I STAB OP THE NgRTH.
> B. W. WCAVEIt, EDITOR.
Bloomsliurg, At tdiic-ilu), Jim. 28, 1857.
. THIS AWORTIOMIE.Vr.
This subject will doubtless occupy much
of Ihe otteniioo of the Legislature al the pres
ent session, and as our county and neighbor
hood are much interested in it (especially in
view of past injustice) vcu propose to exam
ine it at some length.
Senators and Representatives are to be ap
portioned or distributed "among the city of
Philadelphia and the several counties, ac
cording to the number of taxable inhabitants
in each," every seventh year, in the man
tier provided in the first article of the Consti
tution. As the last apportionment act was
passed in 1850, another must be passed the
present, year.
By the consolidation ol the city and county
ol Philadelphia it) 1854 a new feature is in
troduced into apportionments. The seventh
•action first article of the Constitution pro
vides that "no city or county shall be enli
iiej to elect more than four Senators." Phil
adelphia has now a taxable population of
104,335, sufficient for five Senators and a
fraction of about two-thirds, as we make the
calculation. But as she can be allowed onfy
four, the result is that elsewhere in the State
the number of luxables required for a Sena
tor will be less than if the city participated
equally in Senatorial representation. If the
whole number of Senators is fixed at thirty- |
•three (the usual number) Iber. after allotting ;
■four to Philadelphia, thofe will be twenty
nine to distrihute elsewhere. To fix the
:Senalorirt! ratio therefore divide the Uxables !
of the State, outside of the city, by twenty- j
nine ; the quotient will be the ratio, which
we make to be a little over 17.000.
Dividing the whole number of laxables in
the Slate by one hundred (the number ol !
Representatives usually fixed upon) we make
the ratio or number required lor one Repie
sentative, to be about six thousand. Pliila- j
delpbia will therefore get seventeen mem- |
bers, which will be an increase of two over j
her present number. An interesting ques- j
tion here arises :—must the seventeen be j
elected upon one ticket J Cannot the city I
be divided into districts for the purpose of j
their election ? Wc are clear in our opinion
that the city cannot be divided in any man
ner for the election ol Repretentatives, under
the Constitution, although the evils of elect
ing so many as seventeen members by the
same body of electors are manifest. The ar
gument against the existence of such power j
will be found stated in the Journal of the ;
Senate for 1850 Vol. Ip. 111, in the form of
a report from tho Judiciary Committee ol j
that body. The committee was an able one j
and the report unanimous ; beside which, it I
is to be considered that the unbroken prac- j
lice of the government has been in accord- j
anca with their views; that is, against the j
division of t'ne city or of any county in the 1
formation of representative districts.
Fortunately, however, provision is made
for this, as well as many other difficulties, '
in the constitutional amendments passed at [
Ihe last session and which it is hoped may j
pass the present one and be approved by the j
people. Tito third amendment provides for
the division of the city into Senatorial and
representative districts at the session next j
alter its adoption by the people; so that but
a aiogle election need take place under the
arrangement of electing seventeen members
on the same ticket.
In another respect that amendment will j
have a happy operation. It will render it !
possible to avoid in futuie apportionments ,
the inconvenience and injustice which are i
caused by constitutional discriminations be- j
tweei) counties existing before 1790 and !
those counties created since. As the oppor- j
lionment to be mode this winter must, how- \
eve.*. be made without any reference to that j
nmenu'fflsnl, it is necessary to examine the
difficulty to which we allude.
The Constitution of 1790, Article Ist, sec
tion 4, has t.hia language"Each county
shall have at lead representative, but no
county hereafter erected shall be entitled to
a aeparate representation until a sufficient
number of taxsble inhabitants shall be con
tained within it to entitle them to one repre
sentativt agreeably to the ratio which shall
then be established." (Conventions and
Constitutions of I'a., 297.) This provision
was not changed by the Convention of 1838,
and stands therefore as if no amendments
had been made. For the third section ol
the schedule to the amendments of 1838, pro
vides, that "the clauses, sections, and arti
cle* of said Constitution which remain unal
tered shall continue to be construed and
have effect as if the said Constitution had
not been amended." It is clear then that
each county in existence in 1790 must be
allowed at ill times at least one represents- j
live, whether it has a sufficient number of
fgxoblcs for ttia* purpose or not, and that no
county erected since 1790 ran be allowed a
representative until us tsxables ate fully up
(0 the ratio required. It follows, for instance,
.u al Mifflin w. ; 'h 3,500 laxables must be al
lowed a representative, while one cannot be
lowed • t . 935 , M|fflin , |avj
allowed to bid" w " n " , s
ben erected before 1790 Blair since _
Bot il is to be observed 'i |al a cou '">
ing onceattainad to Ihe full rAtio for a .member
rosy afterwards be allowed one although
laxables fall below the ratio. The constitu
tional lira'.tatiom is exhausted when a coaniy
(erected ainee 1790) haa onea attained to
the ratio required; for it only defers sepa
rate representation •until' that time. Art. lat,
Sac. 4. The following counties, erected since
1700, are among Chose which have hereto
fore had the full ratio and now aland free of
Station a I limitation whether they heve
~ jjrosefu the foil ratio or not, viz:—
" te
erfon, Union,
Columbia, Greeue
tflHojring eouaiiee, erecud fine# 1790,
are nol lew and nsver have been, entitled to
separate representation
Blair, Montour,
Clearfield, McKean,
Clinton, Monroe,
Cambria, Potter,
Carbon, Pike,
Elk, Sullivan,
Forest, Snyder,
Fulton. Venango,
Jefferson, Wyoming,
Juniata, Wayne,
Lawrence, Warren.
There were 21 counties erected prior to
1790 (5 Smith's Laws 100,; of which not
more than five can fall below the ratio now
to bo fixed, and some of them may proba
bly at'atn to it. They ore Bedford, Northum
berland, Huntingdon, Mifllin and Delaware.
| Of course each of them will be entitled to a
! member under the constitution without ru
j gard to the number of taxable*,
j We do nol petceive the grouuds upon which )
j a representative has beon heretofore allowed j
to Wayne. She is oneof iho younger count
lies and according to the reports of laxables
(2 Senate Journal 1850, p. 122) has been
bolow the ratio at the times of making the
throe last apportionments. The ratio under
the apportionment not of 1836 was 3.057,
(P. Laws 794,) under that of 1843 —3,876,
(P. Laws 247,) and under that of 1850—
4,865, (P. Laws 777 ;) in each case exceed
ing tho laxables repotted for Wayne. But
as the county was erected as far back as
21st March 1798. it is possible, though not
likely, that it whs up to the ratio at some j
time prior to 1836. )
The growth of our Sta'e in number* has
been wonderfully rapid. For while in 1836
the representative ratio was but 3,057 it will
now be six thousand; showing that our tax
able population has doubled in twenty-one
years.
But our main purpose in taking; up this
subject was to exhibit tho great injustice
heretofore done our county in apportion
ments, snd we proceed to that point:
In 1836, Columbia had laxables, 4818
Representative ratio, 3057
Surplus, 1761
Multiply this by 7, the number of years
the apportionment ran, and divide by the ra
tio; the product will be 4; showing a loss
to the county of a Representative for that
number of years under that apportionment.
In 1843, Columbia had laxables, 5654
Representative ratio, 3676
Surplus, 1768
Multiply again by 7 and divide by tho ra
tio, will show a loss of a Representative for
t/nec and oneJiftli years (nearly.)
In 1850, Columbia (mending Montour,
formed from it,) taxable 6721
Representative ratio, 4865
Surplus, 1856
Multiply again by 7 and dividing the pro
duct by the taiio, will give a loss of 2# -|-
y ears.
So that under these three apportionments,
extending over a period of twenty one years,
Columbia county has lost a member for fen
years to which her laxables entitled her'.—
Perhaps no district in the State has ever
been so hardly used, continuously, for near
a quarter of u century ; and there is there
fore good reason for complaint and for an
an appesl to the Legislature for libetal treat
ment in the apportionment about to be
made.
Toere are additional consideratiohs that
ought rot to be overlooked. Under the
three apportionments alluded to, tho county
has had one member, so that the fractious
lost in each case, have been fractions over a
single ratio. In the case of a county with
three or four members, a fraction of equal
amount would bo small to each member
when divided among them.
But what is more material, the Senatorial
district ol which Columbia bas composed a
part, has had a constant surplus during the
I time of which we have spoken. It is a com.
| moo thing to make amends to a county or
! district for iinder-representalion in one branch
, of the Legislature by over representation in
the other. And it is, in fact, impossible to
( construct a fair apportionment bill without
resorting in many cases to this principle of
j compensation. The figures as to our Sena- I
i torial district are these
1836, Senate District IX.
Columbia, taxables, 4818
Schuylkill, 4700 i
9518
Senatorial ratio, 9256
Surplus, 262
1843, Senate District XIII.
Luzerne, 7651
Columbia, 5644
13295
Senatorial ratio, 11746
Surplus, 1549
I 1850, Senate District XVI.
Luzerne, 10898
Columbia, (incl Montour,) 6721
17619
Senatorial ratio, 14743
Surplus, 2876
Nor have these losses upon Senatorial rep
resentation been compensated in House rep
resentation to the counties with which Co
lumbia has been united for Senatorial pur
poses, as the following statement proves:
1836, Schuylkill, taxables, 4700
Representative ratio, 3057
Surplus, 1643
1843, Luzerne, taxable*, 7651
Ratio for 2 Representatives, 7752
Deficient, 101
1850, Lu.'eme, taxables, 10898
Ratio for 2 Representatives, 9730
Surplus, 1168
The net loss of representation in the
House to those counties amounts to a mem
ber lor five and a fourth y ears, which added to
the lossss of Columbia county, before sta
ted, swells the aggregate loss to a member
for fifteen jests! And this too while the
1 tains counties, as above shown, had unrep
resented Senatorial fractions, among the lar
' gost in the Commonwealth
We have the figure* at band also to show
that rhi* under-reprosecution of our county
and ' Senatorial district has not been made up
to our section of the Slate—that is, that the
representation of North-eastern Pennsylva
nia, comprising Northumberland and the
counties north and east of it, has been in
adequate during the whole time since 1'836.
We omit the proof of this simply to avoid
prolixity.
In view of the facts we have shown it
would be grossly unjust to continue our pres
ent representative district with ore member,
in the new Apportionment. Columbia has
6479 taxables. being nearly enough for a
Representative, nnd Montour 3162. But as
the latter county must be Attached to some
other county or counties, we propose this ar
rangement—unite Columbia, Montour and
Sullivan as a district with two members.—
I We suppose this would be satisfactory to all
the counties concerned, and it would be a
fair adjustment. But even if Columbia and
; Montour, without Sullivan, were made a dis
trict witrt two members, it would not he un
reasonable in view of past unJer-representa
tion.
Another plan would be the following :
Columbia one member; Montour, Northum
berland and Union two. In that ca?u Sny
der and Juniata might have one, Perry one,
and Mifflin one to which she is entitled by
the Constitution. This would carry a tolera
ble arrangement of districts from Luzerne to
the Juniata.
The facts wo have exhibited constitute
also a powerful plea in our behalf in the for
mation of our Senaiotiat district. From the
rapid growth ol Luzerne, our cour.ty can no
longer be united with her, nor can we be
joined with Schuylkill. Our Senatorial con
nection must therefore be north or west, and
it should be made upon principles of liberal
ity. We propose, Columbia, Sullivan. Mon
tour and Northumberland as the district.—
These counties contain 15795 taxables, not
far below the tatio, have natural connections,
have not been fully represented heretofore,
and their junction would be satisfactory to
the people of each.
In 1850, when the existing apportionment
was under consideration, there was a dispo
sition to compensate this county to some ex
tent for previous losses and hence most of
the bills introduced iulo the Legislature pro
posed to allow it (with Sullivan added) two
members. The project of erecting Montour
from our territory was under
the'same lime, and it is well known exercised
a sinister influence upon the apportionment
question, which was for some lime, kept
open and uncertain by it. Ffnally the bill
erecting Montour passed, end subsequently
the apportionment; our diitrict being again
victimised as a part of the shameful proceeding.
For the House bill then pending in the Sen
ate, which allowed Columbia (including
Montour) and Sullivan two members, was
changed by throwing Sullivan to Wyoming
and Susquehanna, and reducing Columbia
(including Montour) to one member. The
vole in the Senate on this amendment stood
16 to 15 and it was carried by the malicious
volo of Speaker Best who then represented
the district in iho Senate! (1 Senate Journal
1850 pp. 1059-60.) This is probably the
single occasion in all the history of iho Coin- j
monwealih when a member of either branch
of the Legislature has voted to disfranchise
his own constituents.
The ratio of 1850 for Representative was
4865 taxables. Columbia (including Mon
tour) contained 6721 and Sullivan 769. II
the district had been left as the bill passed
the House, this county would have had u
member all the time for the last seven years
and Montour one also for four or five years
of the same period.
But we must dismiss the subject, with the
expression of our hopes that a fair apportion
ment bill will be passed at Iho present ses
sion, and that in particular, Ion? deferred
justice will be done to our immediate sec
tion ol the Commonwealth.
Exciting Trial.
Isaac S Shnrlock was last week put upon
his trial at Philadelphia before Judges Alli
son and Conrad lor the killing ol Philip S.
Clatvges a merchant on the 6th of Novem
ber last at Guy's Hotel. The defence is
J that Clawges had seduced the wife of Shur
lock, and that while the brain of the hus
j hand was on fire from the first intelligence
I of the dishonor he shot the seducer when
j he first met him. The prisoner was at the
time in the employ of Clawges as book
keeper, and the evidence showed that he
was of industrious and correct habits and
sustained a good character. In the evening
aftor he left the store ol Clawges at 7 o'clock
j he wa9 accustomed to go to the store of Mr.
Woods on Ridge Rood and post books there
often until after midnight. Here his wife
often came and sat with him until the close
of his labors. He is 22 years of age, and
his wife 20. There was also some evidence
of hereditary insanity in the family of the
prisoner, and the jury returned a verdict of
"not guilty."
Catnwissa ICtillroud.
The earnings of the Catawiasa, William
sport end Lne Railroad, for the month of
December, show a handsome increase over
the corresponding month last year:
From freight, $16,189 23
From passengers, 7,559 72
Total, $23,718 95
Same month previous year, 18,564 32
Increase nearly 30 percent, $5,184 63
The coupons of the mortgage bonds and
income bonds of this Company, due on the
Ist of February, will be paid at the office of
the Company, 131 Waluut street, Philadel
phia, on that day.
CP* Our thanks are due to Hon. Wm.
Smith, Hon. J. G. Brown, Hon. Henry. M.
Fuller of Washington and Messrs. lint and
Scott of Harrisburg for friendly missive*.
or We learn that a destructive fire occur
red at Tamaqua on last Sunday night, doing
some $30,000 damage. About $20,000 is
said to be covered by insurance.
• • : —•
CP* Hon. John Appleton of Maine will on
the 4th of Marob take charge of the Wash
ington Unum newspaper.
LOCAL AFFAIRS.
THE New STATE KOAD laid out under Act
bt Assembly from Laport to this place does
not seem to meet with much favor from the
, people bf Hemlock township, who are strong
ly petitioning for a vacation of their share
of the road.
E7* Mr. John J. Stiles has been appointed
Postmaster at Kenton in this county in the
place of Daniel Hartman deceased. The ap
pointment will suit Mr. Stiles and the peo
ple or that vicinity very well.
CS r The citizens of E.spytown have al
most unanimously petitioned to the legisla
ture for a law declaring the streets and al
leys of that town highways.
HT The thermometer was on last Satur
day morning at 22 degrees below zero ia
this town, which is colder than it has been
here within 20 years past. The whole win
ter has been very severe, not only here, but
at every place from which we have ac
counts.
SERIOUS ACCIDENT. —On last Friday a seri
ous accident occurred at the work of the
Columbia Coal and Iron Co. in Keaver twp.,
where the Company are building a railroad
and bridge from McCauly's Mountain over
the chasm to the Calawissa Railroad. The
earth had been undermined along the hill,
and a slide brought in the superincumbent
earth upon the workmen and carts, killing
four men, breaking the leg of another (who
has since died) or.d the arm of a sixth.—
Two horses were also killed.
AT HOME.— At York, the home ol Samuel
Menear, the Democrats held a spirited in
dignation mealing denouncing the Cameron
traitors; and closed up by bumiug the three
in efiigy. The I'orA Gazelle, the old organ
of the Democracy, has a picture of the three
suspended by the neck.
At Pinegrovo, the residence of Wagonsel
ler, the Democrats also held an indignation
meeting branding the tiaitors.
DECIDED. —Last week the Supreme Court
of this Siate decidsd the case of the contest
ed Judgeship between Hon. Henry D. Max
well and Hon. J. K. Findlay in the North
ampton district. The former of these gen
tlemen held by oppointment from the Gov
ernor, and the latter claimed by an election
from the people. Rut as the predecessor,
Judge McCartney, did not die three months
before the October election, the Court deci
ded such election was void, and gave the
bench to Judge Maxwell.
Ifxports und Imports.
The value of exports from the U. Stales to |
all oilier countries during ihe fiscal year end- 1
ing Ist of July last, was $326,954,503, of J
which 8195,791,836 were to the British do- {
minions. The imports, during the same |
penori, were 6314,630,9.41, of which 5t54,-
056.746 were from the British dominions.
Our exports to France amounted to $42,524,-
936, and our imports to 839,249,803.
CP* The new coinage biil passed by Con
gress it now a law and in operation, and
"fips" and ' levies 1 ' will soon be as scarce
as hlf dollars. The Government officers are
requited by this law to receive Spanish and
Mexican quarters at 20 cents, the "levies"
at 10 tents und the 'Tip" at five cents, ma
king these Coins of no more value than our
own decimal currency, the prettiest and
most convenient currency we, can have.
When received at these rates at the Post-
Office and CuKium-llonee, &c., they are to
be sent to the Mint to recoin into American
pieces. "Pips 'and ''levies" bare had their
day, and with them goes the opportunity of
small financiers lo shave the public four per
cent, in giving change.
if During Washington's administration
threo new Stales were admitted inlo the
Union—two slave and one free. And Wash
ington's immediate successor admitted all
that applied, without pausing a moment to
inquire into the domestic habits of the peo
ple. Jt was none ol their business. If such
was the practice of ihose illustriuos patriots,
why should we depart from their paths lo
follow such creatures as Sumner, Wilson,
Giddings, Parson Beecher, and the test of
the Abolition crew ?
GREAT BRIDGE.— A bridge is now being
built across the Upper Mississippi, at St.
Paul, Minnssota. It is to be 1300 feet in
iengib, resting upon nine piers, the highest
ol which are seventy feet above high water
mark, so as lo enable the largest boats to
pass under without difficulty. The greatest
■pan will be two hundred and twenty feet,
sufficiently wide to allow the largest rails to
pass without coming in contact with the
abutments. The whole cost of the work will
be near $120,000.
THE PARDONING GOVERNOR —An exchange
saya that Gov. Clark, of New York, was be
ing shaved the other day, when the barbel
accidently tweaked his nose a little too
hard: "Pardon me," said he, very naturally.
"Put your hand in my coat pocket and pull
one oul," said the kind hearted Governor;
"I'll fill it up for you when you're done."
Btr While a select party at a Boston hotel
were drinking wine at S2O a bottle,and about
fifty "young Americans" were drinking bad
whiskey in an adjoining eating house, on the
next street the police found two families hall
starved and half frozen— a contrast of civili
zed life!
t#" It ie stated by one of the Portland.Me.,
papers that there are about 5000 believers in
Spiritualism in that city. Perhaps this fuel—
if fact it is, and we have no cause to doubi
it—may account, in part, for the unprece
dented popularity of Fremonnsm in that lo
cality. Where one fanaticism rages, ol hen
generally find a congenial soil.
GPTb m Lycoming Gazette has changed
hands. N. L. Atwood has retired and hia
I successors are Messrs. Clark k Biggins. tV<
I #i*b both parties success
The Public Woika.
We have bean favored with a copy of the
annual report of ihb Canal Commissioners,
Grid, aa usual, the North Branch presents next
to the largest net revenue to the State of the
several lines. The receipts for 1856 ara
6254,202 75, and the total expeuditure* only
664,042 50 leaving a net income to the Slate
of 8190,160 18. This is better than any other
department of the public works except the
Delaware Division, and we suggest that the
Canal Board lake some of our Columbia
county people to menage the Portage iiail
road and a few such places, where honest
men seem very much needed. The only
1 sore spot in this line is the Nanticoke lock,
about which all the boatmen and many other
| people have a great deal to say, but which it
I is to be hoped will all come right in lime.
This report gives one wholesome fact for
the people of the State, in showing that the
actual profits of the pnblio works over the
expodilures for 1856 have been 81,155,008
98.
We copy so much of the report as has in
terest for our readers.
LOWER NORTH BRANCH DIVISION.
From the first lock above Northumberland to the
head of the pool of the Lackawanna dam —6l.
W. Search, Supervisor.
Length of line, 73 miles; dams 2; locks,
14 ; goardlocks, 2 ; acqueducls, 7; culverts,
24; waste-weirs, 13; overfalls, 6; towing
path bridges, 10; road bridges, 41; farm
bridges, 83.
Navigation was dored on the 10 of Dec., I
and re-opened on the 7th of April.
The aqueduct at Fishing creek has been !
re-built at a cost of 822,000. A dredge boat,
engine and fixtures, designed for cleaning
out the canal and pool of Nanticoke dam,
was purchased for 82,600. These amounts
were paid out of the ordinary repair fund.—
The repairs, with these exceptions, were cf
the ordinary character.
The act of 1855 specifically appropriated
sl4 000 for the building of a new luck at the
head of the pool of Nanticoke dam. This
lock is not yet finished. The supervisor re
ports that its cost will exceed the apppropria
lion 85,675, for which an appropriation will
be required.
It is gratifying to state that the business on
I this line continues to increase. The lolls of
1855, at the Beach Haven office, exceeded
Ihoss of 1854, $18,395 97. The receipts for
1856, as compared with 1855, are as follows:
In 1856 $254,202 75
In 1855
Increase in 1856 21,590 28
Or $39,986 25 over the receipts of 1854.
Coal shipped at same office in
1856, tons 510,631
Coal shipped at same office in
1855, tons 464,039
Increase in 1856, tons 46,592
Expenditures for 1856—repairs, 853,440 67;
breaches, $1,564 20; road and farm bridges,
$2,172 48; lock-keepers, $3,628.
From Kuustis.
ST. LOUIB, Jan. 20— The Republican has
an advance copy of Gov. Geary's Message lo
Ihe Kansas Legislature. IJJ laying do.vn the
principles whi.ch are lo guide his administra
tion, lie 6ays a jealous regard for the elective
security and sanctity of the ballot box, with
an. adherence to the doctrine of popular sov
ereignty, as guarantied in the organic act
establishing the territory; Ihe preservation
of the currency, based on gold and silver;
free and safe immigration from every part of
the country, a determination to submit to no
invasion of the sovereignty of the territory,
entire religious freedom, a free press, a free
speech, the right to assemble and discuss all
questions of public interest, trials by juries
impartially selected, and sanctity of the writ I
of habeus corpus, the repeal of all laws in
consistent with the Constitution of the United
States and the organic act, are the ideas by
which his policy will be shaped. His views
of squatter sovereignly are embodied iu the
following passage;—
"The durability and imperative authority
of the Stale Constitution, when the interest
ol the people require a Stale Government,
and the direct popular vote necessary lo give
it sanction and effect, wilt bo a proper occa
sion, once for ali, to decide the grave political
questions which underlie a well regulated
Commonwealth." The Governor advises the
Legislature lo let Slavery alone, where the
Constitution places it; to forego legislation
in reference to it until the State Constitution
is formed. He recommends that the errors
and omissions in the statute book be correct*
ed ; lie denounces the lest oath set and rec
ommends its repeal; he disapproves of the
present mode of selecting juries, and recom
mends their selection by lot- The adoption
of the ballot box plan is insisted on. He re
ooimonJ A lw requiring r*ii)noo in iho
territory of ninety days, and in certain dis
tricts for ten days, to prevent illegal voting.
He advises a repeal of the patrol law, which
levies a tax on all pioperty for ths especial
protection of the slave owners. The balance
of the message, which is an able and Upright
document, is devoted to local affairs.
A NKW Gim.—The "needle gun," a late
invention by Mr. C. D. Scbubart, of CU, can
be loaded and fired in six seconds by the
watch. The hunter goes in the woods, or
the warrior to battle untrammeled and unbur
dened with flask, horn, 6hot or bullet-bags,
caps,percussions or wadding. His cartridges
include all, and can be adjusted in a moment,
ready for use. It is loaded at the breech,
the powder is ignited at the lop o( the cart
tridge, consequently consuming all, and gen
erating the full explosive power without
waste of powder or gas.
X3T A movement is on foot in Canada to
secure the passage of a law by which fngitive
slaves may be sent back to the United States.
They say they have already too mnchofthat
kind of population, and that it cannot supply
its own war.ts, and is a heavy bnrden on
pablic charity.
Engines in Schuylkill County. —ln 1855
there were 39 engines built for mining pur
poses in Schuylkill county, with an aggre
gate of 1004 horse-power, showing an in
crease, as compared with 1856, of 8 engines
and 135 horse-power
Arrival ef the America at Halifax.
THREE DAYS LATER FROM EUROPE.
Halifax, Jan. 19.—The Cunrad steamship
America arrived here at 6 o'clock last eve
ning, but ber news could not be despatched
in consequence of the telegraph wires being
disarranged by the storm. Her dates are to
the 3d inst.
The steamship Atlantic and City of Man
chester arrived out On the Ist ol January.
The details Of news by the Indian Overland
Mail had bean received, but nothing new
concerning the PeraiaVt>edhibn had reacb
jed Bombay. Ueinfotcenuenls were to be for
[ warded immediately.
Dost Mohammed is busied with warlike
movements. He asks from England the res
toration of the Peshawur.
The naval force brought by Admiral Sey
mour to operate against Canton, consisted of
three frigates, one brig and five steamers.-*-
The details ara not materially different from
the news brought by the steamer City of
Washington. Some of the forts taken were
burned, and others were occupied by the
British artillery, and one hundred and seventy
guns were spiked.
Notwithstanding the capture of the forts,
the Governor refused to give the apology de
manded. He, however, sent to the Admiral
twelve persons, purporting to be captured
seamen, but ttiev not proving to be the eame
ones with regard to whose capture lha diffi
culty occurred, the fire was again opened on
the city walls, the artillery co-operating from
the captured forts, while the steamers pro
ceeded up the river and shelled the forte on
the heights.
On tho 29th the city walls were breached
and the city entered, but subsequently aban
doned.
A large number of Chinese junks were also
destroyed, as before reported. In the en
counter with the junks, the steamer Barra
conta received eighty shots in her hull and
rigging.
The Bogue torts were captured on the 12th
of November. On the 15th the Chinese had
remanned the Bamer forts, and fired into the
Mail Steamer Canton. The British loss, in
all the operations, is but trifling.
The English and American ladies had been
previously ramoved to Hong-Kong, with all
their valuables and treasure.
A detachment of marines, from the Amer
ican sloop-of-war Poitsmouth, guarded the
factories during the bombardment.
The accounts given of the difficulty be
tween the American and Chinese are not very
full. It is said that an American ship was
fired into by a Chinese fort, in Macao Roads,
whereupon tho Portsmouth preceded to de
stroy it, at the same time notifying the Chin
ese authorities that unless instant reparation
was made, hostile operations would ensue.
The San Jacinclo was at Whampoo, an
chored oil tho French Island, with the Ports
mouth and Levant.
The British Consul, under date of Novem
ber 15th, informs the European community
that the Admiral deemed it inexpedient to
disclose his future measures, but he saw no
immediate prospect of quiet being restored.
The English mail steamer met a French
frigate approaching the scene of war.
THE SWISS QUESTION.
Vigorous preparations continue to bo made,
both by Prussia and Switzerland, but the
hopes of peace now preponderate. In the
j meantime tho American Minister bar gone
| to Berlin, to offer, as is reported, the medita
| tion of the United Slates.
I Oilier improbable reports in relation to
{ proflers of good offices on the part of the Uiii
| ted Slates, prevailed
I The President's message to the Swiss Fed
eration has been published. The substance of
it is, that ait the Foreign Ministers at Berne
, had mado a proposal, that if the Swiss au
thorities give up the trial of the Neufchate!
prisoners, their respective governments would
endeavor to induce Prussia to recognize tho
absolute independence of Neufchatel. The
proposition fell to the ground.
The Federal Assembly,before adjourning,
passed decrees that the Federal Council will
continue the endeavor to procure the pacific
recognition and independence of Neufchatel,
approving the military levies as ordered ;
granting unlimited credit and authority to the
Federal Council to take ulterior measures
to defraud their country to the last extremity,
and authorizing a loan of 30,000,000 francs.
It is said that a French army of 60,000
men, under Marshal Canrobert, is to be as
sembled on the eastern frontiers to meet emer
gencies.
Berlin correspondents give reports which
are probably exaggerations, that the French
will occupy Neufchatel and Geneva, and
Austria the Pays. It is also said thai these
governments are united in a determination (c
wring from Switzerland the concessions that
their territory shall no longer be a harbor fot
, political refugees.
The march of the Prussians against Switz
erland has been postponed till the 6lh inat.,
and some say till the 15th, or later.
Attempt to Extort Money.
A base attempt was recently made to ex
tort money from the Rev. Mr. Hobbs, a very
respectable Methodist Clergynr.au, of the Bo
rough of Bethlehem. About two weeks ago
he received a letter from a mgn named Pil
tenger, residing at Freemacsburg, charging
him with having had illicit intercourse with
his "better half'' and demanding SIOO, threat
ening at the same time to prosecute htm if
the money was not paid. Instead of com
plying with lite demand Mr. Hobbs very
properly entered complaint before Justice
Ranch and had Piltenger arrested for attempt
to extort money from him. Upon this pro
ceeding the latter charged Mr. Hobbs, be
fore the same magistrate with adultery and
he was also arrested. appeared
and testified to the details, time, place, &c.,
of her intercourse with Mr. Hobbs. Both
parlies were bound over to appear at Coutl.
Subsequently fhtlenger voluntarily called on
Mr. Hobbs and confesied that the entire
charge against him was false and nnfounded
and that the object of hirfiself and wife had
been to ex'ort mor.ev from him ; he appeal
ed to the mercy of the man he had intended
to injure and begged bis forgieness.
At the instance of Mr. Hobbe, the ease
was eettled and tha prosecution discontin
ued—Eatton Argut
focioWJstftfrifoi ciißorir
ARRIVAL OF TBE ATLANTIC.
N*w YOR|, Jan. 23.—The Collins steam
ship A'lanuc arrived ibis evening wi'.b Liv
erpool dines 10 the Tih insl.
Lord Napier has been appointed Minister
10 Ihe Uniied States. He is a practised di
plomatist, haVing served in that capacity in
Austria, Persia, Rus.ia, Naples and Turkey,
The Archbislrop n( Pari*, while officiating
in the ohuroh of St. Stephen, at Paris, was
•tabbed to the heart hy a discharged priest
named Verges. Tbe Archbishop instantly
expired.
The assassin stepping forward while the
Archbishop was officiating, lifted his cape
. and plunging a bu'cher knife to his heart,
exclaimed, "Down with ths Goddeae," an
expression which he tfter explained to rsfer
to the Immaculate Conception. The Bish
op fell to the pavement dead. A Sister of
Charity, who had observed the movement
|of the assassin, to throw herself between
J him and the Archbishop and was wounded
in the band.
Italy.
A secret conclave was held at Roma on
15th of December, in which the state of the
Roman Church in Mexico and South Amer
ica was considered. The Pope compiaine
bitterly oi the doings of tho new govern
ment of Mexico, and declares all measures
which it has taken against the authority of
the Apostolic Chair to be null and void. He
also demands those priests who obey ths
laws of the countries in which they live
rather than the instructions forwarded them
from Rome.
Switzerland.
The Swiss Government ba**t)eclared it*
willingness to put a stop to the proceeding*
against the insurgents, if Franc* and Eng
land will promise their effort* to procure
the complete independence of Neefchatel,
and to withdraw their adhesion to th* pro
tocol of 1852 in favor of the King of Prus
sia, if they do not obtain from that monarch
the abandonment of hi* pretensions to the
canton.
If the arrangement cannot be effected on
this or analogous basis, all the Swiss will
rise to defend their rights and independence.
The greatest enthusiasm prevails every
where.
It is estimated that, ahonld War ensue,
400,000 men will be under arm*. The can
tonment of Geneva being in want of 80C,
000 franca for arms, that jnm was subscribed
at the town-hall in 24 houra.
Special Notices.
Hollnway's Ointment.—Encrusted Soree.—
Few external disorders are more loathsome
than this. It is, however, very common, es
pecially among children. Sometimes the
face, sometimes the head, and in many in
stances the whole surface of the body is cov
ered with scabious cleers. Scrofula is gen
erally at the root of this disgusting complain;
but whatever their origin, these excressence*
are speedily removed by the application of
Die Ointment. Scurvy frequently develops
itself in tiie same way, and therefore no ves
sel should leave port without a supply of this
matchless preparation. Tne Tills, from their
powerful detergent action upon the animal
fluids, facilitate the cure of external diseases,
and tor all complaints of the stomach and its
dependencies, are absolutely infallible.
' NO FA WILY
Can afford to be without Mustang Lin
iment in their house. The many acci
dents toe are liable to, may render it ne
cessary any moment, and nothing is ca
pable of performing such a certain cure.
(Extract.) "In lifting the kettle from
the fire it caught and scalded my hands
and person severely—one hand almost
to a crisp, The torture was unberable.
It was an awful sight. * * * The
Mustang Liniment seemed to extract
the pain almost immediately. It healed
rapidly and left no scar of account. C,
Foster, Broad street, Philadelphia."—
It is truly a wonderful article. It will
cure any case of Swelling, Burns, Stiff
Joints, Eruptions or Rheumatism. For
Horses it should never be dispensed
with. One Dollar's worth of Mustang
has frequently saved a valuable horse
It cures Gcilds, Sprains, Ringbone,
Spavin and Founders. Beware of im
itations. Sold in all parts of the habi.
iable Globe,
BARNES & PARK,
[52.] Proprietors, New York.
AG&AMA&I&A _
On Thursday, Jan. 22tl Intl., by Rev. Tbo.
Barnhart, Mr. ABRAHAM CORTRIQHT, of Baach
Haven and Miss LUCISDA FORTNC*, of Nes
copeek, Luzerne county.
On New Year's day, in Millon, bj
Rev. is'. Barns, R. G. MILLARD, and JAN J
FOWLER, both of Fowlersville, Columbia cB
At the same time and place, by the
ALBERT HAINAN, of RhoMburg, and S>./
daughter of Major Freas, of Fowlersville,
both of Columbia county.
In Light Street, Columbia county, on Tn.
day, Jan. 19tli inst., by Rev. A. G. Dole, Mr.
J. M. STOUT, of Millon, to Miss KATE HAM
LIN, of the former place.
In Bloomsbnrg. on Tuesday morning, Jan.
20'h insl., Mies MARV RUPERT, daughter of
the late Jitdse Leonard Rupert, and sister o'
Hon. L. If. Rupert, nged about 63 year;.
In Blnomsburg, on Saturday morning, Jan
uary itth inei., F.I.IZADET::, infant daughter
of Ephraim P. & Kmeline Lu'z.
In Green-rood township, on the 2 tsl of Jan.
uary Inst., Mr. ELIJAH AI.BKRTSON. aged 5I
yeare, 2 months and 16 days. The deceased
was one of the most worthy and respectable
of the hardy yeomen of our county.
THE SATURDAY EVENING
POST.
THE BEST WEEKLY PAPER.
Sample Numbers Furnished GraMi
EXAMINE FPU YOURSELVES.
Apply to the publishers,
DE tCON and PETERSON,
66 South 3d Strut, Pkilydtfphii
FOR RENT.
A store building on Main streetjjlnomw
burg, fot rtnt on rensonahßM|K aa
GEORGE
Bloomsbnrg, Nov. 34, 1866. ■