16 Windward of the Island, to watrlj our
American brothers. Accosting a finojrojjng
inan, who was office bf the watch, I asked
if it was hispinioih from, his knowledge
of liis captain; that lie could have the heart
to hang up eight innocent men.
"I have nD donbt. of their . execution,
Bhould a single Englishman die by the Gov
ernor's order, even if Murray's heart brdke
in witnessing it."
"It will bo an act of hellish cruelty," re
plied I,"and call down from just heaven the
vengeance of the most High, upon all tho
aiders and abettors in this most direful tragedy-"
"I do not sod", sir," said the yditng officer,
"how the commodore can abandon thirteen
men to a shamfiil death for obeying his or
ders. He is a humane man, an excellent
ofiicer,& one of great determination; he has
worn out a strong constitution in blockading
mis auoiinuauiuisiauu, aim, in my opinion
13 seriously ill." . .
The lieutenant was right. Captain Mur-
Tay died in ten days, evincing, in the ago
nies df death, his love for hi3 country, by
'ordering his body to bo buried in a, sand
bank off Curacjoa, well knowing that , his
frigate could not be spared to convey' it to
Jamaica.
"Can I see the prisoners, Mr. "Fleming?"
approacning tho iirst lieutenant.
"Undbubtedlv', sir:, show the officer to
the Dutch prisoners."
And descended to the gun-room where
they were surronded by the sentinels, and
ntterided by the chaplain, who addressed
them in the French language, of which the
burgomaster had sufficient knowledge to
jnako himself Understood. They all looked
worn down by mental sufieiings; and as the
burgomaster placed a lock pt his hair in my
hands, he earnestly made me promise to
Jiave it conveyed to his young and lovely
bride, with information that his dying
thoughts slioulU alone bo fixed on her, whom
lie hoped td meet in another and a better
world. I wahtcd comfort myself, therefore
Jiad none lo bestow on him, poor youth!
but ascended the deck in time to see this
smart frigate furl her sails, come to anchor,
and square her yards, making the signal for
the sqUfttoh to do the same in clodc order.
A shot frolnjlie mole, and one from the fort,
firoved us to be just out of reach of fire,
but near enough to observe all passing on
Fort Amsterdam, whore the Dutch troops
-were drawn up in military parade, with the
English prisoners in the centre of their
sqUare. The Dutcli governor and his staff
were, on liQrseback in the fort, and masses
of the people congregated about it. All eyes
turned on the British squadron, as they dis
played the flag tha had braved tho battle
and tho breeze. The cdntntddore hoisted a
while one at the fort, and fired a gnn, his
gig then left the frigate with a truce flag in
jier bow, and a lieutenant in full uniform,
bearing letters to the Dutch governor from
Captain Murray, and his prisoners. As
the Dutch boat received our truce flag, dur
coramodorf, followed by tho squadron,
struck his flags and pendant Half-mast, as
mourning the necessity, and made tho signal
for the boats", manned and armed, to attend
the punishment of death. At the same
time eight yard ropes wers rove, and tho
carpenter's axe and hammer migth be
heard fitting the platforms over each cat-head.
Shocked at these preparations, I obtained
tneirjony-ooai, anu returned on board my
bwn ship; Where all eyes were turned on
c Dutch governor, upori. whose fiat depen
tied twenty-one lives. They had erected
two triangles, on which lay a beam with
thirteen halters displayed. The Dutchman
and his staff, with spy-glasses, wore keen
bbservers df the squadron; and our commo'
'dore, with great tack, nut hi3 shins in mourn'
inir. lolled the bell as a passing knell, and
ordered his bugles to play the dead iriarch
in Saul; and as they sounded mournfully'
over mo cairn bay, a shrill and piercing
enneK was lieard from tho graceful person
bf the burgomaster's lovely wife, who with
lrantic energy embraced the governor s
Knees, ana pneousiy begged lor mercy on
her husband. He must have been harder
than adamant to have, withstood this heart
broken and drooping flower. Iuaw him raise
her. and order tho gallows to be taken
'down. The prisoners wore marched to tho
mole, and embarked in a large Dutch boat:
and as she pulled for the commodore; La
Franchise lesumed her flags at tho mast
head, dismissed all appearance of mourning
and the crews ol the squadron, that were
clustered like bees in the rigging, simulta
iieously cheered, and I felt as if a mountain
had been rerrioyed from my breast.
A Couragous Pleader. The Motropo
litan, in a sketch of tho late Counsellor
Sampson, has the following anecdote of his
forensic courage, which strikiugly illustrates
.1 - 1? Til 1 1 i i
me dignity anu moral nrraness ot jus char
acter. At ono of the frnvprnment nrnsnnu-
tions before the bloody Norbury;a suborned
witness was" brought to prove, what was
then tho seal df condemnation and death, that
the prisoner was a United Irishman, and
had administered the secret oath of the So
ciety, involving the penalty of death to others
aecordmg to the form which was produ
ced. A Ucr of satisfaction1, never absent
from his face, while tho death of his victim
was in prospect, lighted up the bloated eye
of the judge, when the intrepid counsel took
the paper in his hand, and in an emphatic
lone, which commanded and arrested atten
fion, he called upon tho Court and jury to
hear the oath for taking and administering
winch, they were about to condemn a lellow
creature to the gallows; ho then, to tho as
forrtshmeut of all, mounted the witness' box,
and read, with. a voice, of which .the loud
and earnest .tones were rendered still more
imiStcssive by his maimer, 'In flic presence
.r m.t i i... ! .i-.li"'- t ...mi
ui ituu, i uo v voluntarily uecinrc, i. win
persevere ih e'ndeavoring lo perfect a broth
erhood of affection amongst Irishmen of
every religious persuasion and that 1 will
persovero in my endeavors to obtain an equal
full, and adequate representation of all the
people of irclamV IIo paused a moment,
looked up to the iurv and the iudge, and
then, when tho attention pt every ono was
riveted on him, turned round to the witness
at his side 'Is this the only oath tho pris
oner at the bar administered to you?' 'It
is.' 'Is tho taking of this oath tho only
ceremony required to make a United Irish
man?' 'It is!' . .
The advocate looked at the judge, the
jury, arid the court, and lifting the Bible
from tho desk beforo him, while his com
manding figure was raised td the fullest
height; ho strongly repeated again those
memorable words, solemnly kissed it, "So
help me God I now call your lordship and
the iurv to bear witness, that 1 too am a
United Irishman." IIo then turned to tho
crown laWyer, and. added, "Mr. Attorney
Gonerah you may file your process, if you
please; here is no need for perjury in your
witness." The cllect was irresistaDie; no
left the box and sat down; and almost im
mediately dfter tho prisoner was acquitted;
but from that time, Sampson was marked
for sacrifice.
A New TVau to liuise the Wind. A
handsome Voting woman with bhio eyes.
black hair, and perfectly white skin was of
fered for sale a low days since, at the at.
Louis street Exchange, by a man who pre
tended that she was his slave. Her com
plexion was so fair and she was so destitute
of all sittns of negro extraction, that .those
present began to feel dubious, and uttered
somo suspicions.
The girl herself said she was a slave and
belonged to the man otlenng her lor sale.
The lellow, however, apprehensive that
he was not altogether sale, had eloped
through tho crowd and was not to be found,
Consequently, the "woman of color" was
permitted to go free, without a pass. 1 lie
crowd were well satisfied that it was a mere
swindling concern a plan having doubtless
been agreed upon that the proceeds of the
sale were to be shared by the pseudo-master
and pseudo-slave, after which an elope
ment was to have taken place; and although
the woman Was allowed to go free, yet it is
doubtful wethor the man would have got off
so easy had he been found.
J. u. rtcayunc.
Abolition and Politics We understand
that at the late Abolition Convention which
sat at Pittsburg a resolution was passed id
vote against the new Constitution of tins
State at the election in October. "Wo fur
ther learn that this resolution was strenuous
ly opposed by several prominent abolition
delegates present, as giving them tho appear
ance ol a political party; but they were out
voted and the resolution passed as stated.
Irashington examiner
Mockeril of the Law. The trial of
John Wilson, who it may bo Temcmbcnkl,
olhciated as bpcalicr ot the Arkansas House
oi Representatives, during the fast Legisla
tive session ol that Estate and who, ort a
certain occasion, walked down from his
cuair anu siew fliaj. j. j. Anthony, with a
Bowie knife on the floor of the House, took
place a few days ago, The verdict of the
jury was unol guilty of murder but jus-
lifiaote homiciue. Louisville Journal.
LOWER CANADA.
Lord Durham had been received at Que
bco witli every demonstration of joy bvthe
inhabitants of all political opinions. Im
mediately alter he had taken the oaths, ho
issued a proclamation addressed to the nco
pie of both provinces, in which we find the
tollowing passage :
"In one province the most deplorablo
events havo rendered tho suspension of its
representative constitution, unhappily, a
matter of necessity; and the supreme pow
er lias devolved on me.
"The great responsibility which is ihere
by imposed on me, and the arduous nature
of the functions which I have to discharge.
will naturally make me most anxious to has
ten the arrival of that period when tho Ex
ecutive power shall again be surrounded by
all constitutional checks of free, liberal and
British institutions.
"On you tho people of British Ameri
ca on your conduct, and on tho extent of
yvui uu-ujJLTuuuu yhu inu, win maimy uc-
pend whether that event shall be delayed
or immediate. I thereforo invito from you
the most free, unreserved communications.
I beg you to consider me as a friend and ar
bitrator; ready at all times to listen to your
wishes, complaints and grievances, and ful
ly determined to act with the strictest im
partiality."
After his Excellency had taken thd oaths,
he gave orders for a list of all tho slate pus
oners to be laid bctoro him on the ensuing
morning. IV ew l orlc JS'eio Jira.
Electricity. rWhy is the fire-side an un
safe place in a thunder storm? Because the
carbonaceous mattor, or soot with which the
chimney is lined, acts as a conductor for
tho lightning. Why is tho middle of an
apartment tho safest place during a thunder
storm? Bacause should a flash of lightning
slriko a building, or enter it at any of the
windows, it will tako its direction along the
walls, without injuring the ccntro of the
room.
'!
POLFixOAIj.
From tho American Sentinel.
2)AVlb R. PORTER.
The only charge which the political op
ponents of this .gentleman have been able
10 onng againai uiui wiut even inu ujn,-ai-ance
of truth, is that many years ago, dur
ing a period o.l gieat public distress, ne be
came embarrassed in his.circiimstanccs.and
was compelled to avail himself of tho in
solvent laws of the commonwealth. Tho
following statement of facts, with which
wo havo been politely furnished by a gen
tleman of tho highest respectability, and
and welt acquainted with all tho circum
stances connected with tho transaction, will
enable our readers lo judge for themselves,
whether Gen. Portor is deserving of thd a
buse which has been so freely lavished on
him. or whether ho is not entitled to com
mendation for tho strict integrity and un
wearied industry which marked his conduct
in circumstances ol a most trying and dis
couraging character. ...
When a young man abput twenty-two
years ol age, jjavid it. rorter came to
Huntingdon county, from Montgomery
couftty, the place df his birth; and entered
as a clerk at an iron works, with a view to
acquire a knowledge of the art of manufac
turing iron, and the management necessary
in conducting the business. Ho remained
in that situation for somo tinic. On the
death of his father; a tract of land descend
ed to him as his . patrimonial portion.. A-
bout the year 1810, he sold his proporty
for several thousand dollars; and in partner
ship with Edward B. Palton, purchased
from vVm. Patton, Shgo Forge, situated in
Franklin township, Huntingdon county
The real estate was Incumbered by sundry
judgments obtained against Win. Patton,
previous to the sale. ration and Porter
commenced business, in which David It.
Porter invested his whom available funds.
They continued, during a period of pres
sure, to conduct their business with nppn
rentsuccess, until tho year 1819 or 1820,
when Edward B. Pattun, having married
tho. daughter of a wealthy citizen of that
county, purchased the interest of Ins part
nor, David Itittcnhousc Porter, in the real
and personal estate connected with the iron
business. The whole property was thus,
with the assets of the firm, including out
standing debts, transferred to Mr. P. who
bound himself to pay alt tho debts of the
firm, and to pay David R. Porter the mon
ev he had invested, with interest unon it
Mr. Patton continued to prosecute the busi
ness dp to 1821, when in the crash of the
times he failed, and left unpaid large debts
due from Palton and Porter, as well as debts
due from himself. Among- tho latter ,was
that due David R. Porter, in consideration
of the purchase made from him. Thus
Gen. Porter was left stripped of his patri
momal estate, and encumbered witli the
debts of the firm. By the management of
others and the pressure of the period David
R. Porter was borne down in tho wreck
produced by those times, the most disaster
ous and ruinous that ever swept over the in
terior of Pennsylvania. Many of our most
eritcrprlslng citizens lost their" all in those
days, and were reduced from allluenco to
poverty. Pressed by debts which another
had assumed to pay, and without means, he
was compelled to avail himself of the bene
fit of the insolvent laws. Under the laws
as they then existed, bail for the appearance
Of tho applicant could not be received. In
stead ol slnuing under the misfortunes, and
leaving tho country, or ceasing from exer
lions, David K. Porter, with a vigor and
energy of mind, and untiring industry,
which reflect credit upon him, set himself
down, and became the architect Of his own
fortune. Under all his losses and misfor
tunes he retained tho confidence of his
neighbors, acquaintance and friends. On
his moral integrity, his industry and enter
prise all relied with unllinching confidence
Tho year succeeding his failure, tho elec
tors ol Huntmgdqn couhty sent him as their
representative to tho legislature of the stato,
in which capacity ho performed his duty
to 1110 pcricct satisiacuou ot tils constituen
cy. On his return home in the spring, lie
married an amiable and excellent woman,
his present wife, and now tho mother of a
numerous lamuy oi ciiuuren. rursuing a
steady course of strict economy and untiring
industry, ho gradually liquidated and naid
every debt ho owed, either as an individual
or as one of the firm of Palton and Portor,
with tho exception ot a contested claim of
the father-in-law of Edward U. Patton. On
a duo bill of that firm a suit was instituted,
oy me lamor-in-iaw, on or about tho year
ibzu, against ration aijd Porter, which has
remained on the docket of tho Court of
Common Pleas of Huntingdon county from
that period up to the presont timo. It was
never put at issue until within tho last few
months. The plaintiff claims that this debt
is due and unpaid. Genoral Porter contro
verts it, and has always alleged, that in the
various transactions between tho father-in-law
and son-in-law, this deht was actually
liquidated, as the whole property of Patton,
embracing tho very stocU and personal pro
perty, which David It. Portor had transfer
red to Patton, went, on the failure of Pat
ton, into the hands and possession of his
father-in-law and brother-in-law. As tho
subject is pending for judicial investigation!
it would be improper to go further into tho
controversy than to show, that it is a dispu
ted claim. It is certainly a misfortune for
a man to fail and loso all hi3 property, but
it is not criminal, When tho failing indi-
vidual surrenders all his' property, without'.
reserve; to the use of his. creditors,. and ,af-
l i f i i... i . : .1 . . i - i I .
ier inaiiauurc, oy iionuai inuusiry, ruiriuvca
his fortune, and pays up every debt, to tho
last dollar', he is worthy of high considcra-
tion. instead of blame. General Porter has
not only dono so, but has accumulated for
himsplf a handsome competency. iNotrich,
but independent and easy in his circumstan
ces, with an unblemished moral character,
handsome attainments and great political ex
perience, is ho. not wtjrthy the suppqrt. ql
!. t. ... , " .1.-1 1.:- -I..
irccmeni ll is cruci to say, uiai ma umiv
misfortunes, so nobly redeemed, should
render him unwo.thy of the. suffrages of
lin nninld. nnll ItPn nrn nlllnll iniSfflKnn 11 I
the attempts ot somo ol his political oppor
nents lo vilify him on that account do not
receive tho reward which it deserves.
The following letter was received by
William L. Sebringi Esq. of Easton, a late
member of the legislature, from Mr. John
Williamson, of Huntingdon, who m 1830,
run on the aritimasonic ticket for Congress,
against Mr. Potter of Centre, and was bea
ten with but a small majoiity. Mr. Wil
liamson is a gentleman of excellent stand
ing. Head the following and hear wnat ho
says about Gen. Porter. ,
"Huntingdon, May 3, 1833.
Dear Sir: I liavo heard of rumours in
tho county in which you live, respecting
Gen. David It Porter, which, it rrue,
would bo prejudicial to him such as, that
he was insolvent, and had defrauded his
creditors. I havo known Mr. Porter since
the year 18J8, and intimately since the
year 1823, and have been intimately con
versant with tho business of this county
since the last mentioned time being my
self in the practice of the law, and of course
familiar with the records oi tho county ol
Huntingdon and can truly say, that I havo
not seen in tho long course of my practice,
ono single judgment on theiecord against
Mr. Porter, that has not long since been
satisfied. 1 speak now of tho firm debls,
in which he and his partner were in at tho
time of their failure in 1817 and as for
any other claims or unsatisfied debts by any
person or persons wnatover, t kiio.w.oi nono
for thero is no suit, not one, entered on the
records here, nor need there bo for since
tho crash amongst tho iron men here, at
that day, Mr. Porter has, after honorably
paying ofT all the responsibilities ho was
under, by liis attention to business, and fru
gality, become quite independent.
" have been for years politically oppo
sed lo Mr. Porter have thrice svpporled
Mr. Jlitner but in justico to Mr. Porter, I
have no hcs.itancy in giving this letter to
disabuse the public minu on that score. iir.
Portcri here where he is well known, i3 a
highly esteemed and very popular man
and I am firmly of opinion must have a
large majority hero, where Ritner had 800
over Wolf and Muhlenberg. . ..
JOHN WILLIAMSON."
THE NEXT GOVERNOR.
There is a virtuous purily in public sen
timent that no extraneous power can tra
duce or render effectual. Feeling may ex
ercise its sway in tho hasty promulgation
of individual sentiments; but when the mass
of the people proclaim their views, they
bring into exercise all their reasoning fac
ulties, and do not act without dqe reflection
and deliberation. Judging, then, from tho
published proceedings of numerous countv
meetings, wo cannot perceive the least pos
sible chance which the present gubernato
rial incumbent can or may have for re-elec
tion. "1 ruth is mighty and will prevail."
The inconsistency of Gov. Ritnei as an
antimason in appointing masons to office
s to ollice
tho honest
has alienated tho feelings of
portion of that parly, and in Lancaster, Lc
banon, Union, and other counties, we see
some of his forfner leading supporters, ral
lying in public under the banner of Porter
and Democracy. His numerous projections
of now works, without coinplcting the
works already began, having disgusted the
friends of internal improvements, and by
involving the stato in additional pecuniary
difficulties, completely prevented capitalists
from investing their funds in the various
n 1
stocks of the Commonwealth: thus exhibit
ing lo tho pcoplo his unfitness, in a finan
cial point bf view, to fill the station he now
occupies, His creation of banks and other
monopolies his unprecedented cxcrciso of
the veto power, assigning reasons in objec
tion which never had foundation in truth,
and which would havo operated against bills
which had already received lus signature;
all these, and many other official, failings,
attributable to the imbecility of his mind
and tho stubborn disposition which ho man-
Hcsts on an occasions, havo raised in re
venge tho very hands which through ma
jority bickerings elevated him to his pres
ent situation, and doomed his downfall at
tho coming election. Theso mismanage
ments aro knou'n, and in tho primary meet
ings of tho people fliey receive thd condem
nation which weir ujiuruunuus unaracieruc-
serve. But aside fipm theso objections to
his administration of the affairs of tho com
monwealth, thero are other convincing rea
sons why lio cannot bo re-elected. In 1835
ho was olected by a minority yoto of up
wards of twelve thousand less than his
competitors, and when neither tho friends
of Muhlenberg nor AVolf anticipated suc
cess to their favorite, Now there is apor
fect union and harmony in tho democratic
paity, and above lliis.a certainty of success.
No man, speaking candidly, will donv these
facts and their admission completely sua
iiunuui jiuauiufi uiui .jiuncr sianils no
possible. chance for re-election.. Pottsville
Emporium. '
-.. . . .ii . : .1.:.. 1 . . . . .
..... .1'. 71i - ,
GOV. RITNER & GEN. HARRISON.
A few weeks ago wo stated that wo had
been informed Gov. Ritnor had deserted
Gen. Harrison, and had allied himself with
ilia iriqnus 01 nir viay. tvo gave somo
reasons to sustain this opinion, and called
nn rt,rn,mm nrn ,u -pi.... " .
n'".b -pi " TV.10
" " "r,
Wo havo sines
V . i ... ' . luw
Govcrnpr has. been waited on, upon the suh.
ject, and says ho is not for Harrison, or
any body else, at present, for President; that
nothing should bo said on that subject now,
that tho first step is to elect himself Gov'
ernor it will then bo timo enough to talk
about Harrison and Clay. The friends of
Cen. Harrison have already proclaimed him
as their candidate for Pennsylvania, come
what may -and they regard the answer of
the Governor, as a plain declaration of
hostility lo him.- The plot, thickens, and
tho friends of Ritner, who havo hitherto
been kept, together and animated by the
liope of bringing forward Gen. Harrison as
the candidate ofhis.administration, for Pres
ident, will march off from his ranks in bat
talions; for it is now clearly apparent that
Governor Ritner is covertly acting in con
cert with tho whigs, to settle, this disputed
question in a National Convention, by the
sacrifice of Gen. Harrison,, and the nomina
tiori of Mr. Clay. We havo nothing to say
on the merits of this controversy, but it does
appear to be with good reason, the friends of
Gen. Harrison brand Gov. Ritner with the
guilt of black ingratitude. Keystone.
FACTS, FOR THE PEOPLE.
llilner's JReforms.
Increase of the State Debt in SIX
YEARS under Gov. WOLF'S Adminis
tration :
Daily; 30,329
Monthly, 219,870
Yearly, 2,988,150
Incrcasd of the Stato Debt in THREE
YEARS under Gov. RITNER'S adminis-
tration :
Daily, 812,7-15
Monthly, , 392,350
Yearly, ,333,333
Farmers of Pennsylvania! You who
are against A pwnstcrous State DEBT,
which must finally be paid by A STATE
TAX, ponder well on the above facl3.
JVJial arc Mr. Porter's principles?
They aro good honest principles just
such as tho democracy of Pennsylvania,
havo always admired. His publicacls prove
what they arc. Ho docs not, like Gov.
Ritner, profess ono thing and practice anoth
er, lie Is oppbscd to carrying on useless
and exlravagcnt improvements, expending
the people's money In folly and madness.
Ho is in favor of reforming tho abuses of
Ritner's administration. lie is opposed to
shin-plasters, and in favor of a resumption
of specie payments. His vote on the bill
restricting tho banks, shows that ho is in fa
vor of furnishing the people with a proper
and legal currency. The fato of that bill in
the Senate, proves that Ritner & his friends
aro the shinplustcr party. As for Joseph
Ritner's principels, they are seven in num
ber -five loaves and two fishes.
Milton Ledger.
Wo publish to day tho proceedings of tho
meeting of tho Democratic. Young Men of
Berks, held in this Borough, oh 1110 4111 inst.
When we say that this meeting was perhaps
tho largest ever held in Berks county, that
wasfinado up of young men from all parts
0f t,b Countv, and that it was conducted
with the (rrnalGStnossililn order anddecoium.
and that the highest stato of harmony and
good feeling prevailed, we repeat but the so
ber convictions of our minds. This meet
ing will haVc, dodblless it has already had a
good effect it will inspire the Democracy
of Old Berks, with fresh zeal in tho caaso
of the people it will encourage both young
anJ ol(j to'scvcro in thcir hbors-and it
la .,, ., nf . fi,;,, j maiori-
view wuiwwkvi i i.vuu v
ty of 3500 for Gen. Porter, in October next.
Mailing uem.
In the Senate this morning, Jdno 8, Mr.
Right presented, from the Committee on
Finanpe, the views of the committee on
Mr. Webster's resolution, directing certain
inquiries as to some of the provisions of
tho act entitled "An cct to regulate the dc
Rosites of Uiq public money," passed on the
23d day of Juno, 1830. Tho report W"J
be found tho ablest of all tho papers of that
soft ever prepared by the distinguished
chairman of the Financo committee. Noth
ing can exceed the clearness, justice, and
force with which the policy of the adminis
trationpolicy until recently professedly
favored by a majority of its opponents in
every thing else the improvement of lh&
currency by the exclusion of small notes
in receipts of the treasury, is maintained in
this new report o tho 1-inanco uorami;"-"
It will bo soon that whilst tho committee
insist on the true principle upon the sub
ject, thoy at tho samo timo avow their wil
lingness to relieve tho banks from all the
disabilities in that respect, incurred by tho
issue of small notes during tho suspension
of specie payments, upon a return within .
rcasonablo time to tho rule provided by the
Dcposite act of 1830. Utobe.
i