumn by the
Know-Nothings, was an Irishman, and lately
changed his Fume from Ctinnelly
Horrible Accident and Death.
A most melancholy accident and death ()e
-1 curred in Westminster, en Friday. the 29th
ult., which resulted in the death of Mr. joint
11 Wytnert. - Mr. W. went, down into a welrfor
the purpose of cl caning it out, which he.had
accomplished and expected to go up with the
: next bucket, but unfortunately before the last
I bucket reached the top of the well, the well
gave away, and - 15 or 20 feet-Of the top wall
fell in upon him. The news soon spread, and
in a short time the premises were crowded,
and all seemed horror stricken at the probable
fate of the unfortunate s man. Every ellbrt . was
hoist-the Stone as _ra pidly_as_possibLe,_
thinking that hr might it:ive. but the
process•wais a slow one, and alter eight hours
hard woll: his body ws recovered ; wltert
found his face was tut ned up, head back against
the wall in a half reclinini position, and had
la couple of very severe woun d s cn the head,
chitin of which were sufficient to cause his
death, and it is alit/posed 1.11.11 he was
ly killed. He leaves att idow and three or
four small children, without any of the neces
saries of life. Petitio - ns were immediately
circulated among the citizens and a sufficient
amoun t of money was raised during the day
to keep his family above want until the
severe season is over. His remains were in-.
timed in the grave yard near town len Satur
day afternoon last.
Five Days Later from Europe.
Sebastopol Not Taken-4ustria's Ultimatum
Refused—Both sirmies Reinforced—The Czar
Determined to Fight it Out.
HALIFAX, Jan. 3.--The royal mail steamship
Asia has arrived here; bringing dates to the 23d.
which is five days later than the advises per
Atlantic.
The news, though of an interesting character,
is not very important. The English papers con
tinue to he tilled with the details of the move
ments of allies in the Crimea. Fnglimd---is
making every effort to conciliate the German
Powers.
It was reportbd — in London that the Czar. lad
refused to accept the ultimatum of Austria, and
it was supposed that Austria would now at
tempt to coerce Russia into it.
From the Crimea there is little news but what
has already been published. The weather was
very severe. Two or three storms had taken
place, and caused much suffering among the
allies.
The investment and bombardment of Sebas
topol continues. There had been some skirm
ishing, but no other battle had been fought.
Both the Allies and the Russians were al
most daily receiving reinforcements. The Rus
sians are fortifying, on an immense scale, every
available point.
The allies are easily and regularly supplied
with provisions, mostly from Austria.
The Russians are reported to be suffering for
the want of provisions. The soldierterorking
in the trenches fall down exhausted'itli want.
of food.
A despatch received in Paris from St. Peters
burg. says that the - Czar, instead of being alarm
ed at Austria joining the allies, and the prob
ability that. Prussia would do so, is making the
greatest preparations to carry on the contest to
the uttermost against the combined forces.
Prussia has sent an Envoy to I„,ondon, but
the object of his mission has not transpired.
The English Parliament was absorbed in dis
cussing questions concerning the war.
Rumors of various kinds are daily in circu
lation in London, in regard to the movements
of the Allies.
There is nothing important from France or
Spain.
the election in Orleans county, N. Y.
Elisha Whalen. the know-nothing candidate for
Assembly, (in place of Alexis NVard, deceas
ed,) is pi obably defeated by Mills, the regular
democratic nominee. So w 4 4. 14 ticket was run.
MOW
MIASIONARIES letter to Dr.
Durbin stater that alt the missionaries con
nected with the Methodist Episcopal Church
in China would probably - withdraw from the
empire by the close. of the present year.
,c.r - PFA-Governor Moorhead, of Kentucky,
died at his reNideire in Covington, on the lith
ult., as.:d 56 years.
ARRIVAL OF THE ASIA
AN IMPORTANT LAW.—The following sec
tions:of an act of Assembly, passed the 12th
day of January, 1852. do not seem to be gen
erally known. The want of a knowledge of
the existence of the law often subjects parties
applying fbr letters of administration, or let
ters testamentary, to inconvenience, inasmuch
as the Register is forbid to grant such letters
without first registering the birth of the child:.
Sec. G. That no letters of administration or
letters of testimony, shall be granted by any
Register, upon theestate or eMets of ary per
. oir—hereafter—dying, within this State— or_if
aranted, shall be valid, until the death ofsnch
person shall be duly certified the said Register.
in order that the same may be duly registered
according to the forms and provisions of this
act, or as strictly in compliance therewith as
it, may be in the power of the party so to do.
* Sec. 7. That no appointment of any guar
dian of the person or estate of any minor here
after born, by any Orphans' Court within this
State. shall be valid. until the date of the birth of
such minor, and the date of the death, as well
as the name; of his or her parent Or parents. shall
be duly registered according to the provisions
of this act, as strictly as the .same can be com
plied with„unless from the death of any wit
ness, or from softie other cause sufficient upon
strict investigation by the said Court, such proof
cannot at the time be conveniently made, iu
which' atter case it shall he made as soon as - it
may be practicable.
ROBBED BY A GIPSY.-A colored.man named
Charles, living at the Warm Bath Spring-;, in
Virginia, was robbed a few days ago of $1.200,
by one of a gang of strolling Gipsies. It ap
pears she told him that if he would let her
have Sll2OO in specie she could make it. grow
to a bushel full. Charles produced the money;
it was locked up, apparently. in a trunk ; the
woman mumbled and made some mysterious
passes with her hands, and then left, to return
in four days, during which time the trunk was
not.to be opened. She dia l not appear again,
and when the trunk was opened it was found
to contain, instead of a bushel of specie, no
thing but pieces of lead and copper !
A Poor HOUSE. OPENED WITH A BALL.-A
new poor house, in Cook county, Illinois, was
recently inaugurated by a grand hall. The idea
is indicative of progress, and the example may
be useful. Opening a poor house with a ball!
"This is a great country."
[0 - The free soiters assembled in Boston a
few evenings since, fur the purpose- of debating
the yropriety of sustaining an independent or
ganization of the party. Speeches were made
by Charles Francis Adams and Stephen C. Phil
lips in favor of the movement, when an adjourn
ment for a fortnight was resolved upon.
Tux Clumka IN PAIUS.—More than four hun
dred dagiterieelyPe pictures hare been already
sent from the seat of war to Paris, representing
the acts and deeds uf the army both on land
and sea, under all aspects and circumstances,
and with -most mathematical precision. So
far has this been carried, that, all the reports
to the Minister of War are accompanied by
daguerreotype pictures- of most remarkable
beauty and precision.
[l:7 - A nrs. Woodcock, of Montrose, lowa,
gave birth. on Monday, Dec. 11, to four living
children, all boys. Quite a brood of young
Woodcocks, and Mr. W. will doubtless soon
see lung bills.
MunnEa.—The Alexandria Sentinel says
that Henry Clay Sinclair, of Fairfax county.
Va., was,killed at Dranesville, a few days ago,
by a man named Pickett.. The murdered man
was very much cut up. Pickett has fled. - .
¶A local,clection in Newburyport. Mass.,
to fill vacancies in the municipal bodies, has
resulted in the election of one Know-Nothing
candidate, and three opponents Or - that order.
17 - Well executed coun terfei Ores of the 'Dank
of the Valley of Virginia', and lens and twenties
of the Merchant's Bank of Lynchburg„ Va., are
in circulation.
..Gleason's Pictorial." having been pur
chased by M. 3k BALLor, has been .changed
the title to "Ballou's Pioturial."
Fruits of Democratic aide.
-The Mexican war. created, a debt of seventy,
millions'of dollars, and al tholigh p eace wns. d e _
oared, and 'the 'country had reattmed its peace
ful aspect before' the Fillmore -, - adthinistrat ion
came in. yet no diminudonof -dist amount was
secured during its existence. It was the poli
cy Of that, administration, gays tbs. Erie Ob
server. like all other anti-llemoeratic Adminis
trations, to spend the public money as fast as
it came into the treasury, and trust to the fu
ture to in'ovide means to meet the liabilities 'of
the general government when they should fail
due ; or perhaps,, adopting the idea enunciated'
by one ofits - leading exponents that a public
debt is a public blessing, it did not desire to
see the liabilities of the government reduced.
Hence. when the present Administration began
its career. it found the debt of seventy trillions
- • .
remaining. The Executive, in his inatigirral
expressed7 - B,7determi nation- tn -co nd tic t -
the - government ilpon economical principles,
and affirmed that if he did not succeed in , this
effort, at least one great purpose of his admin
istration would fail .of. accomplishment.
Tie was resolved that the publiedebt-sheuld
not only not be increased, but , that if possible
it should be diminished. The resolution is
made good. The debt i.: reduced froui seventy
I to_a bout forty-seven millions,_notwitbstanding
I some, ten millions of dollars • have. been taken
I from the treasury tw fulfil the stipulations of
the Gadsden treaty. In addition to this, it is
show by the report of the Secretary of -the
Treasury, just submitted to Congress. that no
less than twenty-six and a half millions of dol
lars remain in the treasury subject to, draft.
This is one of lite fruilsY . a Ilenpicratic adnain
istration if the garierninPnl,—of having an Ex
-1 ecutive at the head of affairs, who believes that
a public debt is an injury, instead of a • benefit
to the public ; and wh6 makes a practical ap
plication of the principle. Whatever faults the
administration inaY.be_s_ttpposed to have com
mitted in other respects, there can be no.ques
lion but that its management of the finances
has been in the highest degree beneficial to the
people , . , -
Biennial Sessions.
The Harrisburg , Patriot advocates biennial
sessions of the Legtslature. and' asks the opin
ion of the press throughout the State. We are'
decidedly in favor Of the proposition, And con
:vinced that a very large majority of the people
of Pennsylvania desire it; indeed there are those
who think that biennial sessions would . be tno
frequent. We hope-ere him* to see 'a move in
the legislature tending towards the accomplish
ment of this - ofject. In speaking of the-proprie
ty of the 'measnii the Patriot says:—. , . We main
tain that there is'not the slightest necessity for
having an annual session of our Legislature.
We have
,before us the volume of-acts passed
the last session. The whole number is seven
hundred -anti fifty-five, and not one fifth of
them are genervl acts--acts which affect the in
terests of the entice Commonwealth. The ex
penses of that session amounted to over one hun
dred thousamLdo llars".._Lunl_eannat_se •
that our people are wiser or better than they
were before.
W e ba ve advocated this doctrine of biennial
sessions for some years. and the wisdom of the
policy. becomes more and more' apparent. and
the' reasons in its favor more unanswerable.
Let the County Courts have exclusive jurisdic-,
tiou of divorces at►d:local corporations,.and all
such matters, and clear our star utes of the mass
of special, legishition that encumbers them.
There is neither propriety nor justice in bur
dening the State with an enormous expense in
having a Legislature every year, which trifles
weeks away it► changing a man's name, or
granting him a divorce.
.While we have these
yearly sessions, Legislators feel that they must
make a show . of being_ busy, and the desire-to
do something leads them into the enacting of
laws that are injudicious aad dangerouS. Then,
as-a-question ofeconomy, as a means of-pre:-
venting injurious legislation, and of promoting,
the best interests of the State at large; we most
heartily advocate a trial of the biennial ses
sions:'
OFFICE. SEEKEES.---T,lere is a very strong
prospect . that Governi,Yr Pollock will have a
stirring time of it as soon as.he is inducted into
office. A majority of his appointments are no
doubt alreaiy made. although hut a few of
them have been made public. For flour in
spector at Philadelphia. said to he the most
lucrative office within his gift, we hear there
are, no less than 300 applicants ! For whiskey
inspector--another snug little birth—only some
250 patriots have signified their willingness to
serve the people. How many of them went for
-Pollock and Prohibition," we have no means
of knowing. For numerous other offices, such
its Adjutant General. Laiaretto Physician,
- Keepers of Arsenals. &c., there are applicant-s
-enough to swell the list something over a cool
thousand. and even this list, long as it appears,
t~ ilk be considerably,tiugmented when the fact
is known that a fe,w.crmnbs are to be thrown
to the Lazaruses who have heretoforeclatmed
to be Democrats, but turned, recreants at the
late eleetidn. %Veil, we wish the lucky one's
joy. They Will no doubt
if
hay
sun shines, for if we are to judge
by the past, their reign will be brief.
EVIDENCE OP HARD TIMES.—The New York
Courier sums up the following irresistible
evidence of hard times, which must convince
the most skeptical :
"Brandy is selling at a shilling a glass: a
lady's dress for the opera costs a hundred to a
hundred and fitty_dollars ; a private box at the
opera costs thirty dollarS a night ; the rooms
in the Brevoort house are rented at fifty thou
sand dollars a ytar, without board ; turkeys
are a shilling a pound ; Havana cigars are six
pence a piece; the last gift book published,by
Appleton cost twelve dollars ; Barnuin gets
seventy-five thousand dollars for his biogra
phy ; canvass•bacq ducks are two dollars a
pair ; and fashionable hair-dressers charge two
dollars for fixing a lady's curls for an evening
party. The times are hard, and there is no
denying it."
IMPORTANT DECISION.—Justice Black, of the
Supreme Court. has given a decision in several
cases from Allegheny county. where an Alder
man fined tavern keepers X5O for selling liquor
on the Sabbath. The defendants claimed the
right of trial by jury, denying the jurisdiction
of the Alderman. The decision affirmed the
judgment of the magistrate, holding that such
cases were not suits at common law, but crim
inal proceedings under a special act. All the
other judges agreed with . this -decision except
Judge Lewis, who contended against the whole
principle of summary conyietion as aninvasion
of the right of trial-by jury:'• -
D.kMAGES AGAINST A RAILROAD. —Horace
Colt, of Massachusetts, has recovered .5:8.000
damages from the Southern Railroad Company
for alleged personal injuries. It appears he
was standing up in the cars at the time of a
collision, and received a slight shock or jerk,
as one would be liable to in such a case while
standing. From this shock, it is - said, spinal
a ff ec tion has resulted, which has doomed Mr.
Colt to the life of a helpless cripple.. He sued
for t'..:20,000 damages.
WHAT THE ENGLISH PRESS KNOWS OP ANERI
CA.—The number of the Illustrated London.
News received by the last steamer,infbrins its
English readers that at the late New York elee-
L tio - n — the — coritest — for — the — G - orerryrrAhip — rf—the-
Liniled Stake was a very close one.
o"There are thirty-eight towns in the Uni
ted States called Salem.
MESSAGE OF GOVERNOR. BILLER,
To the Honorable the- - Srnoin4 and mere.
1414 of the House of Rejoesentativeo
of General iissembly
GENTLEPati : Whilst the-.events of
the year just closed, present many causes
for joy and congratulation, and afford a
bundant reason for thankfulness to a he.;
neficeut Providence for his goodness and
mercy—our prosperity and happiness, as
a people, I regret to say, -has not been un
alloyed. The general growth of the coun
try, the progress of the arts and sciences,.
and other causes of moral
,and social com
fort, have not, it is true , been interrupted
but; the- l'osS of valuable lives and proper
ty, by-the-casualties - of the -elements, has
been unusual, both in number and extent;
and in 'certain sections of our Common
wealth the:afflictions ofpestilence and dis
ease have also been sorely felt.. Nor should
we estimate - lightly the suffering that man
ifestly exiits amongst the not ;
ties and to a, The drought of the sea
son-der rivila t t he-hantband MAR ;. SOLI3 e - ere -
ten t, of the antieipated rewards of his -la
bor, and lessened the means of human sub
sistence ; whilst the depression itt• mone
tary and hu4ness affairs has deprived ma
ny laborers and mechanics of quiz, usual
earnings. The means of subsistence are
thus greatly enhanced in' value--, at the
sante time that the opportunities of earn,"
in them are greatly diminished. Thy
field of charity is consequently wider that
usual ; and t*) meet it's resonable demandit
on the, part of those blessed filth as lamb- '
dance, will be to sustain the Christian'
character, and measurably to merit the,
continued bounty of (leaven:
The operations of the Treasury for the
last year will be presented to you in de-.
tail, by the head of that department. The ,
results are highly satisfactory, showing a
steadily increasing 'revenue from nearly'
all the ordinary sources. '
The aggr-egate -receipts for. the fiscal,
year of 1854, including loans and the tat--
ance in the Treasury, on the 30th .of No.! .
vember, 11353, amounted-to the sum. of SO-.
665,91-2 Ca. The gross ps.yments for the
same period, to the sum of F 4, 4 ,24,983 2 9;
leaving a balance on the 30th of Novem
ber, of $1,210.929 'v..
The extraordinary paymentsconsisted of ,
the following items, t., wit : loans -repaid,
$285,888 50; to the Northliranch cabal,
8'206,552 76; to the construction of the
new railroad over the Allegheny -.mount
atrii,-$l-61;921 03; to the payment o •
debts on the public works, , t 5.389,946 38. ,
Of the balance remainingin the Treasury", ,
a portion is applicable to the payment of -
the State debt, and the remainder to cur-.
rent demands.
The simple, or ordinary operations of
the-Treasury for the. same per:ed;were as
follows, to wit : the receipts, exclusive of , .
loans and the balance in the Treasury on
the 30th of Novetober i 1853;realizedfron3
.permanent sources, amounted to the- 811113
of $5;218,099 00. The ordinary expels«
dit tires ' including the io.terest on the State.
debt and all the payments.on the finished`
lines of the public works, excluding the .
payments on new - works and loans, amount-.
ed — to $4, - 116,744 .84; being -- $1,101,-..
490'15 less than the receipts.
This statement may be regarded as
the workings of the Treasury simplified ;
and as establishing the 'gratifying fact,
that the present reliable revenue of the
State, exceed the ordinary or unavoidable
expenditures, over a. million of dollars ;.
and that, relieved from the demands for.
the construction of new improvements, 'heti
Treasury could pay a million or more of -
the public debt annually. It will be-also ; -
perceived that the income from these. ,
sources is steadily increasing. For in- .
seance, in 1846, with the State tax at pres
ent rates, and the same extant of improve
ments in use, with nearly ail the present
sources of revenue in operu.tion, the gross
receipts amounted to but little over three,
and a half millions.
. No more reliable estimate of the opera
tions of the Treasury for 1855 can be
made, than is-furnished in the results for
1854. The ordinary receipts may be safe.
ly estimated at a million of dollars above°
•the unavoidable .exponditures. A portion
of this excess will be required to complete
the new Portage railroad, and tho North
Branch canal ; and the remainder should
be faithfully applied toward the payment
of the State debt.
The aggregate receipts or, the pnblie
works for the past year, as reported by
the Canal Cemmissioners, amounted to
the sum of $1,876,078 83 ; and the ex
penditures to the suit) of $1,101,570 54
leaving a balance of $774,508 34, from
which, however, should he deducted the
sum of $37,900, properly chargeable to
the year, for ,new locomotives and other
unavoidable expenditure:p.-11ms reducing
the net profits to $736.608 34. 11 we add
to this, $131,000 received from the Peon
sylvania railroad company for the three
mill tax; which is claimed by some as a
part of the income from the public works,
we find a net revenue of. $t176.000 ; a sum
equal to the interest on seventeen millions
of the five per - cent. debt of the state.—
The aggregate receipts were $57:121 l ess
than for the year 1853, and the reduction
in expenditures amounted to over $159.-
!,113700.- The withdrawal id' the business
of the Pennsylvania railroad from the
Portage road, readily accounts for this elf.
ference. . •
Viewed in every aspect, this exhibit is
gratifying. Few similar systems, of. im
provement in the country present a more
favorable picture. Sowe of them. in oth
er Stales, have recently been reduced to a
condilion of virtual iniolveney. The in.
crease of business on the State works for
the two last years, has exceeded our an
ticipations; and but for the - 'necessity
which sEeineo to exist for a - reduction in
tolls to meet surrounding competition, the
revenue would have been largely increas
ed. The general movement-now on foOt
amongst railroad companies, to advance
these rates, may perhaps relieve the State
to some extent in this respect.
The Delaware—divisinn—makes-a—most
gratifying exhibit. The gross receipts
counted $365.327 07, and the . expendi
tur,:s e 59 738 67, showing a net profit of
J
TIM