ezmoTatttomo.
invro l gmal - or,
7b the; ~Senate. and House ofßipiesviaci
lives of the ComnioOvealth. of Penn.
sylvania
-G errri.nuctev , N..lfift of the file
_ o
of the House of;RepreSentatiien; entitled
*. An Act relative to certain school districts
—to authorize Corporations to subscribe to
ths•stnek 'of . the Ohio - and Pennsylvania
railroad company, and for other purposes,"
has been presented, to me for my approval.
After the most anxious and .deliberato ex
rfinination of its - preirisions, I have coneeiv
nd it to , ,berray duty tirreturn it tolow with
MY objections,' : -
448441 1 .W.af11ti0n - „chtlic..... bill proposes
tt. authorise . the ~,constituted authorities
of:any z eorporMion within -this Common
wealtb..Other than municipal corporations;
rr,i4.subscribe.-W the capital stock of the
phiY and. renWsYliaola riHroall oomPain,Y..
dinttn'tilt.Yfmr the same in money or , orli.
eriniso:as amy 'hesgreed upon, byoind with
tiie n ii.ilihorities of, said corporations and the
antihOrkies of;saixf company." It may be
fronewhatliifficult to .define the Wept of
timiinwer Rioposed' to ba conferred by the
pitts of this section, or to decide how
far it Might release these corforatiorin from
thi - 4estriptioni. imposed by their original
ain of the oUiniOn that what
eker4night - hevo been the intention of. the
altillor °Obis -broad and unguarded-pro
vision, that:if- would most certainly vest
theivoliiiorations with -thelight to make
paiinent in money, or in bonds and_obliga
tions in:any form nr size which the author
hies of such torporationi might deem proper,
itid . d - as:Ale, subscription of one corpora
ttwi to the Stock of another Might' be paid
na,tersifiqates of stock of five,, ten, twenty
or,fifty dollars, Or in lionda: or other evi
dence fjndehtedn ess'of similar denolnina
tint therohy,creatin a fictitious -capital,
assimilating a circulating medium, and, thus
directly ,otitraVening the principles laid
diiWn _ message in referenc i e to the
Yo - r.k..and Hanover railroad company—that
no!certificate orlon!' Jahould be created of
residen , uninationAban cue hundred
,dol
lars., -lhese eonsiderations atone ate sufft
eielit, 16 constrain, ine to withhold my sane
' , '
Other'pinciples embraced in this bill,and
in,ot h ers similar ll: character, which' hive
beett picnted..for my-approval, are six
gestive,of Considerations of a most grebe
andiciportant character, which shouid, in
sly cpiiiion, l Command our serious attention.
TO:the-roll desire briefly to allude ,
bllieyrriaciple of allowing one corporation
to siihscilbatei the stock , of another, is of
iiroderti: ,Crigin, but, its 'practical
thee. been increasing, and the pow
firs under it'extending to an- alarming de
gree. The first trice we find of this prin.
eiple,Lis in thaform of authority-to county
eltorriisSioaers,. to make subscriptions to.
seCifiti'objecta ' 'Next, wo.find a few in=
ttaticeiCf - the,cateCsiOn of it to the manic- -
irikaitheritics of certain small towns,_ for
partieilar,and very limited purposes. The
first important; exercise of- the principle is
found in 'the sopplement to the-law incer
poiitting the Central' railroad company.--
ThislaW extended to ',Certain municipal
ierpriratiOns the right to subscribe, to the
St-'el: 'odd company, and limited such
sabspriptione to a, maximum- of five per
cents the assessable.-property of, said
cerporiticins i and defined the mode of payi
inent.:lln, this particulnr it is analogous to
the liiineiple as theretofore sanctioned.—.:
The supplement to .the act incorporating
the Sunbury,#na: Erie railroad company,
ieee - fitly;
. adoptad," authorizes municipal and
other corporations to subscribe to• the cap
italstock , of-said company, and to pay in
cash` or in tho' bonds of said corporations,
iii*ras ofnot less than one hundred, did-,
lard, bearing six per cent.intorest, payable
sczni=tina
this - latter bill with much
'relhStance. I redarded the application of
the principle as found' n this bill, more ex
tended and liberalthan the safety and true
interests of the riebpie seemed to warrant.
I reiretted that the potte to subscribe bad
not been orinCed . to certain. municipal cor-
Tioiitions,AVith restrictions on the amount
to.be..siliscribed, and 'a provision inserted
;guarding against the sale of the 'bonds of
the cities,' boroughs and counties
: Which
triarsitbserbe
.at an injurious rate of dial
count; should the necessities of the railroad
comOarty, at any, time require such action.
The great importance of the. Sunbury
and arierailroad as a State enterprise—the
peertlinrosnd Varied interests involved in its
coilstractiOn=the large section of the state,
as: yet'naided by our public "improvements,
to;wlfiebit will ifford.tlis only avenue to
market-LthS i difficulties which manifestly;
suiTonntl the laudable efforts which are
now,•beingtuide to:_secure the necessary
enpitatto, commence the work—all these
considerations induced me'to look with pe
culiat favor on this grent enterprise; and in
ordei!tel much as possible to facilitate its
sacecii, ter;g6 far, in the ntoplication 01' a
" principle ;which I hare aliays regarded as
liable to dangerous abuse. :7•
It, is now sought by the section under
consideratirin,- to go" a step farther, and to
authorise all 'hanks; railroads and othei Cor
porations within State; tosebscribe to
t SS - VePitel ittoek :of - iirpciration whose
1044 are mainly. Jointed in another' State,
rind 'Alike payment in any forp.the officers
may deem proper. ". , •
I rvinild'uot be understood as desiting to
emblrrass ths - strabess of any great public
prf,tjtict . by adhering tenaciously to
,s :too.
contraeted imlicY,:but experience has dere
mQyated,that we, cannot be toouaitionsin
the;•. - creation . .,OC,eorporate powers. • • The
tuasttiee..ptable principle; in such' legisla-
tion, isliable to •abuse, and •tbus a project
wittennd proper in itielf,rmay: be attained
thiO . iigti : the: no of means:. calculated
getits legitimate blestings.—
liMat,:ther'efore;.sulisciptiolis by
palcorporsiaaa to,some extent be al
1044eoseLRM:yeadily imagine \that this
P°olo%-might:besio. , esiercised , asrtoi init. ,
lute harst , tci Ifni 'people. 'The - tight :to
make sucirscdracriptien, - and pay in bonds
t . to ,
might Vireo. on the people represented by
such OrpOratione, the most over
.Yrithent :Scenting , the , cop
stra4i*or, improyenieuts for which
thayore lased. binds of tbei:titer
ratiolus.snentiscribint, might tinder a press
sure OtEnancial:diffiotdues; be sold at-s t
sa/t‘ritto6 . o . 4Clificii; - ind Wilt the , peo.;
ple would be called upon to pay the inter,
est and principal of the face of snob bondti,
theatnount realized twapply to their favor!'
iiioja'et; might hot : reach fifty eenti'oti
glob:War.' This power, titpubsuribp; net 4
et , 'should be exercised by Munieipal,eorpoi
miens, unless thet interests of tye';peopte
represeotectlay.,smih'aithority, ariOireetlY
and certainly identified with the project ott
which the money is to be eapended: The
operation may beet:lnhabit) when applied
to the people-of a:town'or city utilise 'Mei
rests are identical, but when applied to
those of a county it may not be so. On the
contrary, it may prove moat unjust and opi.
pressive, subjecting them to burthens -in
the shape
,of taxeS for the construction of it
public improvement frotwwbich they may
never- - -realize• tiny begefitreitber tfireet - of
remote. • : The , people in one seetien,of thb
county may derive advantages from the con ,
struction or a public improvement, while
those of•tmotber.aection.,equally taxed for
the payment of the' principal - .and interest
of the debt so contracted, may poisiblyteL
alize no benefit • I
And in referetiOn to all oilier cirporationi,
such subsciiptiona i should.be clearly ennsisoo
tent with the - purpose for .which such vivo
proration was originally created. A sist4
State, within wholie limits it is proposed to
expend a'portion of the proposed subscrir,
Lions, has had acne experience on this sub,
ject; the result of which is recorded in a
, constitntionel prohibition of all such
muni
cipal subscriptions,.even if authorized by
direct vote of the lieeiole.. I hare !Unlearn',
ed; what circumstances.brought l the State
of Ohio to the adoption; in her fundainentoil
law, of so wise a ;restriction on. Corporate •
action. but
_it is fair to conclude that 613
,necessity for the adoption of such restraint
had been fully detionstrated..
. .
.1 •
The inquiry nevi fairly presented, ,
in
view of all the 'Considerations connected
with this subject is, What policy ;shall we
adopt. for the futmn ? It is to this poiai
I desire to ask your~ attention. Assuming
tiM principle that tine cerporation naay-suli :
scribe to the stock of another, under proti , -
er restrictions o it h nevertheless clear, that
if unrestrained in its application arid exten
sion, most iderming evils may result, from
the practice, and there! will probably be n,p
More proper occaidunl,hin the present fdr
the Legislature to determine upon certain
fixed and unyielding limits'within,Which ills
exercise should be restrained. These i can
best bo ascertained by an ; examination of:
the evils that are likely to result;frcm
too liberal use: The most prominent that
have,occurred to my mind' are the folk*
ing : ' 1
First.—The dangerous influeneet that the.
union or politicalemisolidation of numerous
corporations, Cartons in their, objeets, poti 7 ,
en, and pursuits; located in all; parts of
the State, actuated mainly by the motive
IA private gain, may exercise ()vex, the hi
dependence of the elective •franchise and
the purity of legislation; as well also, as
their increased ability-to infringelindividu
al rights. and to usurp the field Id persei
nal -enterprise.
Second. The creation of fictitious capit r '
al, when'allowed to ps' such subscriptions
by loaning their credit, thereby starting an
artificial and deluiive enterprise;l4nll cal
culated to mislead the Unwary, and. to re
sult in the most injurious conseqUences to
the people generally. •
Third.ts tendency to a concentration
of corporate' power.; thereby neutralizing
many of the public advantages - which may
result from such grants. One corporation
created for a specific purpose' Of public
geod, in rivalry !with .another, :establish
ed for a like purpose . (hy which rivalry the
public , are mainly benefitt e.d) may thus be
cothe assimilated !in their interests and set
the part of one grand, unchecked Monopoly
and greatly, lessen the public goad secured
in their original formation. Atije . xtensive
exchange of storks, and bonds • and sub!:
scriptiens, must heget concert of and
interest between !these `institutions, which
cannot fail to work infinite injury ~to. the
mass of the people : -
- If there is a possibility that evils ofsUch
magnitude may_ flow froth the unrestrained
application of thd, principle refeired to, it
is our - solemn duty to seek , a' rearedy
guards and restraints to he allosied. = Thie
potrer, in my opinion; Should never, be
granted, even in a restiieted term, except
'for the promotion;of some great Zhjent of
public good and pressingiimportance, , that
cannot be reached by the ordinary mode of
individual enterpfise % ;
The corporations authorized to: subscribe
should be' specifically nameii=the amount
of subscription liMited to a moderate per
centage oil the preperty of the corporation
asking to subscribe=and•in case of metal.
eipal stibscription, there should-,ibe a clear
identity of interest between' the iorporri
tion subscribing, and the,object to be pro
moted by such subscription, and the pay.:
ments in all cases, required-to
,ba made in
cash and not: in the borida the evidence of
iorlibtednsis of,auch corporations, , I • have
satisfied mystnind Abut the of bonds
Of this kind, to be' banded over to a torpor
whin to be converted to Abair tuie,•withont
restriction as to the mica they mayniay com
mand in. market,', is a moat buiardnus Ci•
pariment endplay' be Made the means of
great injury to • an honest and- confiding
people;
,whilst on! the other hand,.the sub
scriptions to be paid in money'will be much
better calculated to' advance thaitrue inter
ests of any greatlpnblie enterprise, and be
greatly relieved frith' : the evil consequence
to - Art:deb, I have [referred. ‘. /ndeeu,l can
see no good reason, Whithe bonds °fa mu
nicipal corporation sbutild -be handed over
too railroad company • at- They.can
not-he Used in the , construation 'of thework
but must be reduced to Nor can I
see why theiantlierities•of a miinicipal car-.
peration Mainot!have thispeffected'as oda
vantageinisly as the ageniala iincitlicr
poratiou. r JIM Confident that this policy :
whilst it will not inverfere with any , ch:tbe
advantages of snob municipal subscriptions,
may greatly lessen chanetiaOf inoryito
the people, - .!' ••
• • , There ere - other features iwthe bill here
with returned tolibicb I canna gioe
sanetiOn: section is'in
lowing terms : • „, • ,
"That. the Scheel Directors ofibibOrT
• ongh of BridgepOrt,iu the county of Meet ,
sower:, be
,und ;lam s hereby aittberiied to
' borrow a stun•of money on. Seither4ireper
ty; in said district This '
seatieh is great
, ly defective In:its 'formation, ''iker-'apeeiry
ingflie . .eitioujlt thoney,,tn liti;idrawri, nor
the the Modeitt,Which;thesicliegl property
shall be pledged, not.,descjihings nob prop;
arty, nor defininithe . , - parpOse . for which
the, money borrowedishall he applied. The
seetton is not °Dry, Velent • iurform but it
contains a pimple., hieb , to ',my mind to
Highly otileetiontble. ; It-, proposes to
pledge the Bello pnipeiey.for.a debt of the
schnol &trick -.port renderitjablo" to a
indicialvahtr of nett debt. This, it seems
:to me, should not b allowed. The corn
, mon school system, ;having for its of jeci
,lbtieducatien of outfl youth and their prep
aration to eliecbargt the high and
,sover- ,
reign dlitieli of American citizens; is a part
of the most sacred And valued machinery
,Of our government. I' If, in countries - goy-,
erned by power rather than by,pOpular-in=
telligence, their ports, arsenals, and other
bulwarks of dere n ee; are eiempted fretwjet
dieial sale for.delits, our aithbol bonen, be=
ing mainly the means of defence and seen
tity for our country,. shonld be, guarded
with,Onaliare: As well might tie? sold
the read andbridges to pay; the debts ofa
township, or the public' alms•honse, the
isimrt house, or county prison, for the debts
of the school district:- Nor is there; any
necessity 'for such security. The whole
taxable property of the. distriet is already
'Pledged for ifs debts; _and the. Legislature
may providelluiCthe collection be,enforced
in the same way as against townships and
counties, or any ether official mode .direct
ed against the school taxes of the 'dist
rict.
The fifth Bettie!) - of the bill erects parts
of Wa.shirigton tovinshiP,'Berks county, in-.
to a seperato sehool district. and the sixth
section pirovidea that the' qualified-voters
of said'district, so erected,, shall he .entit
led to elect six directors annually. This
is an innotation on the general law provi
ding for the-election of me of the siedit
ectors yearly, in order to secure to:the *ye
ti.m at all times the, advantage of experi
enced directors,: and ehould not in my op
inion be. sanctioned. There is - really no,
necessity for special legislation on this sub
ject, except to regulate new districts; The`
law of 1849, -prepared after much experi
ence: and great deliberation, is intended to
establish an - uniform: system throughout
the State. All innovations on this unifor
mity must magnify the difficulties of ad--,
tainisteting the system, and consequently
impair its efficiency.
The 14th section provides for the elec
tion of a beard of school directors for Ox
fird township. Philadelphia county, to con
sist of three members,! and also for a board
of,like number fur the borough of Prank-
ford, and declares that these boards shall
!respectivelyr have concurrent jurisdiction
in' both bororigh and township, It was
probably the intention of the author of this
section, that the six directors elected. by
the township and borough, should consti
tute one board and have jurisdiction over
both. ~ B ut the section before me does
not so provide. It presents the impractic
able propOsition of two independent boards
each basing perfect power to exercise au
thority. over the whole district.
Tt ere are other features to which there
'are no objections, bat lam obliged to re
turn the whole bill. -This eiruemitenee
strikingly illustrates the impropriety of
connecting varied" diversified and keen-
grams subjects in the same, bilk, /wet I.''
must beg to he indulged in the remark,
dictated alone by a sense of, duty, that I
sincerely hope some remedy may be found
for this growing evil. The necessity fur
separelingbills has been greatly '"increased
by the law ;assessing an enrolment tax.—
Soine of the bulls contain a number of tax ! .
able provisions—the law is not enrolled and
Published until-the - tax is paid , in full—one
party :interested appears land makes his
share of , the payment—another declines to
do so—confusion - and difficulty ensue—
which in; some instances- during the pres
ent session; has teen cured by legislation;
and thus the. egislation of this year is ren
dered emissary to give ;effect to: that of a
forme! session. -
The whole protiee under this -system
demonitrates its evil tendency. The stat
ute book When published is , an anomaly--
eilbracingloWthestaine page slaw of great
Public importance and one of the Most trif
ling 10i-44er:icier.
Thecenntlation of inuious 0 4i - tut in
the same bi ll, very frequently embarmssei
notion Of the legislator, and secures the sue-
CM of a dinibtful proposition which would
fail if presOted on io own merits alone.
.WILLIAM BIGLER.
EXECUTEVE CniNBEA.
Barrisburtr. March 1, 1F52.
- -Remi*lfiConce of our
The renewing private letter _of General;
Milton,lespressing hts sentiments in re,
glad to tha•sad_ fate of Major Aildre, willl
doubtless -be,new and interesting to most.
Of our readers,: as it is to ourselees. • We:
do not know that it has before, eppeare.d in
Print - • - • .
j. to ',Miss
.•epeeiv, October. 2;.1780.
[ . - Wadquarters of the Army;
I. Pont Andre suffersbi-day. • Everything
#hiit is amiable in virtha in - - ,fortitude, in
delicate sentiment and accomplished man
net's, 'pleads rot ;but hard hearted poi-
Ile must eiie. -
send.-yeti; ; account
to
Arnold's affair;
and, to juitify myself to your sentimental
linust infoitn you: that- I urged a
.compli,
it née - With,liAndre's request to - be - shot and
and I do tot .'think it - would have had 'an
all ctfect. j; Bab snMe:PeoptiCardonly Sen.'
eible . orMetiiies orpeliey„ sometimes, - ,
frem.anarrowAitipnaition,:tnistake it
4t 4 diei.tale.e.omes to be told, 'and]
Present. resentment is ~over,- the refusing!
him the-Ovilege of choosing the manner of
ff hie death I.WIII be bra nded with . ... too ' rmieh
I obstinacy 1.:
It-was'OPPased tome to Suggest to him
the blea - of an' exchange for Arnold: but I
knew _ should: have fbrfeitedhis esteem by . I
doing it, and therefore declined As a
Man of honor, he.could , not but vtjectit;
and I vionld not for the world have proposed
;to bbn a thing whic h must have placed me
lithe' mend:Mel-light aupposmo him
;capable of meanness
..or of not feeling my.
imit-the - julP!Cfriati ar:Sbe measure. I
coilfes*toyal!,/, bad the weakness to'vel
'ue the esteem of a dying man, becauie I
teverencid,himerit.
L'HAmILTON.
. 4 < -
:sem& alight - gloat 1)1:lush was
felt at Pittsburg. Oa Tbirsday nigbt, weel4_
TIE DEMOCRAT.
The Lamest arenlatlota In Nnithern
"Penusylvannil32Coples Weekly. - .
13:11. di' E. B. CHASE . , Eprrins. 2 ;
Via
THVBSDAY, iIIARCB 1189:1I3524
For President,.
James Buchanan - . - •
Subject to the decision of the National Con
- vention. 1 •
Cabal Copmissioner, ' : •
William -Sear*Lt,
of Fayette.
To' onx, Subscribers in Anbn.rn
and Silver Lake.
Those of our subscribers who have recoil".
the Deiticentt from, the Carrier on these two
routes, will not longer get it le ills way, nn:
less': they make :a special borgaia with Mr.
Sc ott,and• pay him ,for carrying, or lonlC and
pity us - the? same, - Three.fourthsOf lour sub.
scribers In these places have had:the Denukritt
len at their doors slues •We have puldishe4
without ever paying a cent, either to ins or the
Carrier; the consequence is, we haiS, to , pub.
llsh the paper
,without any remummdion, and
pay Mr. Scott, for delivery.
Or l'riendi who live within a few; miles of
4 Post- office had better have Quo all sent in
this way: : ,
The. Veto Nonage,
We commend to. the attention of our rad
ers thisiible document of our Governor, which
id given at length in ourcolumns this week.
It contains prudent and safe doctrines iela,
five to Corporations ; and we . are, glad to see
such a bold stand taken by our Executive.—
This species of tegiblation—this making Laws
for the mopeyed few, who are always knock'.
ing at the deers of, our Legislative halls, for
special privileges, to enrich their owireoffers,
and at the same time oppress the poorer la
boring classes, has'been fast growing upon us
for a few years past. We trust our able and
faithful Executive will continue his watchful
ness, and arrest all such corrupt Legislation,
that the rights of the masses may be safe hi
his hands; and however great the anathemas
such acts may bring down upon his head, the
people will sustain him to the fulle.it extent.
In this Bill were several sections providing
for distinct objects, no More 'connected than
'light and darkness. This driving so (Tiled
;Omnibus, Bills through our Legislature, has
become a very favorite scheme :Munn; "Log
Aollers;" end every bilrgranting, special priv
lleg,es, or in any other way objectionable, is
;tacked to some.'Bill oegener4 interest and fa,
nor. 'This should be condeaed by all who
desiip to see our Halls of Legislidion free
from corruption, and we are right glad to see,
thus early, a eheekput upon it.
The in Clifford.
. We learn that the Store of BAKEIL & MUCH
Ert,nt Clifford Corners:6li COunty, was con.
sumed by fire, on Sunday morning; the 14th
inst. The fire was, discovered .abodt ,two
.riclock, and had so far progressed, that , noth
ing vas Saved except their Ledger, one Day
• Beek, and their mott Important pipers. ,There
was a partial insurance on the Store and goods.
A Grocery owned by John Halstead, in one
room of the building, and' the Clifford
PO141;11:flee, *ith all its contents, were also
burned.' No insurance. The origin'of the
fire is unknown. 1
ar The Libel suit brought by the Amer:
lean Al. Union against Bennett, the Editor &f
the New York Herald, has been decided
against the Art. Union, by the Recorder in
New York. The motion before him was to
quash' the indictment. He 'Stated that the As
sociation was not a constitutional one, that its
aim .and -practices were not such. as the
Constitation countenanced, and as it was,
therefore, an illegal Assoeiation, the indict
ment must be quashed. This ends the-matter,
as the cause cannot be carried up to a higher
court- on a writ of error.
-Qom' A friend from , Jessup, informs us that
this township with a population of only 800,
has sent a Petition to bur Legislattire for the
Maine Liquor containing 216 . names of
adult persons:
'.The Small Note.bill has-been rejected
in ouT.Senate by a vote 17 to IS. It is stated
to be the general opinioi in Harrisburg, that,
the Maine Liquor Law Mill pass the Legisla
tire, subject to a vote of approval by the peo
ple. -
Nsw Posx 'new Post Office has
been 'established in the township of Choconni,
to be called JOSEra's,' - 'and Francis Quinn_,
appointed Post Maiter.
Attic; 9
- one at Montrose:Depot,: J. B. Salis
bury; P.ll. • •' •
,
r'° The Tho Canals of this Sta wer e nil oPen- •
ed on 'the 12th inst., as was promised. , This
givei onr works a decided advantage over the
Canals in New. York, whiCh cannot be opened
under a month or two... ' ,
tar B Pling is coming" by Mrs. Pierson
will appear next:week:
_._ Mrs. P. has promised
us a story in a few Weeks, which will be a
treat to our story-loving readers. •
Or The Dernocratie Convention Louis ,
inna has elected Delegates to - the .National.
Convention, who are faViarablo to Lewis Cass
for the Presidency.'
SO. The President - tit the, Yale College
Temperance Society, at !"a recent meeting,
leporwd that a , ,careful examination , had
disclosed the; melanclioy fact;'tbat there
are in the four Classes'in ~tbat institution,
at least. 80 studentstte life in the bibit
of indulging in . ; alco holic drinks. , ` :The
smallest proportion of time is foutni intbe
Sophomore clue, the
. lergest in the Junior
- DA)rsotti.4l 13qorioi
Court of _New WTI; - oklhursd#, 1e 1 ::
diet of $3,000 iris _obtained again" Jaa i e4
rdiklwrd,_ for sod*rig; of
'Thiesit Mulverbol. . :
a(vaallta,gtow.,
EdilorialCor*espondencil.
.i#Astritibiina. Starch I I,*ltisil. -
Visit tO,Mount Vernon—The - Tomb of Wadi
ingten—ThelVaitiittgton ap-1
\.,pcarcmee 'fa condition-LA atonce.al Con - -.I
gress--Senatur. 'Seleards`' teol-IPrisf.
Mulct!. • , ~ `i ,
Coz. Sprt—This - murnine I imborked on
board a splendid steamer, And soon found my-
SW gliding swiftly doWn the bre : ad:Potomac.
I never saw a more lovely.; inoming in j May,
and: A r ai I regollee,ted that two short week's
'since I left my mountainhoMe, clad with snow
and ribbed with ice, it really seemed that I
had been suddenly - transported to another
world. I stood an hour, 04. the' deck,,. that I
might'have a better view of objects on shore.
It was a beautiful seet4i,—rotna.utio intieed.- L
All:Along were scattered 'the 'stately man - slops
of Virginia planters,,generallY located: on a
high ltluff; overlooklng the F . river, ind,etithow
ere.dwith-shrubbery, Spring was smiling on
all thing.szeund, and I l.oolied out.upon the
landscape before me, lost in contemplation, till
we teendede point and some 'one sung ''-out,
" - Fort `WaShitigton," 'I turned ie . the ;khore
°tufty left,'and sure enough we were 'under
the guns of the Fort: One can hardly stand
in' face of such an array ..4' cannon without
feeling nervous: We "fiattled to" and Went
on: shore,vihere nn,oieeerlfrom the For con
ducted us within the wallss! This is'one of
the stiongest r fortresttesitt the Union, intended
for the fitil protection of Washington eitY.--
Severarhundred gtms arentounted in position
to.rake.the river in three directions, and such
guni—they would. scare the boys! I'e.annot
see how thus Fort could be taken. It certain
ly could not with even a mall force of men,
and plenty'of ammunition;, and to. think of
navigating &fleet past this.ifortress would , be
most visionary. In the centre.of the Fort is
large ovenVor heating cannon shot, and in
case of necessity, hundrede, and even Ahem:
sands of red-hot balls can be thrown in a min
ute. A fleet would be riddled and burned the
moment it attempted to pass this point.
Returning on board, we, passed down the
river, which is about two miles wide, and very
soon -came in sight of Mount Vernon estate,
the home of Washington in his life, and on
which his ashes now rests! I recognized the
house the moment I came in sight of it, from.
a drawing, I recollected' have seen. It is
situated on a high' point of the shore, on the
west Side of the Potomai, commanding.a most
magnificent ,vieer of the river, and surrounding
country; for miles Lending at a little pier, I
began the ascent by a narrow path, winding
among the trees and thick IzilirublSery. As I
gained the summit, a short turn in the. path
brought me immediately infront of the" Torn
OF'WASIONGTON, 27M FATHER OF MS Coos=l
iit.Y." I stopped before . that consecrated
mound, but I will not attempt to describe the
emotions of the moment. ; One cannot stand
beside that tomb indifferent and' thoughtless:
There reposes the dust of the greatest of
mortals, sleeping too, in rade simplicity. No
monumental pile is reared there, no record,
traced on sculptured marble, of the mighty.
achievements of him whia was "first in war,
first in peace, and first in ! the , hearts of his
countrymen;" and only in
,Whom the world
ever saw a true Hera.
The tomb is a plain structure of brick ma
sonry, much decoyed, and! apparently fast go
ing to ruin. 'Some neglected cypress trees
bend over it; and around briars, thorns, and
bushes are growing together, all giving evi
dence or the utmost indifference as to the ap
pearance of the place that^ entombs the ashes
of Washington. A slight iron railix gg stands ,
before the entrance to thotomb, within which
is a kind of arched hall,and standing on the right
side is a Marble Sarcophagus, shaped like a
coffin, having on its lid, in sculpture,the Amer
ican Eagle bearing the shield and flag of his
country, simply inscribed " Wasattsorox."—
Opposite is another, inscribed, "Illanina,
IVITE OF Wasursorox." Two plain marble
shafts stand near by, inscribed to the memory,
of Jedg,e Bushrod 'Washington and his neph
ew,to whoas. Count 'Vernon was bequeathed
by its illustrious owner. Over the door of
the entrance .to the vault; set in the masonry,
is a little marble Islab;oh which is inscribed in
plain letters, these words-" Within this in
closure rest the remains Of GEN. GEM NYASA*
INGTON."
Leaving the tomb, I passed on to the house
which is now oetrupied by raeseendliat, John
Augustine Washington. ! Joining a company
of visitors, I was , shown to the main entrance
by a; negro servant, which opened into a large
hall, and we stood where Washington was
wont to stand, surrounded by, numerous relics
of the departed. ; From the hall runs a wind
ing staircase to the loft of the mansion. All
around the hall are paintings of battles of the
Revolution, mostly, and many curious sped-
Mein, of sculpture. In a glass case hangs the
key to the Misfile, presented by Lafayette to
%Wallington, when'be visited this country, be
fore Wishington's death., It is a very large
and clumsy wrought thing, looking little like
a key.of modern date. It is very rusty, and
has the appearance of having been bioken and
soldered with brass. Under'this case hangs a
painting of ' the hostile, the:renowned prison
house! of France; which wits demolished during
the French Revolution.,' , .. It was after that ,
event', that Lafayette came in plisstissiort,of the
key. To the right of the hail, we were shown
into the room which Washington used as his
study. This Is now in the same condition, as
at hiS death. The walls are covered with
paintings, and the fire plaCe surmounted with
marble sculpture. Among the paintings is a
miniaturelikeness of hirni3elf,set in gold relief,.
and said to be as correct: as a daguerreotype.
Large, and,in their day, elegant sofas, chairs
&c., are arranged aboutilaereom, all of which
he occupied and left where they" isow. remain.
Thie room, with one adjoining and conneeted
with!it a nirroW hall, we were' only per-
mittCd to visit, and these are open Pi - visitors
it a I - Passing•out to the rear, of the
Ave_came into =a - large park, and from
thatlteihe garden, in
-which were al! kindi,of
dowers:and shrubbery. , Limon, trees hung
laden with half grown fruit, and little.:green
houses Were :scattered about, the most of
whfch were far gone:to deeay.. West of the
garden were' tbo houses the, eervauts, form
ing quite a village. These aro now occupied
by'alaves'orte present owner of the estate.
Thpy are all'-very much dilapidated and fast
going- in The mansion itlelf
veiy- .. 61 condition . It is long, rather`riarin*,
and twOstOries in height. Square colutnns
in. front
,yest 41,iqiitprojecting from the :coves;
and 'from tho Centro of the roof is a' little 11 - en
phi, on the spire of. which rests a carved ea
gle. A green lawn spreads out in front; but
the slcado - trees are old, - maby of - them dead;
and the shrubbery in equally ai bad condition.
After strolling about the premises_till I was
thoroughly tired, I returned to the tomb, ling
ered about it a few minutes, and then gather. ;
ing, some evergreens that were creeping, abont
the mound, .I,returned to_the_boatoefieeting,
upon the incidents of the, day as those the,
longest to be reniembered in my life.
To me it seems singular that Mount Vernon.
should remain tia,,if is. The geve * roment could
not more appropriately invest" taritierlhim by
buying, at least die !Ulnae, and -
•i i i winds em,
u .
pied by the tomb, andereetinf, , , soitable mon.'
Unseats, and decorations to the 'grounds. The
remains of Bonaparte rest in splendor, while,
those of Washington are honored with scarce-1
ly a . degeiat sepalchre, . it il a burniag shame
to the country, that the greatest man the world
ever saw,. should rest' as Washington, rests,"—
to the appearance of a stranger, in
_.obscurity,l
tinhotiored and; unwept.. It has been said that
"it matters not what immediate spot may,have
been the birthplace of such a man'as Wash.
ington," so perhaps it may not matter where
or bow rest hislaiortal remains, for his, spirit
immortal will live,—live by its tencbintnt in
the hearts of his countrynien,—finally in the
hearts of men 411 over the world ;—=it will hov
er like a guardian angel over the destinieilof
this great• nation, created and founded 'by his
wisdom, on principles. that were *mutation's
from the purityl of his mind and heart. Itest
as he may, his h a me mad fatneWill go "down to
the last period 'iof time;--monuments cannot
add perpetuity ito either; but,`over his tomb;
they might sh w a nation's gratitude, rever
ence, and resp ct. Bidding farewell Mount
ount
Vernon, in a fe v hours I was again in this city,
honored with 11ediing the name that has made
MountVernenlhallowed ground. • • ,
I have. had but 'a slight glance at ,Core;resi
yet, having spent only a few hours in glancing
at that body. The House is:strong la talent,
having a goodly number of fine speakers, and
hard workers. 1 I havenOt, space in.tbis letter
to speak individually of the mernhera. I prob.
ably will do sa l iti future._ The Senate is.not
so strong in prepoitiotkas the House. Henry
Clay does notleave-lus room,...—his seat in the
Senate is 'vact+t. HiS health is fai,ing, and
the giant of the west hai Probably appeared
for the last time in the councils of his country.
Gen. Cass was: in his seat yesterday, looking
finely. No pet•son can see Mr. Cass without
being impressed u ith his greatness. He is a
ponderous marl, Physically as well; as mental
ly,—the Star of ;the American Senate. /Ik.•
Seward concluded bistro:lt speech yesterday,
on Intervention, commence the day previous.
I heard, him ahout`two hours,—the Hall - iva&
crowded but if was as still As the death chard.
bar. It was almost powerful speech,delivered
in a most happy manner. Mr. Seward is about
medium height, slim anti straight as an arrow.
He has a. facmating manner in delivery ; a
smile always plays on his contenance; and his
mild blue eye lis peculiarly attractive. He is
undoubtedly the strongest Whig on the floor,
but his influence is not aBgreat as many oth.
ers, it being universally mounts
- said. that, he
hobbies for pereonal glory. Something of the
dCnatigogue is attached to him by-his own 1
friends. • •• "
President making absorbs a great' sh'are of ,
time and attention: Bachtman'a stock is par, l
Cass rising, Butler about stationaty, 'Houston '
good, and. Douglass, the " little giant," has de.
dined slightly , a fete days
..Past." This, last
windier of the Democratic , Review has done
him immense paPary; 'by its wanton attacks on
all the other eandidates. That brief brought
him in collision with all the Others, and_unless.l
it can be healed will preient him from receiv. I
ing the support of others when their success,
shall be out of the question in the Conven.;
tion. It, is aMost 'unfortunate aff.dr for the
"little glint,"lmit only for the present but for
the future. Mr: Breckenridge of ' Kentucky
came down or him like n thousand of brick in
the House'tilt ether day, the effixt of which
will be must disastrous... - . Mr. Richardson, of
Illinois replied yesterday, but the - 'defence is
generally reg,irded as lame. The idea is prey
atent that Douglass_ controls the - Review, and
that he kneWl of the article befOre its publics-,'
doe. This isl stoutly denied hoWever.- '
The nomination of Gen 'Scott ' is'quite gen
erally regarded as out of the question. Con
versing with a distinguished Southern Whig
politician the' other day, he said that 'every
Southern State
. will go for Fillmore,' and, he 1
added,*hen tbiSonth' are they will
carry the day.l We will not,
,said he, - support i
Scott at the, polls, and should he be nominated,,
every Southern State will go democratic. In=
ielligent Whif politichins say he'cannot carry
Pennsylvania pn any ef'ent, the Natives having
recently repadiated bitn,and their opposite he
can not hope to carry. , Everyday strengthens
Mr... Fillmore amazingly.: My judgment is,
from present i indications, that Mr. Buchanan
.or Cren.-Houst4 will bathe next Pre'sident.--.
Ode thing. hciwever, the Baltimore Convention
ought to dortleave all new planks out of the
platfoint. I ' -,- , ', :•, „ , , '
Here let m i n stop short, promising to give
you'forther news" in my, next, which,. by lhe
way,your truant Coz., may conclude to bring
himself • 'I : "'FaithfullY, . -"- ' E;B..C.''
. . .
Wous4 civ BistuicluisEkuDMOL—Tho,
works of thy late Q. Adams, pub.
Using by.' bii,J , :son, -. make 'twenty or
tWooty five l_voltnork The works of 'the
latntevi Woodbury will scion be issued, in
foUr volumes, Mr. Bancroft s' History ',of
the Bnyohition; in threnvOlwees, will' be
finished at an Hon. = = ;Thos:
Benton. is engaged in writing ivmean:4 , -
lei of his life and, times; in nevelt volumes.
HOD. Edwaed Everett.will shortly. publish
a work on'intcaiationallivr. and two vol. .
umes of memoriei; 11. Hamilton,:
Beq,, Ins r . ailai)lited - nu edition ; of
nine volumes of\the Mirka. of - Alelauder
timpikon, and two volOuto* of his life.
isEGISLAnIii -
Remarki of 36: 'la; ba r s on
the. jrouse of Itresentatiies 11for c h e I v g',
Rego/Utica to appal:la .Cpmmitteotdie,„„,•-`,
: . galethe affairs of ihe A'orthampl on a it. " - "•
ISMAIFER :—Tke regolntion, te.
feeio the
Ia ;1-IotttSta,hnot-trithriut precedent
jtidgmeet has bath
4
to. Commend it to the favorable consider'
oalte,thalts'obisodtivm„ is
e, to deutathirltyhouttenireccu
ntatac ette
se far as they have come to the knowled ge o ,
the public, .that attended, and produc e d the .
failure of.this Bank. There knot a tat t l e
on.this floor, who does not understood
litioreweepingqlnd nnmitipted i ire" 6,
u pots •commu nity•by- the-tail are ; acui th ee '
bntlew persons, who do not believe th a t Ire t .
grant wrong, - gross outrage, and dovnii6
dishonesty, were at the foundation,
and:tiptwithout yealen,sir, th a t th ,„
ryas tt wan)&n,Progor4 of jaw, And aru c m ai "
disregard of tue rights and loteresta
trinnitY, Ovhci ha, d,,thir control ti
ntanagetncut,,of-thrit,
institution.. Back
this, they ask that this Legislature shall i t*.
fere, to ppen,the rotten carcass of 61 1 4 4
tien,expose it to the public 'pi e; th at thes,
Who were tnade,its victites may look
the actors in the , event, ascertain th e
I open, and. visit :npop 'Blom the . punist o „
their crimes deServe It is a dul y.
owes to the citizens of thin Commoesethc
Whose rights , they are here to pretect,t6 t the
curtain should be drawn aside by yours:lla,
and the scoundrels who perpetrated filla whol e .
sale robbery,. be exposed..
This resolution, Mr: Speaker, ie notuiti t
precedent, as
, I have said. Rut two r em a Committee, preeleoly like the one e 3
t4mplated by this resodution, was aPpointedt
investigate the affairs of the Bank of Sta ve .
hanna county, which had fairodander'cirma;
stances similar' to the Northampton jy a L
That Committee made a report to this kdy ,
Which many members here now, will do:It.
less remember to have read. 'Hive read k
sir, with interest and profit; for the ditlorcu
there made, may be profitable to the 'victim
of any Bank swindle. •• It shows hos ro o d
swindles•areperpetrated, and the chanirifsof
men engaged in them, I say. it _show e t ,
character of the men, removes snapiciou ho z
the guiltless,-and places public °elm si te
it belongs. 1l goes further than this ;Upon
aside the veil that the guiltipartf eeeeteme
the body of their crime, and gives tothe
dered citizen his legal' nemeity r -a red rene f
grievances. Such, trir,,in short, ate the 0%
sought to be attained by this resolution. Sod
objects were accomplishedin. the preceiclia.
vestigation .of which I have spoke, ta u
would have the plunderers of the Northam}
ton Bank, it* the same category kith th 6
brethren of the Sniquelkuna, that the peo
of this ,Commonwealth may' look Upon then
as they deserve"; and that those* tentM
in' future, may' be •detered by ° the; ignezi r
visited upon their predecessors. I trust, aG
that this reSedution will prevail.
Mn. 8"6-ir:Li, of Fulton,, thee obtained for
'floor and said : • •
•Mn. SciatzEr.:—l desire . to aas la.vvvi
in reference to resolutioe,nnd that 10
say plainly. , I desire, sir, to. See this revels.
tion pasl, for several reasons. I thirti%
with the gentleman from Carbon, that it is
the citizens of the Common Wealth,
civilly the citizens of the immediate vitinityd
the failure, that this investiption' shag he
made. 'This Legislature, tsir, gives told
corpo'rations the franchises thqy ast,-it
in their hands the power which they abr.its
do this mischief; and where that is wren;
will this . bedy, refuse to use the power testi
in it, to iniestigzite their conduct, and gta
thereby to.the victims of their rascality atm
edy,=-or if not a remedy, legal and
tory, at lea'st the satisfaction of visiting isd
indignation,' and merited. odinm upon then!
Why sir, I have learned enough of &5e1341
failures 'to know, that outward knaves dud
manage ;them. Community is imposed ups,_
and
- the real guilty-ones generally; ortrecrio
ly, go, unpunished in every respect. The PI
of Christianity is often assumed, and proek
ing to be honest men,the4ilest andmostiii:
ed robbery IScottimitied.' Nor'is
These gentlemen workeni of iniquity by*.
tue of their former position and. prefesit4
generally succeed in casting the blame* ,
it'does iiot belong, andtbus puss cleai e yes
denniatlon themselves. ;, , Note, sir,l hpldite
be tlie - duly of this Legiedature, whose us ,
tures the Banks are, at. least to give to is
munity the satisfaction of knowing, when II
tisit the odium and infamy of a rightt:otah•
dignation. The gentleman who has precut
me his alluded to a precedent that Ins be
estalished,:by this house, la the case of
,Bank of Susqu'ehanna,equnty. I, sir,
read. tbci report of that Committee, - edit
man iviio would see corruption nod Wm!:
uninaskeit, may a rich treat !here. • '
bewels4 that rotten concern are (14
-"-
and the' wickedness of the men engageu
e;Posed.. Sir', I•'have alivays found that
lb
I leadin,g spirits in these - ouse l trans:4A P
men in Whom community have the Ft
confidence. They profes' bolter thir l P,.
'unless some legal'eximsnye .1D b emade,,
generally succeed in
. clianng
u4tltletiinatioti;. ' - .1 say it is the dOIY of the,
!stature; in all cases of inch notorionsl°
pl birders, le.' follovir , up: _ 'the 'Precedent 4 _
liaised In the cites , of the' Stisquehalm s cu 4
Bale, eips:tli c ts mita:lll-the Pitt/ ca u r.
thateommimity,--the citizem b~a?gt t 1
of thliConimentvesithOnnY visit F ij3l ,-.n
upon them,—may scourge the rascals
the Avoild.-
OLD Buie a CaNT:rustalre"
On
llth or ibis B rks'eounty vss l
hundred years eld4,-having beW 6 n
ontAif 'parts of,PhillOOphis; l4lo,
(theallie only three sondticii,
which Pennsylvania Was `divia0 1 ) 011 !
Iltb of Nara 1752. '
. ,
Gov:: Wittaar, the Demoorstic,
didete:fdr the -, atibetn4fooal obit of b oo
enio,
.amity
made ppeeeti'oollen'ti:eaejlidate 01'41
colter,: in.a, Cense House; ie
brick pf isiiiebNitutac49 1414