Raftsman's journal. (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, November 14, 1855, Image 2

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111 HAfTSMAI'S JOURNAL
Clearfield, Pa. "Welicalay, Nov. 14, 1353.
Tde Hard Times. It is not much wonder
that we hear so frequent complaints of "hard
times," when, under the Democratic Tariff of
'40," there has been imported into oiircoun
try during the last year, nearly $400,000,000
worth of foreign manufacture, which our ex
perts have failed to meet by $26,000,000, in
gold I Thus the whole amoupt to bo paid in
coin is over sixty-four million of dollirs ! Is
it any won fer money is scarce ? Pay day has
arrived, and the specie must all be drained out
of the country, instead of being paid to Ame i
can mechanics and manufacturers, to be again
circulated. How long are we to be governed
with such suicidal policy ?
United States Senator. From present in
dications, we should not- be surprised if the
Locofocos in the next Legislature would ex
perience as much difficulty in determining
who shall wear the Senatorial laurels, as the
Americans did last winter. .The host of can-
didates pressing their claims, will enable Gen.
Camiron, who is quietly at work, to give
them ne little trouble. Already we have the
following list of candidates presented, any and
cither of whom, it is reasonable to presume,
will leave no effort untried to secure the office :
Chas. R. Buckalew, Ex-Gov. Bigler, Jno. Rob
bins, jr.,Uenry D. Foster, Wilson McCanJless,
Johr L. Dawson, David R. Porter, John W.
Forney, Jeremiah S. Black, Chas. Shaler,
William Wilkins, Christian M. Straub, lion.
Henry Chapman, and others, "too numerous
to mention."
As one of our cotemporaries has observed,
we have seen the political horizon look much
darker for Get;. Cameron, than it does at pre
sent, and we have seen his star in the ascend
ant after the clouds were dispelled. We
should not be much surprised if he would be
the next United States Senator.
"Time to Work." Our American friends
should remember the lesson taught by the re
sult of the recent election, and go earnestly
to work, in every township and council, to
strengthen our organization. This is, most
emphatically, the time to u-ork, and il proper
exertions are made, there can be no doubt of
our success. The officers of every Council
should call regular stated meetings, and com
pel a general attendance. Keep up the orga
nization, and let not the interest which is still
felt in its prosperity, flag for a moment. Re
member we are laboring in a glorious cause a
cause that must and will be triumjihant. We
are working for the protection of our Amer
ican Nationality, for the permanancy of our
institutions, for the welfare of ourselves, our
children, and posterity, for tho perpe
tuity of our glorious Union, and for the spot
less pnrity of our starry flag! In such a cause
he who would falter, .must be alike traitor to
himself, to his country, and his Grl ! Press
on then labor diligently in the glorious work
follow the example of our illustrious Wash
isgtos, and success will inevitably crown
your efforts.
The Grate Yard. It will be observed by
a notice in another column that a number of
citizens have made a move towards getting
cur grave yard into some sort of decent con
dition. The present appearance of that neg
lected spot, is really a disgrace to our town,
snd it is, indeed, high time that something was
done to make it look "respectable." The
grave yard is, and ever should bo deemed a
holy place, consecrated by the solemn sacred
ness of the heart, the same deep religion of
soul which Nature has implanted in the breast
of her simple child of the Western forest,
teaching him to preserve and honor the bones
f.f his fathers. There is nothing, which, to the
stranger, can bear more favorable testimony
to the character and hospitality of th citizens
of a village, than to behold, on his entrance,
the neat white paling rising up beneath the
groves in some green, sequestered spot, whose
object none can mistake. It tells him at once
that such a people are not entirely destitute of
the finer feelings and sentiments of the heart;
and that man is indeed to be pitied, who can
not appreciate such a touching and beautiful
expression of the soul.
The lovely site of our grave yard, and the
amplitude of space, render it capable of being
made one of the most beautiful cemeteries in
our land. Not long since, we were returning
from a visit abroad, and near sunset we paused
in the road on the hill opposite town, to gaze,
with a thrill of delight upon the beauty of the
landscape. In the distance rolled our beauti
ful river, while our lovely village slept quiet
ly at our feet ; and as the broad, deep shadows
of the summer evening streamed lengthening
thro' the tall pines wide over the landscape, it
seemed to us we had never gazed upon a more
beautiful scene. We turned our eyes to the
left, and they rested upon the cold, barren,
neglected spot, appropriated as a last resting
place of the departed, in sad keeping with the
fcrilliant prospect gilded by the summer sun
Bet. We passed on, fondly hoping that the
time was not far distant when our burial
ground would be no Potter's Field," but a
sweet household sepulchre, where the turf
would be often dewed by the tear drop of
fympatby, and the wild grass wave r green
d ft'
The Recent Elections. We suppose our
Locofoco friends will scarcely claim the results
of the following elections as sustaining the
present National Administration, or as indica
ting the death and burial of that redoubtable
individual called "Sam."
In Maryland, the Americans have swept
the State beyond a doubt by an overwhelming
majority. In Baltimore, their entire ticket is
elected. The returns from the Congressional
Districts indicate the election of the following :
1st District Not beard from.
2d District J. B. Ricaud, Amer.
3d District J. Morrison Harris, Amer.
4fh District II . Winter Davis, Amer.
6th District II. W. Hoffman, Amer.
6th District Thomas F. Bowie, Whig.
The House will proba-bly stand 40 Ameri
cans to 16 Democrat which will give the
Americans the majority on joint ballot.
From New-York, the returns are still too
incomplete to give any accurate or reliable
statement of the result, but there no longer re
mains any doubt of the election of the Amer
ican State ticket, except perhaps one of the
judges of the Court of Apeals.for which office,
it is probable. S. L. Seldeu, Dem., lias been
elected over Willi tin W. Campbell, the Am-
eric in candidate. The result for Secretary of
State, as far as known, sums up as follows :
Deadly. King, Hatch. Ward.
Am'r. lirp. SoTttJ). II j nil).
Times. 72.915 60 .V.9 4.Mi 31.475
IlearalJ. 73.535 6J.917 43.452 21.011
The IlnaU gives the result of the election
"for the Senate and House, us far as ascertain
ed, as follows :
senate.
Know Nothings,
Democrats, : :
Scwardites, : :
HOUSE.
Know Nothings,
Democrats, : :
Sewardites, : :
2
23
17
i
14
The Tribune thinks the American ticket will
have 12,000 majority, but says it is morally
certain that no party will have a majority in
the Legislature. It estimates the House as
follows : Americans, 30; Republicans, 41;
and Softs and Hards, 48.
From Wisconsin, the returns as far as heard
from, show a small majority for Bash ford, Re
publieau. The vote is very close. The coin,
plexion of the Legislature is not yet decided.
Intelligence has been received of the election
of 11 Republicans and 11 Democrats to the
Senate, while there have been 32 Republicans
and 33 Democrats elected to the Assembly.
In Massachusetts, Gov. Gardiner, Ameri
can, has been re-elected. The Legislature is
largely American.
In Louisiana, the Americans seem to be suc
cessful. They did it up nice' in New Orleans:
In New Jersey the Democrats have elected
four of the tix State Senators chosen making
that body 11 Democrats, too WLigs and 4
Cayennes. The House will stand 37 Demo
crats, 16 Whigs, 6 Cayennes, and 1 Temper
ance being a gain of two to the oiposition.
Scenes in toe practice of a New York Surgkon,
by Edward H. Dixon. M. D., Editor of -The
Scalpel." with illustrations by D.iKLEr : Near
York, De Witt &. Davenport, 150 A 12 Nassau
Street.
Such is the title of a netit, well written vol
ume, from Whe press of Ds Witt& Davenport,
consisting of selections from the pages of
"The Scalpei"' a journal whose object is to
"popularise medicine by the attractions of
tragedy, cou.edy, and the strategy of litera
ture." Trained as the author ha3 been, by a
long and arduous practice, having every oppor
tunity of study ing human character, he could
not fail in rightly appreciating the high and
responsible duties he has undertaken, and he
has faitLfulIy discharged them.
Many of the scenes in this intensely inter
esting volume, remind us of Warren's cele
brated "Diary of a London Physician," and
are described with a power that thrills to the
very heart. In a novel and interesting form
they convey lessons of great value, aid where
ever the book is read it mutt be productive of
vast benefit. He infuses into all his skatches,
a spirit of instruction a quiet and unobtru
sive appeal to the reason and intelligence of
his readers, which cannot fail to have a salu
tary effect. Without crowding his pages with
dull didactics, the fact which he desires to in
culcate is infused with far more effectiveness,
by selecting some scene which has really oc
curred in his practice, in which the characters
act out their feelings with the vigor and like
ness of life. We will publish next week an
extract from his volume, which want of spacj
prevents us noticing more at length. It is an
excellent work, affording both amusement and
instruction, and will be found, emphatically,
a family look.
Passm're Williamson. In another column
will be founi a detailed account of the libera
tion of Passmork Williamson, so long and un
justly incarcerated in prison by Ju le John K.
Kane. It will be observed on reading the pro
ceedings, that he has been released without in
any wise compromising his position or making
any concession of a dishonorable character.
Unable longer to stem the torrent of public
indignation, Kane, having become heaitily
tired of the business, has Sacked out with as
much grace as the circumstances would per
mit. Williamson occupies precisely the same
position to day, that he did when imprisoned,
and by his release, Kane, himself, has public
ly acknowledged that he was persecuted and
committed to jail without cause. He has thus
convicted himself; and his miserable truckling
to the South at the sacrifice of the dignity of
his office, his honor as a man, and-his regard
for' his oath, will cover him with eternal infa
my. He will be despised and detested by all
honorable men. Even those who sustained
him in his position, will despise him for the
manner in which he has attempted to crawl
out of the difficulty.
Canada has now 3400 miles of telegraph
wire in operation. The last link of line ending
on Lake Huron at Goodrich, was finished re
cently, and business commenced. Twenty
two hundred miles have been constructed by
Mr Wm- D. Snow, of Rochester, commenc
ing at Halifax and ending on Lake Huron,
with several branches. . He baa been engaged
nwly four yaari oa the work,
Passmore Williamson Again Free. Un
der the order filed by Judge Kane, in the Dis
trict Court, on the 29, ult., the Counsel of
Passmore Williamson, on Friday, the 2d inst.,
presented a petition, which set forth
"That he desires to purge himself of the con
tempt because of which he is now attached,
and to that end is willing to make true auswer
to such interrogatories as may be addressed to
him by the Court touching the matter hereto
fore inquired of by the writ of Habeas Corpus
to him" directed at' the relation of John 11
Wheeler. Whereof he prays that he may be
permitted to purge himself of said contempt,
in making true answers to such interrogatories
as may bo addiessed to him by the Court
touching the premises."
In order to understand plainly the relativg
position of the Judge and the petitioner, it is
necessary to look back at the record of the
transaction. When the writ of habeas corpus
ws issued to Passmore Williamson his re
turn was as follows :
'That Jane, Daniel and Isaiah, or by what
ever names they may be called, nor either of
them, are not now, nor was at the time of the
issuing of said writ or the original writ, or
any other time, in the custody, power or pos
session of, nor confined nor restr lined their
liberty by him, the said Passmore Williamson,
therefore he cannot have the bodies of the
said Jane, Daniel and Is.ii.ih, or cither ol them,
before your honor, as by tiie within writ he is
commanded."
Now let us take Judge Kane's own account
of th j matter, as given in his decision on the
23th July :
"At the hearing I allowed the relator to tra
verse this return ; and several witnesses, who
were asked by him, testified to the facts as I
have recited them. The District Attorney,
upon this state of facts, moved for William
son's commitment l.for contempt in making
a false return; 2. to take his trial lor perjury.
Mr. Williamson then took the stand to purge
himself of contempt. He admitted the facts
substantially as in proof before ; made it plain
that he had been adviser of the project' and
had given it his confederate sanction through
out. He renewed his denial that he had con
trol, at any time, over the movements of the
slaves, or knew their present whereabouts.
Such is the case, as it was before me on the
hearing.
I cannot look upon this return otherwise
than illusory in legal phrase, as evasive, if
not false. It sets out that the alleged prison
ers are not now, and have not been since the
issue of the habeas corpus, in the custody,
power or possession of the respondent; and
in so f;tr, it uses legally appropriate language
for such a return. But it goes further, and by
added words, gives an interpretation to that
language essentially variant from its legal im
port. It denies that the prisoners were within his
power, custody or possession at any time what
ever. Now, the evidence of respectable, un
contradicted witnesses, and the admission of
the respondent himself, establish the fact be
yond controversy, that the prisoners were at
one time within his power and control. He
was the person by whose counsel the so-called
rescue was devised. He gave the direc
tions, and hastened to the pier to stimulate
and supervise their execution. He was the
spokesman and the first actor after arriving
there. Of all the parties to the act of vio
lence, he-was the only white man, the only,
citizen, the only individual having recognized
political rights, the only person whose social
training could certainly interpret either his
own duties or the rights of others under the
Constitution of thelan l."
This was the substance of Judge Kane's re
marks, and for these reasons Passmore Wil
liamson was consigned to prison until he
should purge himself of the contempt, which
consisted in saj'ing that the "prisoners" were
not within his power, custody or possession,
at any time whatever, when according to the
Judge's interpretation of the evidence, it was
established beyond controversy that they were
at one time within his power or control.
For this "contempt" Mr. Wjlliamson remain
ed incarcerated from July 27th to November
3d, when he came into Court with the petition
alcove recited, and Judge Kane then address
ed him as follows :
"Passmore Williamson The Court has re
ceived your petition, and, upon consideration
thereof, have thought right to grant the pray
er thereof. Yon will therefore make here, in
open court, your, solemn affirmation, that in
the return heretofore made by you to the writ
of habeas corpus which issued from this court
at the relation of John II. Wheeler, and to the
proceedings consequent thereupon, you liavc
not intended a contempt of this Court or of
its process : Moreover, that you are now wil
ling to make true answers to such interroga
tories as may be addressed to you by the
Court, touching the premises inquired of in
the said writ of habeas corpus."
Here was permission granted to do exactly
what Mr. Williamson, three months before,
had fully performed to the extent of his abili
ty. Lie had, through Charles Gilpin. Esq.,
his counsel, said he "had complied with the
usual form in making a return to the habeas
corpus, and had denied the custody now or at
anytime. If not deemed sufficient, it would
be necessary to take other steps or other forms.
The prosecution had his remedy in a civil nc
action for a im iges agiinst the offending par
tics," and that he "desired to put in u com
plete return, and then be permitted to go
without ail as having inside .sufficient answer."
The man who complied with all the usual
forms, and expressed his desire to put in a
compute return, and answered all questions
propounded to him before he was sent to pris
on, is gr iciously permitted so swear that he
intended no contempt, and is willing not to
prjure himself in the premises! This Affir
mation having been made in the form indica
ted by the Judge, he asked District Attorney
Van Dtkk if he had any suggestion to make",
and of course Mr. Van Dtke desired to pro
pound a question, which the Judge directed
him t submit to Williamson's counsel, which
was done in writing, as follows:
"Did you, at the time of the service of the
writ of habeas corpus, .it the relation of John
H. Wheeler, or at any time during the period
intervening between the service of said writ
and the making of your return thereto, seek
to obey the marid ite of said writ, by bringing
before this Honorable Court the persons of the
slaves therein mentioned ?
If to this interrogatory you answer in the
affirmative state fully and particularly the
mode in which you sought so to obey s aid
writ.au.Ijall that you did tending to that end."
Mr. Gilpin then said Mr. Williamson was
perfectly willing to answer the intcrrogarory
submitted by the District Attorney, but as be
did not know what other interrogatories mi-ht
follow this, he thought it best that it and "its
answer should be filed. Mr. Van Dtke said
he was willing either to file the interrogatory
or to submit it for an immediate reply. Mr.
Gilpin and Judge Kane both remarked that
they had understood the District Attorney to
intimate that if the question propounded was
answered in the affirmative he would be satis
fied. The Court further said that it was for
the petitioner to make his election whether or
not the interrogatories and the replies should
be filed. After consultation, the ceunsel of
Mr. Williamson elected to have the interroga
tories and answers filed ; Mr. Van Dike ac
wdfnglr ld th fnUrrofiitorT, md'Wr.
Williamson and his counsel then retired to
deliberate. After a brief absence they return
ed and Mr. Gilpin read an auswer, but Mr.
Van Dyke objected to its form, as evasive and
not a simple answer "yea" or "nay" to the
querv. Judge Kane said the answer was lia-1
ble to exceptions, but he thought the same
matter mightYta so expressed as to relieve it
from all objections: that the answer to the
first clause was a distinct negative, but that
Mr. Williamson had a perfect l ight to explain
the answer in such manner as he deemed ne
cessary. The Judge was also of opinion that
the answer to the second clause might likewise
be coupled with an explanation, for if the de
fendant were to simply reply "no" to it, he
might then bo charged ' with contempt in
not seeking to ob'y the mandate of the Court,
and therefore he hud a right to explain that
he thought it useless to make search after the
negroes. The answer of Mr. Williamson was
as follows : - - .
"I did not seek to obey the writ by produc
ing the persons therein mentioned lie ore the
Court, because I had not at the time of the
service of the writ, the power over, the custo
dy or control of them, and therefore it was im
possible for me to do so. I first heard of the
writ of habeas corp.is on Friday, July 20, be
tween 1 and 2 o'clock, A. M., on my return
from Hiurisburg. Alter breakfast." about 9
o'clock, I went from my bouse to Mr. Hop
per's office, when and where the return w;is
prepared.
At 10 o'clock I came into Court, as com
manded by the writ. I sought to obey the
writ, by answering it truly ; the parties not
being in my possession or control, it was im
possible for me to obey the writ by producing
them. Since the service of the writ I have
not had the custody, possession or power over
them; nor have 1 km aj where they were,
except from common rumJr'or the newspaper
reports in regard to their public appearance
in the city or elsewhere."
Upon the reception of this answer, quite an
animated discussion ensued. Mr. Van Dyke
objected to it as evasive and deceptive, le
cause Williamson was asked to state whether
at any time since the service of the writ and
the return, he had sought to o!ey its man
dates, and if so, in what manner, and he argu
ed that the auswer was not in the terms of the
query, and therefore not a clear, full, and mi
evasive answer. He asked th:it the interroga
tory be again pioponnded to the respondent to
answer it directly, one way or the other, in
the terms of the interrogatory : first, whether
he did s ek to obey the inundate of the writ,
and, if so, then state to the Court the manner
in which he sjught to obey its mandates.
That there c m be no misapprehension as to
the meaning of the terms he had used in the
intcrrogatoiy, the answer should be yea or
nay ; if yea then how ; if nay, there is an end
to the question. If the terms of the interroga
tory were not definite, it was the duty of the
defendant's counsel to objec to them and let
them be amended. Mr. Gilpin said that he
did not understand that where an interrogato
ry was put to a party before the Court, with a
view to purge himself, or elicit further infor
mation, the contents of the return were to be
answered simply yea or nay, without being
permitted, in connection with the answer, to
give facts explanatory of the yea or nay,
and to inform the Curt of the facts arising
ut of the terms put in the writ ; and if, there
fore, a defective form of inquiry bo used in the
interrogatory, it is not for the respondent,
placed in a peculiar position, to correct the
terms ( f the interrogatory. If the interroga
tory be defective, by the ordinary rule of
ple.wling, the party first in default must go
back iigain and correct his error. Mr. Van
Dike offered to alter the form of the interroga
tory, but Mr. Gttrix said it had not yet been
objected to. and that two questions had been
propounded: First, as to whether the defen
dant had sought to o'.K-y the writ; and second
ly, how. If the answer was full, it was only
such as was necessary to explanation. If the
reply was not responsive, it was not for the
want of an honest elbut to make it s. The
desire not to evade was at le-iJtt evident.
Judge Kane gave it as his impression that. a
direct answer conld be. given thus: "I did
not, at the time indicated in the first branch of
the question, seek to obey the mandate of tiie
writ by bringing into Court the persons of the
slaves therein mentioned, brcanxt, kc." And
"I did not saek, because, &c " Mr. Mere
dith said the difficulty arose from the ambigui
ty aboyt the word '-set-k," and he cunld not
see what answer tl.e defendant could make
other than that offered, lie had no control
over the slaves. lie explains so, and gives a
direct answer to th question asked him.
Judge K.'.xl s.;':d lie wa as anxious ns any one
to throw no nnnecessiry difficulty in the way
of the settlement of this matter. The District
Attorney had a rigid to explain his meaning
for theword as he had applied it. Mr. Mere
dith said he would suppose a case' of a person
commanded to produce the body of a person
he never saw. How could he reply to the
quest son "Did you seek for him?" Judge
KiSE said the reply proper in such a case
would be, '-I did not seek, because," &e. Mr.
Van Dyke said he took the dictionary mean
ing of the word "seek." If it were necessiry
to add the definitions of Walker and other
lexicographers, he would uo so. He defined
the word ashe understood its meaning. Judge
Kane asain repeated the opinion that it there
wusanytiiingequivocal about the interrogatory,
the defendant should hay .so. If it was not
equivocal, he should unaver directly in the
allimutive or negative, and add his reasons for
doing so. The Judge thought the difficulty
could be easily overcome by amending the
answer, and at the suggestion of the Court it
was amended in the following manner:
"I did not seek to obey thu writ by producing
the persons in the writ mentioned before this
Court.
I did not seek, because, I verily believed
that it was entirely impossible for me to pro
duce the said persons agreeably to the com
mand of the Court."
The answer in this form was then accepted
by the Court and ordered to be filed, and we
might suppose the difficulty would end here,
but Mr. Van Dyke, submitted another inter
rogatory, the effect of which was to enquire of
Mr. Williamson w hether or not he had made
any mental reservation in the answer already
made to the interrogatory propounded.
Judge Kane, without waiting lor any objec
tion to thi5 interrogatory, overruled it, saying
he considered it o! joctionable, as the answer
of the defendant must be taken as a matter of
course, and no inquiry could be made such as
that contemplated, by the interrogatory. Mr.
Van Dyke then withdrew this interrogatory,
but offered another, which was also overruled,
as it tended to elicit such replies ashad already
been objected to, and so Mr. Van Dyke also
withdrew that, and Judge Kane remarked that
the District Attorney had been invited to aid
the Court in this case, but that he would bear
in mind that his relation to Mr. Wheeler was
now suspended. This was only an inquiry as
to what injury had been done the process of
the Court. Mr. Van Dyke said he was aware
of the position he ocenp'ed. Judge Kane
then declared: "The contempt is now regarded
as purged and the party is released from cus
tody. He is now reinstated to the position he
occupied before the contempt was committed.
Mr. Williamson is now before me ou the re
turn to the writ."
Mr. V an Dyke, who in this aflTiir has exer
cised the dual position of a federal prosecu
ting offir and tho private rnnel for Col.
Wheeler, then laid down the dignity of his
District Attorneyship, and appearing as the
counsel for the Colonel, isaid suit had been
brought by his client against Passmore Will
iamson in the Circuit Court, for the recovery
of damages. Afterthe delivery of these closing
remarks of Mr. Van Dyke, Mr. Meredith
asked the Court, "Is Mr. Williamson dis
charged ?" to which Judge Kane replied, "He
is I understand from the remarks of the Dis
trict Attorney, that a nolle proeeqvi has been
entered in the case in this Court," and so
Passmore Williamsom was exempted fromties
judicial restraint which he has borne with
firmness and dignity. Will our readers study
the facts of this case ? Look at the lenity of
Judge Kane now, compored with his accri
mony and despotism last July, and say if this
Passmore Williamson case "has not inflicted
as deep a stain upon his judicial character as
his notorious political letter of 1844 did upon
bis private reputation! What has Passmore
Williamson conceded; what done now which
he refused to do for Jierly I Nothing abso
lutely nothing ! How, then, is the deep wrong,
the marked indignity, and the shameful out
rage he has suffered, to le repaired Regard
this question, American freemen, as its im
portance demands, for you or we may be the
next victims of such despotic power.
Olr Country's Mission in History. We
have read with great pleasure and instruction,
the address delivered at the last anniversary
of the Philoniatluean Society of Pennsylva
nia College, at Gettysburg, by President Al
len, of Girard College, Which has just been
published in pamphlet form. Our readers will
thank us for itying beforo them the following
extract, which is full of startling truths, forci
bly expressed, and worthy the careful atten
tion of our countrymen. Mr. Allen says:
"It is worthy of remark how quickly the po
litical exiles from foreign lands, who take ref
uge among us, become charged to excess with
that bold independence which is characteris
tic of our people. They touch our soil, and
are electrified w ith new and strange life. One,
before he has been a week on our shores, un
dertakes to expound to us the esoteric mean
ing of Washington's Farewell Address. An
other, before he has had time to learn the dis
tinction between Hards and Softs, Silver Grays
and Adamantines, reads the government a lec
ture on the courtesies of diplomatic corres
pondence, forgetful that the right to abuse our
public functionaries ou our own soil is an
American monopoly. The same gentleman
even proposes to make us tno fiilcium of a
lever to move the world; a proposition which
means, in plain English, that our country is to
bear on its patient back the weight of the le
ver, with the world at one end, and our mod
ern Archimedes at the other! Issachar Crouch
ing dowai between two burdens! Our adven
turous refugee may learn, if he has not learned
already, that whenever a fulcrum shall be
found for the world-moving lever, the Ameri
can people mean to have fast hold of the long
arm where the power is applied.
Perhaps we ought not to be surprised if
emancipated mind, in the consciousness of its
newly-discovered power, should run into some
excesses. A troop cf boys, just let loose from
school, play pranks worthy of the pencil ol
Hogarth; and so, in the intoxication of free
dom, we may commit extravagances which
amuse or amaze the world, with the laudable
purpose of demonstrating that we are not
bound by prescriptive rules of behavior, and,
therefore, are not "old fogies." But the ex
travagances we commit arc only straws upon
the surface of society, which show the direc
tion of its mighty current. They are not the
drivelling follies of dotage, but the freaks of
youth's exuberant strength. They are the Da
tura!, though superfluous, offshoots of our vig
orous and progressive civilization; not para
sites which exhaust its life, nor fungi which
feed upon its decay. They only need to be
pruned off. and the sturdy trunk will remain
healthy and full of sap, to nourish the expan
ding branches of our prosperity, and mature
the wholesome fruits of libeity. The brain of
the nation does not grow giddy with the height
it has so rapidly attained; ifs eye looks upward
and onword, still higher and further; its heart
beats time with the clock of progress, whose
dial-fingers jroint the hour on the earth and
heaven; and all its aspirations are prophetic
of an expansive and glorious future.
Corruption in High Places. The Assis
tant Treasurer of the United States has been
raising a fund in his Department, to be used
for electioneering purposes in Maryland.
What is there bad and debasing that tiiis ad
ministration w ill not resort to ? ionie of the
former occupants of the Presidential chair ex
pressly forbid their office-holders to interfere
in elections, and the movement was regarded
ty the people with much favor. It was charged
that the United States Bank interfered in
elections, and this was one of the causes which
operated to render it odious. But that the
Treasurer of the United States, at Washing
ton, should be engaged in such practices with
the public money, is an astounding develop
ment. The Government organ loldly applaud
the course of the Treasurer, but its approval
w ill not save, the administration from the odi
um which a movement of that kind will be
sure to bring upon it. This is one of the acts
which will give additional force to the remarks
of Jons Van Bi ren. on a recent occasion, viz:
"That the term of Franklin Pierce will ex
pire by itsown limitation, onthe 4th of March,
18")7." Judge Bronson, an aide and efficient
officer, was removed because he would not
lend his aid to a particular section of the Dem
ocratic party Ci shi.no, the Attorney Gener
al, threatened that the President would "crush
out" every Post Master that refused to bow
the knee to official dictation Kekdkr was re
moved because he desired free elections, and
the preservation or law and order. What
next Delaware County Republican. .
Aggkkssite Policy of the Sorrn. The N.
Y . Courier $ Enquirer has an excllent article
showing that the abitrary and aggressive poli
cy pursued by the South in the political affairs
of the country, has'resulted largely to its own
disadvantage. The attempt to invade the right
of petition started an abolition paty which is
becoming powerful. The expulsion from the
House of Representatives of Giddings has
been the cause of his return at every elec
tion since. The admission of Texas and the war
with Mexico, undertaken for the extension of
slavery, have resulted in the creation of one
free -State California with the prospect of
others. And the repeal of the Missouri Com
promise is stimulating the North to make free
States of Kansas and Nebraska, much sooner
than they would have been had not the excite
ment caused by that act been aroused.
Important Movements in Reference to
Nicaragua. The National Intelligencer learns
that the Government has received important
despatches relative to the imprisonment or
detention of Mr. Wheeler, the United States
Charge d'Aflaires, at Rivas, Nicaragus, and
to the outrace committed at Virgin Bay upon
some of the California passengers on an Amer
ican steamer. It is rumored that the des
patches are of such a nature as to require
prompt and serious attention. It is said, in
deed, and the rumor has the air of probability,
that the Administration has already ordered
Commodore Paulding to proceed to Nicaragua
in a ship-of war, with apecial instructions to
inquire into tb circumstances attending ths
ontrt.
Interesting from Utah A letter toe
Chicago Tribune from Fillmore citv r,"-
uiai, mere is not a Single hive 01 (
oe iouhu in me territory, nor are tht-r
lluu'w "1 me itocivy Mom tuus. V .
writer tells s that the institution of :.vrt .
very exists in the territory, as 1m ti-
Indian slavery. Quitea number of fcw
men are there who took their slaves w-t;, !:!.
The Indians sell each other into p . :
bondage, and make good, active. r d .
obedient servants. He also tells us t;, ; '.
the prevailing religion is that of to L.
Day Saints, an occasional sermon isdei:vv:-.c
by persons of other persuasions. He cstim :
the population at fiom GO to 100,1 Oo pcrsvu'
which, if true, would entitle, the territory a
admission into the Union as a Stale. Tueo
people, he says, are mostly active und indus
trious iu fact, the uwst ii.dutr o..s o immu
nity he ever saw. Tftey are strongly d .-voted
to their religious faith, and Ktany of thuu i-n;
persons of excellent character, tho" too inaiiv
others are basely corrupt. Of Gov. You..g
he remarks that he performs more bodilyand
mental labor than any other man in the terri
tory. A splendid mansion is being built f
him, and to be nearly capacious enough ;o
hold his whole family no tntliug matter. lv
the way. Another fine dwelling is being t .
for the Secretary of the territory. Mi: v .
factories are in operation iu all pars o: v.'-
territory where settlements exist, as are V.si'
common schools. The capitol building, jr.
process of erection at Fillmore city, is spoketi
of as superb in design. One wing Is iieariv
completed, and will be in readiness by the sec
ond Monday in December, at which time the
Legislature meets. It is built of a superior
quality of stone, of a reddish hue. Salt Lake
city contains 15,000i nhabitants, and has fine
stone hotels, school houses, &. A large ma
jority ol'the people are of foreign birth, most
ly English. The city next in importance is
Proso, a beautif ul place, containing factories,
mills, &c, and about 3,100 inhabitants. There
are many fin : nurseries in various parts of the
territory, which in a few years w ill yield a full
supply of fruit. The Surveyor General of the
territory has arrived at Salt Lake city, and en
tered upon the duties of his office. He has
two parties of surveyors at work. The letter
from which we take these statements is signed
W. W. Drummone, who appears to be one of
the U. S. officials. It concludes with the fol
lowing: An apparently miraculous crop of su
gar is being made from honey-dew- which falls
on the leaves of the cotton-wood exclusivly.
It is made by soaking the leaves in water, and
then, after taking out the leaves, pursuing the
same course which is taken in the manufac
ture of the ordinary maple sugar.'
Mr. Clemens and the Administration
The Washington Union recently made au
attack upon Col. Jeremiah .Clemens, of Ala
bama, lormerly a "Union Democrat," and
now an '-American." Mr. Clemens replied
sharply to the attack. W annex an extract ;
ltiependence of thought or action is some
thing which the editor of the Union never un
derstood, any more than he understood mo
rality and honor when he sought, through an
agent, to induce a drunken man to utter the
foulest calumnies upon the reputation of u
woman. Bnt h does understand the way to
executive favor, and ho knows well enough,
that if I had wanted office, I had only to stoop
to the meanness, which is part of his nature,
to obtain it. I had only to swear th.lt Wash
ington never approached Pirco in A iiu; ni
tration ability ; that Jaekson had never hjn
half so "open, fiank and manly,, in his deal
ings with his countrymen; tint kjuatier sov
ereignty was a direct visitation from heaven ;
that the burning of Greytown was an achieve
ment worthy of Napoleon ; that the shameless
backing out from all the Administrations Cu
ban blustering was the perfection of foresight
and courage ; that its double-dealing with Suu
le and Quitman was candor and honor; that
the appointment of Dix and Cochrane was the
essence of Southern rights, and the wisdom of
the selection of Belmont was vindicated by tha
fact that old clothes had fallen fully twenty
per cent. These and a few liko things, would
doubtless have won for me the sunniest smiles
of the executive, and s ive.l m from the charge
of having "repudiated principles," 'severed
ties," and "forsaken associations," words
which it is easy to use, but somew hat difficult
to prove. I have repudiated no principles.
My opinion of foreigners was openly avowed
before the American party had an existence.
I denounced squatter sovereignty in the Sen
ate, and have never been able to discover nny
beauty in it since the President took it to his
Losom. I opposed extravagant expenditures
of the public money, and my laith in the cor
rectness of the principle has not been shaken
by the fact that the present 'Administration
has run them up to more than eighty mi lions
of dollars. As to '-severing ties," I know of
none that bound me to pronounce that evil was
good, and. as 1 never bad any associations
with the editor of the Union, I could not have
forsaken them.
When General Pierce makes amends for his
appointment of Reeder as Govenorof Kansas,
and takes into his. councils better men than
Forney and Wallach, I may again be found
supporting him, though not with th same
blind confidence as iu 1S-V2.
JERE. CLEMENS.
The Death or commodore Daxills, which
occurred in Baltimore on the 30th ult., is thi.s
spoken of by the Baltimore Republican:
"We are called upon to-day to record tho
death of one of our old and Tabled citizens,
Commodore John D. Duniels. In his youth,
ful days, prompted by that love of liberty
which characterized him all through life, Copi?
modore Daniels volunteered his services in
the struggle between the South American
colonies and Spain. The skill and bravery of
young Daniels soon attracted th notice of
Bolivar the deliverer of Columbia, and through
bis influence the command of the Bolivian na
vy was given to him. "The trust was properly
confided, and the brilliant services of Commo
dore Daniels greatly assisted in securing tho.
freedom of the Bolivian republic.
After the struggle was over, and the inde
pendence of the republic was fully established,
Com, Daniels returned to his home in our city,
where he has resided since, with the exception
of a visit to the scene of his early triumphs a
few years since. Upon the occasion of his
Ti sit Com. Daniels was received by the author
ities and people, as Lafayette was upon his
memorable visit to this country. The govern
ment of Venezuela showered honors upon him
and voted him a handsome pension thro' life.
. Com. Daniels was n bis seventy-fourth year,!
and up to a very brief period has been an ac
tive interested participant in all the interests
of tho country. He died yesterday at about
two o'clock, serenely and peacefully, and left
behind him a character worthy ol emulation.
Heavy Grain Operations. During the
past week we learn that a single party in this
city pnrchaaed about 600,000 bushels wheat,
the most of which, it is said, will go forward
to Boston. At an average of $1,60 per bushel,
the gentleman in question paid out nearly a
million of dollars, all of which has passed in
to the pockets of the farmers of the connfry '
and ia so much added to the general wealth.
Other parties, however, were apt jvely engaged :
in buying throughout the week, and it i rea
sonable to estimate the quantity which chang
ed hands during that time at fully two milliom
of 4 ollara. CfaVwfo Pre. ' ' ' .
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