if la. inlfp
in
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T0II nUTClIIXSOS, Publisher.
I WOULD RATHER RE RIGHT Til AX. PRESIDENT. IIesry Clay.
TERMS:
J.
VOLUME 2.
TTT5 1
PA., THURSDAY, MAY 9, 180!.
NUMBER 88.
VJ ' fc'ii fSiil Pi, f. f'-5 ?, rz IN fa1, Mi fe JSC
D! RECTO BY.
pbspareu ixi'Iikssly fou ';tiik allkgiiaxiax."
JMS?T O POST OPt'llHS.
i'ustOJices.
B ,na"j Crock,
2,.:Iiol riutiort,
C urolith'11)
C;lt;3 Spring,
Fallen Timber,
Ikiik.in,
Ik' :n lock,
Lortdto,
Mineral Point,
Minster,
regain?,
PLittiviile,
Ko--el'!il,
-jr. Aaras'dne,
Sj.1) Level,
So mum,
Summerlnll,
SVnailt,
VTiluiore,
Post .Vaster.
Joseph Graham,
Joseph S Mrdis,
Districts.
Voder.
Dkickliek.
Re n j aiiii a Whit. e r
, Carrtdl.
Daal. Iik'"iv.rcr,
John J. Troell,
Mrs. II. M'Ca-uc,
Isaac Thompson,
J. 51. C.uosly,
Win. M " G o n di ,
II. A. Ik
"Win. C'.viiiu,
E. Wisinjer,
A. Riirbki,
Francis Ck-mcnt,
Andrew J. Fc-rrol
G. W. Coffin an,
Win. r.rm, Sr.,
George Conrad,
R. MCokean,
Wm. .Murray,
Miss M. Gillespie
Andrew Deck,
Chest.
Washuifn.
E -ensburg.
YYiike.
C . 1 iii iin.
Wa.Tdil'u.
Johnst'wn.
Loretlo.
Conem'h.
Mun.-k.r.
Ccneia':h.
Siiji'lian.
White.
ClearhV.d.
iRkbhmd.
"U":'.? Ill" 11.
Crude.
W;ehfn.
S " iu ra c rli ill.
rce'.lii.-liii IIkv. D. 1Ia::msix, Pastor.
reaching every .Sabbath morning at in'
o'clock. n:id ia t-vct:i'i- ut 15 o'clock.
b.itU .School at 1 ociock. A. M. Rr-yi-r inect
j3.t evev Tl'.ur..'.'.'- cvc:jkjj at 0 o'clock.
Preacher ia ch-.ir-v. Rev G. II. Rau::.. A s-j-uat.
IVenchlr.ii: orc.y Stio;i h. :iRc; s::it..'!y
at 10.1 o'clock in the inorii.T;.'. or 7 iu the;
evenliij. S:ibb.i;'.i ftchoul :ii J o''.ck, A. 51.
Prayer nicotic every Tiiurs2:y evenin;, at 7
o'clock.
)-7c.4 IhJrjy.nJrxtU kv R- Kv::li,.
Pastor. Rr caching every .Sf.l.Wuh inorninir :t
1.) oVocIr, nd in the evenlsijf nt 0 o'vioek.
Subuth School bt I o'clock, R. M. Riv.yer
netting ou the R r t Mon.ht.r cver.ir of c.ich
:.:o:ithV v.u:I on every Tue.-uj'.y, Tin-. ;L-'y i:nl
I'rl.I.iy' tveniug, e:;cei.tii: ike iir.-t week i.i
tzi-':. i;:c:.h.
C.-i,;';.-:'-v.k - -V-ihoaJxl Rrv. Jons V:i.l:at.'?.
pncr. preaching every Sali.;i;h weik i ;:t
0 o'clock. SaM.ath Hcliool at 10 u'clock,
A.M. I i'ver v.icelk-:-- every i'riil.iy cyvh':.
at 7 o'clock. Socleiy every Tucikyi-Ye:ikii.'
a; 7 o'cl ick.
,. :ylcz "::v. "W. Lr.oY-.Piir.:or. Preach
cverv uW:tth iuorr.i'is 10 o'clock.
v., k?.;trr jp'lsl:; R :v. Daviu JriSKIX?,
r.:n .r. r-cnehinsr every a!)!;-ih evening :ii
3 r.W: -. . kLuth School at at 1 o'clock. Ik M.
Ik v. 51. J. 5,r:xci;r:.L, Pastor.
;"kr . ' . j e -r rr k "." kai h morning t 1 0.V o'clock
-J Vc.;.crs i.t 4 o'clock in Hie evening.
MAILS AiilllVE.
T. ---n, e'aiilr, ct 12 "'c'ocl:. noon.
V. t;u.n, w' r.t I'2 o'clock, lioo.n.
MAILS CLOSE.
r.--tern. I:ky, at 4 o'clock P. M.
V. -it.r:i, at 4 .'ckjv.r, P. .
tjy TL? nr.P.T fro-? R-ilrr.IsOk: us.l'kixr-: -t
,-.-!:. ccc, rnlvo ta VhuraJ;'. o; c.iea week,
a: ; e'c'.o; k , P. M.
Lev nujkurg cii !':: k" cl" er.:U v.-etk.
t"J A. "I.
t'il-. :'h' rr..:l3 froti Xrvnn's IVM-, Car
rik.jv.T.. ,k., :-rrive c.i Mjri'l.iy, Wclne-:?:y
Fii.i-y of tich Vv-t-:!:, at 3 o'ck'.-P.
L'.c- Eker.ihur;: c. Tuesdays, Tliuridays
and y-kurday.?. ci 7 o'clock, A. M.
rkkPcct Or.'.ce or.ea 02 Sunday 3 from 0
to IiT oku;i, A. M.
niiLr.O-tD kk""'ni::.
VIL:d(.:;S STATION.
Tect Exro;3 Tr.;ki le.ivej at 0.C3 A. M.
Mail Trida " 8.17 P. Id".
I:: -Lvrre Train " 7.30 P.M.
" I'a-t'kkio " 12.33 P. M.
" ?kklr;-an GAI3 A. M.
Tk; FaatLir.c Yv'est (1cc5 not stop.
Ju-Ijc of ih:. Courii Prei'ldcat, lion. Geo.
Tuyhr, Hit. i.ia'T'koa ; A.:iGciate3, iitov&s V..
L.!ty, Rlckurd Jont?, Jr.
Pr . . " 0 :ic : - r - J o z c 1 . h M "Donald.
Ilr :!r- t:.:J Jlz-:',.'d.:s Fd.vuJ F. I.vlle.
cr.jT. Robert P. Liaton.
".:.'. Cicrijf. "William Linton.
Ll'j, .-1 Alioni'ir. Philip S. llunn.
C .: C'v.v:-,o?i;;:fvj. Ahtl Lioyd,
Z'.o:-, Jarac-j Cooper.
Clr.-k io Co.-KZiissit'.icrs. Robert A. M'Coy
jVfi.-r. John A. Rhvir.
Pior .' Jhrcrtor-. David O'llarro,
ili 'l-.-.cl M'Guiro, Jacob Iloracr
kr r-jui?. Treasurer. decree C. K. Zahra.
P',r Hoiicz S!.raru. Jaaics J. Kaylor.
-'fr.-c::ni!e Ar:rcucr. II. C. IH-vine
-4-ri.7ir. liearv Ravvk. John F.
Stall.
Jcka rt. Rhey.
.', Surrryor. E.'A. VIckrbv.
. James 3. Todu.
S''ri.itc.iJ-.ni 0 Common Echo oh. T. A
-ig'kiie.
-r-nx.t-nunc; KOR. OFFICRRS.
.-..',.- of thi Peace. David II. Robert.?,
"arrijo-.i lunkead.
Ji'trytus David J. Evans.
7W?i Council -Evan Grilrith. John J.Evan?,
y'ikira D. Davis, Thomas B. '.Moore. Daniel
0. Evans.
Clerk to Cc 'tnell T. D. Litziner.
iitrcuyh Tr ensure r George Gurley.
Weijh Jastcrs UYuxm Davis.
School Director William Davis, Reese S.
j-'oyd, Morris J. Evans, Thomas J. Davis,
tfaa Jones, David J. Jones.
Treasurer of School Board Evan Morgan.
Wf,i"Geor!Te W. Drown.
Tit Collector George Gurley.
Judge of Election Meshac Thomas.
.pectors Robert Evans, Win. Williams
-I'MMor Richard T. Davis.
Ta Alleouaxiix $1.50 in advance
Slate 3apcr.
kIESSAPE QF GOV. CUR7IH.
Annexed is tlic message f Gov. Curtm
to the special session ct tLe legislature,
convcucdut IlarrisLurcr, cn Tuesday, SOth
ultimo :
To t::e S-jnife end Hoitzr, of Representatives of
the Conuicnv:eal,a of l'rrt,ty!cania :
GKNTLFk.iK-V : The present unparallel
ed exigency in the affairs of our eouutrj
lias induced me to call you together at this
time. "With an actual and armed rebel
lion in some of the States of the Union,
momentous questions have been thrust
upon us which call fur your deliberation,
and that yen should device meaus by leg
islation lor the maintenance of the author
ity ct the General Government, the honor
and dignity of our State, the protection of
our citizen.', and the early cstubli.-Lmeut
of peace and order throughout the land.
On the day of my induction into the
Executive oihee, 1 took occasion to utter
the following sentiments :
''No one" who knows the history ci
lYnnsvlvauh, and understands the opin
ions and feelings of her people, can justly
charge us with Losiility to our brethren
of ct tier States. V"c regard them as friends
and fellow countrymen, in Avho.-e welfare
we feel a Liudre i interest; and we recog
nize, in their broadest extent, all our con
stitutional obligations to them. These we
ara ready and willing to observe geuer-ou-!y
and fraternally in their letter and
spirit, with unswerving hdeilty.
"Ours is a .National Government. It
has within the s-phere of its action all the
attributes of sovereignty, and among these
is the rikht and duty ci' self-preservation.
It m based upon a compact to which ail
the people of the United S tatesarc parties.
It is the re-nit of mutual concessions,
which wore made for the purpose of secu
ring reciprocal bouchis. It acto directly
on the people, and they owe it a personal
allegiance. No part of the people, no
State nor combination of .States, can vol
u a ta rl 1 v s ec-cclo 1 rum the Union, Tiorabsolve
themselves fromT their obligations to it.
To permit a State io withdraw at pleasure
from the Union, without the consent of
therc.-t, is to eoale's that our Government
is a i-d lure. Pennsylvania can never ae
qu:c!;C iu such a conspiracy, nor assent to
a doctrine which involves the destruction
of the Government. If the Government
is to ex".-.t, all the rc-.palrcmcnts of the
t'onstitutiou mu ;t be obeyed ; av-d it must
have power ad..g:ate io the cr.forcenu.sit
of the sukcenre la '.7 o; the land iu every
'tate.' It is ike Jlrt duty of iho naiiouai
authorities to k v the !.: kresscf ;archy
;:i 1 c: -j.'CC i.:o i.:
Ln k i'cuus ivuma,
V.-iiU a TV.:kCu
iioucst, iUitkf
kpio, V:l
red aetive
k've them an
i k e-i t. T l:e
people m-an r.-e.-:r,'c t;:e integrity of
the nationzi L n:-.::i at every uazavu.
It could fcr.rcely Lav:: been autielpated
at t at tiiue Li:::t v:c ehovld r.o feen be
calleu upen far the pra:t:t.al v. plication of
these truthz iu c.T.nectiou with their sup
port and defence by the i-troag arm of
military power.
The itne.'ak.p'.'-.k prcptBCSS and enthu
:.la.::n with which Pennsylvania and the
otlur loyal States have rcrpondcl to the
call of the Prciidcn't, a;:d the entire una
nimity with whiih our j.cople dem:ir.d
that the integrity of the Government shall
be precrved illustrate the duty of the
several State and Natlcr-al Governments
with a distinctness thnfc cannot be disre
garded. The slaughter of ICorihcrn troops
in the city of Ihikimnre, far the pretended
cfTeuee cf marching, at the call of the
Federal Government, peaceably, over soil,
admittedly 1:1 the Union, and with the
ultimate object cf defending our common
Capital against an armed and rebellious
invasion, together with the obstruction of
cur Pennsylvania troops when despatched
on the came patriotic mission, impose new
duties and responsibilities upoa our State
administration. At last advices the Gen
eral Government had military possession
of the route to AVashingtbu through An
napolis ; but the transit of troops had been
greatly endangered and delayed, and the
safety of Washington itself imminently
threatened. This cannot be submitted to.
'Whether Idarylaud may profess to be loyal
to the Union or otherwise, there can be
permitted no hostile soil, no obstructed
thoroughfare, between the States that un
doubtedly are loyal and their national scat
of government. There is reason to hope
that the route through Baltimore may be
no longer closed against the peaceable
passage of our people armed and in the
service of the Federal Government. Hut
we m.ukt be fully assured of this, and have
the uninterrupted enjoyment ot a passage
to the Capitol by any and every route es
sential to the purposes of the Government.
This must be attained, peaceably if possi
ble, but by foreo or arms ir not accorded.
The time is past for temporizing cr for
bearing with this rebellion the most
causeless in history. The North has not
invaded, nor has she sought to invade a
single guarantied right of the South. On
the contrary all political parties and all
administrations have fully recognized the
binding force of every provision of the
great compact between the States, and
regardless of our views 'of State policy,
our people have respected them. To
predicate a rebellion, therefore, upon any
a Sieged wrong inflicted or sought to be in
flicted upon the South is to oiler false
hood as an apology for treason. So will
the civilized world and history judge this
mad cubit to overthrow the most beueh
ccufc structure of human government ever
devised by m'an.
The leaders of the rebellion in the Cot
tan States, which has resulted iu the
establishment of a provisional organization
assuming to discharge all the functions of
governmental power, have mistaken. the
forbearance of the General Government;
they have accepted a fraternal indulgence
as an evidence uf weakness, and have in
sanely looked to a united South and a
divided North to give success to the wild
ambition that has led to the seizure cf
our national arsenals and arms, the invest
ment and bombardment of our forts, the
plundering of our mints, has invited pi
racy upon our commerce, and now aims at
the possession of the National Capitol.
The insurrection must now be met by
force of arms ; and to re-establish the
government upon an enduring basis by
asserting its entire supremacy, to re-possess,
the forts and other government prop
erty so unlawfully seized and held; to
ensure personal freedom and saiety to the
people and commerce of the Union iu
every section, the people of the loyal Slates
demand, as with one voice, and will con
tend for, as with one heart ; and a quarter
of a million of Pennsylvania's sons will
answer the call to arms, if need be, to
v; rest us from a reign of anarchy and
plunder, and secure for themselves and
their children, for ages to come, the per
petuity of ibis government and its beneu
ceut iiistitu'jons.
hhitertaining these views and anticipa
ting that more troops would be required
than tho number originally railed tor, I
continued to receive companies until we
had raised twenty-three regiments iu
Pennsylvania, all of which have been
mustered into the service of the United
States. In this anticipation I was not
mi.-iakeu. Ou Saturday- last, an additional
requisition was made upon me for twenty
live regiments of infantry and one regi
ment ot cavalry ; and there have been
already more companies tendered than
will make up the cut ire complement.
Ilefore the regiments could be clothed,
three of them were ordered by the Nation
al Government to proceed from this point
to Philadelphia. I cannot too highly
commend the patriotism and devotion of
the men who, at a moment's warning, and
without any preparation, obeyed the order.
Three cf the lcgiuieuts, under similar
circumstances, by direction of, and accotn
p:..:.:el by o facers of the United States
an;.-.-, were transported to Cockeysviile,
near Ihdtimore, at which point they re
malnc! for two days, and until by uircc
tiousof thoGeuerai Government they were
ordered back and went into Can.p at l"otk.
where there are now five regimen ts. Three
regiments mustered into service are now
encamped at Chambersburg, under orde.s
from the General Government; and five
regiments are now in camp at this place,
and seven have been organized aud mus
tered into service at Philadelphia.
The regiments at this place arc still
supplied by the Commissary Department
of the State.. Their quarters are as com
fotable as could be expected, their supply
of provisions abuudons, aud, uuder the in
struction of competent ohieers, they are
rapidly improving iu military knowledge
and skill. I have made arrangements to
clothe all cur rekimenis with tho utmost
dispatch consistent with a proper eeouo
ir.y and am most happy to say that before
tlie close cf the present, week all our peo
ple now under arms will be abundantly
supplied with good and appropriate uni
forms, blaukcts md other clothing.
Pour hundred and sixty of our volun
teers, the first to reach Washington from
any cf the States, are nov at that city ;
these are now provided for byT the General
Government; hut 1 design to send them
clothing at the earliest possible opportu
nity. I am glad to be able to state that
these men, in their progress to the Nation
al Capital, iveeived uo bodily injury, al
though they were subjected to insult in
the city cf i'altirnore, such as should not
have been oilered to any law-abiding citi
zen, much les3 to loyal men, who, at the
call of the President had promptly left
their own State in the performance of tho
highest duty and in the service of their
country.
A large body of uuarmed men who were
not at the time organized as a portion of
the militia of this Commonwealth, under
the command of omcers without "eomurs
sions, attempted under the call cf the Na
tional Government, as I understand, to
reach Washington and were assaulted by
armed men in the city of Baltimore, many
of their number were seriously wounded,
and four were killed. The larger part of
this body returned directly to Philadel
phia; but many of them were forcibly de
tained iu Uahiruorc; some of them were
thrust into prison, and others have not
yet reached their homes.
I have the honor to say that the omccrs
and men behaved with the utmost gal
lantry. This body is now organized into
a regiment, aud the ofdeers are commis
sioned; they have been accepted into the
service, and will go to Washington by
any route indicated by the Pederal Gov
ernment. I have established a camp at Pittsburg,
at which the troops from Western Penn
sylvania will bo mustered into service, aud
organized and disciplined by skillful aud
experienced oilicers.
i communicate to you with great satis
faction, the fact that the banks of the
Commonwealth have voluntarily tendered
any amount of money that may be neces
sary for the common defence and general
welfare of the State aud the nation in this
emergency ; aud the temporary- loan of
five hundred thousand dollars authorized
by the Act of the General Assembly of
the 17th of April, 1SG1, was promptly
taken at p.ar The money is not yet ex
hausted ; as it has been impossible to have
the accounts properly audited and settled
with the accounting and paying eiheers of
the government as required by law, an
account of this expenditure cannot now be
furnished. The Auditor General aud
State Treasurer have established a system
of settlement and payment, of which I
entirely approve that provides amply ibr the
protection ci the State, and to Wiuch all
parties
conform
having claims will be obliged to
A much larger sum will be required
than has been distinctly appropriated ; but
I could not receive no' make engagements
for money, ivithout authority of law aud 1
have called you together, not only to pro
vide for a complete re-oranization of the
militia of the State, but also, that you may
give me authority to pledge the faith of the
Commonwealth to borrow such sums of
money as 3 011 may, in your discretion deem
necessary ior these extraordinary require
ments. It is impossible to predict the lengths
to which "the madness that rules the
hour" in the rebellions States shall lead
u, or when the calamities which threaten
our hitherto happy country shall termin
ate. We know that many of our people
have a!ready"loft the state in the service
of the leucral Government, and that many
more must follow. We have a long line
of border on States seriously disaliected,
which should be protected. , To i'ucni.sh
ready support fo those who have gone
out. and to protect our borders we should
have a well regulated military force.
I, therefore, recommend the immediate
organization, disciplining and arming of
at least fifteen regiments of cavalry and
infantry, exclusive of those called out iu
the service of the United States ; as we
have already ample warning oft he neces
sity of being prepared for any sudden ex
igency that may arise. I cannot too much
impress this upon you.
j cannot refrain from alluding to the
generous manner in which the people of
all parts of the State have, from their pri
vate means, provided for the families of
our citizens who are now under arms. 3 ti
many parts of the Commonwealth, Grand
Juries, and Courts and municipal corpo
rations have recommended the appropria
tions of moneys from their pubji j funds,
for 'the same commendable purpose.
I would recommend the passage of an Act
legalizing and authoiizing such appropria
tion:" and expenditure.
It may be expected that, in the ptcscnt
derangement of trade atid commerce, aud
the withdrawal of so much industry from
its ordinary and productive channels, tho
selling value of property generally will be
depreciated, and a large portion of our cit
izens deprived of the ordinary means cf
meeting engagements. Although much
forbearance may be expected from a gen
erous and magnanimous people, y et 1 feci
it my duty to recommend the passage of
a judicious lav.- to prevent the sacrifice of
property by forced sales iu the collection
of debts.
You meet together at this special ses
sion, surrounded by circumstances involv
ing tho most solemn responsibilities ; the
recollections of the glories of the past, the
rejections of the gloomy present, and the
uncertainty of the f uture, all alike call up
on you to discharge your duty iu a sni.it
of patriotic courage, comprehensive wis
dom aud firm r;so'uton. Never in the'
history of our peace loving Commonwealth
have the hearts of our people bemso stir
red in their depths as at the present mo
ment. And, 1 feel, that I need hardly
say to you, that iu the performance of
your duties on this o-casion, and in pro
viding the ways and means for the main
tenance of our country's glory and our in
tegrity as a nation, you should be inspired
by feelings of self sacrilice, kindred to
those which animate the brave men who
have devoted their lives to the perils of
the battle field, in defence of our nation's
dag.
Gentlemen, I place the honor of the
State in your hands. And I pray that
the Almighty God, who j-rotected our
fathers iu their ehbrts to establish this
our great constitutional liberty who has
controlled the growth of civilization and
Christianity in our midt, may not now
forsake us ; that lie may watch over your
counsels, and may, in His providence, lead
those who have left the path of duty, aud
are acting in open rebellion to the govern
ment, back again to perfect loyalty, and
restore peace, harmony aud fraternity to
our distracted country.
A. G. CURTIS.
Oiii Coisirsjoai Sciiools.
It is known to all that occurrences of a
most f xtraordlruiry character have taken
place within the past few weeks events
from which will result the moit momen
tous consequences to all who conic within
the range of their influence. The people
of this country are now in the midst of a
civil war; the whole nation stands upon
the threshold of the zctujtrt American
Pcvolution, the length and the breadth
and the depth whereof no man can meas
ure. All the evil fruits of a fratricidal
war may be expected to follow, desolate
homes, prostrate industry, social demorali
zation, the creation of a lawless spirit, a
thirst for military glory, and a distaste for
the peaceful pursuits of civil life. Minis
ters of the Gospel everywhere throughout
the North will preach the necessity of
saving the con u try, and leave the matter of
saving souls for a more appropriate season.
Even that handmaid of the Church, our
Common School System, will iu a measure
be forgotten, and the rising generation left
too much to the education of the street
instead of the schoolroom. There are
results of a civil war which we all would
gladly avoid, if avoid them we could; but
''there's the rub 1" A war among thirty
one millions of enlightened people such
as the Americans are, is no holiday affair,
and there can be no dodging of the grave
consequences. Anl yet every true North
ern heart would sooner face all the evils
of which we speak than allow the proudest
fabric of free government the world ever
knew to be shattered from turret to foun
dation stone by the uuclrcumcised and un
sanctiiied supporters of a Southern Confed
eracy. God forbid that any citizen of the
free North should refuse to risk every
thing but ids foul's salvation in defence
of the Stars and Stripes !
For the present we will leave to others
the di.-eus.-ion of all, save one, of the evils
which this war is to bring upon us. The
exception refers to our Common Schools.
The question is, What course should
Cambria county Diieciogs pursue that the
benefits of the sytcm may not be entirely
lost to the army of .-even thousand school
going children within our borders i The
Directors of several districts have already
expressed their inability to' meet the tax
ation necessary to M.p;i.rL their schools
during the customary term cf the ensuing
school year; while others say that they
will have daticulty in collecting sumclent
funds to v.iwCt the alrcaJy incurred oxpen-
ses of Vtic current, school
year.
x ken,
again, some cf the best teucki ag talent cf the
country embr.iced in the sterner rex seem.?
to be fired with the passion to shoot South
ern rebels, instead of to teach the North
ern tAtnrt a how to sliced. IMust the
educational interests of Cambria county bc
su tiered to go by the beard because the
great North has dec hired thai --the Union
w.st and si' Akr. be preserved or, shail
the boys and girls of our mountain county
be euuci'l' il to do honor to that Union after
it h preserved? That is the question do
be cr not to be.
The Directors of Johnstown and Cone
ma ugh Iloronghs have, as we think, wise
ly resolved to propone the opening of
their schools for a few mouths until the
public mind becomes accustomed to the
realities of the eoiifiii-t which Is kO . upon
us, and until the feverish exelk
which now animates it s'.k'.U l.:t 0
place to the sober seecivd thought
does; net overlook a lezer while- It s:
tetacnt
;vcu
.lioil
e-ks a
greater ;;;ood. This
is the trt.o e
To attempt to c-jil-.-et ta;:es
tae
incoming school yea.', and especially with
the view of keeping the school.- in opera
tion during a long term, vouki maniiettiy
be oppressive to those communities which
will bo burdened with the support of per
haps hundreds of families whose natural
supporters have resolved to turn their
plowshares into swords and their pruning
hooks into spears. Deside, tuch a cour.-e
would rapidly teud to bring our noble
Common School System into disfavor with
the masses, whose cheerful compliance
with its requirements and hearty co-operation
with Directors are essential to its
success. Just now heavy taxation for all
purposes not directly connected with the
prosecution of war measures must of ne
cessity be avoided, aud School Directors
are therefore cutirelv iustiSabl5 ftr th.
present in refusing to levy a tax for school
purposes for the school year ccmmcuciug
on the first day of June next. This policy
does not by any means imply an abandon
ment of the System, but will merely limit
its usefulness in Johnstown and Cuue
maugh boroughs, and perhaps in the bor
oughs of 3Iillville, Wilmore and Ebens
burg, to a full and winter term of fnur
months, instead of an aggregate summer
and winter term of eihi or tai months.
In our large towns the people will cheer
fully second the determination of their
Directors to keen the schools open at least
four months during the fall and winter,
while they would feel unable and unwilling
to support the.ni ticirc that time. Then
again, wheu taxation for school purposes
iu the fall of the year Joes come, the war
may be over and gone. If not, the tax
will be paid" th.11' with a better grace and
from more plethoric purses than it would
be if imposed note. Those who are able
will, of course, during the summer months
send thcirchildren to 'subscription schools
the visitation of which it will be my pleas
ure as well as my constructive duty, not to
neglect.
Of course the foregoing remarks aro
mainly applicable to those Lotonghs of tho
county in which schools have heretofore
been taught by authority of the Directors
in the summer months. In all the rural
district?, and in some of the smaller bor
oughs of the county, the teaching term is
confined to the fall and winter months,
and therefore no necessity exists now for
taking any action whatever relative to tho
next term. It will be time enough iu
these districts three months hence to levy
the school tax for next winter. When
that time arrives, it is hoped that no Uoard
of Directors will hesitate to levy a tax
which, with the aid derived from the
State, will be sufficient to keep the schools
of their district in operation four mouths.
The hope is also indulged that the taxpay
ers of every country district and small
borough will by that time be ahicto come
up manfully to the help of the most bo
neflcent system of general education the
wisdom of man ever deviseel.
With regard to outstanding duplicates
in a majority of the districts of the county,
I most respectfully beg leave to suggest to
the Directors of those districts the propri
ety of urging their immediate collection.
No duplicate should ever remain unsettled
and uupaid after the Auditors' Settlement
on the second Monday of April. Taxpay
ers in the country districts, from which
but few volunteers have yet been taken,
and in which Soldier's Relief Funds have
not yet been established, are just as able
to-day to pay the school tax already assess
ed agaiust tnem, and for the prompt pay
ment of which they are morally and legally
responsible, as they were a month ago,
before the Secession serpent brought to us
all our woes. Dy all means, then, let tho
old duplicates be speedily collected, and
the needy teachers of last .winter be paid
their wages. In a crisis like that which
is now upon us it is the duty of every mail
to pay his just debts, if pay them he cau,
and the debt you owe to the teacher of
your children should be paid fir:.
These hints and suggestions arc thrown
out as a part of my duty in the pn-sect
crisis, trusting that they will be received,
in the same kindly spirit which dictated.
tnem. . a 5t r.s el . r . N K, Go. S up t.
Joijxsrowx, April zJ. ISC1.
CkkTThe latest specimen of 'raising
the wind" that we have heard of lately
was the case of a young ofneer in India,
who, hiding the 4'govcr.or" dc-f te nil
applications, persuaded r. cnmrr.dj to write
to the old gentleman, :.. forming Mm that
his son' was deed, : -.d ilvehrnaeed dollar-
was warded Icr igno-.kl egpeniee. Tho
money war; r ent, uu uIy acknowledged
by the dutiful son.
klf- A Mi
SS1SS
n'vr go's eT tho
follov.iag c:i uu ckil:;vj e?r.f.vj. '- Tho
editor cr Ih 3 Lkv. od-A.ee !sma.ivd. Look
out for ua;che.s 1
t. Hon. .Tehn Skerrr.ro, United Sdrt;i
Sc.--.tor lior.i Okie. Is serving as a :ivnt
in cue of the Ohio companies Cuc.u.p l
at Lancaster.
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