ic Cl trod thus soliloquised: The jade must, be compelled to submit or she gets no proper ty. Here's a blank in thohvitl sufficiently large to insert what is necCssary, and asI drew it originally, it will bo th6 same hand writing, and never be delected. So I'll just insert here whero it states that Eliza is to btcotne possessed of her property on her marriage day -'provided, that she married yrith the consent of Samuel Pell, whom I hare constituted her guardian, and solo ex ecutor of this my last will and testament.' Peter's room was adjoining that of Pell there was a glaB3 window in the room be tween them, and there was one who had keen nn attentive observer and listener toH the conduct and soliloquy of Pell. The old man had dipped his pen in his ink-stand, emoothed out the parchment, which had been folded, and crooked his elbow to write when Forgery!' cried a dead toned, hollow and supernatural voice at his elbow 1 Forgery!' reiterated the same voice in another part of the room; and again the horrible word Forgery!' was slowly pro nounced, and its tones gradually sunk, in the earth beneath the floor. J Old Pell suddenly dropped the pen, and shrunk back pale and trembling, with hor ror and fright depicited on his countenance. Having recovered from his astonishment, he looked round his apartment and .under the bed. He listened. Nothing was heard but the snooring Peter in the adjoining room. ' Ho began to think it an: illusion was about to take up the will again, when as soon as he placed his hand upon;it 'Forgery!' again cried the -voice in a tone of thunder. Pell drew away his hand as if -he had received nn electric shock and leaving the will on the centre table, ran into Peter's room and awakened him. What's de trouble Massa J' asked the nerro. Get up,' said Pell, shaking with fright, and and come ino my room.' Peter went in accordingly. Poll contin ued. Did you hear nothing Peter V No, Massa, whatyou hear dat scare you so !' 'No matter, I want you to stay with me and 'keep a candlo- burning, I'll go to bed.' Pell accordingly prepared to turn in but he. bethought himself that it would be best to put the will again in the safe before he retired. He advanced.to the table for the purpose, and was in the act of taking up the parchment, when the same unearthly voice exclaimed Let the will alone, old Pell.' He started back with so much force as to upset Peter who falling against the table upset that also the candle on the tablo be came upset and extinguished, and all was total darkness. What de debil ail you, Mass t Peter, 'what scare you dis time J Did'nt you hear a voice, Peter!' No Massa I hear notting.' asked During the darkness and confusion, 1 slipped into Pell's rom, and with a pi Dhoric preparation, wrote on the wall, Tim hos tile word 'Forgery!' in large glaring characters picked up the will, and made his exit bank into Peter's room. If any thing could have added to the consternation of the al ready horror-stricken Pell, was beholding that terrible word, blazing and twinkling on the opposite wall. He swooned away with fright. Peter raised his master to a chair, threw somo water in his face and re lighted tho candle. Pell soon revived, and was about hastening to bed; after inquiring of Peter if ho saw nothing on the wall, to which the negro replied that he saw 'not ting but Massa's cloak hangin' dare,' and charged Peter to stay with a lighted candle in the room all night, he parted his curtains, preparing to leap into bed. Don't come in here you old sinner !' shrieked the same voice, issuing from the thes. but Pell had already thrown him- -Itoifeisifcnhere he swooned again. Peter threw some vvaleT'SyilfirBrr Pell again revived; bnt was so exhausted with his numerous frights, th3t he was fast sinking into sleep, when the same voice, in a singing strain, exclaimed . " Good r.iglit, good night, old Sammy Fell, And recollect 'twill bo aa well That naught of this night's scenes you tell, Or else you'd better be in h 11." Conclusion next week.' liomance in death. The last Natchez Free Tridcr tells the following story: "On the 7th of the present month, Miss Mary Ann L. Barber, aged 17, and L. B. Young, aged 23, both of Tuscaloosa, Alabama, were buried in one crave, after having de parted this life under the following circum stances; Mr. Y. was a high-minded, honor able young gentleman, most ardently and devotedly attached to Miss Barber between whom and himself loose promises and at tentions had been .interchanged which pledged them to the marriage union at no distant day. une in every sentiment, as well as in sympathy, they both, a few months since, made a profession of religion at the same altar, and at the same time. On the day of their death, they had gono on a water excursion, with uncommon buoyancy and animation of spirits along with four others in a skiff, wliirh suddenly overset, and plunged them all in the water. The lover seized the one whom, of all oth ers, he would save, and lliey both perished! They were found at the bottom, locked fast in each other's arms. With a solemn pro priety, that embrace was never brokenand Ibeii bodies thus rest in one grave together. On Monday, the 10th inst. the secretary of'the commonwealth presented to the le gislature, the following fronv;,the Governor, upon the subject of appropriations to the mainlines of the public improvements, and the'repairs of those lines now in use, which was read as follows: GOVERNOR'S MESSAGE, To the Senate and House of Representa tives of the Commonwealth of Pennsyl vania. Gentlemen: The deep stake which the commonwealth has in the speedy comple tion, and constant usefulness of our internal improvements, renders it my duly to in yoke the lcgislutute now about approaching the close of its session, to make some ade quate provision by law to secure these ob jects. In the message that I communicated to you on the 20th of January, I explained at some length the general views I entertained in respect to the importance of finishing the main lines' of improvements', and those trib utaries leaning directly into them. Those views remain, not only unchanged, but have been strengthened by rellection and expert ence. I am satisfied that enlightened noli cv and sound economy call alike for early and efficient appropriations to complete these works. But the chief object of lliis communica tion, is to urge upon your attention the pressing necessity of immediately provid iug a sufficient fund fur repairs. Tho mo nev in the treasury applicable to the pay ment of repairs is not onlv entirely exhaust cd, but demands exceeding the amount of two thousand dollars, have been made at tho treasury which there are no funds appro priated by law to meet. It must therefore be manifest, that, without a speed' appro priation, the continuance of operations on our public improvements, is extremely pre carious. I ho tolls derived Irom our canals and rail roads, arc all pledged to pay the interest on the public debt incurred in their construction. Not one dollar of the income arising from them can be applied to repairs; and unless funds be provided by tho legis lature, the use of the public improvements, throughout the remainder of this year, must depend upon chance or a violation of the law. Should bridges, acqucdiicts or dams get out of order, or bo carried away, the treasury is without means to repair them. The constitution prudently aitd wisely for bids that " money shall bo drawn from the treasury, but in consequenco of appropria tions made by law" and I know of no mode of obtaining the requisite means, un less it be by re-assembling the legislature, or by trampling this stern injunction of the constitution under foot. To both of these expedients there are strong objections, 'and I trust tho legislature would feel as repug nant to the adoption of cither, as 1 do my self. I will not undertake tq fix upon the a mount needed for repairs prior to the meet ing of the next legislature on the first Tues day of January, 1840. The current dila pidations of time, accident and use are to be provided for as well as preparations to bo made for numerous repairs during tho coming spring. Much is lost both in time and expenso hy postponing the day of pre paration until it is loo late. From the re ports of the canal commissioners, their en gineers.your committees, and other sources, you can readily determine this question, and accommodate your appropriation to the public wants, and the public expectation. I have already observed that (ho tolls on our public improvements are all pledged .to tho payment of the interest on our public! debt. It should not bo forgotten that by failing to keep these improvements in a slalo of efficient repair, this interest fund is jeoparded the credit of the state may be seriously affected and tho future value of our improvements themselves b" deeply impaired. For if, through tlie inadcuuacv ot means to repan-TWi"uni jcy; should cease iso to be capable ot, doinrejfUel diffic sitiess of the public, it must inevitably. happen that much ol tho business unon them would pass oflf into other channels. never to be regained. This would lie a result which no true Pennsylvanian could contem plate without feelings of the deepest morti fication and regret. I am certain it is a re sult which no patriot will contribute to pro duce. If any thing could add to the regret it would occasion, it would be the striking fact that we are in the midst of peace, pros" perlty and advancing glnry, without even a shadow to obscure the bright path before us. Our system of public improvement is fairly established, hostility has yielded its ground, and there is not a county in the commonwealth that docs not directly or in directly share and acknowledge the bene- Citm It ! (tnnrnvMnit nn ..II.. . ! .. -u, mi .hi sections mo near anaremoio. under theso circumstances, it would be to the people of this common wealth to the people of Uia sisipr at,i and of foreign nations, a subject of aston- isiimcm, mui mis sysiom, so fraught with au.aniagea, m me lull ijde of successful experiment" should be suddenly nrri.iP,i the unfinished portions remain unfinished and the finished be abandoned without means to keep them in repair, at a wuiu nucu uvery map in nnu out Of the le gislalure admits that such a course is at di rect variance with Irue wisdom and sound policy. lBaM we" "f geshon with a firm hope and I will add a strong belief too, thai they will meet the entiro concurrence of the le gislature and that although in the usual course of events its session must bo of brief duration, it will not fail to make ample pro vision for these important interests. I most respectfully and most earnestly solicit the legislature to bestow on these in terests that atlcntien to which their magni tude entitles them, and to pursue in refer ence to them the path of duty pointed out by solind wisdatnj and a due regard for the wants and expectations of the people. Nothing but- the paramount importance of this subject to the public at large, and particularly to that numerous and enterpris ing class of our fellow citizens who have hundreds of thousands of dollars involved in the successful operation of our public im provementsj has induced me to call your attention to itngain before you adjourn. Being responsjblo.for the performance of the duties devolving on the Executive, I have leu if to bo an essential part of fiat duty to make this communication, and leave the matter in your hands to be dispos- eu ot as you think proper: resting satishcd that if from anycause the transportation nn our public improvements bo suspended for tne want ol adequate appropriations, the responsibility will not bo chargeable to the Executive DAVID R. PORTER. Executive Chamber, June 10, 1839. REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE. Appointed to inquire whether TIIJ1DDE- US STEVENS, a member from the county of Mams, hag not forfeited his rigiu to a scarin the house : air. hegins, irom tho committee ap pointed by the house of representatives, "lo inquire whether Thaddeus Stevens, a member from the county of Adams, has not forfeited ins rightloa seat in the house," submitted the following report : That immediately alter their appointment they addressed a note, through, their chairman, to Mw Stevens informing hirn of tio time and place of their meeting and that he might attend and be heard, to which he returned a reply, declining to ap pear before the committee. Tho committee having proceeded to discharge the duties which were assigned to them, and given the subject the attention and consideration which its importance re quired, submit the result of their inquiry and investigation to the house. It appears that Thaddeus Stevens was duly elected and returned as one of the re presentatives to the general assembly, fiom the county of Adams; and on the first of December last the day appointed by law for the meeting of the legislature, Mr. Ste vens appeared and participated with the members elect in the proceedings prelimi nary to the organization of jjie ; Jjouse, of uiircsuiiuiuvcs. ae anervvarus iook pari in the attempt which was made by a portion of the members to prevent the legal aud constitutional organization of tho house, of representatives, and continued to act and associate with thai-body until the recogni tion ot the house ot reptescntatives by the senate, on the 25th of December last. On the day following, he addressed the annexed letter of resignation to his constituents, in which he savs : " I find no dfficulty in choosing my course in selecting between an associa tion with successful insurgents, or ivith druwing from oJke. Preferring retire- merit to dishonor, 1 withdraw from the le "gislalure to mingle again with you, and "await your decision on mv conduct." PI 1 . -t I n i .... x uerc caiiuin ue a snauow ol Uouut that this address it) both in lettei and spirit a resignation of his office of representative lo his constituents, and was intended as such at the time it was published, however lie may now be disposed to treat it. Ares ignatiou of an office is not required to be in any precise form of words or set of phrases. Any language indicating an intention to re sign it, is sufficient, and such an intention cmuu noi De exnresseu in clearer forma than those.usqd'.uy Mr. Stevens. He fficulty in ehoos- Tng.between lho-'allertallvo presented, or Ti?it..t . '. I. .1 wiuiuruivingjrotn-oji'-' uuu lB ones withdraw from the legislature to mingle again with his constilueVs. But if there was really any doubt aiput his meaning and intention, his subsequent conduct en tirely uispcis it. lie himJ ireaieu ly as a resignation fromwhtJ',,ft';.l,,,'i canon until snortiy ait'tfine commencement ol the present adjoiniied session of the house. The house o'V representatives was in session foi a period of nearly three months, performing it) appropriate business of legislation, and although Mr. Stevens was frequently in the lobbies ol the house during its session, he never presented him- sen io ciann a seal or made the least pre tention lo such a right. It is only now, when he has discovered that his withdrawal from office is likely to' prove a deawVblow to his political hopes and ambitious projects and that his retirement, preferred with so much promptness, threatens to consign him to an ignoble obscurity that he wishes to assume the office of a represontativo with out the formality of an election by the peo ple. Mr. Stevens having then resigned his of fico into the hands of hose who elected him, it would be contrary to all right and precedent that he should be admitted to a seal in ttie'uiuse, and t) the exercise of rights and privileges winch he has irrevoca bly surrendered lo hw constituents. It would lead to inextricable confusii n and disorder, it a representative or any other officer of the government could one day re sign his office and the next day take it upon himself again. If he has a right to do it once, he can do it as often as interest or fancy dictates, which would lead to end less confusion, and be destructive of all law and oider in the administration of the government. If this was true, a member might resign his seat the speaker issue his writ for an election just before the clo sing of the polls, he could present himself at the door of the house demand his right to a seat, and the house be compelled to ad mit him, and the election be thus entirely dcleatcd. liut it is not so. fto person holding an office under the constitution, having once surrendered that office to the power that conferred it, can rightfully exer cise it without a new election or appoint' ment. As no citizen can be compelled to accept tho oliicc of a representative or to discharge its duties aeainst his will, it is not, there fore, necessary that his constituents should consent to his resignation, lie is at liberty to resign the office whenever he wishes and it needs not the concurrence of his consti tuents to make his resignation binding atuf eficctual. It has been customary for members of the house of representatives to notify the house through the speaker, of their resig nation, but there is nothing in the constitu tion or any act of the assembly which re quires it. There is no constitutional or le gal provision upon- the subject, and a differ ent practice has prevailed in tho other de partments of the irovernment. There the resignation is always made to the appoint ing power, and seems to be more in accor dance with the nature and genius of our in stitutions that an officer should surrender his powers and privileges to those by whom they were delegated. In a case, as in this, where a member c- lect refuses to acknowledge tho constitution al authority or the house ot representatives and declines taking his scat in the house, but is willing to resign that another may be elected in his stead, unless a resignation addressed to his constituents would be good and valid, they must remain unrepresented, which would be absurd. It may be objected that the speaker of the house ought to have issued his writ for an election immediately after Mr. Stevens' resignation was published. But he would not have been warranted in doing so, without bcnur officially notified of such resignation. It would bo alto gether irregular and dangerous for the speaker to make newspaper publications, without further evidence, in such cases the basis of official action. It was the duty of the people of Adams county, if they wished to be fully represented in the house of rep resentatives, to have presented their petition jnlormiij-lho house ot MrrfctJveno resig-- nation and request that a writ tor an election to supply the vacancy might bo issued. They have the constitutional right of petitioning on this, as well as upon other subjects, and if they havo neglected to ex cicise that right, and thereby remained par tially unrepresented, the blame must rest with themselves. The house of representatives is stigma tized by Mr. Stevens in his letter of resig nation, aud several subsequent publications, addressed by him to the people of Adams county, with the mo3t approbrious and slanderous epithets which disappointed am bition and party rancour could invent. He has wantonly and wickedly uttered the most false and infamous libels upon a por tion of its members, w'ho frustrated his ne farious attempts to destroy the right of suf frage, and defeat the will of the people. liut as he ceased to be a member coeval wilh the publication of his resignation, it became unnecessary for the committee to inquire, whether tho house, under that clause in the constitution which delegates to each house, "all tho powers necossary for tho Igislature of a free slate," and in the exernse of the right of self-prcservalipn, incident to overv constitutional tribunal, has not the constitutional authority to exciu.J1 a member irom taking his seat in the JjJSuse who by his outrageou and infamoivs eon- duct towards the houso has shon himself entirely unworthy of the sfci.'.'.on, to which he has been elected. JT, i,r Is it necessary to determine, whetVr Mr. Stevens' refusal lor. so long a jif.ud, to fulfil the duties of his oflkfi,. tConld 3 right. It is proper to remark, that Mr. T. S. Cunningham, a member of tho committee, did not attend its meetings nor, does he join in this report. The committee, therefore, submit the following resolution : Resolved That Thaddeus Stevens, a member elect from the county of Adams, having resigned his oflke,.is not entitled to a seat in the house, and thnt tho speaker is sue a writ of election to fill the vacancy, agreeably to the constitutional provision up on the subject. Resolved That the committee be dis charged irom the further consideration of tho subject. a ucavy i'tre. A British wrifcr savs that no troopi that ever took tho field, could have stood before the fire that was poured from the American lines at the battle of N. Orleans that U was hpavier than any ex penencrd by the British throughout the whole of the Peninsula contest, and by far mure lerrioie man niai wiucn was directed against tho forco that stormed St. Sebastian THE COLUMBIA DEMOCRAT. "tbctu wiTUorr rxAn ' SJI TVRVJi I JTVJVE S2, 1839. LADIES' FAIR. The Ladies of Bloomsburg will hold a Fair, in the Store Room in the house of of Mr. Daniel Gross, in Bloomsburg, to commence on the 4th day of July next,.and continue three days. A large assortment of.valuable, and ornamental articles, pre pared with judgment and taste, through the industry of the Ladies of this place, will be offered for sale, for the Benefit of St. Paul's Cnurtcir. Bloomsburg, June 22, 1839. The Berwick and Danville papers are requested to copy. In another column wo publish the able report of Mr. Hegins, the talented demo cratic representative from Northumberland county, in the case of Mr. Stevens. No one after reading this report, can doubt the correctness of the course of the legislature in declaring the scat of Mr. Stevens vacant. Mr. Hegins is a very active and highly useful member, and has won for himself laurels which will endure after his detract ors shall havo passed away and been for gotten. We have noticed wilh regret, for several weeks, the attempts making by the Harris burg correspondent of the Danville Intelli gencer, to destroy the well earned repud iation of Mr. Hegins, for his faithful and vigilant support of the present democratic state admistration, and have looked around to find somo justifiable cause for this attack; but, have not been able to find any, unless it bo the stand he has taken in opposition to the grasping disposition of the Danville interest which has skown itself so conspicu ously of late; particularly in their attempts to dismember Northumberland county for the purpose of retaining the courts of this county at that place. This is a sufficient reason for them; asithas always been their policy to destroy every man, if possible, who would not worship at their ehrinc, or succumb to their dictation. They know full well that so long as Mr. Hegins rctaine a seat in cither branch of tho legislature, they cannot effect the dismemberment of that county, henca their attempt to preju dice the democracy against him, that they may prevent his re-election. But in this we feel assured thoy will not succeed ; as we are happy to perceive a strong disposi tion appears to manifest itself to elect him this fall to a seat in tho senate from that district, a station he would fill with honor to himself, to his constituents, and to the state. Since writing the above, v,-s W received the "Union Timesj".. able democratic paper, publjsKu'anVew Berlin, from which we irow ;he following article, upon the sub- jj&ti of the attack upon Mr. Hegins. " Who is tho Harrisbnrg correspondent of the Danville Intelligencer f Is it Major Colt, the present Representative from Co lumbia county 1 This correspondent is endeavoring to de stroy the standing of several Democratic members of the legislature. Among those is the able and efficient member fromNorth umberland county, C. W. Mucins, Esq. Mr. Hegins is a sterling Democrat and an excellent legislator truo lo his party and to his constituents,and instead of being cen sured by any true Democratic papers, is lauded by ihem as one of the most talented and deserving members of the House. This is not the first time this piratical print has been found slandering Democratic men, and endeavoring to build up the hopes of the opposition. We esteem an honorable enemy, but de test a pirate. We trust the Intelligencer will soon sail under true colors, either 'as a Democratic or open Federal print, Tako good advice in good timo, friend Best, or you might bo exposed." Tho Whig Slate Convention assembled atChambersburgnn tho 13th inst., and ad journed after having passed heavy resolu lutions in favor of Clay, and appointing de legates to the "National Convention. C. B. Penro;jey. and sixteen others, Harrison Whigs withdrew and theConvention broke up in a row. So much for the all decen cy party. 'k
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