ftis Movumtnta of Ihs frtsldnt Kltcti
Some of the newspaper are filled with nc
I nunt of the movement! of the President elect,
and every litilo incident in noted" a 11 J coinnun
ted upon with degree of particularity that si.
vers much of tho fulsotnness nnd flattery with
which European journal record the movements
of royalty. No nun, probibly, laughs more at
this sycophancy than Col. i'olk himself.
few incidents of an amusing character occurred,
oo tho way to Washington city, which wo copy.
A Scent at Quyaniot. Amongo'hcis, raine
the old Postmaster, who made up to tho I'resi
denl in a very open and frank manner, offering
hla har.d, which Col. Polk very politely recei
ved. Says the old man, addressing him, "Go
vernor Polk, ! am glad to see you, although I
voted against you. 1 have been 20 years Post
master at Guyandot. i sinned once, and Amos
Kendall turned me out ; I repented and wns
restored to my office I now hold it, or shall
soon do (n, at your good pleasure, and am ready
to yield it whenever required."
The President replied, that he considered the
right of every man to his own opinionn, honest
iy formed, and to think for himself, a sicred
right, and therefore thought none the less of him
for having voted against him ; and he was ready
to believe the office of Postmaster at Guyandot
wee in very safe hands. "But as the ofiice of
President, as well as that of Postmaster, was
created by the people for their own convenience,
and nit for you and me, who may happen to fill
them, we alono are responsible to the people,
under the Constitution, for the faithful manner
in which we discharge our duties." This
speech, delivered by the President, seemed to
strike the old Postmaster with great force. "Go
vernor, give me your linnd ; them's my renti
mcnts ; and I believe in my soul if I hud only
seen you five minutes before the election I
should have given you my vote." This caused
a general laugh, in which the President cordial
ly joined.
The old man left, expressing much satisfac
tion at finding the President "such a confoun
ded clever man," as he termed it. lie wnssoon
fallowed by others, rather awkward-looking and
uncouthly dressed, hardy mountaineer, who
seemed aa though ihcy had just arrived in Guy
an, as the mountain folks call the town, the
'Gretna Green' between the States of Virginia
and Kentucky.
They entered the cabin in Indian file, kept
their hats on, which cast a shadow over their ti
mid but healthy and honest looking focrs. The
foremost of the lot plucked up coursgo i n 'ugh
13 approach the President, who met hiui more
than half way, with as much ease and grace as
if his visitor had been a Prince. The poor fal
low was so much embarrassed, that he wholly
forgot to tnkc off his hat, which remained as
fact to his head aa though it hud grown there.
On seeing this man with his hat on, wlnlo the
President was bowing to him, bare-headed, the
reat of his companions cried out, "Take off your
hat, "pull off your hat," which had no other
effect than still further to bewilder the poor
mm, who, abruptly quitted the President, nude
a precipitate retreat out c f the cabin, while his
mora assured companions set up a general twit
ter. The latter were then spprosched by tho
President, and each ono in his turn kindly ad
dressed by him. A little girl was led on hoard
and conducted into the saloon to see Mr. Polk.
Tln'ikP nresentnl inn heinT over. I hsrrvpil turn i
fat, roand, chubby-faced mountain boys, dressed
in warm, homespun jeans. One appeared to be
7 or 8 yearsold, and the other ten or twelve.
The latter said they were democratic boys, and
called to see the Prendent. The Colonel ob
serving them at a distance, and guessing at
their desire to see him, walked down to the ca
bin and aflectionately took each by the hand, in
quired kindly after their friends, and their place
of residence, and whether they went to school.
The boys looked up at him very archly, as
though the President of the United States was
not something besides a man. They evidently
eeeined to think it not impossible that they were
impoi-rd upon. The kind and civil manner in
which theprosident approached them had the ef
fect to put them quite at ease with themselves,
when they proceeded to answer his questions
with some woids of advice and encouragement ;
the buys left, much pleased with the man who
had epukeii to them, hut apparently not fully as
sured whether they hud seen the President.
Such email incidents show his amiable feelings
and bearing.
The President looks remarkably well ap
pearing in good hea'ih and fine spirits. lie is
drea.sed in a tmit of black broadcloth, and wears
a black cloth cloak with velvet collar. He, in
receiving thu congntulationa nJ cheers of the
people, does so uniformly bareheaded, even on
this piercing cold day, for hours together. I
cannot sou liu.v le Mauds it, for my ears, even
with head covered and coat collar tlonely raised
around my neck, became aa cold oa icicle.
1 first saw Mrs. Polk standing in the centre
of the ladits saloon. She had on a purple silk
velvet hat, trimmed with satin ribbon, striped
with broad reddish purple stripes, snd t.vo nar
rower strijwa, black snd while, running in par
allel line with it. She had on a large black
ilk velvet clak, with large cape, bordered
with fringo and tissela. She hid in her hand a
rich bouquet of flowers, and was engaged in an
imated and easy conversation with a circle of
gentlemen, who had gathered round her.
A Bov or Hum vkars Pri'nk ii Dcin!
AV'e learn 1 y the Jesrey City Advertiser that
Martin O'uauuel, a lad of only eight years, died
suddenly on Sunday morning in consequence of
'being excessively intoxicated the day previous,
causing convulsions, ' and exposure.
THE AMERICAN.
Saturday, ftb. 22, 1845.
I. B. f.ltVHIl, Etq., at hU Meal
late and Coal OtKct, M. 69 line Street, Phi
ladelphia, U authorized to act a Jlgent, ard
receipt for all monies due thle office, for n6
ecrlpllon or advertising,
.1lo, at hie OtTtce.Vo. 160 Ateeemn Street
IVrlr.
K7 We are indebted to the Hon. James Buch
anan of the Senate, and to Messrs. Pollock and
Bidlack of the House of Representatives, and
Mtiiu. Horton and Bright, ot the Legisla
ture for documents.
E7 The following nominations for Associate
Judges, were sent to the Senate for confirma
tion :
Jonah Brewster for the county of Tioga.
Strange N. Palmer for the county of Schuylkill.
Samuel C. Bonham for the county of York.
John C. Bocher for the county of Dauphin.
Jno. Montclius for the county of Union, in the
room of Geo. Schnabel, whose term of olfice is
about to expire.
KJowi Momklii s has been appointed As
sociate Judge for Union county, in place of Hon.
Geo. Schnabel, whose term of office will expire
on the 27th inst. The appointment of Mr. Mon
telius was entirely unexpected to him, as he was
no applicant. The appointment was conferred
upon him by Gov. Shunk, as a reward for the pa
triotic stand he took during the Buckshot war,
at Harrishiirg, in I83?J, when Messrs. Butler,
Sturdevant and himself left Thaddeus Stevens'
Rump House and came into the Legislature, as
organized by the democrats, and thus restored
order and preserved the peace nnd safety of the
Commonwealth. Mr. Montelius has always
sustained the reputation of an honest man, and
will, no doubt, make a faithful and impartial
Judge.
Judge Schnabel, who retires from thn Bench,
leaves it with a reputation that he may well be
proud of. There are few Judges in Pennsylva
nia who have given more general satisfaction to
all parties, and we know that his loss, from a sta
tion which he so ably filled, will be generally re
gretted, as it will not be easily supplied.
K7 The Post Office Dim., recently passed in
the Senate, has been reported back by the House,
with a recommendation that the bill heretofore
reported by the committee of the House, should
be substituted. It is to be regretted that the
House, which professes to be the peculiarly demo
cratic branch of the government, should pay so
little attention to the wants and earnest petitions
of the people. The bill reported by the House
will never satibfy them, and if it ever did it would
fail in accomplishing the object of its friends.
Government can never expect to put down pri
vate mails by force, when it refuses to furnish
the same facilities, unless at an exorbitant rate.
The two cannot flourish together, and as long as
private companies are willing to carry letters at
six pence, for which the government demands
double and treble price, it can hardly be expec
ted that the people will not encourage private en
terprise. The friends of this important measure,
one of the most important before Congress,
should urge strongly its passage the present ses
sion. The interest of the people, as well as the
Post-office Department itself, requires it. The
abolition of the franking privilege, we presume,
is the great obstacle in the way. The members of
the British Parliament, and even the Queen her
self yielded this privilege, in order to give the
English nation a cheap postage. Is it possible
that an American Congress is less magnanimous
or less patriotic ! The people dcsiie it, and it is
the duty of Congress to gi-e the measure at least
atrial. If they are disappointed now, they will
take care to remember hereafter, those who at
tempt to thwart them in their purposes in older
to save themselves from a small pecuniary sa
crifice. There is nothing yet known in iclation to
the composition of President Polk's Cabinet, fur
ther than Col. Butler of Kentucky will be ap
pointed Secretary of War. Probably there never
was a President since the days of Washing
ton, that came into power more free and untram
meled than will Mr. Polk. Olfice hunting poli-.
ticians, especially those w ho think they hava a
prescriptive right to all the offices, will be much
disappointed. Mr. Polk has thus far pursued a
course that has met the approbation of all honora
ble and independent men. In regard to the cabi
net appointments, tie? Nashville Union, a kind of
semi-official authority, speaking of the difficulties
that Mr Polk will encounter, says :
"In this condition of things, we should sup
pose tliHt the course pursued in the lute B.i'ti
more Convention will occur tJ the President as
furnishing to him the mi test precedent. The
deliberations of that body w re seriously distur
bed by thecoiif! cting pnrtialiiicsnl its delegates
for different aspirants. The only remedy tor this
state of things wax (bund in setting aside all the
names of those uppoed to be aspirants, and in
selecting a man iu respect In whom all could
harmonize. The wisdom of the Baltimore Con
vention has been illustrated in the result of
the election."
0.7" Ci'ba. Symptoms of insurrection existed
at Cuba, and great excitement against the Eng
lish. Five thousand muskets weie discovered
secreted in the mines. The English are only
waiting an opportunity to obtrude their assis
tance, with a view of obtaining and eventually
holding on to the permanent possession of the island.
liASittsni'iiQ, Feb. 18, 1345.
C7 Leoist.atits News. In the House, on the
l."th, the bill for the prevention of riots occu
pied considerable time, and was finally passed
on an amendment, confining its provisions to the
City and County of Philadelphia.
In the Senate, the bill to change the seat of
Justice of Columbia county, from Danville to
Bloomsburg, was discussed till adjournment.
After dinner it was sgain taken up, and debated
till adjournment again. The bill puts the ques
tion to a vote of the people.
The State Treasurer furnished the following
statment of the expenses of the Legislature, since
1824. The expenses in 1839, it will be seen,
wre swelled to $261,000. This year, wo pre
sume, they will not exceed $ 1 00,000, which is
still too much :
Session I.
1821-'5
1825-'fl
182C-'7
1827- 8
1828- 9
l29-30
1830-'ai
1831 '32
1832- :l3
1833- '3l
1834- 35
183-'.in
18-iB-';t7
1838-3'J
1M0
1311
1812
143
1844
1815, fractional psit,
Amount of Expenste.
83472 12
81856 68
91214 43
10H268 73
107037 li
10(1231 7.1
80970 00
107327 "2
9flfif.fi 65
110846 72
108122 33
134000 31
142588 61
100079 70
261044 84
196472 28
150673 92
176068 73
140046 to
1 139:.2 51
22527 98
?-.VJ2,943 47
Mr. Gibbons offered a resolution, which was a
dopted, instructing the Committee on Internal
Improvements to inquire into the expediency of j
introducing section boats, of sixty tons burthen j
on the main line of our public improvements, ami j
of establishing by law such a tariff of tolls as j
will secure to the main line the trade which is
driven from it by the rates of toll now charged, j
It is contended, and we believe it is a fact, that j
the present high rates of toll have already divert- j
ed much of the trade into other channels. Other
resolutions were adopted, calling upon the Canal
1'ioard for information as to the amount of tol's
received at Northumberland, and the cost of
transporting empty section boats and cars from
Johnstown to Hollidaysburg.
The amendments of the House, to the bill re
gulating election distticts, were taken up and
concurred in, with a fuither amendment ; when
the amendments to the bill for the repeal of the
Stay law coming up, the amendment of the
House, fixing January next as the time for the
bill to take effect, was modified, on motion of
Mr. Sullivan, by inserting September, and anew
section added, repealing so much of the act of
25th April, 1844, us authorizes the continuance
of the District Court for one year, in the county
of Mercer. .
The Senate then resumed the consideration of
the bill for the removal of th; seat of Justice of
Columbia county, which, alter much debate and
amendment, passed second reading, and was or
dered to be transcribed for a third.
The bill relative to bail and attachments, re
quiring bail absolute for costs in caves of appeals
and for debt, interests and costs on stay of exe
cutions, passed second reading and was ordered
to be transcribed.
The bill extending the jurisdiction of Justices
of the Peace to demands founded on judgments of
Justices of adjoining States, was then taken up
and passed finally.
Mr. Horton, on the 15th, in the Senate, re
torted a bill to amend the Militia Laws.
In the House, Mr. Cooper ofTt-red a Joint re
solution providing for an amendment to the Con
stitution, to elect members of the Assembly for
two years and Senators for four, and that the le
gislature hold its sessions once in two years.
This, of course, wont pass.
Mr. Burnsido presented a petition, signed by
Jf4 ladies of Milton, for a change in the license
law. The ladies of Milton are great on Tea and
Temperance. We fear, however, their prayers
will all be in vain, notwithstanding the number
of bachelors in the Legislature, who are always
ready to listen to the petitions and solicitations
of ladies upon any subject but that of matrimony.
K7Cahinf.t Maki; The following is among
the last rumors: Secretary of State, Mr. Buchan
an ; Secretary of the Treasury, Mr. Bancroft ;
Secretary of War, Gov. Marccy ; Secretary of
the Navy, Mr. Mason ; Postmaster General, Mr.
Saunders, and Attorney General, Mr. Walker.
C"7" A new plan for taking the 'yeas' and I
'nays' in deliberative bodies, has been invented j
by means of keys Hnd wires, commencing fiom I
the members desks' to the clerks table.
The recent snow storm, no doubt spoiled
a goodly number of pleasant arrangements. A
mong the dissppoifitmcnts occasioned by the
rather sudden and emplete interruption to the
travel bet ween New Voik and Philadelphia, was !
one which is thus mentioned in the Philadelphia
American : I
"A PiaAi'i-oiNTMFNT. A wedding party was
all ready on Wednesday ev ning to welcome a
bridegroom from New York. I lo was duo the
night before, and is still non inventus."
Wealth.-Some of the Bankers of En
rope possess almost boundless wealth. The
Rothschilds are said to be worth seveial hun
dred millions. Mr. Solomon Heine, a Jewish
Banker, recently died at Hamburg immensely
rich. He left by his will the large sum of 3,427,
(lOOf. to different charitable establishments, and
a society formed by himself, some time ago, for
loans without interest to industrious workmen,
without distinction to religious creed. He has
also left handsome legacies to his clerks and ser
vants, and 3 6u0,000f. to his three sons-in-law.
The remainder of the property, which conies to
j the son, is valued at fifteen millions of francs.
Tax on Pcraonnl nnd Ileal Estate.
The Philadelphis Ledger says, we have compiled from official papers the following tabular state
ment of the assessed valuation of all property, trades, professions, &c., made taxable for State pur
poses, the amount of tat assessed, the amount received at the State Treasury, the an ount outstand
ing, together with the amount of appropriations te Common Schools, from January 1st , 1811, to
December 31st, 1844
Counties.
Valuation.
Tax
Adams,
Allegheny,
Armstrong,
Beaver,
Bedford,
Berks,
Biadford,
Bucks,
Butler,
Cambria,
Carbon,
Centre, .
Chester, '
Clarion,
Clearfield,
Clinton,
Columbia,
Crawford,
Dauphin,
Delawurs,
Erie,
Fayette,
Franklin,
Greene,
Huntingdon,
Indiana,
Jefferson,
Juniata,
Lancaster,
Lebanon,
Lshigh,
Luzerne,
Lycoming,
McKean,
Mifflin,
Monroe,
Montgemery,
Northampton.
Northumberland,
Perry,
Philadelphia,
Pike,
Potter,
Schuylkill,
Somerset,
Susquehanna,
Tioga,
Union,
Venango,
Warren,
Washington,
Wayne,
Westmoreland,
Wyoming,
York,
Total.
$1, 790.830
15,910,504
1,633.74.1
4,633,743
3.280,982
19,386,001
3,703,057
12,467,165
8,557, 000
752,31ti
1,292,885
5.26.1,870
tU,IS0.7Rli
1,3:12,939
C8.1,NS1
1,670.657
4,2i;S.S'.)5
2.820,000
7. HI. SIC.
7.497,460
3.810,40
4,800,835
12,011.8.12
2,074,280
0,447, 5i)7
2,.I.M,2I9
1,003, 'my
2,352,25'i!
2 1,759, U.W
8.734, 890
11. SIM. 4 45
4,017,217
3.2.-16,S05
3.136.028
2,821,831
1,679.901
15.299.5SS
13.234,21 1
4.10U.15'
5,200,780
1 19,101,0.17
847,515
725,9 IS
6.(iy0,0!i!
2,oso,:joo
2.058.8 l.'l
l.tS5,2S.'J
6.0.VJ.50
1,111.910
929,017
7,524.431
1.2IS.421
5,0:i.'i, 087
9.619.830
$128,083,470'
The tax outstanding exhibits the gross amount, and is subject to exhonorations and commissions
to collectors and county trca.orers, for lour years. It was found impossible, from the imperfect
reports ot county au litors. to show the net amount of this item ; but from the best data which can
be collected, it would seem that about 8 per centum of the amount of tax assessed is a fair average
of the allowances to be made for its collection. Assuming this to he correct, the net amount out
standing on the 1st day of January, 1845, was $930,639 16, embracing, of course, the balance un
paid of the assessment for the year 1 64 1. From she 1st to the 25th inst., both inclusive, there
have been received at the State Treasury, on account of State tax, amounts from the several coun
ties reducing the outstanding tax, on the 25th January, 1S45, to the net amount of $744.84 1 h'j.
Some counties, it will be seen, have paid up nearly in full, while others are sadly deficient. In
many the amount received from the State for School appiopriations is greater than the taxes paid.
Nkw Coi ntii-s. There are now before the
State Legislature applications for ten new coun
ties in Pennsylvania.
Rimit. We learn that it is the intention of the
Philadelphia and Reading Railroad Company to
gradually substitute Iron Bridges, in place of the
, . . nimse't to Hip tnin niento histiisk. 1 is inte--
prcsent wooden superstructures. I . "IM:
I vsls were devoted to the improvement of t lie
Mr. Poi.s's respect for Tug SAniuTii. j median icil business undr r h is root ml. Those
On leaving Cincinnati, Mr. Polk remarked that j interval were short, for he freip-nt'y rise at
he intended to spend the following Sabbath in one o'clock in the morning, for the purpose of
Wheeling ; for, said he. '-it will neither comport j commencing his accustomed task. But he per
with my convenience, nor inclination, to travel, j severed, and sunccs-s attended his eflorts. Mi
or to receive company, on that day." At Whee- i ny nd important improvements were mide to
hug a crowd assembled aoont the hotel, and were
urgent to see Mr. P., but he sent them word that
it was not convenient for him to see them on that
day, (Sunday) but that he would see them ou the
n,xt da'-
Goon KxsMrr.E Tli
western co, respondent
of the Journal of Commerce says '-The Presi-
dent is Very temperate in all things. I have not
. . 1 .L . ... 1 - I...
seen rum rasie a urop 01 any iniug since ur n
been on his journey, but cold water. His exam
ple has had a great effect on this boat, for not a
drop of liquor of any kind has appealed on our
table since leaving Cincinnati."
Bisnor Onderdons. The repoit of the stand
ing Committee of Ilishop Ouderdonk's diocese,
has been published in a pamphlet. Thecommit
tee consists of Chief Justice Jones, Murry Huff
man and Guilian C. Verplanck and the decision
is that Bishop (). is still a Bishop that he has
not been degraded or deposed from his Diocese,
or older ; and that the Standing Committee, un
der the suspension, has become the regularly
constituted ecclesiastical authority of thu Dio
cese. Texas. The Charleston Mercury suggests
that incase the Texas Resolutions should be de
feated iu the Senate, the President elect should
immediately call an J'.xtru Session of Cong i ess
to settle, or at least keepalive, the question.
Iaos). There are several iron woiks in Penn
sylvania which turn out a very tine article of
railroad iron, one establishment furnishing one
hundred and twenty-five tons a week of H aud
T rails. They furnish this species at .l per
ton about (15 more than the price of the Eng
lish article.
American Saws are sold in Sheffield, F.ngland,
under the noses of the manufactures of that
country. The Sheffield Mercury, speaking of
the fact, says :
"But there have been not a few observers
shrewd and interested enough to notice particu
larly, that saws of all sorts, from the largest cir
cular to the smallest web, are especially men
tioned among the leading aiticles of manufacture,
thus corroborating the correctness of the state
ments we have often incidentally made as to the
great and successful efforts that are made to ri
val us in this important class of articles by the
manufacturers of the U. States."
Cm Mission Seventy thousand dollars, it
is said, will be about the cost of the China mission.
Received.
Outstanding
School appro
pnations.
$30 205
316603
83380
3303
$13002
$20836
67424
17713
25292
101.991
12.351
30.221
196131
9019
22S07
10557
9U473
15731
63980
5639
1999
12901
741 1
10851
21 409
131 678
20. 80S
118 512
la.76:i
25711
53874
246;i2
43800
2i:54
9974
1917
lSt.16
509 1 2
9132
7810
7172
20404
26264
23014
10778
27340
20036
324 1 1
1S918
31 (124
17578
003S
10122
74CG6
19008
25:150
29982
19214
27298
12302
SO 10
45472
32242
1 s44
15J10
21l0;i4
ii2y(j
291S
20130
100S8
17081
1 3f,90
1 9U54
1275'.
4 1203
5130
5452
10125
5.333
5.814
32 570
137.151
3337
5844
19008
804 S3
CU0C7
8.223
4774
1565
4518
12013
8307
38092
45059
8395
19050
36S91
8797
447
5.537
9 851
29.497
3972
530C
1C883
9077
17.445
52.498
4.71
23.480
30.C02
74.143
14405
3059
15090!
11551
37251
4991
34170
6997
3437
9995
13.791
59.180
14.6')S
5.510
C0989
7861
2073
5870
149348
20993
15 805
191.271
4 192'-'
53 107
321 13
1SS00
21908
22042
10737
61.745
a 1.703
42945
97.14
28.615
24.992
25,370
10.125
123.6:il
83 9S5
6002
1 1255
4 752
3910
20018
0200
70017
42301
10001
9101
729071
5301
41081
2187 1
12290
31.335
21.391
093. 005
4.55.1
2.70r,
42.349
13.752
2' 139 1
970
3570
147"
24 n:
12S9
17b0'i
7S67
534 I
784
7926
1226
33614
70S
2763
1547
13 2701
6.521
39.791)'
7.:U'7
O.O.'IO
50.700
7.589
3i!.S71
529.M
6182
330S
3207
SU'S
3535S
o nn. .
2741
4 MIS
171051
19765
3 9.15
1031
2M03
1S4 i0
r.3.481
4701
83,124,53:
51.913.933
$1,130,602
$1,4I6.981
j Th Klml Locomotive.
j About forty years ago, a poor, but hnncit and
j industrious man worked at a steam ensine in a
colliery belonging to Iird HaveiiFWorth, near
to Newcastle-upon-Tyne. lie had an inventive
genius and untiring appl cation. He devoted
j I,;, engine, but, as yet. they brought him no
miiigmi,,,, f nje c,lllMant t,, At length an
j ilpK geaim.j jn lpm, lho ,ii,trrte( o)
j lig nbl,rjoJ( mln . 'UnX if-i8 (llj,,ht v Mn.
j tionary wizard could be mado to move !" ' The
i tlae.aijrlat startled him at fint with its wild image,
! " oon took the shap.; of reality. Hull no
j icP could he taken without money, and he was
........ 'P. .. .11. I .... -I-I. . . , ... ... 1
r'i i.nn hhk-u on. i no miiny worKings ;
f, . r
rrf-n iiiu u pro t rmmniiri 11 1 I jsnl R'Hiniu.
r i' m- . a . . '
worm, the owner of Ki intrwr.rth r.i iprv. fur.
. , . .
II uhml Ml nil a in nnm.i a m. n ..... . . I
....... C.HiM., ,1 ...,
nrft locomotive engine that was ever bunt
and in honor of the noble individual who had so
nobly used his wealth, was railed "My Iird."
This was years sgo. The great achieve
ment of iha age was accomplished; and now
inirsi lorui ine tiupenuous intellect winch Had
been for years groping in the gloom of a coal-
pit. After laying down vaiious railroads, and
completely establishing the practicability of his
l . r .i i . i
invention, he was sent for to plan the line of the
Manchester and Liverpool railroad. lie then
pledged himself to obi a in a speed of ten miles
an hour ; and although he felt conscious that
there was no limit to the velocity of his engine,
yet he was afraid to avow it. It was a hard
matter for him to keep it down to that, hut he
said it had to bo done. It now liecame neces
sary for him to apply to Parliament for a char
ter and he wns deputed toappear before a com
uiittee. One uf them thought he was nnd ; o
thers that he was a foreigner. Put he was de
termined to succeed, and genius and perseve
rance triumphed over incredulous and purse
proud stupidity. Each succeeding year wit
nessed new triumph, until his lame had become
a pirt of the fame of hi country his as imper
ishable as her's Step by step he has risen
from the obscurity of his station, and by the vi
gor of his intellect conferred immortal honor
upon the name ofGeoKUE Stepiil'nsj.
A Cavksn. In Jefferson county, Missouri,
ten miles from Hilshorough, and fifty-five South
of St. Louis, a cavern has been struck, thirty feet
wide, with a strata on both sides, one to four feet
thick, of pure galena. The cavern appeared to
be one hundred feet in length. Perhaps this is
the richest vein of lead ever before discovered
The Legislature of Indiana have passed an act
providing for the taking of a new census of the
population of that State between this and the
16th of June next.
Assess'd
WAStuxnTo: ooriieipo.idu.xcHi
From the Phil. Ledger.
Washixoton, Feb. 16. 1815.
Our political circles continue to bo agitated by
the apprehensions and hopes of those who either
expect or desire to exercise a controlling influ
ence during the next four years, and public anxi
ety appears to increase, just in the ratio that the
Presidential oracle inclines to prudence and re
serve. Mr. Polk is still uncommitted as to a sin
gle Cabinet appointment, notwithstanding the
ingenious efforts of the most skilful tacticians to
elicit something of a positive or tangible con
struction. Since the foundation of the Government, there
has never been manifested, perhaps, so remarka
ble a degree of caution in State afTairs as Mr.
Polk has exercised throughout ; and if any man
has been trusted or cnuncelled with ss to the or
ganization of the Cabinet, he certainly deserve?
to be canonizej as the politicnl Harpocrates o:
this age for no such example is to be found ii
the w hole history of our Republic. Heretofore
State secrets escaped in some way, through tin
confidential depositories, whether by leakage o
otherwise, lemains yet to be ascertained; bu
they diil certainly take wings ami circii1.it
through the political atmosphere. Now, ever
thing is tight as the centre of a stone is solid
and as confused and conjectural as chaos itsell
To those who enjoy the most intimate confidence
and intercourse with Mr. Polk he has not revealui
one syllabic of his purposes, and they who jour
ncyed with him from Tennessee are as ignoran
upon the construction of the administration a
we are who have been speculating ever since th
result of the election. This w ill furnish an ide
of the vast confusion that prevails, and of theai
thentieity ofthereportsth.it will be spread wit
complaisant solemnity and assurance.
If Mr. Tolk ha arrived at any determinatio
as to his Cabinet, those who are most likely t
fill seats, who attract most of public attentii "
and are regarded as the friends of the party, si
entirely uninformed of the fact, and in this yn
may -rlii with A' mo-if iinpHcil onfulrnrt.
In this strange maze and doubt, lam unable t
9790 ' ''s,'", ,nv thine definite concerning the ne
35S:i2 I Cabinet. For the State Department, there a;
34s 2 j tint two leadini and contending interests. M
47402! v-..ii..,. ,i s. i...i 1 .1.. .
- " "
difficulty to the choice of the latter, consists i
his unequivocal adhesion toa Tarirf policy, hiiil
er than is acceptable to Mr. Polk personally.
than would be countenanced in his F.xecutiver
coin niendat ions.
Mr. Woodbury's friends are pressing him wit
some zeal, too, for this appointment, and there
a prevailing opinion that he would accept it .
the Treasury without hesitation. My impree
is, however, that Mr. Polk will avoid any selec
lions from among those who have been counec
ted with former administrations, and will pro
ceed to construct a government of fine and vigc
rous materials, and, very piobably, of a far diffei
ent character from that generally credited bvth
public. As to all this matter, the mind ofth
President is unsettled, and will be balanced mil
I by merits.
For the second post in the Administration, t)
Treasury, there are numerous a'pirants. baekt
by legions of friends, who ore bold in thrustii
their views upon other people's attention, ai
most assiduous in singing p:eans to the merits
their candidates. In addition to those named i
a former letter, Governor M.ircy. of New Yori
and Mr. Bancroft, of Massachusetts, are mm
j spoken of. Th vare both on the ground, andtl
la,,"r probably at 'he re.ust of Mr. Tolk, if n.
j with the view to appointment, certainly wi .
j that ofconf-renee. Attempts are making tog,
I Mr- Robert Rantoul, the rejected Collector!
",,Mon- m-consequence as a comp-titor mrf
v uuiuri iiumuiiii ion, nm n:s r'i-"n:ioii, w mp
j
tli
comparwl with other", are n iruonsi.!rah!e, ih
iif v may rot ! roiiiVrel in any sorimis lil
1 ,,r I -tl l l I !lll'Ml'I Wild IU ilMrilllllnl Irtl IV
1
I it w ill be most likely in the pvison of Mr. Wo) V
1 . 1
bury or M r. Thi. croft.
I "
,can.t W(i loyf p, an,,
Johnson can both go into the Cabinet. They ar
from adjoining States, which voted for Mr. Cla'
and such a course would be bestowing an tin Ju
influence upon the West. From what I can gh-a('
or reason anion;! inoe surrounding mists, an
. .... . .1
. gather ol the oVsires ami prospects or those ir
J terested, it strikes me that the Johnson intere
j will eventually succeed for the Cabinet, and Cof
j futlr be chosen for the mission to Mexico. Thi
however, is only surmise, based upon jlaneibj1
premises.
i he nommnt.on of Mr
Ailnms for the India'
Agency of Michigan, was laid ujion the table i
, the last Executive session of the Senate, which '
i . .
' tantamount toa rejection.
I The rumor of the day is that the M.idisonia
! will h selected as the oian of Mr. Polk, and b.
placed under the superintendence of Mr. Harris
i late of the I'nioii, and other competent persons
I to the exclusion of the present editor. I am aware
i that Mr. John Jones has denied the reports iii
j this respect on several occasions, but he has h it
. quite room enough still for an arrangement of
, this snit, and as his paper has chierly relied for
its support upon Government patronage and the
I involuntary tribute of officials, I can hardly con
; ceivt that he would object to a beneficial tians-
fcr, or hesitate to make a good bargain for the
unprofitable glory of writing politics with the
ink of poverty.
Letters have been received to-day stating that
Gen. Cass will reach here on Tuesday, and it is
intimated in consequence, that Mr. Polk will de
lay positive action for his advice upon the Cab
inet. Gen. Armstrong, the Postmaster at Nashville,
and one of Mr Polk's most confidential intimates,
has arrived. He is beset on all hands, and is talk
ed of for every good office in the girt of the Pre
sident. Rrvoa It is rumored that Mr. Gardner, the
President's brother-in law, is to marry the Pis-
j sident's daughter.