uj ,n moil Rd*itilage| results.—
The law for promoting
man U found convenient and salutary. Tbo
system of granting an honorable discharge
to faithful seamen on the exp'.lefion of'the
period of tbeir enlistment, and permitting
there to re-enliat after a leave of absentee of
* few monitißj withoci ressation of pay, ia
highly beneficial ie its influence.
The apprentice system recently adopted
ia evidently destined to incprpotpin into the
serviee a large, number of out country mon
hitherto so difficult to procure. Several
huodred American htryaHto now on a thw
years' cruise In our national vessels, and
witlvelora well-trained seamen. In the or
•dirtance department there Is a decided and
a gratifying indication of progress creditable
to It and to the counlry. The suggestions
of the Secretary of the Navy, in regard to
futiher improvement in that branch of the
refvice, I commend to your favorable ac
tion.
The new frigates ordered by Congress are
ndw afloat, and two of them in active ser
vice. They are superior models of naval
srchictecinre, and with their formidable bat
tery add largely to public strength and secu
rity.
I concur in the views expressed by the
Secretary ot the Department in lavor of a
efill further increase of our naval force.
The report of the Secretary of the
presents fa'cts and views in relation to inter
nal affairs over which the supervision of his
department extends, of mu->b <
j importance.
Tbe aggregate sales of the public lands,
during'.he last fireal year, amount to nine
million two hundred anJ twenty-seven thou
sand eight hundred and seventy-eight acies ;
for which has been received the rum of
eight million eight hundred and twenty ene
thousand four hundred and fourtoen dollars.
During the same period there have been lo
cated, with military scrip and land warrants
und for other purposes, thirty million one
hundred thousand two hundred and thirty
acres, thus making a total aggregate of thirty
tijue million three hundred and twenty-eight
thousand one hundred and eight acres. On
the 30ih of September last surreys had been
made of sixteen million eight hpndred and
seventy three thousand six hundred and
ninety-nine acres, a large proportion of
which is roady for market.
The suggestions in this > report in regard to
tlie complication and progressive expansion
of the business of the different tftreaux of
the department; to the pension system ; to
the colonizatiou cf Indian tribes, tnd llio
recommendations in relation to various im
provements in the District of Columbia, are
especially commended to ycur considera
tion.
The report of the Postmaster General pre
sents, fully, the cbudiiion of that department
of the government. Its expenditures for the
last fiscal yeat, were ten million four hun
dred end seven thousand eight hundred and
sixty-eight dollars; and its gross receipts
seven million six hundred and twenty thou
sand eight hundred and one dollars—making
•n excess of expenditure over receipts of
two million seven hundred and eighty-seven
thousand and forty-six dollars.
The deficiency of this department is thus
seven hundred and forly-four 'thousand dol-
Jr greater than for the year ending June
_9i>rtßs3. Of this deficiency, three hundred
and thirty thousand dollars ie to he attributed
to the additional compensation allowed post
masters by the act of Congress of June 22,
1854. The mail facilities in every part of
the country have been very much
in that period, and the large addition of rail
road service, amounting to seven thousand
(•inp hundred end eight miles, has added
' ar g*fc lo the cost of t ransportaticn.
The jfMQasiderable augmentation of the
income of Poet-Office Department under
the reduced rates of postage atj jut increas
ing expenditures, must, fof roe jvosent, make
it dependant to some extent upou tbe treas
ury for support. The recommendations of
_j ibe Postmu&or General, in relation to the
fnafcing privi logfe, and iris views ou the es-{
tablfsinweni of mail steamship lines, deserve
the oon&erttion of Congress. I also call
(he special attention of Congress to the state
ment of the Postmaster General respecting
tbe sums now paid for the transportation of
mails to the Panama Railroad Company, and
commend to theic early ami favorable con
sideration on the suggestions of that officer
in relation to new contracts lor mail tran-por-!
itstion upon that route, and also upon the 1
Tehuamepeo and Nicaragua routes.
Tbe United StatosWtmtinue in the enjoy-1
ment of amicable relation* with all foreign
I rowers.
When my last annual message was trans
milted lo Congress, two subjects of contro
versy, one relating to the enlistment of sol- 1
diers in this country for foreign service, and
the other .to Central America, threatened to
disturb good understanding between the Uni
ted States snd Great Britain. Of the progress .
and termination of the former question yon
were informed at the time ; end the other is
oow lo the way of satisfactory adjustment.
The object of the couvention between the
United Stales and Great Britain of the 19th
of April, 1650, was to secure, for the benefit
of all nation*, the neutrality and the com
mon use of any transit way, or interoceanic
communication, across the Wilirou* of Pana
ma, whioh might be opened within the limits
of Central America. The pretension subse
quently asserted by Great Britain, to domin
ion or eonttol over territories, in or pear two
< of the routes, iboee of Nicaragua and Hon
duras, vreie deemed by the United States not
merely niaornpatibfo. wijli the main object
of the treaty, but opposed even to its expraril
stipulations. 9
Occaion of controversyr on lhis point bam
been removed by an additional treaty, which
our minister at London hat concluded, snd
f which will be immediately submitted to 'the
Senate for it* consideration. Should the pro
posed suppisaienisry arrangement be con
curred in by all the parlies to be effected by
il, Ihe objects contemplated by ibe orgittal
cocveulion will have been fully stlaiapd.
The treaty between the Uniied Slates and
Greet Britain, of the sth of June, 1854,
which wont into effective operation m 1855,"*
put an end to causes of irritation between
the two tfonnttiw*, by eeCuring to the United
States th| right of Jshcry-fon tfie cost op
the British North Agllericatt provinces, with
adfihtages equal tc We enjoyed by British
subjects. Besides the signal benefit* of Ibis
(r <4sh°aiai go class of our cilizei* engaged
in * pursuihhrimeoted to no icennsideßtble
degree with our national prosperity and
strength, it has hid a favorable effect upon
other interests in the provision it-made for
rcWproiil ffeedom of trade between Ihe
Utjed 'States anil the British 'grprtnees fn
America, * * ' ' '
Tbo wtport* of domestie articles to these
provinces during the last year amounted to
more than twenty-two millions of dollars,
exceeding those of tlie preceding year by
nearly seven millions of dollars; and the jjn,.
i ports therefrom, during the same period,
i amounted to more than twenty-one million*
' —an increase of six millions upon those of
' the previous year.
Tlie improved condition of this branch of
i our commerce is mainly attributable to the
■ above mentioned treaty.
Provision was made, in the first article of
that treaty, for a commission to designate the
mouths of rivers to whioh the common right
of fishery, on the coast of the United Stares
i and tbe British Province, was net to extend.
This commission has been employedmMrt
of two seasons, br.l without much
Bn accomplishing the object for which il was
[instituted, in consequence of a serious dif
i { ference ot Opinion between the commission
\ —re, nvi oiify ■<* co me precise point where
' the rivers terminals, but in many instances '
Jas to whst constitutes a river. These diffi
• I cullies, however, may be overcome by re-
I sort the umpirage provided for by the
treaty.
The efforts peraeveringly prosecuted since
tbe commencement of my administration, to
rolievs our trade lo the Baltic from the exac
tion of Sound dues by Denmark, have not
yet been attended by success. Other gov
ernments have also sought lo obtain a like
relief to their commerce, and Denmark was
tlrns Induced lo 'propose an arrangement to
all the Europe,in )Powers interested in Ihe
subject; and the manner in which her propo
sition was received, warranting her to be
lieve that a satisfactory arrangement with
them conld soon be concluded, she made a
strong appeal to this government for tempo
rary suspension of definite action on its part,
in consideration of the embarrassment which
might result to her Europeau negotiation*
by an immediate adjustment of the question
with the United States.
This request has been qcceded 10. upon
the condition that the sums collected after
the 18th of June last, and until the 16th of
June next, from vessels and cargoes belong
ing to our merchants, are to be considered
as paid under protest and subject to future
adjustment. There is reason to believe that
an arrangement, between Denmark and the
maritime powers of Europe on the Eobject,
will soon be concluded, and that the pending
' negotiation with tbe Uniied Stales may then
be resumed and terminated in a satisfactory
manner.
With Spain no new difficulties have arisen,
nor has much progress been made in tho
adjustment of pending ones.
Negotiations entered into for the purpose
Of relieving our commercial intercourse with
the I-land of Cuba of some of its burdens,
and providing fur the more speedy settle
ment of local disputes gtowmg out of that
intercourse, have not yet been attended with
gny resttlts.
Soon after the oonunencemetii of the late
war in Europe this Governtnept subm : tted
to the consideration of all maritime nations
two principles for the security of all neutral
commerce : one, that the neutral flag should
cover enemies' goods, except snides contra
band ol war; and the other, that neutral
property on board (uerebeut vessels ol bel
ligerent* *fiWßld be exempt from condemna
tion, with the exception of contraband arti
cles.
These were hC presented as new rules ol
internatlohsl law, havipg been generally
claimed by neutral", lhoDgh not always ad
milted by belligerents. On# of tbe parties
to tbo war—Russia—as welt as several neu
tral powers, promptly acceded 19 these propo
sdiens ; and the two other principal belliger
ents, Great Britain and Frsnce, having con
sented lo observe them for the present occa
sion, a favorable opportunity seemed to be
presented for obtaining a general recognition
of them both in Eorope and in America.
Bnt Great Britain end France, in common
with most of the States of Europe, while for
bearing to' reject, did not affirmatively act
Upon the overtures of the United State*.
While the question was in this position,
the representatives of Rnssta, France, Great
Britain, Austria, Prussia, Sardinia and Tur
key, assembled at Parle,'took into considera
tion the subject of maritime rights, end pat
i forth a declaration containing the two prin
ciples which this government had submit
ted,nearly two years before, to the considera
tion of maritime powers, and adding thereto
i the following propositions ; ''Privateering is,
and remains abolished," and blockades, in
i order to be binding, must be effective, that
i is to say, maintained by a force sufficient re
i ally to prevent access to the coast of the on
- emy; "and to the declaration Ihu* com posed
t of four points, two of which had already
- been proposed by the United State*, this
i government has) been invited tc aoceed by
• all the "powers represented at Parts except
■ Great Britain and Turkey.
i To the last of the two additional proposi
tions—that in relation to blockades—there
I can certainly be no objection. ;h Ie merely
k the definition of wbaieimll constitute the ef-
Beclnal investment of a blockaded a
nitron for which this government has al-
BWTayt contended, claiming indemnity for
, ™es where a practical violation of the rule
[ thus deiinud has been injurious lo our com.
i merae. A3 it) the remaining article of the
. the Conference of Pari*; ."that
• piivateeXig is and remain* abolished*" 1
I certainly cannot ascribe (o the powhrs repre
-1 scmed in the Conference of Pari* *ny but
liberal and philanthropic views in the al
-1 tempt to Change the unquestionable role of
, mafilima Uw in regard (O privateering.
Theft proposition Was doubtless intended
1 to imply approval of tho principle thnt pri
vate property upon tho ocean, although it
might belong to tbe citizens of a belligerent'
State, should be exemptedlroro capture; and
had that proposition been so framed as to
give full effect to tho principle, it would
hdve received my ready assent on behalf of
rim-United Steles,- Bui the me sen re propo
sed fißiiadequate to that purpose.
It i* true that if adopted, private property
upon the ocesn would be withdrawn from
on* mode of plunder, but left exposed,
meanfvhile, to another mode, which could
be used with increased effectiveness. Tbe
aggressive capacity of great nayul powers
would be thereby augmented, while the de
fensive ability of others would be reduced.
1 Though the surrender of the means of
1 prosecuting hostilities by employing priva
teers, as proposed by the conference of Pa
ris, is mutual in terms, yet, in practical ef
fect, it would be the relinquishment of a
right of little value to one class of States,
out of essential imporlance to another and s
far larger class. It ought not to have been
anticipated that a measure, so inadequate to
the accomplishment of the proposed object',
and so unequal in its operation, would re
ceive the assent of all maritime powers. Pri
vate property would be atill left lo the depre
dations of the public armed cruisera.
I have expressed a readiness on the part
of this government to secede to all the prin
ciples contained in the declaration of the
conference of Paris, provided that relating
tn i i(A uf JJTI VHICCUnfg Cftfl 1)8
so amended a* to effect the object for which,
as ia presumed, it was intended, tbe immu
nity of private properly on the ocean from
hostile capture.
To effect tlris object, it is proposed lo add
to t'ne declaration that "privateering is and
remains abolished," Ihe following amend
ment:—"And that the private properly of
subjecls and citizens ol n belligerent on the
high sees, shall be exempt from seizure by
the public aimed vessels of the other bellig
erent, except it bj contraband." This amend
ment has been presented not only to the
powers which have asked our assent to Ibe
declaration to abolish privateering, but to all
other maritime States. Thus far it has not
been rejected by any, and is favorably en
tertained by all which have made any com
munication in reply.
Several of the governments, regarding
with favor the proposition of the United
Stales, have delayed definitive action upon
it, only for tbe purpose of consulting with
01 hers, parties lo the oonferenoe of Paris.—
I have the satisfaction of slating, however,
that the Emperor of Russia has entirely and
explicitly approved of that modification, and
will in endeavoring to obtain the
assent of other powers; and that assurances
of a similar purport have been received in
relation to the disposition of the Emperor of
the French.
The present aspect of this important sub
ject allows ua to cherish the hope that a
principle so humane in its character, so just j
and equal in it* operation, so essential lp the
prosperity of commercial nations, and so
consonant to the sentiments of this enlight
ened period of the world, will command
the approbation of all maritime powers, and
thus be incorporated into Ihe eode of inter
national Jaw. (
My views on the subject are more fully
set forth* in the reply of the Secretary ol
Slate, a copy.of which is herewith transmit
ted, to the communications on the subject
made to this government, especially to the
communication of France.
The government of the United States lias
at all times regarded with friendly iaterest
(he other States of America, formerly,
like this country, European colonies, and
now independent member* of Ihe great
family of nations. But tbe unsettled condi- j
tton of some of them, distracted by frequent
revolntione, and thne incapable of regular
and firm internal administration, has tended
to embarrass, occasionally, our public inter
course, by reason Of wrongt whioh our eili- 1
zens tuffer at our hands, and which they are
slow to redress.
Unfortunately it ie against the Republic of
Mexico, with which it ie our special desire
to maintain a good understanding, that such
complaints are most nnmerone; end although
earnestfy urged open its attention, they have
not as yet received the consideration which
this' government had a fight to expect.—
While reparation for past injuries has been
withheld, others have been added.
The political condition of that oountry,
however, has been such as to demand for
bearance oh the part of the United States.—
I shall continue my efforts 10 procure for the
womgs of ourVltizens that redress which is
indispensable to the continued friendly asso
ciations of the two republics.
The pecbliar condition of affaire in Nicar
agua, iir the early pari of thai present year,
rendered it important that this government
should have diplomatic relations with that
State. Throtogh its territory had ben open
ed one of the principal thoroughfares serosa
the isthmus counseling North and South
America, on which a vast amount of prop
erty was transported, end to which our oiti
zens resorted in great numbers, in pissing
between the Allanlio and Paeifie coasts of
Ihe United States. Tbe protection of both
required the existing power in that state
should be regarded as a responsible govern
ment ; and it* minister was accordingly re
ceived. But he remained here only * short
time.
Soon : thereafter the political affairs of Nic
aragua underwent unfavorable change, and
beoerne involved io much uncertainty and
confusion.' Diplomatic representatives from
two contending parties have been recently
sent 10 this government, but, with the im
perfect information possessed, it was nut
possible to decide which was the govern
ment rfc ficio, and, awaiting further develop
ments, 1 hove related to receive either.
Questions of rite most serious nature are
pending between the United.States and the
Republic of New Granada. The Govern
ment of that Repubbo undertook, a year
since, to impose tonnage duties on foreign
vessels in iher- ports, but the purpose was
f resisted by .this government, as being con
trary to esieiing treaty alipulalion with the
I United Bute*, and fo rights conferred by char
■ ter upou the Panama Railroad Company,
I en#*was accordingly relinquished at that
fcme, ii being admitted that oor vessel* were
J entitled to be exempt from tannage duty in
J thefreo porta of Pantmt and Aspiawall.—
1 But the purpose has bean recently revived,
f on jbe part of New Granada, by the enact
- meat of aUw to subject vessels visiting Iter
pqxis to' me tounaae duty of fatty owu ,or
f and, although the law lias been pal in
i force, y'el live rigid to enforce it la atill assert
i ed, and may, at any "time, be acted on by
J the government of that Republic.
Tbe Congress r ef New Grenada haa alio
i gpacted a law, during the last year, which
- levies a tax of more than three dollars on
every pound of mail matter transported across
f the Islhmnsi. The anm thus required to be
- paid on the mails of the United States would
* be nearly two miltiom of dollars annually,
* in addition to the large sum payable by con
-3 tract to the Railroad Company. If lha only
■ objection to this exaction were the exorbhan
-3 cy of ibis amount, it could not be submitted
1 to by the Untied Stat®.
3 The imposition of it, however, would ob
i viously contravene Dur treaty with New
' Granada, and infringe the contract of that '
* republic with the Panama Railroad Company.
- The law providing for this tax was, by its
terms, to lake effect on the first of Septem-
I ber last, but the local authorities on the Isth
* mua have been induced to suspend its exe
> culion, and to await further instructions on
J the subject from the g>--rii,cnt of itie re
! public. lam not yet advised of the deter
i minalion of ,that government. If a measure
- so oxtraordipary hi ita character, and so clea
> ly contrary to-treaty stipulations, and the
contract rights of the Panama Railroad Co.,
' composed mostly of American citizens,
I should be persisted in, it will be the duty of
- the United States to resist its execution.
f I regret exceedingly thai occasion exists to
> invite your attention to a subject of still gra
' ver import in our relations with lite Repub- ■
* lie of New Granada* On the fifteenth day j
■ of April last, a riotous assemblage of the
■ inhabitants of Panama committed a violent
1 and outrageous attack on the premises of the
' railroad company, and the pssaengers and
' other persona in or near the same, involving
(he death oi several citizens of (he United
Stales, the pillage of maDy others, and the
destruction of a large amount of property
; belonging toyba railroad company. I caus
> ed full iovestigttion of that event to be
made, and the result shows satisfactorily
that complete responsibility for what occur
red attaches to the Government of New Gra
nada. I have, therefore, demanded oi that
government that the perpetrators of the
wrongs in question should be punished; that
provision should be marie for the families of
citizens of the United Statcs-wbo were kill
ed, with full indemnity for the property pil
laged or destroyed.
Ttie present condition of the Isthmus oi
Parisma, in so far as regards the security of
peieons and properly passing over it, re
quires serious consideration. Recent inci
dents lend to show that the local authoiitiea
cannot be relied on to Inaintain the public
peace of Panama, and there is just ground
for appreheusion that a portion of the inhab
itants ars msditaling further outrages, with
out adequate measures for the security and
protection of persons or property having
been taken, either by the State of Panama,
ofty the general government o( New Gra
nada.
Under the guaranties oi treaty, citizens of
the United States have, by the outlay of
several millions of dollars, constructed a
railroad across the Isthmus, and it has be
come the main route between our Atlantic
and Pacific possessions, over which multi
tudes of our citizens and a vast amount of
property are constantly passing—to the se
curity and protection of all which, and the
continuance of the public advantages in
volved, it is impossible for the government
of the United States to be indifferent.
I have deemed the danger of the recur
rence of scenes of lawless violence in this
qoarter so imminent, as to make it my duty
to station a part of our naval force in the har
bors of Panama and Aspinwall, in order to
proteet the persons and property of the citi
zens of the United States in (hose ports,
and to insure to them aafe passage aoroaa
the Istbmn*. And it would, in my judgment
be unwise to withdraw the naval force now
in those porta, until, by the spontaneous ac
tion of the repoblio of New Granada, or
otherwise, some adequate arrangement shall
have been made for the protection and se
curity of a line of inter-oceanic communi
cation so important at this lime not to the
United Stales only, bnt to all other maritime
Statea both of Europe and America.
Meanwhile, negotiations have been insti
tuted by means of a special commission, to
obtain from New Granada full indemnity
far injuries sustained by our citizens ou (be
isthmus, and satisfactory security for the
general interests of lbs United States.
In addressing to you my last annual mea
sage, die occasion seems to me an appropri
ate one to express my congratulations in
view of the peace, greatness, and felicity
w.biob lha United Slates now possess and
I enjoy. To point yon to the Male of the va*
f rions departments of the government, and of
a all the great branches of the ppblic service,
3 oivil and military, in order to speak of the
intelligence and the integrity which pervades
- the whole, would be to indicate bnt imper
t fectiy the.administrative condition of the
country, and the beneficial effects of that on
- the general welfare.
i , Nor would it suffice to say that the nation
' is actually at peace at home and abroad;
i that its industrial interests are prosperous;
f that the canvas of its manners whitens ev
ery sea; and the plough of its hasbgndmen
t is marching steadily onward to the bloodless
- conquest of (lie continent; that cities and
populous Slaiejj are springing, up, as if by
enchantment, from the bosom of our western
3 wilds, and that the courageous energy
8 of our people is making of fbesa United
- Slates the great republic of the world. These
r results have not been attained without paea
n ing through trials and perils, by experience
a of which, and lima only, nations can harden
' into manhood.
B Our forefathers were trained to the wisdom
- which conceived, and the courage which
i achieved independence, ky the circum
stances which surrounded them, and lb#y
were thus made cepable of the creation of
tbe republic? It devolved on the next gen
eration to consolidate the work of the fevo
' lution, to deliver the country entirely from
the influences of eonfliotipg transatlantic
partialities or antipathies, which attached to
our colonial and revolutionary history, arid
to organize the practical operation of the
constitutional and legal institutions of onr
Union. To ua, of tiia generation, remains
tbe not leas noble task of maintaining and
extending the power of the United States,—
We have, at leuglh, reached that stage of
ibe national career, in which the dangers to
be encountered, end the exertions
made, are the incidents, not of weaktffiss,
but. of strength.
In our foreign relations we htve to attem
per our power to the leas happy condition of
other republics in America, and to pisce
ourselves in the calmness and conscious
dignity of right by the aide of tbe greatest
and wealthiest of the empires of Europe.
In our domestic relations, we have lo guard
against the shock of the discontents, the
-ambitions, tbe interests, and Ibe exuberant,
and, therefore, sometimes irregular impulses
of opinion, or of action, which areata nat
ural product of the present politicaKleva
tion, the self-reliance and the reatleas spirit
of enterprize ol the people of the United
Slates.
I shall prepare to surrender the Executive
trust to my successor, and retire lo private
life with sentiments of prolonnd gratitude to
the good Providence which, during the peri
od of my administration, has vouchsafed to
carry the coonlry through many difficulties,
domestic and foreign, and to enable me lo
contemplate tbe spectacle of amicable and
respectful relations between ours and all
otliar governments, and the establishment oi
constitutional order and tranquility ttarough
' out the Union.
FRANKLIN PIERCE.
WASHINGTON, DEC. 2, 1856,
STAR OF THE NORTH.
R. W. W KAVKH, EDITOR.
uiooiusburg, Wtdoesday, Dec. 10, 1858.
I 01-UT ritOCEEDIMCS.
Iu the caso of the Com. w. Win. Strutbers
for selling liquor without license the de
fendent was sentenced to pay a fine of 310
and the costs. It did not appear that he
himself sold liquor, but his wife did so in
his presence; and the court decided that
this rendered him guilty, the law presuming
his complicity and participation in an act
of his wife done in hia house and presence.
In the case of Jacob Johnson vs. Henry
Johnson and the heirs of David Johnson
the jury rondered a verdict for tbe plaintiff.
The Grand Jury presented tbe following
report on Wednesday morning and were
then discharged:
To the Honorable, the Judges ol the Coert of
, Quarter Sessions of the Peaoe in and lor
| Connty of Columbia.
The Grand Inquest of the Commonwealth
of Pennsylvania, inquiring for the body of
the county of Columbia, respecifolly report,
i ibat they have examined the puV lie buildings
and find them in good order, the recommen
dations of former inquests being attended 10.
We further report Die roads in Conynghsm
and Catiawisea townships, generally in bad
condition. The bridge over Pine Creek, at
Solomon Buss' in Fuhingcreek township,
wanting repair, fndex boards in Fishing
creek and Conyngham townships down. We
would reoommend the Supervisor* of Cata
wiesa township, to fill up the road near the
creek, at what ia called the Narrows, so that
it will be above high water and ice, on the
road leading from Catawissa to Mainville.
All of which is respectfully submitted this
3d day of December, A. D. 1866.
JOHN CHAMBERLIN, Foremin.
On Thursday morning the case of the
Com. vs. James M. Price for the murder of
Isaac DereamePwas taken up. Every juror
was asked whether lie had formed and ex
pressed an opinion as to the guilt or inno
cence of the prisoner, and fourteen of them
answered in the affirmative. These were
set aside, and the prisoner's counsel made
twelve peremptory challenges. The Com.
made none, and finally the following jurors
were sworn to try the case:
Jacob Warner, William Shuman, May
berry Hughes. Wellington Cleaver, John J.
Stiles, Joshua Savage, Franklin Cole, Syl
vester Pursell, Henry Hess, Wesley Bow
man, John McHenry, jr., and leaiah Kline.
Mr. Clark opened the case for the Com
monwealth and two days were then spent
in examining the witnesses. Only two
objections were made to the admission of
testimony offered—one on each side. One
of these was to the admission of Jesse G.
Clark's testimony from notes proved as ta
ken on a former trial of this case before Mr.
Clark's death. The Court decided the evi
dence to be inadmissible.
On Saturday the case was argued fully
by Mr. Clark for the Commonwealth, Messrs.
Freeze & Montgomery for the prisoner, and
Mr. Comly in conclusion for the Common
wealth. Judge Woodward then delivered
an able charge, and the Jury on Saturday
evening near midnight came in with a ver
dict of "not guilty." The testimony in the
case is very voluminous, and it is almost
impossible to abridge it.
IrooMlSf 1 nan ranee Company-
This company has since the 10th of Jane j
last, adjusted and paid claims for losses by
fire amounting to 355,157 79, and there are
still other unadjusted claims bafore tbe offi
cers amoaoting to 322,443 20. The Com
pany liai made a new essesement of four
per oeat. on the premium note* Among its
payments since the loth of Jntie in thiscoon
ty are the following:
John Ramsey & Co., 3540 00; John J.
Stiles, 313 00; Thomas Trench, 33,000 00.
Of E. B. Parker, of Jersey Shorn, if ap
pointed Common School Superintendent for
Lycoming ooonly, in pleee of J. W. Barrett,
resigned ; and A. K. Brown, of Clinton co ,
in plsce of H. C. Dieffenbach. resigned.
New Apportionment.
A new apportionment of the State into
Senatorial and Representative district*, will
bare to be taede by the Legislature of 1857.
With • Democratic majority in ihe House,
| an Opposition majority in tbe Senate, and •
Governor who a claimed by tbe sotmlled
"Amerioat" party, it ia not possible thai a
bill c4n be framed to secure the concurrence
of these conflicting Interests, without consid
erable difficulty and delay. Tbe session,
therefore, for ibis eause alone, ia litely to be
a long one. Representatives are apportion
ed ia the ratio of one member to every bun
dreth part of tbe whole number of taxable
inhabitants in lha Stale. What this total ia,
we cannot know until lbs Auditor General
makes bis annual report to the Legislature.
Last year it was 565,000, and thia yaar the
Pittsburg QnxeUt thinks it will be probsbly
not far ftom 580,000, which would give
5,800 as tbe ratio.
At this rate Columbia county will be en
ded by herself to one member of the legis
lature, as indeed she was in 1850. The cen
sus of thia county gives 5,479 taxables in
the county, and ibis is as near the ratio as
can be. Besides, the apportionment shouid
in tbe general give the gain and advantage
of small iraclions in the ratio to small coun
ties, and not to those with two or three other
members of the Legislature. Each county
being a separate municipality, to help small
counties where it can be done justly, will be
a fair tendency toward a representation of
individual municipalities, with still the prin
ciple of numbers in each municipality as the
predominant element of the apportionment.
It ought also to be a principal point in the
apportionment bill to have single represen
tative districts wherever that is practicable ;
and never to join counties where that can
be avoided. Complicated districts only make
quarrels, disputes and divisions. We make
these suggestions, not from any dislike tr>
our present connection in apportionment,
but as Ihe correct principle in Ihe general.
The following ie a list ol the taxables resi
dent in the several townships of this county
as taken by the assessors it the Seplemnial
census of last month :
Beaver, 262
Benton, 200
Bloom, 509
Brisfcreek, 400
Catawiasa, 262
Centre, 254
Conyngham, IS2
Fishingcreek, 263
Fracklin, 108
Greenwood, 306
Hemlock, 258
Jackson, 112
Locust, 400
Madison, 256
Main, 120
Mifflin, • 256
Montour, 98
Mt. Pleaiant, 165
Orange, 260
Pine, 120
Roaringcieek, 101
Scott, 334
Sugartoaf, 150
Total, 5,479
In the Senatorial districting of the State
Luzerne county will most likely become en
titled to a Senator by herself. Her rapid in
crease of population and business will car
lainty bring her ve-y near the ratio whiob
may be necessary for an independent dis
trict.
Tbe Pennsylvania Electoral College.
HARRISBURO, Dec. 4.—At the afternoon ses- !
sion of the Electoral College, yeverdsy, trip
licrte certificates of the action of the Etecto- '
total College were signed by the F.lcclors,
The Mestenges required were then chosen
as follows:—Three tickets labelled "Bearer
for Washington," "Bearer for Philadelphia,"
and "Bearer for Harrisbnrg," with 21 blanks
were placed in a box, and eaoh Elector drew
a ticket, those obtaining the labelled ones
being chosen the Messengers. The result
was as follows:
Bearer of returns to Washington, James S.
Campbell; bearer to the District Couit, Phil
adelphia, Thomas Chterhout; bearer to Har
risbnrg, Vincent Phelps.
A Committee OP arcounls and the expen
ses of the Electoral College was appointed.
An invitation from Mr. Buchanan for the
Electors to visit Wheatland was read tnd ac
cepted.
On motion, five hundred copies of Ihe pro
ceedings of the College were ordered to be
printed; and, after a vote of thanks to the of
ficers, the College adjourned.
ry Messrs. Dieffenbsch 8t Martin have
united the Lock Haven Democrat with the
eslab'ishment of the Jersey Shore News Let
ter, and witt now furnish to tbe Democ
racy of Clinton a reliable organ, and to
tbe editorial fraternity of tbe Btate a respect
able and valuable auxiliary. Mr. DiefTan
bach ir one of the trdfct Democrats and moat
worthy politicians of the State.
Poos STOCK— The New Voifc Herald, well
known as tha leading and moet effective or
gan of tbe Fremont party, slates as a fact,
that twenty thousand dollars were furnished
Ex-Governor Fonl of Ohio, to bribe the press
of Pennsylvania to tha support of Col. Fre
mont. If this Is so we can only say thst the
Fremonters made a poor ohoice of an agent.
A good part of their money wenl to bny bad
whiskey.
ur The Aim York Ledger. the groat fam
ily weekly paper, for whioh tha most popu
lar writers in the country contribute, has
now attained lha extraordinary circulation of
Oae Hundred and Ninety Tnouaanil copies,
and subaeriptMoa are continually pouring in.
See tbe Ledger's advertisement in another
column. "
17* Several members of Mr. Sterling's
Presbyterian congregation of Williamsport,
marched out of the church on Thanksgiving
1 day when the preacher began to maka a po
litical oration oa "bleeding Kansas."
CP* Western papers stale (hat the price of
badrm, ham and lard, will bo low this season,
as the old stock is not exhausted. Harry
■ them along. ■ ~ •
r ,
, DIVIDEND.—' The Easton Gaa Company baa
, declared a semi-annual dividend of Ave pet
cent.
A Kaasas Hassnm.
i They cant get over the Kansas fever 'down
I east.' ft appears to have (truck in and taken
. bold of tbe very marrow. We learn from
, the New Haven Palladium, that with a view
i to stimulate an hJtttltemen' that baa began to
I 8001, a Mr. FarrOn, who baa been for several
i montha in Kansas; now proposal to give a
t lecture upon the affairs of that Territory, 'and
> tell of what he WW there and what he hearib'
, He was, and still ia, tha Superintendent of
> the Free State Hospital. He Is said to bare
- with him a number of interesting cdrioaities.
- Among them, we learn, are the loUowiug ■—
i A canpon ball, made from the type of the
, Herald of Freedom; an iroh cannon ball ibot
I ioto the walla of the Free State Hotel; a
chain and ball from the leg of a Free Slate
prisoner; a part of the printing press of (be
Herald of Freedom, which was broken open by
the "Border Ruffians," and a "large number
of daguerreotypes of distinguished partizans
of both sides in the struggle." This "raw
head and bloody bones" business is rapidly
reaching a disgusting pitch. We thought
tbe blood had ceased to flow from the veins
of Kansas. There is but little prospect that
this museum can avail against the wise, im
partial, and vigorous administration of Gov. •
Geary. We suggest that Mr. Farren might
improve his lecture by an account ol ".he
gallant Lane's" inroad into Nebraska, about
which the editor of the Nebraska City News
could give him some interesting information.
—Phila. Evening Journal..
Terrible Snow storm In tbe Norlh*Wet.
MILWAUKIE, Dec. 6.—The storm of Tues
day last was very severe along Lake Michi
gan. Many buildings were swept away,
piers damaged, &c. In many places snow
fell to the depth of six feet. The railroads
are blocked up, and no trains are arriving
or departing The brigs Storm King and
Algomah, and the schooner Welland, were
all wrecked within sight of the city. All
on board were saved. Several propellers
from Buffalo are overdue, and fears are en
tertained for their safety. Many shattered
vessels are arriving here.
Alleged Negro I'lot in Tennesoee.
NASHVILLE, Dec. 5.-—A plot for tha rising
of the negroes in this State, lias been de
tected, and caused a great excitement in
Montgomery couniy, where it was first dis
covered. It is alleged that Christmas eve
had been fixed upon for the rising, and th i
most extensive arrangements bad been
made to carry it out successfully. One
while man has been arrested, together with
a great many negroes. Several of them
have made full confessaions. A large col
lection of arms and amunition had been
seized. The church at Louiea Furnace had
been undermined, and powder placed be
neath it ready to be blown up when filled
with people.
Despatches from Kansas.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 6.—A special messen
ger has arrived from Kansas, bringing de
spatches-fromJGov. Geary, in relation to the
release of Hayes, and other matters at is
sue between himself and Judgo Locompte,
which are submitted to the consideration of
the Administration. Tire despatches reit
erate the declaration that the Tcrriiory con
tinues in a peaceful condition.
Important Mexican News,
N*w ORLEANS, Doc. The Mexican
! Consul hae received official advices from
' Matamoras, stating that Vidaurri has euo
' combed, and entered into a treaty with
Gen. Lunda, acknowledging Comonfort as
the President of the Republic and promis
ing obedience.
EF* They have some pretty strong Demo
cratic counties in Indiana. Here are a few
specimens:
Bucbsnan. Fremont.
Crawford, 735 24
Davies, 1115 26
Dubois, 1101 21
Martin, 769 76
Orange, 1307 49
Penice, 1066 96
Skeleton of a Giant Found.— A short time
since some workmen engaged in suhsoiling
the gronnds of Sheriff Wickham at his vine
yard in East Wheeling, came across a hu
man skeleton. Although much decayed,
there was little difficulty in identifyingit,
by placing the bones which could not have
belonged to other than a human body, rv
thoir original position. The impression
made by the skeleton in the earth, and the
skeleton itself, were measured by the Sher
iff and a brother in the craft locale, both of
I whom are prepared to swear that it was ten
feet and nine inches in length! Its jaws
1 and teeth were almost as large as those of a
1 horse. The bones ate- to he seen at the
■ Sheriffs office.— Wheeling Times.
t ■ .i .. ,
Hol/oulay's Ointment and PiUs.—Tha sad
den changes of temperature in this eh mate
have a terrible effect opon the skin, the mus-
Hee, and the glands. Hence the prevalence
of ash rheum, erysipelas, blotches, boiU,
rheumatism, quiuay sore throat, and Ike
many ether complaints so frequently genera
ted and always aggravated by thia canaa.—
Fortnnately, in Holloway'a Ointment we
have tbe means ol promptly removing this
I clan of diseases, and ol so thoroughly invig
orated nil tbe exterior organs and integu
ments as to prevent their recurrence. The
PilU operating in harmony with tbe Oint
, ment, regulate the seeretions, and discharge
|- from Ihe fluids of the body eny acrid matter
calculated to produce external inflammation
1 or internal disease.
r
On the 13lh ult., by John Ifartman, Esq.,
I Mr. JACOB E. GIRTON of Hemlock township,
to Mise HARRIET GIOEB, daughter of Daniel
' Giger, of Moatour fowhahip,
' At Willow, Grove, the 22d ult ,by Jeese
Hicks, Esq., SOLOMON BOWER to Mies Bow-
ANN LOCKAKD, both of Briorcreek township,
Columbia county.
* On Saturday, the 90th alt., by tbe same,
, Mr. JACOB HANDLONO and Miss MAST, daugh
f tor of J. P. Foilmor, of Hemlock
~aaaa> ' '^
1 In Salem township, I.nxerne Co., on the
t 19th all., Mrs. MART POLLOCK, in the 80th
year of her age.