The star of the north. (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, March 15, 1855, Image 1

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THE STAR OF THE NORTH.
R, W. Weaver Proprietor.]
VOLUME 7.
THE STAR OF THE NORTH
is rvsusucb xvsav minur maaaiira ST
8. W. WEAVES,
OFFICE— Up stain, in the new brick build
ing, on the south ride <4 Main Street,
third square below Market.
TIE MS —Two Dollars per ennom, if
paid within iix month* from the time of sub
scribing ; two dollars and fifty cents if not
paid within the year. No subscription re
ceived for a less period than six months ; no
discontinuance permitted until all arrearages
ro paid, unless at the option of the editor.
ADVERTISEMENT* not exceeding one square
\vifl be inserted three limes for One Dollar
*nd twenty five cents for each additional in
sertion. A liberal discount will be made to
those who advertise by the }-ear.
ORIGINAL POETRY.
For the" Star of the North."
" PASSING AWAY."
A zephyr softly fanned my cheek, •
I smiled, and kindly bade it stay:
It whispered, "other lends I seek,''
And in sn instant passed away.
A sunbeam danced across a stream,
And cheered ine with its sparkling ray:
But like the zephyr was the beam,
And just as soon it passed away.
8o friends of youth once fondly loved
With hearts so warm, so light and gay,
Cheor for awhile our lonely hours-
Then like a sunbeam pass away.
Trust not to love : its smiles and tears
May for a while seem warm and true,
And though it may our hearts beguile,
'Tie often false and fleeting too.
Talk not of bliss in world like this,
For here there is no perfect joy;
And pleasures here, like glittering coin,
Is always mixed with some alloy.
There is a home beyond the skies,
May we for that our hearts prepnre:
There tear* of woe ne'er dim the eyes,
And sorrow never enters there.
Buck Horn, Pa. [LILLIAN.
REPORT.
Of the Committee of the State on Vice and Im
morality, upon bills Prohxbitory or Restrain
ing the eales of spirituous Liquors.
Tbe Committee on Vice snd Immorality re
port :—That they have had referred to them
by the Senate three bills to prohibit orrestrain
the sale of spirituous l.qoors. They have
given to these a careful consideration, and
that tha Senate may have the whole subject
placed before it, tbe committee report each
bill in such manner that it may be printed.
Wifhout adopting, the commute rfcommeml
to be printed the bills entitled, tbe one "An
act to repeal the licenae laws, and regulate
the traffic in intoxicating liquors," An act re
lating to the sale of spiritoua, vinous or malt
liquors by others than inn or tavern keep
er." •
Taking into consideration the vote of the
people of tbe Commonwealth on the ques
tion of a prohibitory liquor latv, and tbe nu
merous petitions for such a law, as weN as
lha bills referred to them, tbe committee have
oome to the conclusion thai it ia more than
they should presume todo to determine which
measure should be adopted by the Legisla
ture, that of prohibition or that of regulation
and restraint. Tbey have thought it to be
their duty to recommend bill* whioh they
conceive to be adapted to tbe one or the oth
er measure, accordingly, as a majority of the
Legislature shall determine. The adoption
of the one will, of course, preclude the other
and the presentation of the two bills, may aid
members in deciding which is tbe preferable
mode of relief.
Tbe Senate bill No. If, entitled "An act
to prohibit drinknittg house* and promote
temperance" is designed to prohibit all retail
sales of intoxicating liquors undsr five gal
lons, by tavern keepera and all others except
for medicinal, chemical or sacramental pur
poses. It ia not made prohibitive of the man
ufacture and sale of liquor* in larger quanti
ties, only because such restriction would be
abortive, while the foreign importer may un
restrained by our State law import and tell
in tbe original package foreign liquors, and
because the committee apprehend that out
people are not prepared to prefer the con
sumption of imported liquor* over thoee of
domeelto production. This would be to pre
fet foreigners to American producer*. By
attaoking the retell sales, and drinking and
treating at the public bars, tha evil ia attack
ed where it Lommencea its pernicious work,
sod thereby it is believed the nee of Intoxi
cating liquors as a beverage will be greatly
diminished, and the production of domestic
end foreign proportionably lessened. Thai
the nee of such liquors cculd be prohibited
In private house* tinder tha most stringent,
form 6f a prohibitory law ha* never been as
serted to be practicable so long a* tbe laws
of the United States authorized the importa
tion, and protected the importer ia making
his sale* of foreign liquors. The full Rnd
final remedy can only be consummated by
a prohibition of importation*. When that ia
done then something may be effectually gain
ed for lha cause of temperance by prohibit
ing the manufacture of intoxicating liquors
at home, except for tbe usual excepted pur
pose*. „>
In tbe prohibitory bill now reported by tbe
oonr-miltee, betel aod inn keepers are enu
merated among thorn who may sell for ex
cepted purposes, or in excepted qu an lilies.
From (hi* it will be inferred that the license
laws would not be repealed. Nor should
they; for hotels and inns are permitted for
other purposes than selling liquors ; and con
sidering that there, every stranger end trav
eller finds bis temporary home, the security
and walfhre of the whole community is great
ly interested in their being entrusted only to
competent and honest lead lords. They ehoold
therefore, only be licensed by (be court after
careful inquiry ; end when licensed, ami put
BLOOMSBURG. COLUMBIA COUNTV, PA., THURSDAY,. MARCH 15, 1855.
under bond lonto afford a prompt and effi
cient remedy tbair keeper* should be of a
character, and wilt be if the eoorta do their
duty, aa safely to be entrusted with the sale
of tiquora for the excepted purposes, and un
der medical prescription aasny other persons.
This will the mora certainly be the cask,
since all groggeries, or places established
merely for the sale of liqnors aa a beverage
will oease ; and the busineaa of hotel keep
ing confined to those who will have the more
extensive accommodations required to lodge
and entertain travellers. The fewer the num
ber of them too, will enable them by other
sources of profits to make up to some extent,
those lost by ceasing to sell liquors as a drink.
In the view of the committee, it is regarded
as dangerous to commence any reform, ei-1
ther of a prohibitive or restraicing character
by a repeal of all the license laws; but if ho
tel keepers are denied the profits of selling
liquors as heretofore, there is no room to in
crease the license fee, and hardly an induce
ment to pay the present rites for the privi
lege of selling in the excepted cases only—
But the 'few numbers into whose hands the
business will be thrown may afford an ade
quate inducement to many to lako licences
that they may sell to patient* under medical j
prescription, or in quantities to p'ivate fami-1
iiee. lie license too, with the approbation
of a court may, if carefully granted, confer a
certificate'of oharacter and make it* profes
sion aa object.
The sale heretofore authorized in quantity
so small as a quart, wsa only in a degree lesa
pernicious than sales at tavern bets, as the
small cost and ready facility in obtaining the
liquor from the neighboring grocery, afforded
an easy temptation to the solitary tojfbr or I
social party. This facility and temptation
will be greatly diminished by extending the
prohibition to five gallons; ■ quantity down ]
to whioh the importer would in defiance ol [
State authority, supply his customers in the
original package.
There is, it is believed, no infringement of
any constitutional provision by this bill, nor
any needlessly harsh provision producing a
re-action in the minds of the citizen well dis
posed to the cause of temperance, and indu-1
cing a willingness rather to submit to exis- 1
ling evils, then see the powei of the law but
to a doubtful issue with a public opinion re
volting under a sense of harshness and injus
tice, or a conviction of the violation of
constitutional provisions justiy regarded as
sacred. , , ,
Against the adoption of a law prohibitory
in its character, the committee do not con
sider the vole of last October as decisive-
There were 373,040 volere who look the
trouble to attend the poll* lo vote for Gover
nor, of whom but 321,775 cast their vote*
either wsy upon the liquor question. There
was but a majority of 5,039 votes against
prohibition; while 51,265 voters at the polls
refused lo cast their votes for or against pro
hibition. Why? Obviously they were not
againat prohibition, or they would have so
voted. They were generally for prohibition,
it may justly be inferred, as the committee
think, but hesitated from so apprehension
that an affirmative vote might sanction some
extreme and harsh legislation, revolting to
the semte of justice or invasive of constitu
tional rights. Under litis aspect of the sub
ject, therefore, your committee is impressed
with the belief tbat the basis of a public
opinion has been afforded and msde known
to the Legislature for a law of a prohibitory
character, but uot for one extreme iu its en
actions or pensl'ie*. The bill now presen
ted to tbe consideration of the Senate, the
committee recommend ss adjusted with a
fair and reasonable regard to that publio
opinion wiihftt the support of which no law
•houid be passed, or long continued on the
statute book.
The committee are not unmindful that a
large revenue to the Stale Treasury will be
lost by the adoption of a prohibitory liquot
law, tbe Auditor General's report showing
an inoome last year for lavera licenses of
8187,602 16, of which 8142,093 95 came
from Philadelphia. Aa large aa this amount
is, the committee consider it no compensa
tion for tbe loss to tb* respective eounties
arising from tha maintainanee of prisoner*
and paupsrs, made such by drinking intoxi
cating liquors; and much lesa can it begin
to compensate the irreparable damage done
thereby to the people in their health,morals,
and doinestio happiness, to say nothing of
the peril induced to their immortal welfare.
That must unsound legis
lation tbat raises reveun* at so fearful a
they cannot b* faithful legislators who seek
to fill (he publio treasury at the aaurifice of
tbe constitutions, tbe happiness and live* of
tbeir fellow twinge. They eannot be true
representative of their local conslitneae),
who pay a tribute to the Slate that oosls that
constituency many times the amount pecuni
arily ia lost labor, IS prison aud poor-house
expanses. It is a poor and profitless invest
ment for parents to toil to feed, clothe and
educate their children to the period of man
hood, or for our oitizens to tax themselves to
the extent of millions every year to school
their children J If the owners of • groggeries
and public bars, may at pleasure mar the
good work, and destroy the hope* of parents
and of the republic, by destroying the men
tal, moral and physical capabilities of tha
people, thus raised and waived at great cost
with tbe poipose of making them good oiti
zens. If it it worth while making these
heavy expenditures to mike healthy, moral
and intelligent citizens, it is worth some
sacrifice, and if need be, some expenditure
lo avert groat and seductive evils from them,
and (©preserve them healthy, moral and in
telligent citizen*. >.
But lha economical view of the subject
doss not slop with the consideration of tha
expanses of maintaining the victim* of in
temperance as paupers and criminals. Thsre
is lost to productive industry end the wealth
oi lha community, the labor of those who
jttodnoo the element* for and manufacture
the liquor; the labor of those engaged ia
telling it j the labor of those who abandon
their employment* snd spend their time in
diinking; than is also lha loss of the gram
that is perverted from the purpose of food to
sustain life, to that of drink to destroy life.—
There is the lota also, of tha labor of those
who cease from labor from impaired health,
impaired resolution of character, and who
are untipiely out off by death. 6f the ex teat
of the actual losses thus undoubtedly sus
tained, no statistics can be framed to give us
the sppalling results; and the imagination ,
could hardly overreach tha reality. On lha
other hand hew indefinitely beneficient would
be the results of the labor thus lost, if wall
acd simply directed to produce food, clothing
and education for tha people, is equally be
yond computation, and only to be nalized
by a hopeful imagination, enthnaiastio for
the good of onr fellow being?. Instead of dis
order and waste, and a damaging deprecia
tion of moral and physical energy, prodnoing
enervation, idleness despair and death, and
instead of dragging down helpless depending
families into poverty and iisgraco, the world
would witnasa a perpetual onward progress
of healthful and cheerful industry, tb* accu
muLtiou of the comforts of life and of
wealth; and respectability and prosperity
would orown tbe efforts of bonsst enterprise.
If indeed, internpettnce could be made to
cease, then would tbe world be rid of that
evil that more than any other preveut* it*
becoming that paradise which a beneficient
Creator, left fur tbe sin of man, desired it to
be.
Tbera is also a political bearing in whioh
the subject is to be viewed. Taverns and
treating are a resource had for influencing
voters ui tbe political canvass. It is one that
all candidates oanno'. alike resort to, and (he
less scrupulous have thus an advantage over
those who are more conscientious, and tha
reault cannot be otherwise than detrimental
to the public welfare by elevating to office
those men who are the least scrupulous and
least likoly to ssrve their constituents with
fidelity. While a degree of social liberality
and good fellowship is thus manifested, the
purity ol elections and freedom from all un
due bras (herein, is a'purpose too sacred and
dear to the American citizen to be thus in
vsded without daep apprehension by every
one who holds dear his country's welfare
and honor.
There is yet a further consideration of the
subject that should engage the attention ot
the philanthropist snd statesman. It is a
law of our nature, that the sins of the parent
in their consequences are visited upon the
offspring. Our race is impared and.damaged
by intemperance; and wa wickedly mar the
beautiful handiwork of the Almighty. Tbe
moat perfect of His creation. His laslcrown
iug work, with which well pleased, He pro
nounced good; we, by perverting His bless
ings, make bad and destroy. Him that God
made in his own image, erect and oomely
and glowing with health, man makes besot
ted ar.d bloated deformity, and takes from
him his glorious intelleot. And this degen
eracy must be fell to Impair our nation©)
strength, our capacity for self-government
end ability for defence. Tbe individual aud
I national character are impaired in virtue,
resolution and physical powur, and the in
centive <o great sacrifice or high achieve
ment is lost. The people of F.urope effect'
to regret the degeneracy produced by our
olimate. If ibis be the unavoidable cause
of such an effect, it becomes or the greater
necessity for us to ©void adding to it the
certain degeneracy produced by intemper.
ance. One of your committee has bad op
pertunity recently to observe the deeply
damaging effect upon the people of our
parent isles, by the vast amount ot, intem
perance to which tbey are addicted, end to
have tbat observation confirmed by the testi
mony taken, and report made by a commit'
ts* el tbe British Parliament. Intemper
ance there, is estiag into the vitals of the
people j and with a climate most favorable
to health, so undermines tbe constitution as
to baffle the skill of tbe physician and sur
geon, while it cannot be doubted, that the
military arm of the government is sensibly
impaired by the damaging effects of intern
peranoe. To estimate the aggravated ex
'lent of the evil there, it may be stated tbat
it was testified before the Parliamentary Com
mittee, tbat the coat of drink to the Un iled
Kingdoms, per annum, ia from £70,000,000
to £80,000,000 sterling, and hi its conse
quences in the cost ot poverty and crime at
aa much more, together, 150,000,000 or
750,000,000 of dollars! It become*, there
lore, indeed, American statesmen to refleot
upon and avert in time a waste of sueh tre
mendous extent, and calamity so unmiti
gated aod aggravated in ha consequences.
It is true, publio opinion most advauoe
with us to sustain the law, but the law should
not in a good cause fall behind public opin
ion. They should keep paoa with each oth
er, and favorably act and ra-aot one upon
the other, and advance together as far as at
tainable in the right direction. But it ia not
alone theatopping of intoxicating drinks eith
er by law or by public opinion, that should
be attended lo by philanthropist* or enlight
ened legislators. The people, when not at
work, must have some amusement or occu
pation • and they wiR work the better for
having had innocent and healthful amuse
ment, such as give* vigor to the body, or in
telligence and slasticy to the mind. British
Tintfc M< •
statesmen unable lo give up the rdvenue
from spirits and beer, (a revenue, bow great
may be inferred from tb* fact of two London
breweries payitg .each • million dollars of
excise per aaanm,) unite with the pubbe
spirited friends of tire people in pursbaeing
and laying out parks, and opening soologioal
gardens, snd museums, and gallarlea of atat
aary, and painting, gratuitously to the peo
ple, ioi their improvement end emersion,
from the haunt* of vioe and intoxication.—
Shall wa no; begin to do likewise f Shall
we continue to spend mUtiona of tbe peo
ple's taxes every year to teaoh the children
to read, and then, when they have learned
to read, afford tbem no facilities for reading,
and no inducement IO presmsp them ia (he
pathos of virtue! Printing Rie by steam,
keeps up to the ago, nay, % pioneer to all
other improvements, and boajti are cheap.—
Shall the people then not hjtr* libraries to
read in evary neighborhood f It Is believed
to be the cheapest expenditure that can be
made, and will produce even grea
ter than tbe public school*, As compared
with the eost, in preierving tip youth from
vice, iu making the people mire intelligent
and peacefully inclined to as obedience to
law and goad order.
Though vastly lei* is donf in England
for popular education than hare, Liverpool
ha* taken a *ucessful start in forming libra
ries and reading rooma for the ieopto that are
resorted tb in crowd*, and wift beneficial re
sult*. Such a purpose I* maifi a feature in
the bill* now reported; bur it* execution
will of course depend upon the willingness
of the people of each to carry
out the design. It is a permit*!** Dot a com
pulsory authority. The effective way of
making good citizens is lo lay hold of their
intelligence, cultivate it, inspire love for their
country and fellow men. Tbey then become
tbe sure friend* and protectors of public
order, add love tbeir government and iu in
stitutions the more from perceiving their
operations to be beneficient uoon them*—
VVitb all our justly boasted freedom aud free
institutions our goveramenu have never yet
done justice to the people iu providing in
struction and healthful recreation, whereby
the more completely to enlist their feelings
on the side of the law, and make tbem iu
patrietio defenders. Such a policy would
save to our city polioe system* and prison
expeuses large expenditures, ae our fearless
reliance upon the patriotism -of tbe people
for national defence, avfMMN necessity
and danger of a largo Shall
the governments of the people do less for the
people than the old monarchic* of Europe?—
Let us replace taverns end groggeries not
only with schools, but with libraries, reading
rooms, lectureships, museums, gardens and
parks; and in time the wealthy and munifi
cient will leave to them galleries of fine arts
where there tastes may be further improved
and refined.
The principle of a prohibitory law i* that
which lies at the basis of allgovernment.—
It is the principle of self-protection. Socie
ty must be capable ef defending itself; of
catting out the evils that assail its well be
ing; or its fails in its end, and fosn hah sur
rendered his natural liberty for a protection
he does not obtain. It may defend itself
from the evils ol iotempereace, as it may
from others that alike sap the foundations of
good morals and good government. All
sound jurists ogre*ia tMalisKik hi the pre
vision* for carrying so oh a law in* execu
tion alone that it baa oome iota conflict with
the fundamental eonstitulion and infringed
its salutary provisions for tb* protection of
the citizens. I
But it may be, although it ia said the con
stituency of a majority of the members
voted for prokibition, that a majority of the
Legislature will not now vote for a prohibi
tory law, tins* there was no actual majority
of the voters of the whole State who voted
in favor of lhs measure. The committee,
therefore, have prepared what they oonsider
a stringent license bill as tbe lowest measure
if reform tbe Legislature can adopt with any
regard lo the demands and the agravatioos
of an evil they dare not disregard.
It adopts tbe machiaery of tbe existing
general laws, requiring all who woald sell
under five gallons to take Define from the
court ia all parts of the State, After full adver
tisement of their application, and subject to
objection and eontest by tbeir neighbors, and
the decision ot the court after bearing all
parties aa to the occasion ef granting the li
cense- All are to be bnt under bond, with
warrant of attorney, to enter judgment for a
faithful observance of the law, tbe license
fees ere increased three-fold, and none can
sell UDder a quart who is oot lieecsed to keep
aa inn, and in any eity ha* not at least six
rooms end twelve bed* for the exclnsive
use of travelers.
In the oity of Philadelphia, were the free
system now exists, there will be besides the
general provisions oi tbe Iswa of the State,
a board of three appraisers io be appointed
by tha oourt, composed ef three reputable
and temperate appraisers, In o* manner in
terested in tire liquor bneiMesq. whose doty
it will be to inquire into tb* Mhro of tbe Bp
plicant and without whose certificate bis ap
plication cannot be mac!*. '
Tbe license is to be framed and placed
conspicuously in the place of business; eon
stables end policemen are to make visitation
and report of violation* of law; nod viola
tion* of law are to be punished by hues nod
imprisonment and forfeitnr* of license- In
toxication in public places is fined and pun
ished aa an offence; the famishing of liquor
of those who drink on the premise* to iotox
cation is punished as a distinct offonoe; be
sides a responsibility enacted for all resul
ting damage.
The committee are folly aware of the re
pugnance of many pore end conscientious
minds to any iioense laws, as seeming to give
legal Sanation to a business Ihst.thay can re
gard aa nothing bot an unqualified evil. To
each tbe committee have to say that they re
port a stringent license law only in the el-,
tentative that a prohibitory law can not be
obtained ; and ae * great mitigation of evils
that wonid become more rife and destructive
without each restrictions as the licenae law*
impose. In legislation, tbe world has to be
dealt with aa it is, and it is not always, nor
very commonly, that we can successfully ask
(hat whioh I* tha best, bnt only that measure
which under the cimamsiance*. is tbe best
that can ba obtained. By adopting n license
law it wonid not, therefore, be understood
that the final measure of reform will have
been attained ; but a step of progress made
towards a more complete eradication of in
temperance.
Protection of Hotel Reapers-
Mr. JOHNSON, el Northampton, a few days
sine* iniroduce44nto tha House a bill for lha
protection of hotel keeper* Thebill provide*
that guests at hotels shall deliver their mon
eys, goods, jewelry end other trainable* Into
the aotnal custody of tbe proprietor or his
proper agent, and on leaving their rooms are
to ieposit their key* at tbe office, loholJ the
proprietor liable for moneys or clothing sto
len. It farther declares, that persons becom
ing guests at hotels, without means to pay
their bills, scouring for any time hot longer
than a week, and not giving notice of such
inability, are vagrants, and as snch shall be
subject to conviction before any alderman or
justice of the peace for any period not longer
than thirty days, and authorises the proprie
tor to detain such delinquent until tbe prop
er officers can be obtained. The bill also
gives to hotel keepers a lien upon tbe bag
gage of guests for accrued debt for a period
of not longer than one week, be.
French Spoliation Dtft.
Tbe historical facts upon which tbaae
claims are founded are these: la tbe yea?
1788-9, the U. S. were in a stale of quasi
war with the than Republio of France.—
Privateers cruised and made captures; na
tional vessels met and fought oo the high
'seas; and on laud there was tha array of
armiea, io 'be anticipation of formidable war.
Tkss lire revolution which placed
Bonaparte at tbe head of the French Gov
ernment. Tbe U. States urged upon France
indemnity for the confiscation of preeeediug
years. It was answered that they were
made under the authority of a government
that had passed away, and like assignments
and continental money, they no more bad
value. In short, the French government re
fused to satisfy these claims; but as tbe ur
gency of them by tbe U. S. was disagrees
-1 b!e, they had inserted in the treaty for tha
purchase of Louisiana a provision that the
further prosecution of these claims should
be discontinued. It is upon this provision
that these claims reel.
Wln a recent speech in the U. 8. Sen
ate, Mr. SEWARD road* use of this remark:
" I belong to one vo'untary society, the
Christian Church- I belong to but one polit
ical party. They are open societies. They
meet in broad day light and invite all per
sons. I shall join no others. Secret So
cieties! Before I would bend the knee, or
join a secret association end swear to sub
mit my judgment to that of ober men, I
would suffer my hand to be paralyzed. Pro
scribe a man because he was not born in tbe
same town, county, Stat* or Country ? 1 se
riously advise people hereafter to be bofrt in
the United Stales, to be converted to the
Protestant Church, and to be bom white if
they can. But if they come into the world,
notwithstanding my advice, with black faces
and worsted hair, I shall not add a feather
to tbe disabilities under which they natural
ly suffer thereby ."
ACTION or MIND OR MIND.-<What9ver draws |
a man out ef himself, make* bim ariser and
better and happier; at least, if it does not,
the fsolt is bis own, and he has to answer for
abusing one of the most effectual mesne of
improvement Whicn Providence bat placed {
within his power. He cannot benefit others
without being benefitted iu return, either by
tbe influence of his own action, hi* own
feelings, or by tbe gratitude with which it is
more than repaid on the part of their fellow
creatures. Ascetios may sey what tbey
please; but seclusion is neither favorable to
wisdom nor to virtue, and least of all to en
joyment. Tbe diamond i* polished by dia
mond dnat; and the fine particles thrown off
io disclosing tbe spark* of a hundred inferi
or one* may be required to bring out the
lnstre of a gem worth a thousand. Tha attri
tion of mind* of all orders is equally necat
sary for perfecting the capacity of the leas;,
and developing the excellence oi the grea
test.—/. Montgomery.
AM Exert LEST LEGISLATIVE ENACTMENT
A bill has has been reported in the New York
Senate, which provides that no estate, real or
personal, shall hereafter be bequeathed, de
mised or conveyed to any corporation, body
politic or person, for pious or charitable uses,
except the same be done by deed or will, duly
acknowledged and attested at least six months
before the decease of the testator.
Counterfeits,— Girls with hollow checks and
full bosoms.— RE. Paper.
Krtow•Nothing Letter read Ik lirii New
York leglalntera.
Mr. Rickerton, of Greene county, N. Y.,
a member of the house cf Assembly, read
to that body the following letter received by
him from aK. N. brother, ft illustrates iu e
striking manner the bash oharacter of that
organization. It will Be seen that it relates
to bis vote for United States Senator.
CATSKILL, lannary, 1855. |
"Mr. M. L. Rickerson— Dear Sir and Bro.:
I regret to hear that you mado application
for a withdrawal card from your C I
am pleased to hear however, that your ap
plication was not granted.
"I leard, moreover, that you are pledged,
and were previous to election, or your nom
ination, to vote for \V. H. Seward.
"Now, I hops thai I am misinfdrmed,
and that you will bo true lo the sacred ob
ligation* you have taken, aud to the promi
ses you have made to me. But if yon are
not, you will not be permitted to withdraw
from your C • •*< , but you will be expel
led, and notices will be sent to every C
in the State, (some one thousand in number)
of your expulsion, and reasons why—name
ly: lor being a traitor and perjurer, and not
to be trusted in any business transaction ;
and more than this, our members swear
they will burn you in effigy in every village
in tbe county, if you do not prove true. —
Now, -these are not mere threats, to be for
gotten, but will be carried out to the veiy
letter. Now, 1 sincerely hop* you will prove
yourself a man in this emergency, and not
be led by a party demagogue, who baa al
ways been your most bitter enemy, aod
now make* his brags that he makes you do
anything he wishes, in spite of all yoor ob
ligations and promise*. Now, you must be
well sware that if you vote for Seward, it
will be your political death-knell. Besides
the promises they have made yoq.wili not
be kept after Seward is elected. Toil can
do w hat you ohoose lor all they care.
"It ts currently reported all over the coun
try now, that you have been bought with
money and promised to vote for Seward.—
Every man I meet, almost, from the country
is asking about you, and it seems they can
not believe you will debase yourself so
much aa lo violate yonr oath, and (hoy all
say you will do (hut if you vote for Seward;
and you are as well aware of this as 1 are.
Now, remember that you alone are to snfler
by this course, and I trust and hope you will
not do what you will regret when toojlaie.
Yours, fraternally,
J. II VAN GORDEN."
AN oinßjtei:.-
VVe are informed by good suihority that at
the election in Franklin, last Friday, the K
Ns. resorted to the following outrageous con
duot to carry their point. Mr. Jas. Watson,
a worthy citizen, had been induced to join
their Order, aud, seeing its charaoter, bed
several time* asked for an honorable dis
charge from them, whioh they had refused
to give him, though they had promised todo
so when he joined them, at any lime he
should ask it.
Friday he went to the election and infottn
ed them that he could not vote their ticket,
bntshould rote against them. Whereupon
tbey took bim one side and told him they
would prosecute bim for perjury, on '.he oath
whioh he took when ha joined them, if he
dared vote against their ticket. Wishing
to avoid difficulty, and not exactly under
standing his rights, he retorned home with
out voting at all.
An outrrtge of this kind calls for the se
verest public condemnation. If ij has come
to this, that freemen can be prevented from
exercising a freeman's prerogative in this
Republic, l —and tbat men bound together by J
secret oaths have becotno Id bold at to art I
tempt to control the ballot-box by sueh
means, it is high time that measures should j
be tsken to have our rights add privileges
defined, aud to punish witb the penalties ol
the law those who conspire at tbeii over
throw. Tha following is the statute against
intimidating voteA at the polls:
"If any person or persons shall use or prac
tice any intimidation, threats, force Or vio
lence, with design to influence nndaly, or
overawe any clsctor, or to prevent bim/rom
ooling, or to restrain the freedom of ohoice ;
socb person, or persons, on oocviclion, shall
be fined in any sum no*, exceeding five hun
dred dollars, and be Imprisoned for nay time
not less than one, nor more than twelve
months."— Montrose Dem.
Hon. Thomas H. Benton, in conversation
with a friend on Saturday last, in a very ex
cited manner said, "If I were President of
the United States, sir, 1 would keep beside
me a pile of blank vetoes, and a* fast aa the
plundering bill# passed Congress 1 would
send in a veto! veto!! veto!!! sir, send in a
veto."
EJT Every man deems that be has precise
ly the trials and temptation* which are the
hardest of all for him te bear; but they are
so because tbey are tbe very one* be needs.
—Rkhter. ,
tW If you wish to be happy, keep busy;
idleness is harder work than plowing, a great
deal. There is more fun in towing an hour,
than there is in a yawning century.
OT* Bashluluets ia more frequently con
nected with good sense, than we find assu
rance—end impudence, on the other head
is often (he effect of downright stupidity.
>
Or Love is onr highest wotd, and thesyno
nime of God.
[Twe Dollar* per isiaa
NUMBER 8.
Old Soldiers' B*Hly Land Bill as it pass
ed both notes* of COSfffes*.
The bill passed by Congress,give* 160 son*
of land to evety individual Oho baa served
in any of tbe wars of the United Slates since
1790. The sections of the bill are as follows:
Be it enacted by the Senate and Haute qf Rep
resentative/ of ike United Statei of America in
Congrtu aisembled, That each of the surviv
ing com missioned and non-oommtasioaad
officers, musicians and privalas, whether of
regulars, volunteers, rangers, orraflitis, wbo
were regularly mustered into the serViea'ef
■he United Stales, and every officer, commit .
sioned or non-commissioned, seaman, orli
, nary seamaoi marine, clerk, and landsman
! in the navy, in any of tbe ware In which tbia -
' country has bwu engaged since ITPO,
stid each of the survivors of 'the militia, or
volunteers, or State troope of any State or
Territory; called Into military service, and
regularly mustered therein, and whose servi
ces have been paid by the United States,
shall be entitled to receive e certificate or
warrant from the Department of the Interior
for one hundred and sixty acres land; and
where any of those who have been ao mus
tered into service and paid shall have tfeceiv
ed a certificate or warrant. be shall be enti
tled to a certificate or warrant for such quan
tity of land as will make, in the whole, with
what he may have heretofore received, one
hundred and sixty acres to each such person
having sbrved as aforeiaid: Provided. The
person so having been in service shall not
receive said land warrant if it shall appeal
by ttie thuster-rolls of his regiment or oorpd
that lie deserted of was dishonorably dischar
ged from service.
Provided further, That the benefits of
thll section shtll be held to wsgon-raasteri
and teamsters wbo may have been employ
ed, under the direction of competent author
ity in time of war, in the transportation of
military storef anil snppliea.
And ftihbbr protided. That the provisions
of this act be applied to ihose who served
as volunteers at the attack on Lawisiown, in
Delaware, by the British fleet in the war of
eighteen hundred and twelve end fifteen:
Sec. 2 And be it farther enacted, That
in case of. the deatH Of toy person wbo, if
living, would be entitled to e certificate or
warraut, as aforesaid, under this act, leaving
a widow, or, if no widow, a minor child or
children, such widow, or, if no widow, sueh
minor child of children shall be entitled to
reoeive a certificate or warrant for tbe same
quantity of fond that stlth deceased person
would be entitled to receive uoder the pro
visions of Ibis act, if now living: Provided,
That a subsequent marriage shall not impair
the right of any such widow to such a war
rant, if she be a widow at the lime of mak
ing her application: And provided, further,'
That those shall be Considered miuors wbo
are so at the tithe this act shall take effect.
Sac. 8. And be it further enacted, Thaf
in no case shall any such certificate or war
rant be issued for any service less thati
14 days, except where the person shall ac
tually have been engaged In battle, and un
less tbe party claiming snch certificate ol
warrant shall establiih his or her right there
to by recorded evidence of said service.
Sec. 4. And be it farther enacted, That
said certificates or warrants may be assigned,
transferred, and located by the warrantees,
theif assignees, or their heir* at law, accord
ing to the provisions of existing laws regu
j lating the assignment, transfer, and location
of bounty food warranto.
Sec. 6. And be it farther enacted, That no
warrant leaned under the provisions of (bid
\ act shall be located on any publio lands, ex
cept such aS shall at the time be subject to
sale at either tbe minimum or tower gradua
ted price.
SkC. 6 And be it futther enacted, That
the registers and receivers ot the several
fond offices shall be severally authorised to
I charge and receive for tbeir services in lo
cating all warrants under the provision# of
this act the tame compensation or per (ren
tage to which they are entitled by tbe la#
lor sales of the publio lands, for Cisb, at the
rate of one dollar and twenty-five cents pot
acre. Tbe said compensation to be paid by
I the assignees or holders of sock warrants.
SEC. 7. And be it further enabled, That
the provisions of tbis act, and all tbe bounty
fond laws heretofore passed by Congress,
shall be extended to Indians, in the tame
manner and to tbe same extant as if the
said Indians had been While men.
SEC. 8. And be it further enacted, Thai
the officers and loldieta of the revolutionary
war, or tbeir widows or minor chilren, shall
bs entitled to fbe benefits of this eat.
SEC. 9. And be it further enacted, That
the benefits ol this act shall be applied to
and embrace those who served m volunteers
at tbe invasion of Pittsburgh, in Sept. 1814;
also, at the battle of Ring's mountain in the
revolutionary war, and the bUltlb of Nicko
jaok, against the oonfed*rated lavage* of the
South.
Sao. 10. And bb it further enacted, That
the provfoiohs ol "hi* act shall apply to the
chaplains wbo served with the army in the
several wart of lbs conntry.
SEC. 11. And be it further enacted, That
the provisions of this act be applied to flotilla
men and to those wbo eerved aa volunteers
at the attack on Lewistown, in Delaware, by
tbe British fleet, in the war of eighteen hun
dred and twelve end fifteen.
Lietrr. Huste*.— The Hertford Timet saye
that thw gentlemen, lately dismissed bom
tbe service for bringing tbe Bain bridge home
without loess, i going to Russia, to offsr
his services to the Car.