H4
Ait h,-
BY S. B. EO W.
CLEARFIELD, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 27, 1850.
VOL. 3 NO. 2.
J 1 11 11 111 It II w
THE DACOTAH'S CAPTIVE.
A Tale of the Lead Mine of Iowa.
While the Spanish colonists ravaged the
southern portion of North America In quest of
gold, and tho English planted the germs of
Belf-govcrnracnt on the eastern coast, tho
French wero but the agents of home-merchants
who enjoyed a monopoly of the various traf
fics, and were sustained in the enjoyment of it
by the strong arm of milirary power. To the
trading association in particular, wo owe the
discovery of tho Mississippi, by the son of ono
of tho members tho intrepid La Salle. In
his day lead was first discovered within the
present limits of the State of Iowa, but tho
noted Julien Dubuque was the first who taught
tho Indians to collect the ore, and make an ar
ticlo of trade of it. llo was not only a brave,
but a crafty man, and after his death the sava
ges, in compliance with his dying wish, depos
ited his remains upon tho summit of a bluff
overlooking the "Father of Waters," securing
the mouth of tho mausoleum with a massive
leaden door of a ton weight. They then burn
. cd his dwellings and erased every trace of civ
ilized life around his settlements, except the
orchards planted by his own hands. Vandal
whites afterwards cut up the door to sell, but
tho name of Dubuque will ever be remembered
in Iowa.
Years rasscd away. Tho white flag of France
no longer waved over the Mississippi Valley,
and the bold frontier's roan, advancing on tho
foremost wave of civilization, crossod the riv
er in quest ol the lead ore, game and fertile
soil. One of the first settlements thus estab
lished was formed by a party from Kentucky,
led by tho grandsirc of tho younger genera
tionold Jio Bates, a noblo specimen of a
frontier's man. Seventy winters had whitened
Lis long locks, but ho was still halo and hear
ty, able to wield an axe with any of his sons,
or to draw bead on a rifle with that fatal accu
racy of aim which had enabled him to render
good service at the battle of New Orleans.
Selecting a good locality on the very shore of
the Mississippi,old Joe and his sons built a log
cabin, surrounded by a stockade to keep off
tho Dacotahs. They then surrouuded a 'clear
ing' with a worm fence, deadened the standing
trees by tho fatal axe circle, and planted corn.
When their corn was well above ground and
IVced from weeds, they began to "prospect"
for lead ore.
Thus far they had seen no Indians, and be
gan to flatter themselves that the "red skins"
had left the country to their peaceful posses
sion, but the wily savages had kept a constant
watch upon their movements. Perhaps, had
thejr confined themselves to agricultural la
bors, the intruders might have gone unmolest
ed, especially as the Dacotahs wished to con
ciliate the United States Government into a
profitable treaty, but when pick axes were
wielded in search of lead ore, the destruction
of the pale faces was resolved upon in council.
Tho first object of savage vengeance was
the oldest son, Frank Bates, who had built him
a cabin about five hundred yards from "head
quarters," despite Ihe warnings of old Joe.
Frank, however, had no fear of Indians, and
lived with his wife and their babe in great hap
piness, until ono summer's night, when he was
awakened by the loud barking of dogs.
Springing from his bed, he looked through an
opening in tho logs, and saw to his horror, at
least fifty Dacotahs, in lull war costume, evi
dently seeking the easiest way to force an en
trance into the cabin. Arousing his wife, he
raised a cellar trap door, and was about to send
her down, when tho child she had left iu the
bed. began to cry.
"I cannot leave my babe," said she.
"Nay," he exclaimed, "I will take care of
tho boy," and almost forcing her down into
the small cellar, he closed tho unhinged door,
over which he drew a largo chest. Then seiz
ing bis rifle and hatchet, he took the infant
and ascended to the loft of the cabin, pulling
up the ladder after him. A moment more, tho
door was forced from its hinges and the Daco
tahs entered, eager (or their prey. But Bates
did not remain to watch their movements, for
lashing his boy to his shoulder, he cautiously
opened a shutter in the gable of the loft, and
seeing that no Indians were beneath, jumped
to the ground, rifle in hand.
Ere he had traversed his little garden, tho
air resounded with the blood-chilling tones of
the war-whoop, and a volley of arrows rained
around the fugitive. Happily only one struck
him, and that in tho fleshy part of tho arm,
so that he kept on, straining every nerve to
reach the stockade around his father's cabin .
But ere he had gone many paces a gigantic
Indian overtook him. Turning like a stag at
bay, he faced' his antagonist, knocked him
down with the butt of his rifle and then sped
on his way. But now, to his horror, he saw a
large body of the Dacotahs around his father's
dwelling, as ho approached, firing over on to
tfie roofs of the cabins with arrows to which
. burnieff tow was attached.
lie paused but the cries of his boy aroused
him to a senso of his own danger and m
life's perilous situation. Directing his step
towards the river, where he found his "dug
out" safely moored, he soon was paddling a
cross the river to a settlement where there
were a larger number of whites.
Day had scarcely dawned on the succeeding
morning, before twenty miners, good men and
true, were ready to accompary him across the
river. Ihoy cared no more for Dacotahs than
for prairie dogs, and acted upon the spur of
tho moment, regardless of consequences.
Crossing above his residence youne Bates led
them towards his clearing, but on arriving
there, nothing remained of his house but a
mouldering pile of ashes. His beloved wifo
tad evidently perished in the flames, for a-
mong the ashes and charred beams in tho cel
lar they found somo blackened bones. Just
then they were joined by old Joo Bates and
two of his younger sons, armed to tho teeth.
They were delighted to see Frank alive, for
hey feared that tho column of smoke that had
risen from his cabin was his monument, but
now they did their best to condole with him in
their rough way. llo said but little, but se
cretly vowed to avenge his wife's death, and
well did lie keep his word. To have seen him,
no ono would have supposed that tho inffd
looking, slender-built Frank Bates was an in
carnate demon in a light with tho Dacotahs, yet
within a year after his cabin was bun.;, ho had
twenty scalps hanging at his girdle. "Ven
geance" seemed his only thought his life's
desire.
For somo time after this outrage, the Daco
tahs kept away from tho mines, but at last a
arty of them came prowling about, and tho
miners determined to have a brush with them
who was so competent to head tho party as
that sworn enemy of tho "red-skins," Frank
Bates 7 Tho party encased two Winncbatroes
as guides, and then struck into tho forest, fol
lowing a recent trail. The third nieht of their
ourney tho weary leader insisted on standing
sentry, and about midnight the clear crack of
lis riflo awakened every sleeper. In an in
stant every man was on his fect, rifle in hand,
ready to repel any lurking foe, but a low whis
tle from Frank announced there wa3 no dan-
cr. Morning came, and as the party crowd
ed around the sentinel to learn tho cause of
the alarm, he merely pointed to what appeared
to bo a huge bear ; a nearer approach to the
object discovered fo their astonishment tho
grim visage of a dead Dacotah, enveloped in
the skin of a gigantic bruin, who, thus dis
guised, had attempted to reconnoitre the po
sition of tho frontiers-men.
Frank now felt assured they were near their
cjicmy, and followed the trail in silence, on
the alert for their foe. On reaching tho sum
mit of a knoll, they saw tho villazo before
them a collection of high, conical tents,
made of dressed buffalo skins sewed together,
and ornamented with rude representations of
the battle or tho chase. On the out skirts
wero the squaws, engaged in the laborious oc
cupations which fall to their lot. Their in
fants, tightly bound to straight strips f bark,
were tied to small, bent-over birches, which
gently danced them to sleep, and the boys of
the village, with bow and arrow, were firing at
the representation of a Kansas hunter. In
the centre of the village, beforo the towering
tent of tho chief sat the braves, smoking their
tomahawk pipes with stoical gravity.
The white men looked at tho priming of
their rifles, put their sharp hunting-knives be
tween their teeth, and with a deafening yell
rushed down through tho frightened squaws,
ere the Dacotahs could comprehend what caus
ed the alarm. Dashing into the startled group
of warriors with fierce war-whoops, they dealt
destruction around them. The chief was the
first slain, bravely defending himself and en
couraging Lis warriors, who nobly strugglod
to avenge his death, but all iu vain.
Frank Bates fought like a demon, but at one
time was nearly a victim to a stalwart warrior.
But on glancing at his opponent, Frank recog
nized, in a gay red handkerchief around his
head, his marriage gift to his lost wife. This
added renewed strength to his body and in
creased activity to his fury, as he seized his
assailant with his left arm, lifted him from the
ground, and at the same time with nervous
force thrust his knife into his heart. This de
cided the battle, for the surviving Decotahs,
panic-struck at tho sudden attack, rushed to
tho spot whero their horses were tethered and
escaped into the forest. Upwards of fifty dead
warriors remained on the bloody field and oth
ers grievously wounded, but not a single white
man was seriously injuied. '
The women and children fled to tho woods
and the whites found an abundance of plunder,
comprising blankets, rich furs, horses, dried
meat and tents. But Frank Bates felt sad at
heart, for the sight of his memento of his wife
made liini fear sho had been tortured beforo
perishing in tho flames. Night came on, and
feeling positive that ho could not sleep, he
volunteered to keep watch. It was a bright
moonlight night, and as he was pacing his sol
itary round, planning now schemes of ven
geancc, he heard a light step approach from
tho thicket.
Frank, at first, raised his rifle to shoot down
the intruder, but a secret influenco led him to
call out : "Who comes 7"
"Arc you a white man 7" - was the reply, in
tones that produced an indescribable cflcct up
on the stout hearted pioneer.
"Yes, and you 1"
"I am Frank Bate's wife, who was taken
prisoner over on the Mississippi," and as she
spoke she advanced.
The riflo fell to the ground, and Frank stood
as if under the influence of a magic spell.
His hands were convulsively clenched, his
stood erect on Us Lead, a stiver ran through
his frame, and ho tottered bock several paces.
But not bo with tho female, who had recogniz
ed her husband as sho drew near, and exclaim
ed as sho threw herself into his arms :
"Frank I my own Frank ! Do you not know
your wifo 7"
Yes, it was his long mourned bride, her fea
tures stamped with sorrow, but still retaining
her early beauty. Mutual explanations follow
ed, and when the delighted wife learned tho
safety of her boy, all her hardships vanished.
It now appeared that when tho Indians had en
tered Bate's house, they found a keg of whis
key which they drank freely, and then plun
dered everything removing tho chest in their
researches. Soon two of them quarrcllod for
the handkerchief Bates haiscen tho day pre
vious, and drawing their "scalp-knives, ono
speedily received a mortal stab, and fell di
rectly upon the trap door, through which his
blood ran upon the hidden wifo. She, believ
ing it came from tho veins of her husband,
shrieked aloud, thus betraying her placo of
concealment. Dragging her forth, her captors
bound her, then rifling the cabin, applied tho
torch. The body of tho slain Dacotah was
consumed, and over his bones Bates had
mourned as for those of his wifo.
That day they "packed" tho plunder upon
what horses tho Dacotahs bad left, and starr
ed for their homes, which they regained in
safety. Tho proceeds of Frank Bates' share
of the spoils enabled him to rebuild his house,
but this time closo to that of his father and en
closed with a high stockade. Tho Dacotahs,
however, never returned, and in tho courso of
ituc wero driven to tho Far West. Frank
Bates is now one of tho wealthiest land-holders
in Iowa, a member of tho Stato Senate,
Judge of tho County Courts and Major Gener
al of the militia. Time has dealt leniently
with Lira and his wifo, but neither forgets her
captivity. Their son never passes the scene
of his father's fight on that mcmorablo night,
without feeling a renewed sense of his filial
obligation, and a deeper love for his boyhood's
home.
EXTEA SESSION OF CONGRESS
Tho Phil'a Daily Sun says : Tho President
issued his Froclamation for an Extra Session
of Congress which was to convene on the
21st under circumstances which have nev
er previously occurred in tho history of our
government, on account of tho disagreement
of tho two Houses on the Army Appropriation
bill. The Constitution has vested exclusively
in the Houso of Representatives, tho origina
tion of all bills for raising revenue, and follow
ing up tho spirit of this, tho nouso has always
originated appropriation bills. Our Congres
sional history under the Confederation devcl
opes the fact that tho failuro of the States to
carry out tho general system of revenue, as
recommended by Congress in 1783, was the
cause of proceedings which led to tho adop
tion of the Constitution, and therefore by that
instrument the popular branch wa3 made the
custodian of tho public purse. The Commit
teo of Ways and Means of the House of Rep
resentatives reported all tho necessary appro
priation bills, as usual, and in tho one for the
army a clause was inserted that no money
should be used for the pay or support of tho
illegally elected Legislature of Kansas, or the
enforcement of its laws. In this the Senate
refused to concur, and as the IIouso insisted
upon tho provision, Congress adjourned with
out passing tho bill. The case, then, assumes
a grcator magnitude, as tho first struggle for
the constitutional right of the people to con
trol tho use of the public money, and in this
view its importance rises far above any collat
eral issues on the affairs of Kansas.
Tho Parliamentary records of Great Britain
show many similar efforts of the aristocracy
to encroach upon the rights and liberties of
the people, by the extinction or curbing of the
people's voice in the IIouso of Commons. In
the same manncr,as no law can be passed with
out tho assent of both our Houses of Congress,
and as the lower branch has the origination of
Revenue bills, tho persistent refusal of the
Senate to accede to a question of more expe
diency, becomes factious, intollcrant and des
potic, and amounts to tho usurpation of a Ve
to power by tho aristocratic branch. ThcPfnn
sylvanian of course lays all the blame of the
failure of tho Array Appropriation bill on the
House, and says it opens "another chapter of
revolutionary treason." In the opinion of our
cotemporary any revolt against democratic as
cendancy is revolution, and any stand taken
against Southern encroachment on constitu
tional rights is treason ! Now wo maintain
that tho Houso in its recent action has done
its duty, and will bo derilict if ever it recedes
from the position it has taken. Hallam, in
his Middle Ages, when speaking of Magna
Charta, calls it tho Keystone of Liberty all
that has since been obtained is little more than
as confirmation or commentary, and if every
subsequent law were to be swept away thero
would still remain the bold features that dis
tinguish a free from a despotic government.
An enual distribution of civil rights to all clas
ses of freemen forms tho peculiar beauty of
the charter, but its essential clauses are thoso
whichjprotect the personal liberty and proper
ty of all freemen by giving security from ar
bitrary imprisonment and arbitrary spoliation,
tho two main rights ot civil society. JN ow ap
ply these principles to the actioii of tho IIouso
in its endeavors to protect the pcoplo of Kan
sas from ruffian rule, aided by the bayonets
aud sabros of the United States troops. Would
tho Representatives of tho Pcoplo hirvo done
their duty had they granted appropriations for
tho support of the army, without providing a
gainst the (spoliations, amercements, seizures,
arson, murder, robbery and brigandage rcceht
lyjpract iced upon peaceful settlers in Kansas
from tho Free States 7 Should tho IIouso of
Representatives give money to pay theso ruffi
ans 1 Does not tho necessity which demand
ed this action rather stamp with infamy the
administration under which it became neces
sary 7 Is it wondciful then that tho struggle
for freedom has excited a degree of energetic
public spirit never beforo known in tho histo
ry of tho country, or of that the people "tho
strong man," in tho sublime language of Mil
ton, "was aroused from sleep, and bhook his
invincible locks 7"
The IIouso must bo firm in tho maintenance
of its rights. Senator Mason says ho is ready
to "meet tho enemy on tho threshold," and
Senator Toomds exclaims, "Let the army bo
disbanded, but keep the Constitution for tho
protection of tho people." This same spirit
should animate tho IIouso, for tho firBt timo,
tho Senate has dared to encroach on the popu
lar prerogative it has passed the threshold of
the House as an enemy, and must bo firmly
met. Tho Constitution must be prcscrvod for
tho protection of tho pcoplo of Kansa3, even
should it be necessary to disband tho arniy to
effect it. If the South, actuated by tho ag
gressive spirit of the slave domination, desires
to test the strength of the Union, let the North
stand firmly to tho Constitution, and then
'God protect tho right!"
That our readers may clearly understand tho
points of difficulty, wo give the proviso rejec
ted by tho Senate, in lull. It will be seen that
it does not refuse tho President tho employ
ment of an adequate military force to prevent
tho interference of non-residents,and to protect
persons and property ; but simply declares
that the laws of Kansas shall not bo enforced
by federal troops until they are approved by
Congress. Tho proviso is as follows :
"Provided, however, and it is hereby de
clared, that no part of tho military force of the
United States for the support of which appro
priations aro made by this act shall bo employ.
ed in aid of tho enforcement of any enactment
or the body claiming to be the Territorial Le
gislature of Kansas, until such enactments
shrill havo been affirmed and approved by Con-
giess: out this proviso shall not bo so con
strned as to Drcvcnt tho President from em
ploying an adequate military force to prevent
the invasion of said Territory by armed bands
oi non-residents, acting or claiming to act as
a posse comiialus of any officer in said Territo
ry in tho enforcement of any such enactment,
and to protect the persons and property there
in, ana upon the national highways loading to
saia territory, from all unlawful searches and
seizures; audit shall bo his further duty to
take efficient measures to compel tho return of
and withhold all arms of tho L nited States
distributed in or to said Teraitory in pursu
ance of any law of tho Uuitcd States author
izing tho distribution of arms to the States
and Territories."
Terrible Storm. A terrible storm occur
red in tho neighborhood of New Orleans, on
Sunday the 10th inst-, which lasted all the
following day. Its effects, however, wero
most disastrous at Last Island, a great sum
mer resort, aud which our accounts represent
to havo been entirely inundated. Every
building on the island is said to havo been
swept away, and no less than ono hundred
and ninety lives aro known to havo been lost !
the sight of which was terrible.
In Sweden, tho floors of the stable arc
planked, and tho planks aro perforated with
holes, so that wet will not lodgo on thera, tho
bare boards being tho only bedding allowed.
To this lodging tho Swedes attribute tho
soundness of their horses feet, as it is quite
uncommon to meet with a larno or foundered
horso in Sweden which has been so stabled.
A large meeting was held at Kansas city on
the 15th at which it was resolved to send 2,
000 men immediately into the Territory. A
meeting was held at Lexington on the ICth,
and a resolution was passed, that they would
send their quota of men to help settle their
diflicultics, by the first boat.
Wuo Bids 7 An orphan girl of twenty ,with
55,000 a year, advertises herself in a N. York
paper as wanting a handsome, respectable man
in marriage. She paints her picture, and it is
pretty, and hails from Springfield. Mclntac
kcr, after reading the above, shed tears. The
poor fellow's married.
MiS30i'Bi. The withdrawal of the Bentonian
electoral ticket in Missouri, after the lato tcr
riblo overthrow of its friends, will of courso
be followed by the promulgation of a Fremont
electoral ticket in that Stato
A man named Johnson has performed tho
perilous feat of swimming across tho Niagara
river between theFalls and Suspension Bridge.
This was the first time tho feat had ever been
attempted.
Willi ax F. Millee, Postmaster of Allen
town, Lehigh county, has been detected in a
series of forgeries, and is said to bo a defaul
ter also to tho government.
Losing a cow for the sake of a cat. This is
tho Chinese interpretation of going to law.
Wo see it ttatcd that a Fremont electoral
ticket is to be formed in Tennessee.
MODEL CAILFORMA OFFICIALS.
. A correspondent of thoNcwYoik Times,
writing from San Francisco, draws tho follow
ing picture of tho characters who held high
official stations thero, previous to tho action
of tho Vigilance Committee. This will give
our readers somo idea of tho necessity of the
Vigilanco Association :
Who are our Supreme Judges 7 Hugh C.
'''tlrno l- H-liA filnt rt.l rnn. fef .irfll
of six years, had a mnjority of a few hundred
votes, falling somo four thousand below bis
ticket. Ned McGowan, under indictment as
accessory to tho murder of Mr. King, pulled
the wires for him in this city. Judge Murray
is known in every part of tho State as a fre
quenter of brothels and gambling houses. He
has been known to win $ 18,000 in a single
night at a gambling table, and then to looso
tho whole of it at faro tho next day. Tho pa
pers, sinco they hvo dared to speak, charge
that ho is often seen drunk in tho public
streets, and sometimes on tho bench. A few
weeks sinco ho mado a murderous assault upon
a merchant in Sacramento, who had merely
expressed on opinion of tho Judge's unfitness
for his high and responsible station, was con
victed of the crimo in the Court of Sessions,
and fined only ?50.
Judgo Terry, bis associate on the Supreme
Bench, not long sinco attacked a witness in
open Court, at Stockton with a bowie knife ;
and, but for prompt interference on the part
of tho spectators, would have bece a murder
er in fact as he was in intent. I believe ho was
fined one dollar for the oflenco !
Our present Mayor, Van Nccs, is openly
charged with having negotiated a bribo of $0,-
000 for Judgo Murray, to induce him to dc-
cido the caso of Peter Smith vs. Tho City of
San Francisco, in favor of tho plaintiff, and
then with pocketing tho cash instead of pay
ing it over to the Judge.
David Scanncl was promoted from the keep
er of tho Osceola gambling-house, owned by
Casey, to tho responsible trust of High Sher
iff. Ono day a enpper inveigled a miner from
tho mountains into Scanncll's den, where lie
was solicited to stake his bag of gold dust
upon three card monto, or some other swind
ling game. A gentleman, who had watched
tho motions of the fraternity, was assaulted by
one of tho Sheriffs undcrtings, because he
quietly warned tho young man against the
theft sought to be practised upon him.
The United States Marshal for tho Northern
District, whom President Pierce appointed to
office, was a professional gambler and when
he heard of Mr. King's assassination, a respec
table gentleman says that ho heard him ox
claim "d m my heart! I'll give Casoy a
thousand dollars !"
J. M. Baglcy, who has been ordered out of
the Stato by the Vigilance Committee, for
his many crimes, was an influential member
of the Legislature ; and is besides, noted for
his murderous affray with Casey eighteen
months sinco on a dispute about ballot-stuffing
between them.
Tho Vigilanco Committee in their investi
gation into the case of Thomas B. Cunning
ham, havo elicited satisfactory evidence that
ho was in the habit, while connected with the
office of Coroner of tho county, of disinter
ring tho bodies of persons who had been bur
ied, for the purpose of dropping them in tho
docks, and thus receiving the fees attending
an inquest. In this way, it is said, one body
has been mado to do service three or four
times, or as long as it would hold together.
Sam. White, who shot the polico officer last
week in Sacramento, was a genteel kid glovo
gambler, and came near being elected, two
years eincc, to tho Legislature, by the Rose
water wing of tho democratic party. Sam was
the financial cgent of Bcllo Cora in the lato
Cora trial and a principle witness for the de
fence. The question was asked him by the
Court : "What is your business 7" He ans
wered: "lam Copy writer Clerk in the Hall
cf Records." "When did you get your ap
pointment 7" "In October last." "Do you
spend your wholo timo there 7" "I don't
know." "Havo you spent two months 7"
"Don't think I have.' "Havo you spent
twenty days 7" "Don't think I have."
"Have you copied twenty pages thero?"
"Don't think I have." "Havo you copied two
pages thero 7" "Don't think I have." "Did
you ever writo your Dame thero 7" "Yes, I
receipted for my pay." "Do you draw your
pay regularly." "Yes I do."
During tho last seven years, fourteen hun
drcd murders, it is said havo been perpctra
ted in and about San Francisco, and the city
itself has been burned down seven times.
Now, suppose ono of this class does get in
to the Stato Prison. Let us sco how he is
punished there. Somo seven or eight mouths
Dodman N. Backus, a gambler and a rowdy,
without the least provocation, at the command
of a French woman, his mistress, shot a poor
German apothecary dead. Backus, by somo
hocus-pocus, was only tried for manslaughter.
He was convicted, bnt laughed at tho idea of
being sent to tho State Prison, ia accordance
with the law.
His counsel, on somo pre-arranged flaw ia
the indictment, had mado a motion to set a
sido tho verdict. Ho was awaiting the deci
sion in tho county jail at the timo it was be
sieged by the Vigilance Committee, but was
50 fearful he wonH meet the fate he ? riefclv
desctved at tho hands of tho people, that ho
beggod his connsol-to withdraw tho motion
from tho Supremo Court, and get an order for
his immediate transfer to tho State Prison.
Would you bclicvo it 7 through tho influenco
of his gambling friends, Backus has been mado
Chief Clerk of the prison, a situation hun
dreds of honest men might covet, and Instead
of workfng in a clay-pit, in a parti-colorod
suit, sits at the officer's dinner table in a black
coat and fine linen, hob-nobs glasses with Gen.
Estcli, chief of tho establishment, and, no
doubt, plays draw-poker with him after tho
shades of night hare closed about tho State's
hotel at San Qucntin.
Tho fact is, tho administration of the law,
was almost, Itself, in the hands of theso mis
creants, and they wero backod up by an organ
ized despotism, which could not bo success
fully assailed in any other way than that tho
Vigilanco Committco havo lcen driven to
adopt. They know no party. They wero
whigs, democrats, and know nothings just as
cither party might happen to bo in the ascen
dant. IxroHTAXT to Farmers. Many barns havo
recently been burned, supposed by incendia
ries, but a little acientific knowlodgo would
throw light on this point. Theso fires gener
ally occur at harvest timo, and tho causo is at
tributed to tho harvest being hurried in too
quickly the process of curing is ofton imper
fectly performed. A cotemporary says: "Take,
if you will, a fow armsful of clover, just cut,
and carefully t hrow it into a heap; in a few
hours, thrust in your hand, and you will jerk
it out as if scalded. Indeed this heat of fer
mentation is often intenso, and, without doubt,
many a timo it may be found in stacks of new
hay or even grain. Thus it is that sponjanc
ous combustions ensues and bursts into sud
den flames, aud this, let it bo remembered, so
frequently in tho harvest season, resulting
from tho fact that tho hay or grain was but im
perfectly cured. It Is worthy of remark, that
when the half-cured hay escapes this combus
tion, it is apt to becomo soured from this fcr
mcntivc process." Farmers 6hould bo caro
f ul that their harvest is well done, and not too
hastily, else they may lose it all.
The Panama Massacre. Tho special Com
missioner, A. B. Corwinc, Esq., appointed to
investigate tho Panama massacre, has mado
his report, which inevitably fixes tho respon
sibility of that act upon tho New Granada au
thorities ; allows damages amounting to about
half a million of dollars ; recommends tho ex
action of immcdiato indemnity thcrcfT and
tho punishment of tho rioters ; aud in tho c
vent of a failuro to recover, that tho United
States take 6uch steps as may bo nocessary to
protect, on its own behalf, the transit across
tho Isthmus. The whites aro anxious that tho
Unitad States should acquiro jurisdiction over
tho Isthmus, and it is thought that New Gra-"
nada is not averse to ceding to us the entire
Stato of Panama.
A CoMiiON Sextimext. Tho Reading Jcur
nal wo regard as tho ablest and most influen
tial supporter of Fillmoro in this State. In
speaking of tho projected union of tho Anti
Buchanan forces in this State, it forcibly says :
American State Convention. It will bo
noticed as a significant feature of tho proceed
ings, that a resolution, offered by a delegate
from Philadelphia, to the cfiect that no com
mittco shall havo power to change, alter, or
amend the Electoral ticket, except to supply
vacancies, was laid on thz table, from which it
would appear that the project of a Union Elec
toral ticket, was favorably regarded by a ma
jority of tho delegates. Let this bo dono at
tho proper time, and in a proper manner
fair and honorable to both divisions and tho
result can scarcely fail to ensure a glorious
triumph of the Opposition forces in the Key
stone Stato.
The President's FaocLAMATiox for an ex
tra session gives for tho reason, "that whilst
hostilities exist with various Indian tribes cn
tho remote frontiers of tho United States, and
whilst In other respects tho public xcaco js so
rioucly threatened, Congress has adjourned
without granting the necessary supplies for
tho army, depriving tho Executive of tho pow
er to perform his duty in rclationto tho com
mon defence and security."
Fosd or Cuickex. A sangninous political
paper, of Democratic tendencies, on tho Wes
tern border, has hoisted a chicken of rcr.poc
tablo dimensions, at tho head of its news col
umns to crow for tho victory in Iowa. Uis
faith runs counter to tho facts, as wo havo
them, but wo suppose his chicken "is the ev
idence of things hoped for, not seen."
When Gcorgo III. was told that Wolfo was
quite unfit to command, and was, in fact, a
madman, the monarch replied, "Mad mad
mad ! Wolfo mad ! Wish he'd bito some if
the other generals !"
A Kixa made of Blood ! It is stated that
tho wife of ono of the most distinguished phy
sicions of Paris, wears a ring mado cf iron
that was extracted from tho blood taken from
her husband during scmo disease with which
he was afflicted. This is a new nso for Mood .
An exchango says, restless and crying In
fants may frequently bo relieved and quieted
by a draught of cold water. Who knows but
this sitrplo agent might profitably superset'
bih sppTikinrr and prejrorieT