politicai; , .. A i It E S 6f the Dcno'cralic Committee of Corres pondence for the Gity of Philadelphia. . Fu.ow Citizens: Tho Democratic Committee of Correspondence of tho City of Philadelphia, havo deemed it advisable tt) address you on thb subject of the ap proaching Gubernatorial election. It is al ready known to .you, that two candidates aic presented for the suffrages of tho pcoplo of tl'is commonwealth, one of whom is Jo seph ltitner, tho present minority incum bent, and tho other is David R. Porter, tho jiomincc of the Democratic Convention, which assembled in Harrisburg on the fifth of 'March last. Between these two candi dates, the pcoplo of necessity will havo to .choose, andso.far as wo may be permitted to draw conclusions from the spontaneous expressions of public feeling which meet us on all sides, it can scarcely be consider ed doubtful what will bo the result. Between federalism and aristocracy on tho one hand and democracy and popular will on tho otu cr, there can be. no room to question what will bo tho .issue; and our only object m addressing vou at this crisis is to excite you to vigorous 'and united effort, in order that this portion ot the state may have pome share of the glory which, will result from the victory. That David R. Porter 'tnust, and will be elected, is conceded by all who arc conversant with the politics of the State, and who are willing to yield to the evidence that it is obvious to their senses. 1 he democracy when united have never been defeated in the Keystone State, and their harmonious action has heretofore al ways resulted iri securing tho ascendency ot democratic njen , and measures. Such wo predict will be the result of tho election In October next, and the state will then be redeemed from the humiliation and degra- Uationmto which she has tallen. That our opponents arc strongly impres sed with the belief that General Porter will be elected, is obvious in a great degree from the virulence with which they assail liim, and the gross misrepresentations to which they continually resort. They allege that the democratic party is hostile to the best interests of the people, and is continually engaged 'in endeavoring to break up the credit system, under which the community has prospered. They aver that it is hostile to all banking institutions, and is seeking ,to their overthrow and luin, and endeavoring to Impose upon.,the country a iriere metallic circulation. This, suffer us to remark, is a sheer imposition upon tho credulity of the community, and is at. war with all the prin ciples ever entertained by tho republican party of thecountry. The acts of all demo cratic legislatures heretofqrc corroborate this remark, and show that banks have been brought into existence, and fostered, and'protceted by democratic administrations. Even the last official organ of the party which assembled at Harrisburg, (we allude to the 5th of March Convention,) have ex posed the fallacy of a contrary notion, and have vindicated the party from this slander of the enemy. That democracy has ever been opposed to the credit system is utterly untrue, on tho contrary its friends are con scious that its influence in connection with the credit and enterprise of tho people, has limit up our country to its present great ness, contributed to fill up its dense popu lation, and intersected in all quarters with railroads and canals, indicating the giant inarch of internal improvement, in a yet infant nation. A contrary system, founded p'n the exclusion. of all credit, would essen tially tend to make the rich richer and the poor poorer, a result tho very opposite of that which democracy seeks to produce. All hat the democratic party has ever sought to accomplish was to place the banks under ivholeSome and proper regulations, td cheek an excess of issues which might flood and endanger the land, and so restore a metallic currency as to make it tho basis of a circu lation that should be healthy and safe for the Community. How desperate, then, musf be the hopes of a party which can re sort to audi misrepresentation, for the pur pose of retaining a power which it original ly obtained against the clear and recorded votes of a majority of the people of Penn sylvania. That the democratic paity must triumph in tho approaching Gubernatorial contest, will be evident from a slight review of what has occurred wi'tlfin tho last few yoar3. That the present position of the antimason Jc and whig party iri Ppnnsylvania is pure ly the result of accident, is, shown by tho actual vote by which Mr. Ititncr was elect ed He did not receive a' majority of tho votes of tho citizens who rccordeJ their will, and is, at this moment conceded to be a mere minority Governor. At that very election", when tho democratic party had no Chance whatever of success owing to an unfortunate division in their own ranks yet they recorded a majority of votos against the supremacy of federalism, which even then showed that old Pennsylvania was democratic to the core. And what lias been the result since? Let facts answer tho interrogatory. From the yoar 1835, when Mr. Ititncr was olected, down to tho present time, wo havo always returned a majority of monhers to tho House of Rep resentatives', and havo since sutained the as"cenden6y of the party by casting the voto 'if oursfote for tho pjesent democratic ox utive of the Union. At tho vory Iastge rtfrul election? which took place in the com-' mqmvcalth, wo showed a clear dcrnocra.li,c majority of near ten thousand votes, which was mado up by tho (fairest of all possible tests, viz: by taking tho votes of those high est on tho legislative, ticket in each county, 1 . .1. It H i anu comparing mo pou. moru tcccih evi dence may bo discovered nearer home, and our local olections in this section of the state havo already given us an earnest of what awaits us in tho fall, and old South ward Irt hcrrecclit election, and Moyamcn oing in her commissioner's election., havo indicated what they mean to do with the enemy in tho coming contest. Another reason which, must satisfy all who are doubtful as to what will bo tho re sult of the contest for Governor, is found in tho chaiacter.and principles of tho candi dates who arc presented for the suffrages of the people, Joseph Ritncr has been proved and tried, and is shown to be desti tute of all the requisite qualifications which fit him for an executive station. Ho has bcqn intent only oij tho keeping of power, and has suffered himself, to be controlled and led by desperate and adventurous poli ticians and pedlars from other states. In order to rotain the station into which acci dent has thrown him, ho sanctioned the districting of the state in such a manner as to secure a misrepresentation of tho sentl montS of the majority, and enable a minorl ly to rule, by apportioning the members of the legislature in palpable and direct oppo shipn to tho number of taxablcs. Besides, to use the language of the Cth of March convention "For more than a century, the election laws were uniform throughout the state, and every citizen enjoyed the same rights and privileges under them. On the day of election, the suffrages of the pcoplo in the cast wore legulaleu by tho same laws as those of the west; and the people of the south on that day, knew that their brethren in tho ndrth were as free and c qual as themsolves. But it became tho bu siness of the present governor and his fust legislature, to restrict the people in one section of tho state, in tho exercise of their right of suffrage; to except the people of the city and county of Philadelphia, from the uniform provisions of the constitution, and the general election law, and to impose upon them the odious duty and disgrace of having their names registered for somcdays preyjtou4 td the election." Can then, the people of Pennsylvania, and especially the citizens of Philadelphia, lend their suffra ges to. a candidate who has thus impaired the dearest right which freemen can enjoy, and rendered the election laws of the state a by-Word and reproach throughout the land 1 Besides, Joseph Ritncr has violated all his principles and all his professions. A vowing himself to bo an anti-mason, he has continually appointed masons to office, thus showing his hypocrasy and want of princi pkvand has exercised tho veto power in.so arbitrary and tyrannical a manner as to make it the instrument of executive oppres sion. Ho Has used it for tho purpose of lecturing and reviling tho representatives of freemen, and has shown that he' consid ers a veto in the light of a mere negative vote, and supposes he ought to use it in all cases in which he would vote in tho nega tive, were he a member of the legislature. His supporters are also equally inconsistent with himself, for you find that all the anti masons in the senate of tho slato voted at the last session for an open and avowed ma son for speaker. How bdsc and hypocriti cal, therefore, must be the conduct of su'eh men, and how clearly does it show that an timasonry is a mere delusion, and a trap for the unwary. It is certainly time that a party so recreant to profession and princi ple should bo removed from power and their places filled by men who are honest and capable: and who will exorcise the influ ence of their stations to promote the inter ests of tho community. The presont position of our opponents is such that no man can view it without being sensible of the truth of a remark often made, that it is composed of tho fragments and factions of parties of parties which have changed their principle just as frequently as they have changed their names. That the antimasomc ponton of tho nartv is hvn ocritical and insincere, has already been shown, and that tho whig portion of tho al liance is just as little guided by dignity and adherence to principle may bo readily dem onstrated. After a National convention of wings had. assembled at Baltimore, and no ininatcd Henry Clay for President, and John Sergeant, of Pennsylvania, forVico President', tho whigs of Pennsylvania aban doned their support of thoso candidates. and east their votos for the candidates of tho anlimasonic nartv. How flagrant nn instance of a violation of principle, and of .1 .11 .1 , r , . . uuauiuuu ui tuiig-iriuu pouucai incnus. And yet tins, was dono by tho boasted whig par iv oi l einisyivania. uvor since men. tho whigs have boon following in the walks of mo anumasons nave ucconio me more hewers of wood and drawers of wator for thorn, and are compolled to sustain what ever their aiitimasonio brethren may ad vise. In opposition to Josoph Ritnor stands tho candidate of the democratic party, Gen. DAVID R. PORTER, of Huntingdon county. Ilo is a democrat of tried ami up nroved principles, and oho who has uni fornily upheld and sustained tho interests of the party, lie is a republican or the truo Joffcrsonian and Snyder school, and is a native ot old domoeratic Montgomery. From his youth upwards It is devotion to the party has been, uniforniund constant, and his legislative career formo a bright page in the history of his slato. Ho is a man of cullivntcdmind and vigorous under standing, versed ih the knowledge of all our political rights, and nerved with tho en ergy necessary .to sustain them. To him the community may look with confidence in her present emcrgoncy, and safely con fide .to. his. hands tho destines of our gicat and growing commonwealth. His admin istration will bring us back to tho days of Jofferoonian democracy, and onco more place old Pennsylvania among the demo cratic states of tho Union. All that is necessary to enable us to real ise our utmost expectations at the approach ing contest is to unite vigorously m support of tho nomination of tho party. Union and Harmony, should bo our motto. Ilo that would distract should bo viewed as. an Akan in the camp, and an enemy t tlxo causo. Tho redemption of the state from political pollution should bo the sole object of every democrat, and no sacrifice should be deem ed too great to accomplish it. Let us then, fellow citizens, steadily adhcro to tho great ttuths and doctrines wo profess, conscious that our prosperity as a people is to bo at tributed mainly to their influence, and all will result well. We will still continue to be a people increasing in virtue and great ness, and will leavo as a rich legacy to our children, that which is far better than gold or silver, the inheritance of upheld and perpetuated civil and religious privileges. Adopted at a meeting of tho committee, held on Wednesday, May 23d, 1838, and ordered to be published. JOHN W; ASIIMEAD, JOHN D. MJLES. Secretaries. iwrnt in LimiGir. For tho last two weeks wo havo been considerably out and through many parts of tho country, vvhere wo met and seen many of our citizens. Porter, Porter, Porter, is tho burden of tho song, let you go where you will. Wc can assure our distant friends, that Lehigh county will not only do htr du ty nobly but that tho friends of Democracy and Porter will poll more votes next October, and give us a larger majority, than has been tho caso for n number of years. Union and harmony prevails among tho friends of Porter andJJcmocracy, in all sections of tho county, and it is cheering to sco and learn how zealous and activo o.tif frjends arc. Wo arenotgoingto stop at a small majority but all arc determined of doing ubig business and tho way wo shall put down our opponents will lie long remem bered by them. Thcro is at this tinlo ntiich dissatis faction and division among thcin; some arp for Har rison, some for Clay, and many do not like Ititncr. A number have declared themselves favorable loGcn. Porte: many aro on tho fence and when gather ing time arrives, Ilitner's voles will be mighty slim. Wo go for at least 20,000 majority in tho etato it cannot well bo otherwise, when wo havo such a first rato man before tho pcoplo as Gen, Porter, who pos sesses much experience, truo and inflexible, superior qualifications, possesses moral and political integrity of such qualifications is tho man of our choice mad of, and such is tho choice and favorito of the people and further this is tho very man they will elect. Lehigh JJulUliiK bo fount! in his old creditors, every one of whom aro his warmest and most enthusias tic frionds. DaVid R. Porter has never been suspected of having purloined any . . t. .1. 1.1! rt- . , , .papers irom hid puuuc oiuces, oi wnicii no is charged in that letter. Such a charge was first hoaid of from that letter and creates nothing but disgust horc amongst both parlies of politicians. IT iS NOT IRUlil David K. Porter was elected to office in this county, when no other man of liis party could bo elected. This proves that tile assertions of tho writer aro totally false. An indictment is now pending in this county against R. Campbell for writing that letter. If ho cannot bo proven the author, of courso he will bo acquitted if otherwise it will bo shown in what light ho stands beforo the peoplo of tHis county. You no.doubt observed that the letter has never been republished by the liilner press here: l hat would nevor do. Upon tho whole wo say that a more black hearted tissue of falsehoods never were invented against tho character of any man; and they go on to show what shifts will bo made by some men, to prop up a causo when other means have descried them. SLANDER REFUTED. A large number of the citizens of Ilun ingdon have come forward and exposed the falsity of the base slanders propagated against the character of David R Porter, tho Democratic candidate for Govornor. The following letter signed by eighty-four highly respectable citizens of Huntingdon, all neighbors of Gen. P., and 20 of whom voted for Cov. Ritncr in 1835, will carry ? .! , 1 r ., ... , conviction to every mum oi uie total ab sence of any foundation for these charges, and of the reckless depravity of tho leaders of the party which resorts to such dishonor able means to prop up a sinking cause. Lot it bo borne in mind that the said. Robert Campbell, alluded to in the letter, is Got). ernor llitncfs Prothnolary for Hunting' don county! Harrisburg Ilcporlcr. Prom the Union" Times. CAMPBELL'S LETTER. It k known to tho people of Union county, that a letter signed "Robert Camnboll." has for some timo been shown about by Norr Middleswarth and others, and more recently read at a public meeting in Mifllinburg ma- wing various grave cuarges against Uen. Porter. The following letter signed by 81 lesponsiblo citizens, neighbors of Gon. Porter, puts quite a different faco upon this matter. l wonty oi these signers voled for Ritncr in 1835, among whom wo re cognize several who formorly represented that party in tho legislature. Read tho letter Huntingdon, May 12, 1838. To Isaac Slenkcr, Esq. Dear Sir Having heard that a letter purporting to havo been written by Robert Campbell, has been read in a public moot ing in your county charging David It. Porter with certain things altotroth ar disre putable to any man, let alone a candidate of ino great slato oi Pennsylvania for Governor; wo tako tho liberty of writing to you a few linos upon tho subject. We David R. Porlci for many years; somo of us sinco ne came into this county, and being ni iioaranu immediate neighbors can tcsti ly with honesty and truth to his i-lmmpinr. and the falsehood of tho charges made against him in that. Mr. Campboll, it is said, having since been called that ho is the author! But as a letter of mis kiiiu nas no uouut neon written, and endeavored to bo circulated by gome indi viduals for oortain purposoa, wo can say at onco that David R. Porter has nevor bocn ohnrged by the people of this county for dishonesty, but on tho contrary, is consider- od, and always lias been, as a strictly hon est man. lie never refused to nav an lion- est debt, and the beet evidence of this is to Thos: P Campboll, Andrew Jolmstonj Daniel Agnoa, William Dorris, Michcal Buoy, S S Wharton, C Coats, Michcal Claubaugh, John IS ail, J M Cunningham, John R M'Cartny, David L Wilmot, T B Ludcn, M D Isaac Ilaggs, D Ncwinghani, John Aghly, Thomas Forster, William K Rahm, Thomas Montgomery, James A Kerr, David Woods, John Henderson, Joseph Ilarvy, I' ranees B Wallace, W R M'Cay, Levi Wcstbrook, Walter B Hudson, Chas. A Ncwingham, James Simpson, John Livingston, ju W S llildebrand, John Colestock,. Robert Cromwell, Joseph Stellvillc, George Black, William Woods, Edward Woods, Johnston Smith,' Thomas Smith, David Hazard, John Nash, D Coldstock, John Livingston, John White, J Powell, William Stewart, Job Pympton, Henry Miller, Win. Allen, James S Stcrrclt, John Lauck, Jacob Claubaugh, A P Wilson, James M'Conncll, D Black, George Guckscr, Alexander Weslbrook, David M'Murlrc, Henry Knees, John Simpson, Gcorgo Jackson, Win. II King, Christian Coldstock, John Williamson, John Montgomery, Patrick Gwm. Samuel Africa, James Gwin, George Gwin, William L Snyder, William Glass, Daniel Miller, James Uollinshcad, Charles A Nash. Martin Griflitis, Thomas Ilorrcll, Irvin Horrell, G Nash, David Snyder, James Manly, Alex. M'piure, Samuel Bciford, James Hemphill, Alexander Gwin, Fd'rl'unalc Kicane ,t)!ir (nm iv.. few davs sinco thrown intn n mmn r .i most painful exqtcment by an accident which wc aro happv to stato did rm fntnllv. lIr. Mnsns -.Tnno n ,it... j. ... , !.uny gjjji industrious citizens of Quincy, wascimag. od at Mr. Shorman's a short distance from tho town in sinking a well. He had exca vated to tho depth of 80 feet, and comment uuu laying up uiu wail, removing bv d . .-I.:. ,.(. i.t i b J UB- 1. lug.nuuiugMmiiuviuw unit sunTiortiniT if Willi ni-ntia itnlil 1m ol,t,1.1 , h . ...... (..wfu, ....... .,w oiiumu replace it villi stono. The wall settled tho prong iccamo loose the curbini? rr.ivn ,.. J, tho soil, which for many feet abovo' was loose sanu, caved in around him. Who.. the clods loll he jumped on them, and cried ij his ussinimiiN iu ici uown ino rope: but icforo that could bo dono, tho sand pressed lown so fast, as to cover him nn inmni.,."i... and a second fall occuring soon after buried him to the do nth of six nr mabt v.., tt- i f) tL,i.i, 1113 head was forced to tho sidn of the wall, one arm lixcd to his side, and tho other nm stretched from his body. Some clanhnnwi. 'Inch fell in with tho sand were sodispos.nl round him. as to fasten him ritridlv nositiontw hue thuge nrniuul biu lw-,i bly preventing the sand from filling jn sons to suffocate him. Immiiilininlv Imin ........J t.L.ll Vi ti3 aflorded; but from tho danger and difficulty jig nun somo tune was ron.siiiii. cd in nronorlv sccurinrr tlm u.nll further slides: and even then the narrownp f the place made it impossible for mnro liail two to work tnrrntlmr. 'Vhnv lr,K.i --0 .uuuiru incessantly for his relief, from 2 o'clork on n i . . ...i . i . ., , Aiiusuuy ai which time ino sand gave way, till past 4 o'clock on Wednesday evening, when to their great joy, he was drawn up uninjured after being thus earth fast for 9r, hours. QuincM (JU) J I 'hi sr. CAPTURE OF RECTOR. Wo find in tho New York Courier and Enquirer the follwing account of the capturo of Rector j who it will be recollected escaped from the city prison in N. York, by forcibly detaining the under keeper: Yesterday afternoon two countrymen, named William Light and Robert Brown, brought to this city from, Poughkccpsie, Thomas Rector, convicted of murder, whoso escapo from prison wo noticed a few days since, and for whose apprhension a reward of ono thousand dollars had been oflercddjy tho Governor and Sheriff. It appeared from the statement of his captors, anb of a negro who had a hand in the arrest, that Rector had stolen a horse from a Mr. Mills, residing near Peekskill, and somo young men hav ing got upon his track, followed and came up with lnm when a few miles from Pough kcepsic. He then managed to escape and got into a swamp, where ho cflectually eluded his pursures, who, however, recov ered tho stolen hotsc. After travelling somo time through this place, he mot a negro who took him in to Poughkeepsie for three dollars. He then stated that ho had fallen overboard from a vessel coming up the river, and as he was wet at the time the poor nogro believed tho story, and lent him an ovorcoat. On their arrival at Pqughkcopsio he also purchased for him a pair of shoes as he was barpfooted, and ho himself purchased a new hat. Tho negro as ho was going homo met Light and Brown, who were in search of Rector as a horse then, and ho went buuk with them to Poughkeepsie, to assist in finding the rogue. After much trouble, ho was found sitting noar tho dock, waiting for a steamboat, aud while watching him ono of tho young men chancod to take up a papor containing an account of tho escape of Rector, and offering a reward for tho apprehension ol the murderer, and also giv. iug n description of tho person of Rector Ahor looking at the accused for somo time, they became satisfied that ho was Rector, the murdorot, for whom tho reward was of fered, and they accordingly arrested him and brought him to this city, where his ar rival was hailed with great joy by tho un fortunate koopor, who was accused of abetting his oscape. Tho fugitivo stated that after remaining somo days concealed at a place near this city, ho walked to Yonkcrs, whence he started in tho steamboat for Sing Sing. Having landed thore, ho wont on foot up tho rivor, until caught as abovo stated. It is but fair to state, that ho entire ly exonerates the keepers fiom aiding or u uiinig ins escape, to 1)0 Wc extract the following article on tho subject of the origin of .coal, from tho "Journal of the Franklin Institute" for April. It may not prove uninteresting many of our readers.', . ORIGIN OF COAL. Coal is supposed by sonic writers to the remains of antediluvian timber which floated in tho waters of the deluge until several mineral strata had been formed; others conceive it to bo autcdiluvinn peat bog. It was used in England anterior to the reign of Henry III for that monarch, iu 1231, renewed a charter granted by bis father to tho inhabitants of Newcastle, by which they woro permitted to dig coal on the paymont of 100. per annum. Coals had been introduced into London beforo 1300, for in that year the use of them as fuel had been prohibited, from the snpposed tendency of their smoke to corrupt Jho air. About the beginning of the sixtecth century the best coals were sold in London at tho rate of -Is. Id. per chaldron, and at Newcas tle no more than 2s. Od. for the same. Du ring the ensuing century, however, they were received into such general use. that in 1018, on tho scarcity of coal in London, many of the. poor woro said to havo died from the want of fuel. The whole quntity of coal sent into London on an average of four years, has been estimated at 1, 870, 000 chaldrons per annum.jjTlierc has been much dispute on tho origon of coal, but Brogniart has givin tho following as tho general con clusion of naturalist: I. That coal was formed at the same timo as, or after the ex istence of, organized bodies. 2. That this mineral when first formed was liquid, and in a great degree of purity. 3. That tho same cause' which produces this sub stance is aoveral times renewed in the samo circumstances. 4. That the causo, whatever it may be, is nearly the same over all the earth, since tho beds of coal always exhibit nearly the same phonomelie iu their slructuro and ac cidental circumstances. 5. That these beds have not been deposited by any violent revolution, but on the contrary, in the most tranquil maimer, since the organized bodies that are found in them aro often found en tire, and tho loavos of vegetable impressed in tho slats which covers the coals arc hardly over brusod or otherwise deranged. Merthyr Chronicle- Extract of proceedings of tho Board of Canal Commissioners. Canal Iioom, May 10, 1838. Messrs. Editors, Tho Board of Canal Commissioners havo been in Session during the past week and have agreed upon the fol lowing order of business: Lettings of portions of tho Erie Division will tiikc place at Moadvillu, on tho 20 of June. At Erie, of other poitions thoreol, on tjio 1 0th of July. Of tho Wost Branch, on the lYth of July; (place not decided.) Of the North Branch', at Tnckhannocl;, on the 23d of July. Of tho Wjsco;iisco Feeder at Halifax, on tho 1st of Augii3t. Of tho Allegheny Feeder, at Kitlanning. on tho 11 th of August. Of the Gettysburg extension, at Gettys burg, on tho 24th of August- Betweon this and tho 8th of June, tho Board will visit tho Columbia and Philailcl-, phia Rail Road, and tho Delaware Division of Canal for tho purposo of inspecting the works, and settling claims for damages Apout tho 11th of June, they will lcavo Harrisburg to inspect tho works westward ly, and on thoir routo will settle all claims for damage which may bo presented totlicm;. and in like mannor, will ssttlo claims for damagos on tho Wost aud North Branches,. oij their roturn from tho lettings of thoso branches. W. C McPHERSON, Sccr'y.
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers