Raftsman's journal. (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, May 16, 1855, Image 2

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TIE RAFTSMAM'S I8IB8AL.
siit iSS.' ?rs
"C I.EARFIEL D , . P A
Wednesday, Kay 1C, 18E3, '-.
'CSOwinglto the absence of the editor when
the outside was -'V.orked off",' and carelessness
fa the proof reader,' a large number of typo
graphical and oilier errors will be observed.
We hope the reader will excuse them, and we
will endeavor in future to preyent.such'an'Vc-currer.ee.-
. - - ......
.... ... x LAST WORD. '
Some two weeks since we replied to a' low,
eVurfiteus rofs0na attack in a" contemptible
she'e published at Jersey Shore, hot with, the
design of writing the mediocre affair into lioti
ricty, but-simply to correct once for all a
misrepresented occurrcnc'.', in the community
in which' V.e reside.' Eut that sheet, having
discovered that it was in U.c w'rong, and Tvan
tinglhe manliness to acknowledge ' its mis
take", now seeks to crawl out of the" controver
sy in its own lew, sneaking, blaguard manner,
without doing us and the public the justice to
correct the slanderous report to which it gave
currency. . '
"'We scarcely expected any other course from
men w ho could be guilty of sinking the edito
rial character into the very depths of depre
dation, to gratify a" few miserable slmder
tionsers, arid minister to the morbid appetites
of a set of back-biting, hypocritical scoun
drels, who have U'H the courage to moke tLcir
charges to a man's face, but defame his char
acter anl attempt to blast'his reputation be
hind his back. Such Lla'k-heartcd Iihekrs,
are Ct associates and advisers for r.:env. he can
pub'.i' h a scind,il and a lie, to scatter among
a man's fiueads and neighbor-:, and then luck
the. Manliness and the courage to send him an
exchange but leave him to discover their base
attack as best lie m:ty. And then, too. having
utterly lailt d to make good their assertit-r.p, at
tempt to creep out cf the difficulty : which
they have place 1 themselves, in a low, sneak
ing, contemptible manner, like a sheep thief
ca.ight in the act would attempt to sneak from
justice. If the editors in question possessed
a spark either of honor or honesty, they w ould
acknowledge t!:e"r mistake, or give the au
thority lor their assertions, and until they ;b
one or the other, they will be compelled to
ber, iu the face ol the ccrmi.uity, the brazen
brand of Hart .'
THE PHILADELPHIA ELECTION.
The attempt is made in certain quarters to
cfeate the impression that tha result of the
late municipal election in Philadelphia, evin
ces that the American party is on the decline.
So fir rouj (Lis being the case, it is one of
the most LYUliant triumphs that the American
party Ljs yrt achieved. While Aye never for
a moment d-jubted that the Organization was
suCcicutly strong tn triumph over either of the
the old political parties, we scarcely anticipa
ted that it would prove stronger tlun both
those pirtics combined. Yet nutwit'isi-nding
tlie united oppositiou of both - tiie Vv'higs ai.d
Democrats, wiih the entire naturalized vote,
the American par:y succeed-d. ing!e handed
and alone, ia electing their ticket by a large
majority, .thus exhibiting a strength which
surpassed the calculations of its most sanguine
friends.;
It is easy to account for the apparent fulling
oiT in tha American ri ijorit since the elec
tion of 2S5 1, alxr.it which such a hue and cry
hs been raised. Then the Whigs as a body
vote! with the American Tarty, which of
course, lirgely increased the majority. But
ia lSS-i, th? Whigs, pjj a party, united with
tlxC Locofwcos and naturalized citizens, to pre
vent the success of the American ticket.
The result has shown that the united opposi
tion of all its enemies is insufficient to stop
the onward progress of the great American
movement. ' -
1 Tlila Is the first instance in which the Whigs
have united with their ancient enemies in open
hostility to the American party, ari'I wc hope
it wT.l be the last. The principle of Ameri
canism are utterly antagonistic to Locofoco
ism, and if the. remnants of the Whig party,
wh'ich.however unwilling we miy be to acknowl
edge it; has no longer:ca' leca! habitation and a
na;ne,"desire to unite with anj'paity, it ought
certainly to be with' an Organization ""which
seeks to establish in the administration of the
government the leading principles and meas
ures.Tvhich a ClaV 'and a WirasTER all their
lives'striiggled to maintain. The American
Organization seeks to establish a Home Policy,
fcr the protection of 'American labor, the im
provement of American rivers andbarbors, the
e'ation of none but Americans to office, and
the perpetuity of the American Union. These
are all principles for vhich the Whigs as a
party have long struggled against Lccofocoism
and i.ts foieign cohorts, and they aro principles
dear ".4 o the heart of every true patriot. .The
Caustitutsoa of the United States, in its letter
and fpirit, and the Union, the American party
will seek to preserve at all. hazards ami under
aJV Circumstances. Here then is a banner un
der which any true Whig, who venerates the
memory of tho illitriui Cut, c.tn stand and
do'baiire. Wehold the doctrine that Ameri
cans only, shall rule America, that the Con
stitution is the enpremc lan- of the land, and
that thedixenibcrment of this glorious Union
nould be, 4be. greatest calamity that coutt-b-lal
the hum.ia race. "Tho ynut. of tic -gov-.
grniaml rh5cb pon5itnte you one peopl,"
says Washijjotox, "is justly dear to you for
it is the main pillar in the edifice of your real
independance, the support of your tranquility
at home, of .your peace abroad,' of jour safty,
your prosperity, even that Liberty you so just
ly prize. You should cherish a cordial; hab
itual, and nnmovablc attachment to it, in
dTgnantly frowning upon the first dawning of
every attempt to aleniate one portion of our
country from the rest, or to enfeeble the sacred
ties which now bind together the various parts.
- AFFAIRIN KANSAS.
The situation of affairs- in Kansas places the
Administration ina somewhat critical position
and there is uo little anxiety manifested in all
quarters to learn the course President Pierce
intends to adopt. At a meeting of Squatters
and citizens of .Leavenworth City a question
among others was put to vote by the Chairman,
and the vote being close, a division wascalled
by ordering the ayes to one side of the house
and the noes to the ether. Malcom Clark, a
prominent politic Tan of the pro-slavery faction
and a large owner of, o? a squatter en land in
and about the town, cried out, "We have the
majoritj;:. to which a lawyer named McCrea,
a leader of the Frec-soii faction, answered,
"It's a lie;" whereupon Clark, advanced upon
him and struck him with a club, which would
have felled him had he not been prevented by
staggering against the vail. As soon as he
recovered from the stunIcCrea drew a revol
ver and .shot Clark, killing him instantly.
McCrea then fled, hultly pursued by a number
ol Clark's friends, who fired several s-hots at
him, none of which, however, took effect.
lie ran to the river aad sought shelter behind
the bank, which was abrupt and high, w hence
his friends took Lira under their protectipu,
removed him to the f rt forty two miles distant,
and delivered' him to the military authorities,
who locked him up in the guard-house.
Great excitement er..ued. Threats of mob
violence and Lynch law were circulated, but
no nnlawluPtlcmonstrations made Apvtition
was gotten up by the mob and signed by three
or four hundred names, requesting the ctiieers
in command at the fort to give up the prisoner,
pressing to give him the benefit of an im
partial trial by Jury. The petition was not
acceded to, and the prisoner was still confined
in the guardhouse.
A handbill was printed and circulated all
over the country, up atid down the river, cal
ling up oil all Pro-Slavery men, all true frkiids
of the South and of 'Slavery in Kansas, to
meet on Thursday at Leavenworth City, to
take into consideration the aspect of atl.iirs
and to adopt measures of proceeding in the
present crisis. The handbill is signed by B.
F. Stringfellow aud John W. Kelly, editors of
The Squatter Sovereign, J. Marion Alexander,
and a number of others.
The Find (Missouri) .frguiof the 1st inst.
piiblisbed the proceedings of a mass meeting
held at Webster, M.. tit which the following
extraordinary resolutions were passed: That
slf-defencc requires the expulsion of every
person bringing into reproach negro Slavery;
tliat robbers and traitors have no right to the
protection of the law; that they ratify the pro
ceedings of the Parkville riot; that they ap
prove of th resolutions in regard to Metho
dists, and add thereto "ail' ministers preach
ing prejudicial to Slavery;" that they have no
arguments against Abolition papers but "Mis
souri K iver Bonfire" and "Hemp liope;" that
they pledge themselves to go to Kansas and
help to expel those corrupt irg the slaves: and
tbt they cH a grund mr.is meeting at Park
ville on the oth inst.
When these consequences were predicted
by the opponents ol the infamous Nebraska
Swindle, thev were hooted at and treated with'
contempt, yet in, that outrage all the present
at.d all the coming mischiefs in Kansas, found
their true source. The only thing now left is
to enforce the "provisions of the law while it
regains upon the statute books, and to repeal
it as soon as possible.
LEGISLATURE ADJOURNED.
The Legislature adjourned on Tuesday of
last week, haviug as usual, at the close of the
session, passed a large number of bills, about
which they know nothing themselves, and the
people know less.
Wm. Piatt, of Wyoming county, (Demo
crat) by voting for himself, was elected Speak
er of the Senate. ;
Attack on Tkiicastepec A correspon
dent of the New Orleans Picayune, gives an
account of the attack on Tehuantepec, on the
20th ult., by 1200 troops under Christobal Sa
linas. The American, flag nt the consulate
was torn down, but the act was apologized for
by Salihas, who expressed great indignation
at the conduct of his Mexicans. .The soldiers
committed excesses disgusting to relate.
The Parkville (Mo.)Mou Victim. Mr. G.
S. Park, the editor of the Parkville Luminary,
whose office was destroyed by a mob, was from
(Jrafton, Vermont. lie left for the College at
Springfield, .111., and; while there pursuing
his studies, the war broke out between Mexi
co and Texas, in which he enlisted and served
under General Houston. He was at the battle
of San Jacinto, and barely escaped with bis
life. At the clos.j of the war be returned to
Illinois, and received a lieutenant's commis
sion; but left a."z;ain to take part in the border
war with the Camanchcs. Mr. Park built a
warehouse at the place which vears nisnrune,
and has resided there for many years. . Kecent
St. Loui3 papers state that Park has since
leen lynched by Missourians, in Kansas, and
the dwelling in which he and his family resi
ded burned to the ground by the mob.
License Qiestion. Judge Galbraith has
refused to grant licenses to inns and taverns
in this County. He also decided that iheie
was uo law in existence at this time which regu
lated litt salt of liquors; that all . laws relating
thereto, 'punishments, $c, hare been repealed.
and no l.wcan be effective until October the
latest which time the new law goes into effect.
By this it appoars, that every body can tell just
asmucb liquor, uniil October first, aslhcy please,
viihout fear of the law, as no law punishing
the same is in existence. The Carson League
will have to suspend operations - for the tiroo
J being. Wait rforJ T-$jtch,
Uneasy some of the ruin sellt-rs.
' Don't come the Philadelphia Sun.
Tip our peas, and the price of flour.
PrfvailiHgdhi Cholera in the West
Query what' become of our Railroad ?
Good the prospect for a throng Court next week.
The. question will the Court grant any licenses.
Jn fsesiion the Catholic Provisional Council, at
Baltimore.
Forzot promise the editor of the Charn
bcrsburg IViig-.
JVot fixed yet that pavement up n. Conic,
Lon., don't get "obstropulous."
Temperance Meeting on next Tuesday night,
in the Court House.
- Money a composition for taking stains out of a
character.
Interesting Ihe account of the bonibardmont of
Scbastopol, ia an other colnmn.
Jletvl it the speech of Mr. McConnvll, on the
bill for the sale of the Main Line.
High the wind yesterday, and the priee of all
kinds of provisions.
Matins their appearance mad dogs iu various
parts of the country. Look out for them.
Clever fellotc lierlin, the Druggist at ' Tyrone
City. Call and see him.
' All had- our lumbermen, wilh but one or two
exceptions. They have come home with full
heads and empty pockets
Qixnfd Charley tireafTs new It estaur.mt. : AH
Movers of ice-cream, lemonade, aud other luxuries,
should give him a call.
Another ricton at Providence. Rhode Island.
The entire Amcrioau Ticket waj elected The K.
N. candidate for Mayor had S'-l majority.
T.iotly our village in the evenings. T-ctwcen
iuumj on the drum and fife, and squalling of
babiej we have a good time.
Tire.il t iff in TViscimxin. Tlicro are now nt
Mitwaukic, Wis., ready for shipment. 70.000 bar
rels cf flour and .V0.CU0 bushels i f wheat.
Goorl a lrirr. When ymi buy or sell. let or hire,
make a clear bargain, and never trust to "We
r'aan't disagree about it.
J'jirv Mt.ft our barbers. One is nn tteur
perlonucr a the rarjo, and the olnrr on U;c
v ioiin.'
Gao-t :t r.i ,f the Tyrone City Hotel. The
proprietors are a pair of the c'overel follows this
side cf Jcr bin.
Sent hart f o'm.rvv ihc l'utchtn.in who .stab
bed himself witii a pouud of !oaj, because his
-krout" wvu'.da't : schmell.M
Vi7 the man that got his hair colored. It'd
no usi William, wc want items, and we're K.und to
have 'em, come from what source they may.
Abomin-rbte er.stont rrvireJ. Snuff boxes, con
taining sniiu cxrjuiaitely scented, are said to bn
the fashion in Parij a: Present for ladies !
A uitrtcsti convention. An open American Con
vention will be Lild at Harrisourg ou the 7th of
June. Shall this County bo represented I
A f-jct. Men of the noblest dispositions always
thick themselves happiest when others shsre their
happiness with them.
Still snnll.ing tuck othci Bishop Hughes ond
Senator lirooks. Wo ra'-her think the Iboinrable
.Senator has bis Heverenee pretty well 'snubbed up."
f'omc pumpkin. A paper printed at Adrian.
Mieliijf-m, says that a tape-worm Las been taken
from the intes;inos of es, loamm ninety J'tit long .'
che's a aerouger !
True. There is' a wonderful vigor of constitu
tion in popular fallacy. When the world has
Ot hold of a 'ie, it is astonishing bow hard it is to
get it out of the world again.
Importnit, if true. Dr. Tinsley. of Cuba, claims
to bye discovered that vaccine vims, after pass
ing tnrouh the system of a iicgro. is valueless for
the white race.
iMcnf.'s in Georgia. Tmmtnse Fwarnis of locusts
have made their appearance in I'ike county, tieor
gia, anl appear disposed to destroy all vegetable
life that fails in their way.
Dhrioiti that venison wo dined on at Tiradir.'s
last week, lie certainly gets tip a "leetle" the ni
cest dinners of any landlord in this section of the
country.
Coming Court . We. hope our friends will not
forget to call and pay us their respects, at least,
nest week. Wc shall be glad to see them, espe
cial if they bring us an article which wu haven't
seen lately. a little of the 'rhino.'
JS'at. de.cidt lly the man that had to "seooC on
Snturday night. He acknowledges the corn, and
snys that hereafter he'll give plaoo to the one
that would have mtide it '-all right!"' t!o it,
O r, we'll hold your coat tail.
BumloozlaJ a number of our citizens, on Mon
day, by a fellow peddling silver-wash. Served
them right. They ought to keep all the money
they can nt home just now, autl no 'v.it to a set
of lousey pedlars to carry out of the country.
On the xt.itn our friend Hen. Antis. We don't
mean the stage theatrical, but the stage coaeb.
Hen is a first rate driver, and -'puts 'em through''
in beautiful style. Jtcskies that he is a clever fel
low, and a patron of the Journal.
Splint y. A number of our citizens have return
ed ffmn toelow without disposiug of their lumber,
havii; determined to hold on to it until prices get
better, or loose it altogether. We admire their
sj uuk, and hope they'll realize handsome profits.
D.im?erous.--The .Scientific American cautions
its readers against the use of painted pails, and
says the oxyde of lead, with which pails are paint
ed, is a dangerous "poison.' and has been known to
be productive of evil in many cases.
G'lang Bi'll AVe cme 'over the mountain last
Saturday with a driver that knows now to make
good time, please the passengers, and take good
care of his ''team.'' We'll always be glad to ride
with Dave Ilalsey. He understands his business.
Shouldn't forget our young friend at Tyrone
to fulfil his promises. Come, Kd.. send over those
gaiters. The I'evil's pretty near bare-footed, and
if be don't Ret the in he can't go to the country,
next Saturday evening, to 'squecthe his g'hal.'
Always in order tor subscribers to the Journal
to renew their subscriptions. Next week will af
ford an excellent opportunity. We intend to
m-ko a number of improvements on the noxt vol
ume, ! that will Increase its interest J5ut, '-come
up to the traugh, foder or no foder." '.
D iseoHtinacd-lhz Post Office at Clearfield Rridge.'
We believe the cause is the inability of the Depart
ment to get any one to accept the office. It will
leave our friends there in a bad fix. Wo hope
some patriot will be found in Doggs. willing to serve
his country, and that the office will be renewed.
Gr.iiei-.ity arlnired the new board-walk in front
of our '-block.'' We fear, however, ii bids fair to
become thoroughfare for public loafers, in which
event, it will be a sorrowful improvement. Wc
give tbem nil notice that if they don't want a
shower bath at au inconvenient time, they had but
ter not;-roost" beneath our office windows.. .
Miy pzrty. The yoang ladies and gcutlcmen
of tho Academy; and others who were invited,
took a stroll to the woods yesterday, where they
had a most delightful pic-nic. We were kindly
furnished with an invitation by the bright '-Queen
of the May." but our editorial duties comvrllod us
to forego the pleasure of attending. , We learn
that every thing passed off pleasantly and har
moniously. The '-May Queen" presided over the
festival with dignity and grace, and all returned
to their homes in the evening delighted with the
pleasures of the day. May tboso who enjoyed it
live to see many a return of their happy festival,
and may their whole lives bo one bright, joyous
May Day.
Slanderers. The editor of tho VTulerf or-.l Dis
patch, makes the following sensible remarks which
will apply in Eome other localities as well as Wa
terford : --Our town is pestered with more moan,
vlUanousThcartlcss. small-soulded slanderers, than
any other patch of ground of the same size outside
of tho evil one's owu dominions. This assertion,
we venture, becauso scarcely a day passes but
Homebody's ohar-eter Is dissocod and a fracas
kickod up, resultiug in the. disunion of friends,
interruption of social affairs, and the Ion of es
teem. ' This is small, contemptible, cowardly, pu
sillanimous business, and if it cannot be cured by
silent contempt, should be by kicks, cuffs and de
rision. They, doubtless, know themselves, and we
& . . . t. : , i. : . -
I warn lueci id nptropriaw ui vi mrir nwupnror.
ular use.''
REMARKS OF MR. HTCOXJXELL,
OF IITDIANA COUNTY, . . .. "
On the Bill for the sale o' the T'aia Line of the
PUBLIC WORKS.
Delivered in the Honse of Rep., April 30, 1S53.
Mr. McConnell offered the following1 as a
new section, w hich was read : "That the pur
chaser or purchasers of the said main line,
shall Iks bound ever, alter receiving possession
of-the sania, and such or any part thereof, -to
keep in good repair and ieratiiig condition,
the entire line of said railroads and canals,
from Philadelphia to Pittsburg, with the ne
cessary toll-houses, water-stations, locks, buil
dings and other appurtenances, ami shall fur
nish the necessary locomotive engines and mo
tive power for the use of all persons or compa
nies engaged, or wish ng to engage in the
transportation of., tonnage or passengers, at
such times and in such manner as to not im
pair the use and enjoyment of said railroads
and canals, by said parties; subject, neverthe
less, to such rates of toll as shall be assessed,
not exceeding the toll sheet of 1854, .ts pub
lished by the board of Canal Commissioners,
it ?cing the true intent and meaning of this
act, that the said main line, and every part
thereof, shall be and ever remain a public
highway, and kept open and in repair by the
purchaser or purchasers thereof as such, for
I he free use and enjoyment of all persons de
siring to use and enjoy the same."
Mr. McConnell said, he and his constituents
were not only anxious for a sile of the public
works, but they desired a guarantee from the
purchaser or purchasers, that the line should
be forever kept open, in its whole length, as a
public highway, -for the use, under proper
charges and restrictions, of the business pul
lic, for the promotion of whose interests it was
originally undertaken by the Commonwealth.
As they, stood, as one public improvement,
they challenged admiration ; and if properly
managed, would prove to be, not only of im
mense value to the public, but productive .of
large income to the owners. A bill very sim
ilar to this in many of its provisions, became a
law at the last session; but it contained so ma
ny onerous terms and conditions as to fail to
at tract bidders. The general proj t of a sale
had then received hi.j cordial support; and be
hud voted forthat bill, though regt-.-ttin ,'
ndopiion of.sidiie of its provisions, lie h;'d
the Legislature would draw a useful lesro:i
from this experience, nr.d now try to jxiss a
measure which wocldatonce protect the Com
monwealth's interests, and secure the honora
ble transferor the works. No question has
been more earnestly and intelligently discuss
ed by, and before the people, than the sale of
the public works, and to none had they given
more unequivica'l evidences of their approval.
Consant and unremitting efforts bad been
made to deceive them as to the value of these
improvements; hut the system of deception
bad not been so complete as to blind them to
the real facts of the case. Soma of these
f.tcts as revealed from oJIiciul quarters, will
throw great light upon the question.
In a report made to this House, at the ses
sion of 18-j4, by the Auditor General aud State
Treasurer, in reply to a resolution of inquiry
for the cost, revenue and expenditures of the
public works, the following sfati m -nts are
made, being to the 3!th of November, 18 j3:
Cost of construction of the public
works, S32,j2l:2?7 07
Working expcnditnrcslo tbesams
.late, 19.-JM.fi.17 09
Interest on loans to tho e.micdate. j.l5!i,7'.l6 13
Guarantied interest in favor of
companies, 4.'o.21o 13
Whole amount of cost of the public
works to November 30, 1S53. Si7.31t5.17fi fi'.l
The revenue to the same period was 23.312.020 47
Balance against the improvements, $52,301,156 61
These official and reliable facts prove, that
the public works of the Commonwealth have
cost the people, from the commencement to
the close of the fiscal year 1S-V3. sixty-two
millions of dollars more than they have yield
ed. Since this rep rt was made, another year's
roily has been experienced ; about a million
and a half of dollars were expended to complete
the New Portage railroad, ami the North
Branch canal, and re-lay the track of the Phil
adelphia and Columbia railro.td ; and this ses
sion $270,000 more are asked for the Portage
road. Such are, in brief the results -which
have attended the Commonwealth's ownership
and working of this line of the public works.
Throwing entirely out of view the original
cost of constructing these works, lot us see bow
the revenue and expenditures compare. The
revenue for twenty-three years, has amounted
to $2-j,3 12,020, while the'int crest paid on the
money borrowed to build them, wjs $3-3,127,-79G.ati
amount exceeding $9,813.77G, the gross
received. - When to this excess, we add work
ing expenditures, $ I'd. 470, 357, we have a total
of $'28,313,033, as the amount sunk in twenty
three year's working of them, not including
the original cost.
The gross revenue received in these twenty
three years, amounted to $23.34 1 ,020; the work
ing expenses to be $19,409,831. showing a net
revenue in that period, of $3,812,102, which. is
an average of but $233,007 a year, or about f
of 1 per cent. er annum on the total cost of
construction. Thi State pays 5 and G per cent,
per annum on its loans, made to build the
works, while the works yield the State less
than one per cent. Who is so blind as not to
be able .to see how burthensom, has been, and
now is, the State's propretorship of these pub
lic works, a proprietorship which certain men
arc anxious to perpetuate, in direct disregard,
I cannot avoid thinking of the true interests
of the people, whom they pretend to protect.'-
The amount sunk in twenty-three ' years'
working, not regarding the first cost, we have
seen to te $28.31-5,033 which is an average
loss of $1,274,303 per annum, which deficit tho
tax-payers have lieeu compelled to meet, and
will lie conijxdled to meet as long as they con
tinue to own this line of public works. How
long will they bo quiet under this burthen ?
Ho wished not to deal in declamation, but fr
confine himself strictly to facts and figures,
which better became him, and better suited his
purpose of plainly and fairly stating the facts
by which the decision of this question should
be governed. Uut he wished to all the atten
tion of tiie Honse to one more development.-
The revenue for twenty-three years had been
put down at 25,000,000." This was doubtless all
that was received at the treasury. Who believes
it was all that was received by the collecting
officers of the Commonwealth? Is it possiblu
that the gross receipts, for freightsand passen
gers, on all the public works for all thv'sa years,
have been but a fraction over a million per an
num ? No one can so believe, who is acqaint
ed with the large number of passengers, and
large amouut of freight, carried over other im
provements more recently made, and at an in
come greatly exceeding that of the State. The
wonderful disparity between the gross receipts
of the State, and of the owners of other similar
lines, cannot be explained but by the inference
that large sums were lost to the the Common
wealth in their passage from the collecting of
ficers to the State Treasury. . The .difference
between the actual profits of the works of the
State ami of companies, may be explained by
the superior matter of the zros receipts cannot
thus be disposed of. The 'trade and travel
have gone over the public improvements; but
an adequate sum therefor, has not reached the
treasury. Why T Because of the dishonesty
of State officials a dishonesty which has been
so often found to exist, and which, be believ
ed, to be. as great- now- as ever.
the gres receiplsof the public Improvements
in the United States, which enjoy less commer
cial and trading advantages than our own, it
will be made evident and irresistable that the
most extensive and unblushing frauds have
been perpetrated by rlio.se who have had charge
of the w.orks, from Canal Conmiisiouers down
tr the lowest grade of officers. All which has
been done under the management of the late
Democratic party of the State, by whicb all
these immense debts were created, und these
extravagant exjicnditures authorized. That
party has now fallen; and those in power will
prove true to the interests of the people by di
recting the. s tie, on fair terms. -of thesQur.ee
of all ur taxation, and of the great part of the
politie.d demoralization of the Commonwealth.
The people have been deceived from year to
year on the subject of thej;ost of, and expert
ditures upon the public improvements, but
they will be deceived no longer. They demand
a sale; and he was ready to second their de
mand. Let the main line lie sold for $8,300,
000. The brandies will soon follow. And the
prices obtained for the works, if applied to
the reduction of the debt, will relieve the tax
payers of part of their burthens, will gradu
ally relieve them of all, and, by removing
this heavy incubus upon industry, add mill
ions more to the waelth of the people, and
milious to its business capital.
False estimates have, methodically, been
made by State officers, for the purpose of in
ducing the Legislature to commence improve
ments which never should have Iraen attempt
ed, under the circumstances. Tbe new road to
avoid the Portage planes was estimated by the
State's engineer in 1831, to cost $1,015,000,
from which ?218,G30 worth of old materials
were to be deducted. The cost already has
been Sl,b'S-,528, to which must be added the
additional amount asked for thrs year. $277,
730 m iking a total of $2 200,210 as the least
figure which this improvement will co-t the
State or more than double the original esti
mate! Can such discrepancies be fairly called
errors 1 Do they net look like deceptions
The same is tru.
of the North Branch caual,
which has already gone far beyond the est 1
mates made when the work was resumed.
Likewise, the Canal Commissioners h u e per
MStent'y misrepresented with regard to the
revenue from the public works, holding out
constantly the never realized expectation that
the revenue wr.s exceeding the expens.'S.when
in f ict, most of the debts created never ap
pear in the reports, and, although paid, never
deducted from the receipts.
It is time, these abuses should be stopped;
and he rejoiced ;tf the prospect of the sale of
the line to rrsj.ersible liarties.
He had spoke particularly of the frauds and
mismanagement which had been discovered en
the W'"rks.- He alluded to t!:e upper western
division of tl.e-cr.nal. where formerly one fore
man for every twelve miles was sufficient to
keep up the repairs; but where, sir.ee year be-,
fore last, two hive been appointed, thus in
creasing the daily expense of each division
from lour to five dollars, an expense incurred
for the purpose of giving j laces to pots of the
party having the control. Committees of in
vestigation have been repeatedly appointed by
the Legislature, who have discovcied and re
ported many abuses upon the western division,
the mountain railroad (which, however, is
now much better managed than formerly, by
Gen. Ross,) the eastern division, and the Col
umbia railroad. Though one of them was ex
posed, on the Freeport Aqueduct fraud, in
which $20 ,f:O0 were : tolen from the people by
officers of lhe Commonwealth idi-.cers who
have, as usual, eseajied the punishment they
so richlv deserve; while honest laborers, thus
derived of nnv thev have fairlv earned, have
been oblideed to submit to a discoun
of
twelve Or fifteen per cent, on their certificates
of indebtedtu ss. when having tbem cashed
that they might buy for themselves and fami
lies the necess tries of life.
In every joitit of view, the public works are
a burthen to the people, and prolific producers
of wronz and si-dlerins:. The Commonwealth
owes it to herself, to her reputation, and to
the interests of her citizens to sell them.
He
would cheerfully vote for this bill.
Till! OLI LINK WIIKJS.
The quest ion is not '.infrequently asked us,
by our Whig friends, what course they are to
pursue with regard to the American move
ment. That we may not be accus:d of dicta
ting to them, and that they may be able to
comprehend lhe position generally assumed
i.y the members of our-party throughout the
country, we call their attention to the follow
ing extract from an article iu the Davy Xcws,
of Frid iv last :
That the Whig Partv is disorganized, and asi
a National Party has no longer an existence,
i; v,-vuid now be useless to attempt to deny.
However unwelcome to many the declaration
may l a, and however reluctant to concede it to
be the- fact. CAiidor aud truth extort the con
fession that it is a palpable political reality.
Eve a in our own State, there cannot now be said
to be any Whig organization. In this city, the
once proud and boasted Whig Gibraltor, a cor
poral's guard of so-called '-Old-liners" may
persist in nominating a so-called Regular
Whig ticket," show ing how many will cling to
the shadow long after the substance has passed
away ; but even these, with all their devotion
to the. party to which they have long been tri
ed and faithful members, found it necessary, at
the late Municipal clectiod, to save themselves
from utter annihilation by the Americans, to
coalesce with their ancient and inveterate foe,
and make common cuisa with them against
the so-called Know Nothings. There is, there
fore, really no longer any distinctive Whig or
ganization in this City, contending for Whig
principles, and still warring against Loco foco
dominancy; and in the contest next fall, there
will probalily be but two set of candidates in
the field, those of the Americans, and those of
their enemies. So it will, in : all likelihood,
be throughout the State. : -
' Such, then, is now the condition of political
affairs in this city and the State. Though the
so-called Democracy still exists in name, it is
only in name, and after next's fall's election it
is quite probable that in this State it will not
even have a nominal existence, but will lie ful
ly merged, like the so-called Regular Whigs,
into a Fusion organization embracing all the
political elements at war with Americanism.
Disruption of old -parties is now the order of
the day. It is the characteristic of the age,
and blink at it as we w ill, we cannot help see
ing it. The exigencies of the times, the cur
rent of popular sentiment, the wants of socie
ty, and the interests of the country, all seem to
combine in forcing new issues upon us for
practical solution by the people at the ballot
box. Argue as we mav, the fact stares us ev
rywhere in the face, that the American feeling
has been f ullv aroused, and that in the ap
proaching Presidential contest the great issue,
which will override all others, will be between
the disciples of Sam, and his enemies. Regar
ding Americanism, in the main, to be identic
al with the principles we have ever professed
and maintained, and which Clay and Webster,
and other exemplars of Whig principles, labor
ed a lifetime to introduce into the administra
tion of the Government, we can most cordially
and heartily co-operate with it in the noble ef
fort to establish a Home Policy, which may in
truth be denominated the Ameriem System.
For Whigs, true to their cherished 'principles.
I and" dosiroua of having them carried out, to
pursue any otner course, woum be the veriest
absurdity imaginable. So long as there re
mained a wreck of the Whig organization we
clung to it, but now that a new condition of
things fcrces itself upon us with an emphasis
that cannot lie mistaken and will not be trifled
with, we follow where our political principles
lead us. 'Fight t J "the death." a bravo
motto,, but it does not follow that, to 1-e brave,
we must need j run our principles to destruc
tion, because an impracticable set of associ
ates are disposed to do so, when our ciuse
may l.e saved by embarking in a new organi
zation, ami ct mmenceing a new carreer with
every prospect of success. -
Tho Amei ie in organization is antagonistic
to Locofocoism. It has no sympathies iu com
mon with it, and never can have. Though it
bears another name, its object and aim is toes
tabiish those great American principles which
are cherished by every true Whig.. As has
been very properly remarked by a cotempora
ry, when pruned and divested as, assuredly,
it w ill be of some of its features the vuaier
sprouts incidental to its rapid growth, and
which, now, perhaps, disfigure its projvortious
and mar its symmetry, atxl grafted w ith other
old principles into which it will impart a new
life and new; vigor then it will contain noth.
ing obnoxious to the purest patriot, and noth
ing inconsistent with the truest Whiggery.
Why, then, should .Whigs join with Locofoco9
in their crusade against the new party, which
is so eminently and appropriately American ?
If those who feel and think as we do. embark
in the cause, with the same principles, aims
and objects, they will leave nothing behind
but barren associations, and take net onlytra
new lease of political existence but avoid des
truction. We need not abandon anything be
hind, for we cm carry all with us, as the adven
turous settler, w ho leaves the home which, tho'
dear, has ceased to yield him a livelihood, and
with all his possessions marchers Westward t
ftiuiid ii virgin soil a new and better home. It
l.i ty cause its 4 pang to give i:p the old home
stead, but ptve it tip, for a while, at least, v.u
I must
or el." it will tumble ab ut our heads.
i TitK Kansas Klkctiox La w a.nd Licsxh;..
i It seems to be conclusively proved, litat
j the returned candidates iu Kansas were elec
ted by an armed body ol Missourians, who
marched into the territory and took forcible
possession of the polls. If so a grave crisis
lias come in the affairs of the republic, the
fundamental law of the land, that the franchise
shall be free., and that no one but residents
shall vote, has been" daringly violited. A ter
ritory of the United States has been invaded;
a led.-ral govern or braved; and the right of
i t j ri si'iitation assailed iy armed bands. It
becomes tiie duty of the President, in this
emergency, to adhere inflexibly to the law,
sin! to crush the anarchical spirit abroad i:i
Kansas.
We are aware that- the conduct of the Mis
souri mob is sought to be defended in crtaia
quarters.- It is said that Kansas was mad.' a
fighting ground, 1 y the abolitionists of f ie
North, w-ho openly sivmved their intention to
oecup3 it in advance- of the slaveholders; and
that t ne Missouri rioters, in seizing the polls,
acted purely i self-defence, and mutely ac
cepted the challenge thus thrown down. But
this is uo justification whatever. Two wrongs
never make aright. Those only wereentitk-d
to ote in Kansas who were benn-file settler
an 1 the Missouri rioters made no pretence, nor
make it even now, that they were such. The
mol asserted, indeed, thatsome of its number
designed to locate in Kansas; but the mere in
tention to liave a domicile c infers no right to
vote; and even if it did, it would not confer a
ri-'bt to s-ize the polls, to intimidate the elec-
j tors rod gent-rally t set at defiance tin; con-
sti!?'t?d authorities.
A Territory is an inchoate rc-pti'dic. In its
rudimentary "condition, it is a couuiiy without
settlers, government or law. After sett 'era
arrive, and until a Legislature is chosen by
its own citizens, it has, ex tcevsi!a:c rti, to be
governed by the United States, which, in this
emergency, represents the States collectively,
ami through its federal organization, stands
ns arbiter between the emigrants from the
different sections of the L'niou. Tiie federal
authorities are, in consequence, the represen
tatives of law in the riew Territory; and they
remain ftieh, in whole or in part, until a- Legis
lature isi-hoseii, jid the Territory becomes a
State. An election not conducted by them,
and according to law, is as worthless as one
would be if held in defiance of the usual mode
in a State. The action of the Missourians is
as indefensible, therefore, as w ould be that of
a nioti of Pennsylvanians, who should cross
the Deleware in arrr.s., seize the polls in New
Jersey, and then ask the Federal Government
to -proclaim the men thus elected. Ledger.
Great DtsTitvcriON cr Lvmbeb. Olc of
the w ildest and most exciting scenes ever wit
nessed upon' the Allegheny river, occurred
Saturday morning last. About half past eight
t;c!ck an unexpected rise of three or four
feet came down, and the lumbermen being
totally unprepared for it, the ropes with which
the birge fleet of lumber was fastened opposite
Ifcrr's Island became detached, and some fifty
rafts w ere floated upon the stream in w ild con
fusion. They consisted of boards and scant
ling, and niai;y of them were loaded with shin
gles, and furnished with cabins, the intention
being to take them to a market further down
the river. We learn from the jSmerican, whoso
reporter was present, that many of them wero
crippled in the start, by having their oars un
shipped. Some floats were manned, some
doubly so, and many fleets of three ar.d four
raft s together wi re without a man to guide
them. At the Mechonics- street bridge the
destruction commenced in earnest, and but
four raf ts of the first fleet passed without more
or less injury. The fragments of this wreck,
being entirely unmanageable, run promiscu
ously upon the piers of the aqueduct, and
formed a perfect gorge from the third pier to
the Allegheny shore, wl ere there is now piled
up in the greatest confusion the fragments' of
not less than twenty rafts. Almost iromedf
t?lv on the heals of the first fleet came asec
ond'of still larger size, which being subjected
to the additional obstruction of the banging
fragments at every pier of the various bridges,
shared a still worse fate. Thus for some two
hours the whole surface ol the .river was cov
ered with the floating fragments of raits. Over
one hundred rafts weie torn to pieces. Lum
bermen siy it is impossible to make any cor
rect estimate of the loss, as it will be difficult
for them to identify their tiruher, thus strewn
along the beach. The entire loss cannot fall
short of $25,000, and some assert that it will
reach $10,000.
Though hundreds of men were actively en
gaged in endeavoring to save their timber,
and often in great peril, we are happy to harn
that no lives were lost, nor any one seriously
injured.
From the moment it became known that the
rafts had broken loose, people began to flock
to the river. In a short ttmo tho stream on
either side, from the upper to the lower bridge,
was alive with human beings. Tho bridges
were crowded, and such feelings of anxiety
wc presume were never before manifested
this locality. Pitts. Union.
0" Walter S. Landor thus commences soma
comments upon the death of the Emperor
Nicholas : 'Humanity is avenged. Ha who trod
upon the necks millions is laid on. bis Mlk
ihrrcrVpt'over by th erth-worm." "