THE COLUMBIA DEMOCRAT.
"TKOTftt WITHOUT FEAn 1
eJTUisn.t v, FEimujitviii, 1010.
PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION 1840
FOR PRESIDENT)
MARTIN TAN BUItEN.
Tor Vice President,
RICHARD M. JOHNSON.
AND Tlin
CONSTITUTIONAL TREASURY.
.'S3BXVEQCRAT2C
COITBTTY MEETING,
By the Resolution below, passed at the
Delegate Convention held at this place on
tho 3d iust. a county rocecting is re
commended to be held at this place on the
22d inst. As tho salvation of our parly de
pends upon union and harmony, it is very
desirable that a general attendance of the
friends of the state administration should be
had , that a fair and full expression of the
democracy of democratic Columbia upen
the all absorbing subjects that now engrcss
the attention of the community may begiven.
We hopo therefore, that all who have the bast
interest of tho parly at heart will attend
Resolved That this convention, recommend a
county meeting of the Democratic citizens of Co
lumbia county to bo held at tho house of Daniel
Gross, in Btoomsburg, on the 22d day of February,
inat. for the purpose of taking into consideration,
the general affairs of tho state and of the Democrat
ic party.
Appointments by tnc Governor.
Edward B. Hubley, William F. Packer,
nnd Hugh Keyes, to be Canal Commis
sioners. The latter in the place of James
Clark, resigned.
4 f.A.
LAIf, for like favors
Wm. F. PAcnsnyEsq. has withdrawn from tho
Keystone establishment, on account of his arduous
duuesaa Canal Commissioner engrossing tho whole
of his attention.
vK,i"'d.n.iJma
.GOV. POUTER'S SPECIAL MESSAGE.
'Tiia document,. which we published in
i a m..oM
out ... M..UD.-.w
on its first appearance, and it was pounced
. . . Z 1 1. HnMaai a lir n foil. 111 1 1(1 l.f)tl
upon wiui o.iycmcoa, ui .
been watching for an opportunity t show
-their feeii, thiuUng that the people could
. , . . , , . . .
noionuorsianutne.r own
easily bo -deceived; but they Dave lounu
'that they have caught a larlar this time.
U ho house ol representatives naa jus; passeu
a bill requiring the banks to resume on the
... . '
loth eb white tho loan oi 7U,uuu, au-
thorised by tke legislature to pay tho inter-
est on tho state debt due tho first instant. was
not yet taken, the banks having declared
ir,
orold.oualit It airifi'ili.nn. In Am TTnn
sumption. jocumerlf-v Uon,"i i a 1 lusU'b
1heir inability to take it, if they were com- Z
jelled to resume at the time, unless they anJ enigtee(l men.
coerced payment from their debtore, who Resolved That the more recent mes
were.generally .unable to meet their engage- sage of Governor Porter to the two branch
menu without a sacrifice of property, es of the legislature relating to the embar
... . j .. , . rassed condition of tho public finances and
and bring iui.i and distress on the people. the crUical 8lale of thc public credit, emi-
Under these circumstances, tho governor nen,iy entitles him to tho respect of every
would haro been reoreant to his duty, had good citizen, who holds as sacred the-fideli-he
not informed thc legislature of these facts ty of tho government, and meiits tho corn
ed placed the matter in its true light be- mendation of every man who would pre
r l m, , .,, , ,, . . serve untarnished the integrity and honor of
fore them. Tho faith of the state was to our political institutions,
bo broken, and its credit abroad materially Jiesolved-TUaX while a firm, independ
injured if this interest was not immediately ent and manly conduct is always a subject
paid. The governor, with that fearlessness of just admiiation, it becomes peculiarly so
and independency of characler.which he so wen, during a critical period of her finan
.1 . j- i .1! l:--..i cial and political affairs, thc chief oxecu-
c,.HBl,y u.Bp,a,Cu .... . w-B-B.,
etept forth, regardless of denunciations
from any and every quarter," in defence of
tho people, and not of tho banks, as some
.i..;i. i;.s:,. r;
7 " -
belive. Merely a resumption is not wo
question, but a permanent resumption is
not only esked for, but demanded by the
people, and this ehould bo effected with as sago of Governor Porter by Messrs. Hop--Hllte
injury to them as possible. To bring kins.Butler, IVrElwce, Snotyden,Drodhod,
thif about, the governor proposes that the
bank should have a reasonaoic timo
collect in their debts, and prenaro for a re
sumption. It is no malter whether the
.1 - -r n.u ,v ;,. c
turf it- the- first of Ma ch or the first of
Mat, if, when tt does takes place, it is a
permanent one. it is a manor ot expcui
ency hoi of principle. It U so cftnsiderol
by tho governor it is so considered by the
legislature, and is soconsidc.ed by tho great
er part ofcommuntty,and tho Governor will
bo triumphantly sustained. The democrat
ic papers throughout the stale, with but few
exceptions, applaud the course of the gov
ernor, and sir.co tho appearance of the mes
sage, meetings have been held in sovcral
counties entirely approving of its position.
Among others, a largo meeting was held in
Philadelphia, Feb. 0, composed of tho old
End tried domocrats of that city, at which
tho following resolutions were passed :
. Resolved That this meeting highly ap
prove of tho messages of Governor POR
TER to the legislature of Pennsylvania,
and believe that in all his executive commu
nications he has advocated and sustained tho
principles and measures of the democratic
party.
Resolved That Governor PORTER in
his recent message to the legislature on tho
subject of tho loans of the Commonwealth
and the banks has avowed principles which
arc purely democratic, and acknowledged
to bo such by tho mass of tho democratic
party of tho city and county of Philadel-
Vbleulved That DAVID R. PORTER
has shown himself to be a governor worthy
to presulo over the destiny of a free and pa
triotic commonwealth, and has exhibited
such evidence of firmness and devotion to
tho interests of tho party and the slate as
will command the approbation of the de
mocracy of the state and union.
Resolved That we cordially approve of
the courso of our Senators and Representa
tives in the State legislature, who have de
termined to support tho Governor in his ro
cent message to tho two Houses.
Rstolved That the thanks of this meet
ing bo tendered to the democratic editors of
the Slate, faithful sentinels upon tho watch
tower of Democracy, who havo fearlessly
resolved to stand by the Governor in his ef
fort to maintain the credit of the Common
wealth in her present crisis of pecuniary
embatrassment.
Resolved That wo most heartily approve
of the meeting of the Democrats of Ad
ams, Delaware, Mercer and Columbia coun
ties; at which they resolved to support the
Governor in iis views in reference to the
banks.
Resolved That we approve of tho sug
gestions in relation to the banks, contained
in the message of the Governor to the le
gislature at the commencement of the ses
sion, and that we recommend the passage
of a bill placing upon the banks all tho re
strictions rccoinmonued by the Governor.
democratic county convention waa held
,'oit'ilia Jin -...!. -a. u.
ly passed tho resolutions below. As they
express our views and feelings in the fullest
manner, we copy them with pleasure.
Resolved That Anti-Bank Democrats
Jesire to eradicate all exclusive banking
privileges as speedily as prudence and the
exigencies of the community will permit;
but lhey haVQ n0 wis, te bring unnecessary
distress and -disasterous consequences upon
the Commonwealth, or individual citizens,
w JH tanIjcre(, toul and 8U(Wei, ji8.
f- ;Q'n of nn ex,en(ied Syfltcm ions esUb.
I i . t t . I . . ..-.L
usnea ana intimately iiuerwuvun wnii mc
business of the country, but they are wil-
ling howo-er to endure with cheerfulness
such losses and inconvenience as may nna-
ari!o ffom moasurcs found
nerCfMt1 for th0 establishment of n sound
currency, and the ultimate triumph of that
cqiiainy ui iigma wmwu mu uuUiuuuii
to "cure but which all han monopo
lies have crossly violated.
7?e40uThat he decided, manly and
patriotic tono of the late annual message of
Gov. David R. Porter, has fully confirmed
and established his claims to the respect nnd
Uvo of a 8UtCt .n UBM of csci,ement and
regardes3 0f an denunciations that may be
poured forth from any quarter, interposes
to save her credit, to restore public confi-
dence, and to avert a ruin and disaster which
threatened to extend from the centro to the
circumference of the commonwealth.
Jlej0vedTh. tho hearty nnd cordial
response and support given to tho late mes
an, other deiBocratie mcBIB of the ,egbia
to la(Ura was as honorable as it was prompt
- and patriotic : and while their eflorts to sun
tain the Governor havo proved them to bo
Pennsylvanians at heart in policy in
p,;,, a(, jn praclice. it la9 ilso given
,hein a ronewed claim to tho respect and
- i gtaluude ot their constituents,'
CANAL COMMISSIONERS' IMPORT.
We havo received Iho able report oT the
Canal Commissioners in ado to the legtsla
tttro a few days since, and have toad it with
considerable interest. Although thc several
portions of ourjcxtenelvc internal improve
ments are touched upon with as much bre
vity as their importance, nnd tho nature of
tho case would permit, yet, its extreme
length will not permit its publication entire
in our columns. Wo must, therefore, con
tent ourselves with making tho following
oxlract relating to the
NORTH BRANCH DIVISION.
This division extends from Northumber
land to Lackawanna creek, and is 72 miles
in length. Navigation opened on it tho first
day of April, and continued with as few in
tcruplions during the season, as from the
wretched condition of the locks and aque
ducts, could havo been expected. The locks
between Northumberland and Nanticoke,
wero originally conslructcd of wood; and
having been ton years" in use, from tho nat
ural decay of timber, it will be apparent to
all, that navigation could only bo kept up
by thc closest attention.
On tho 29th of August last, proposals
were received for rebuilding all the wooden
locks on tho North-Dranch division, thc
aqueducts ovor Mill Creek and Lodge's
Ruti, all tho defcclivo bridges on the divi
sions, and fur constructing n substantial
towing path along the pool of tho Nanti
coke dam. Contracts wero entered into at
prices favorablo to the commonwealth,
but tho scarcity of funds prevented the rapid
progression of the work. Tho locks will
be built upon the combined plan with wood
and stone.
The feeder dam, at Lackawanna, was
swept away by the flood last spring, and
the shute of the Nanticoke dam was very
seriously injured. Thc latter has been
placed under contract, and the repairs will
be completed in time for tho spring naviga
tion. By the fourth section of the act of the 0th
day of July last, untitled "An act to pro
vide for the repairs of the several lines of
canal and rail road, and to continue thc im
provements of tho state, tho canal com
missioners were authorized to change the
location of the feeder dam on the Lackawan
na river and if necessary, to extend the
feeder up said creek to a distance not ex
ceeding two miles if, in thc opinion of
thc commissioners, after a careful examina
tion by a competent scientific engineer,
they shall deem such change necessary to
promoto the intercuts of thc commonwealth
and secure the permanency ol saiu wotk.
1 he board, accompanied by their engin
eer, Mr. Worford, personally examined the
proposeu cirange orscansii tn 'iii- vs.. '
dam, and are of the opinion, that for the
purposo of introducing vho Lackawanna as
a feeder, it will not be necessary to extend
the canal two miles up that stream. A
good location occurs about one third of a
mile abovo the old dam, which, for all thc
uses of a feeder should be adopted; but if
the legislature designed to furnish to the in
habitants of Lackawanna valley, who arc
at present cut off from the improvements
by ,tHo rapids in that stream, an out-let for
tpoir rich mineral anu agncuttnrat prouucis,
by extending the canal beyond the "Falls,
which occur witnin tne nrsi two mnos,
then tho dam should be constructed about
one mile and seven-eights above the former
location. At that point there is an cxcell
ent silo, requiring n little over two hundred
feet wier, on lock bottom, and between na
tural rock abutments of coarso sand etono.
Fifiy-eicht feet of Lockage would bo rcquir
ed to descend from tho pool formed by this
darn to the level of tho present canal, and
tho dam and locks are estimated to cost
$96,000,00. No appropriations having
been made by the lenislature, for tho aecoin
plishment of the proposed change.the boaru
directed the temporary dam, which had
been haslly thrown up to supply naviga
i nn. to be KOOl l l repair uiruumioui uic
. , . .i .1.-... . i.
season- and postponed a decision until fur
ther leTislativo action could be had on the
subject. If the lower location bo adopted
. ...... i r 1. .!
tho darn anu auuitionai lecuer are csmuaitu
to cost 911.700.00
In addition to the repairs now under con
tract on this division, requiring a very large
sum to be appropriated, the board would
recommend that psovision be made for con-
siruciuie a luwiui: warn uuuuu
pool of the Nanticoko oara lor oeepenmg
about five miles of tho lower end ol th
first level below the dam. for about one
mile of rjroteetion wall below Berwick
originally constructed of timber, and
for erectincr a cuard lock at Hemlock
creek to protect the canal below, in limes of
flood.
The following is the estimated amount re
quired for repairs, viz :
Renewing eight locks, $00,380 85
Aqueduct over Lodge's run, 7,970 75
Aqueduct at Mill ereok, 1 1,500 00
Repairincr Nanticoko dam (bal-
ancol 2.0G2 89
Repairing ahulo at Nanticoko dam, 4,37020
Constructing towing path along tho
peol of Nanticoke dam, 32,800 24
Rebuilding and repairing GO bridg
' es (balance) 31,885 10
Castings. 750 00
Rebuilding walls, 13,500 00
Repairing weigh lock at Northum
berland, i 2,000 00
Renewing waste wiers, 1,500 00
Renewing waterways, 3,500 00
Deepening five miles of,canal( 7,050 00
Guard lock at ilcmlock creek, . 7,000 00
Towing path bridge -across Nanii-.
coke pool) 5,000 00
Lackawanna crock) 1 1,700 00
Ordinary repairs, 10,500 00
8251,807 01)
Deduct'unexp1 balance of adpro'n 57,001 47
Balanco required, $101(235 02
The amount drawn from the treasury da
ring tho last fiscal yoar, for the repairs on
this division, is $18,001 -id
Mr Stevisonof the senate, and Chairman
of tho Committee on Banks, on Thursday
last, reported a bill, providing for tho re
sumption of specie payments by thc Banks
on the 25th of ibis month. It materially
changes tho law as now applicable to llid
banks ; it imposes many restrictions dpon
the banks, and their officers ; it is made a
Penitentiary offence for any officer jf a
bank to appropriate to his own use, or the
uoo of his friends, any money or property
of Bank, or that may bo left in care of the
bank.
Wo publish tho following extract from
the Keystone of the 0th inst. in reference to
the late message of the Governor.
SPECIAL MESSAGE.
The special message of the Governor, to
gether with the correspondence on the sub
ject of tho interest unpaid on tho stale debt,
will bo found in this paper. The message
is precisely such a one as was to have been
expected from the Governor on this occa
sion. The recommendation that certificates
be issued to tho holders of tho state stock
for tho amount of interest duo them, was
universally approved and passed tho House
of Representatives without opposition. It
was admitted to be a maasura of equal wis
dom nnd justice.
The cobcluding paragraph of this mes
sage, expresses hc opinion that as caily a
day as will render the resumption of specie
payments permanent should be fixed ; but
at tho flame time says, that if too rigorous
a system be adopted to coerce tho resump
tion, it will seriously affect tho people and
tho public. This opinion is a mere reitera
tion, in substanue, of thc conclusions to
which the Governor arrived in his annual
message, and is so perfectly conformable to
common sense, sound policy and pubttc
justice, that it seems extraordinary that any
man could be found; who would seek to
prevent its meaning, or deny its truth. And
it is more especially 'surprising, that any
body should object to it after thc universal
commendation which tho Governor's Annu-
1 Message has received from cvory raiion
1 man in tho Commonwealth. In princi
ple, this is identically tho same with that,
and wo defy the utmost ingenuity to
point out tho slightest shade and differ-
eucci
When tho Governor Rpeaks of a reasona
ble timo for resumption, he means such a
limeys will enable the debtors ollie UanUs
and tho Banks themselves, to discharge
their several obligations with promptitude
nnd fidelity. Wo havo reason tor believing
that the Governor would consider it as a
reasonable timo lo fix upon the first of April
the first of Mh', or thc first of June for the
resumption of specie payments, as might
bo found expedient on duo consideration.
Wo think it is the opinion ol tho uovernor
as wo are sure it is of all other judicious
men, that to force an immediate resumption
would bo to force everyone of Ihefie insti
tutions, large and small, to close their doors
to put their concerns into the nanus ol com
missioners to be wound up, to commence a
sorics of law suits and commotion, which
must end in wido spread ruin to all classes
of tho community. And to aggravate tho
state of things thus produced it would
become necessary to send the tax gatherer
to grind down still lurtlier an impoverished
community.
It is against such evils as those, that the
Governor anreunr.es his opposition. In so
doing he has been sustained and will be
sustained by every man who looks at tho
permanent good ot tho btate. Tio man
with proper feelings, who understands tho
subject, will be found to carp at and con
demn tho Govemor'a opinion. It is true, a
very few honest men may bo misled by cla
mor, nnd the pervorsion of tho real mean
ing of the message. Hut thoy will soon
all discover their mistake, and act as be
come men of honesty, and sound democratic
pnciples.
IS hUgillMI
THE ritESHET1.
Tho ice in the Susquehanna river and fishing
creek, Iroko up on Monday last, and both streams
are now nearly clear of Ico, with a good rafting
fresh. Wo understand that considerable damngi
lias been dono up tho river to rafts and arks, several
of which have lasted down the river, with the ice,
without " a man at the helm." We have heard ol
no damago being done to bridges, except to the large
bridgo across Fishing creelc, near this town, which
is nearly rendered useless by tho fulling of ona of
the peers. This was ono of tho oldest bridged in
the county, having been built 3!1 years. Our active
Commissioners havo advertised for proposals for re
boildiug it immediately. In the mean time, w
understand that arrangements nro making to estab
liah a ferry near the'bridgc that there may bono in
terruption of travel.
Tne annual election for city officers in Hie rhj of.
1aticrister. look place dit ttic 4lh I hat., ftnit ri1i-.1
't I'nuilUU
in iiiu ciuviiuu ui iiiu cxiuro ucrnocrallc
hn dtxrdgc majority of 400:
ticket bj
Tho 1(5 gallon iaw of Afajsrcliusctm lias ben re
pealed. Dlnir & Hives, of ths Washington Globe, Utre
been elected printers to CongrWe.
RESUMPTION OF SPECIE PAYMENTS;
A bill was reported in the Senate yester
day, aa3 the Stato Capitol Gazette of tho
7th inst. by Mr. Stevenson, chairman of
tho committee on Banks, providing for tho
resumption of specie payments on the 25ih
of February by the banks of this Common
wealth. The bill also imposes certain re
strictions upon the officers of banks, which1
will very materially change llid position of
bank officers, and enlarge the rcsp'o'nsibilit
devolved upon lliein; No bank will be al
lowed to suspend specie paynicrits more'
than thirty days ; and on tho representation
of any judge to the Governor, in writing, to
tho effect Ihat any bank or savings instiUK
tion refuses to redeem its notes in gold or
silver for a longer period than thirty days,
tho Governor shall appoint three uninterest
ed persons to investigate the concerns of
said tank, and if it is found unable to meet
the demands against it, said commissioner
shall immediately take chargcof the institu
tion, and nettle its accounts, nnd transmit
an account of said proceeding to the Audi
tor General the said commissioner to bo
allowed three dollars per day for their ser
vices and in case the assen of any bank
ing institution shall nnt be found eufiicicnt
to meet its liabilities, thc directors of wfich
bank shall be liablo in their personal estates
for tho deficiency. And if any president,
cashier, or tho officers or cletk of any bank
or corporation, shall fraudulently embezzle
or appropriate to his own use, or the use of
any other perscn or persona, cny of the
money or property of such incorporation,
or money entrusted to the earo or custody
thereof, he shall be subject to a fine of not
les3 than the a-nount embezzled or appro
priated, and to an imprisonment of hard la
horin the Stats Penitentiary, for any tern
not less than six months or more than three
years ; nor shall any cashier be allowed lo
engage in or carry on any other business,
diiectly or indirectly, than that of tho bank
under a penalty of fivo thousand dollars, to
lie recovered by tho board of directors for
the use of the bank. At all 'elections for
irectors or any other officeis, tho holders
f stock shall not be allowed to vote, except
in their proper persons ; and that each and
every share of stock aliall entitle tho bona
fulo owner thereof to a voto, and no more ;
provided that the said share shall have been
sold sixty days previous to the election ;
and all laws allowing stock holders to vote
by proxy, to be repealed. It also providea
that no bond, bill, or nolo shall bo issued by
ny hank or corporation, except such as
are payablo on demand. It also provides
that on the fiist Tuesday in February, in
each year, it shall be the duty of each bank
to transmit to the Auditor General a state
ment of tho amount of its capital stock paid
in; the araonnt of gold and silver held by
tho banks as ils own; and within its vaulU
at the timo of such statement, the highest
and lowest amount within its vaults at any
lime, and an average of the amount between
these periods and tho time of making such
tateraent ; and also the amount of liabilities
assets, and deppsitics ; tho amount of loans
made by them, whether unlawful interest
has been taken, &c There are also many
other restrictions in tho bill, which wo are
obliged to omit for want of room.
The Portland Artrus of Saturday says
We learn from a gentleman who left Cana
da fivo davs since, that Col. Golddier, ot
tho 11th regiment of infantry, haa inert
been appointed commander of the British
forces in tho contestea tcrniory, u m. -reinforcement
had been ordered to tho terri
tory of two companiss of regular iroops.Bim
a detachment of miners in all about
men
Gen. Harrison's Jlge. Gen. Harrison
is now in his 09th yearsix years older
than General Jackson was when elected.
... I - ll Wfl
Yet, according to ins oppunu.ua,
then an "old dotard." No difference what M
i 1- :. . ,u.... tie tiil.-pmiesl i
leacraiism uoi, n mum buck i.
in the act.
The Cleveland (Ohio) Herald says : the
Sacs and Wtnnebiigoes agreed to hunt on
tho same ground this season, come miles
west of Dubuque. A difficulty occurred
them between the parties, and the Ion a
Sun states that the Sacs, headed by btau
bing Chief; attael ed the Winnebago? ana
killed forty or fifty. Two of tho Sacs wera
killed.