ADDRE SS
Democratic State Central Committee
To the people of Pennsylvania.
FELL OW CITIZENS :
Among the duties assigned to us by the
Democratic party, we are obliged to address
you, setting forth'in a plain and simple man
ner-the issues that will be submitted to the
people at the approaching election. A prop
er regard or the opinions. of men requires
that we should endeaver to explain to the
people the reason why the Democratic party
again ask them to combine in one common
cause in support of its principles and chosen
men.
The offices to be filled in the corning elec
tion, may not, of themselves, be of sufficient
consequence to excite popular interest, yet
that of Canal Commissioner involves large
public' trusts, which should only be confined
to a man of known experience and integrity.
For that office the Democratic party have
chosen as their candidate, ARNOLD PLUMER,
whose past life, both public and private, justi
fies us in saying that he possesses the experi
ence, firmness and unblemished integrity,
which pre-eminently fit him for that office,
and render him worthy of your confidence
and ehoice. But far beyond the success of
any candidate or the obtaining of any office,
are the subjects now before you to be exam
ined
_and discussed, and by your determina
tion, probably, forever settled.
Their infinite importance, not only to your
selves and to Pennsylvania, but to all the
people and States of this confederacy, should
stimulate you to a zealous support of the
principles and candidates of the Democratic
artyp.
We cannot abstain from dwelling upon
these subjects, and by our appeals to your
reason and sense of duty to your country and
to humanity, we shalt strive to rouse you to
an effort that shall be worthy of the occasion
and your past history.
The Democratic party of the United States
is the great conservator of this vast political
organization stretchin g from the Atlantic to
the Pacific, and covered with teeming -mil
lions of freemen. To its guardianslnp has
been, confined the custody of the simple ele
ments of political truth which are at the ba
sis of our institutions. In all the changes
of public affairs it has been the proud privi
lege of that party to stand by the Constitution
of the country and to restrain all attempts to
pervert its provisions or corrupt its princi
ples. It has been, and still is,
the citadel of
our liberties and the bulwork of those just
doctrines, to establish which, the people rose
as one man, and with the sympathies of the
whole civilized world overthrew an aristo
cratic and legislative despotism and estab
lished a government, which by its mild and
humane temper, offered to mankind the hope
that, in one land _at least, there should be a
refuge from oppression and intolerance.—
This has been the duty of the Democratic
party, and with unfaltering fidelity has that
party kept its sacred trus ts. From the first
moment—even before the organization of
this government—and *while the states were
deliberating upon the adoption of the consti
tution of the country ; the great men who
were afterwards to become the leaders of the
democratic party exerted their powerful en
ergies and truthful intellects to secure upon a
firm foundation, as upon a rock, the princi
ples that are incorporated in the body of the
constitution and in its subsequent amend
ments. Again, we say to the democratic
party belongs the duty of standing resolutely
and unflinchingly by that constitution and
by the purest and most holy of its princi
ples.
The earliest history of this government
was identified with the contentions between
the great parties whose doctrines were the
subjects to which the thoughts and labors of
the statesmen of those days were devoted.—
The federal party was anxious to establish a
strong cousolidated gevernment, made for the
people, and to be controlled by the men of
property, and education and social condition.
The democratic party resisted this scherne of
grand nationality to be raised upon the ru
ins of Independent States, and at the cost of
popular liberty, and urged and secured the
establishment of a Government limited and
restricted in its powers, acknowledging State
sovereignty, intended for the benefit and wel
fare of all, based upon principles of equality
and justice created for the people, and govern
ed by the people upon broad and enduring
principles of human rights. During the ma
ny years of important and stirring political
events that have since succeeded those days,
the two parties thus arrayed in the begin
ning on opposite sides were often engaged
in disputes arising out of a multitudof
questions and issues, all of which could be
resolved into the original ground of conten
tion between them. The Federal Party be
ing a party of expedience, and relying upon
State craft and political management, and
still distrusting the people, have under vari
ous names and with as various pretexts and
contrivances, sought by indirect and crooked
Ways to obtain those ends and aims from
which they were driven by the letter and
spirit of the constitution. It was supposed
that the time hadgone by when the people
should ever be in danger of any open attempt
to subvert the Constitution and its acknowl
edged principles by any organized political
action avowedly directed to such purpose.—
Implication and forced interpretation of its
letter, were the only means by which the
people were sought to be abused, and their
government turned against themselves for
the advancement and profit of adroit po
litical adventures. That supposition was an
error, for now we are again reminded by the
action of a new and dangerous cornbinalion,
that the price of liberty is eternal vigi
lance.
Fellow-Citizens, we have again to con
front the same issues that we made in 1799,
and to fight for the same principles that con
vulsed this country then, and in vindicating
which Jefferson triumphed, and Madison
earned the love and gratitude of a thankful
people. The insignificant and minor sub
jects of difference that have for some time
past divided the public men of the country,
are all obliterated by the magnitude of the
question now before you. Your opponents,
under a deluding and tempting cry demand
ing that 'Americans rule America,'
have at last with forced and compulsive can
dor, acknowledged that they wish to estab
lish two principles.
1. That none but those born in this coun
try, shall enjoy the rights of citizenship.
11. That there shall be established a reli
gious test for office.
To reach these ends the Constitution of the
United States must be changed or its provis
ions evaded, and the spirit ofour Democrat
ic Republican forms of government thus alto
gether subverted. The Declaration of hide-
OF THE.
fP
endence itself charged upon the King of
Great Britain, as one of the most serious
grievances under which we had suffered, that
"he had endeavored to prevent the popula
tion of the States, for that purpose obstruct
ing the laws for the naturalization of for
eigners, refusing to pass others to encourage
their migration hither, and raising the condi
tions of new appropriations of land." The
complaint thus made, was part of the first
• public protest of a united people agaitist aaa sai' s
bitrary authority, and in favor of
Rights. The reasons that then prompted
this, have been ever since acknowledged as an
element of our institutions that has secured
to us the confidence of mankind, and been
the first great cause of our marvelous success
as a people.
When the defects of the Confederation
were apparent, and the necessities of the
public stalled for a more stable and perfect
form of Union, and the Constitution was
adopted ; among its most conspicuous pro
visions was the authority delegated to Con
gress to establish an uniform rule of Natu
ralization, and in the very last clause of the
very last section of that instrument the fol
lowing words were inserted : 'lgo religious
test shall ever be required as a qualification
to any office or public trust under the United
States."' Thus sealing, as it were, the Bond
of our Union with the sacred and rational
' principle of the Liberty of Conscience and
the right of Private Judgment.
When the Constitution was submitted to
theh States for their adoption, it is to be re
membered that New Hampshire,New York,
Pennsylvania and Virginia, all ratified it
with a solemn declaration of rights, which
they set forth as explanations consistent with
it, and which could not be abridged or viola
: ted, and which they proposed should be
adopted as amendments thereto. Rhode Is
land and North Carolina, in a spirit of stur
dy resistance to absolutism, and of manly
' devotion to the cause of Liberty, for their
own sakes, for the sake of their posterity,
and for the sake of the human race, re-as
' serteci the doctrines and dogmas of the Bill
of Rights, and for a while declined to ratify
the Constitution until these sacred and invi
olable principles of natural right were ac
knowledged and adopted as a part of its
text, and in all of these proposed amenel
: ments were incorporated a solemn declara
tion in favor of civil and religious liberty.
At the first session of the first Congress the
amendments to the Constitution Were adopt
ed and subsequently ratified - by the States ;
and the first article of those amendments set
the question at rest forever by declaring that
"Congress shall make no law respecting the
establishment of religion or prohibiting the
free exercise thereof." It is worthy of ob
servation, that when in Convention it was
proposed by Mr. Pickney to add to the Sixth
Article the clause prohibiting a religious test
that Mr. Sherman thought it unnecessary,
the prevailing liberality being a sufficient se
. curity against such test, after which Mr.
Gouverneur, Morris and General Pickney ap
proved the motion, and it was carried unani
mously.
These enlightened men were too
well aware of the disastrous consequences
attendant upon any interference by the State
I with the religious opinions of its citizens.—
, The bloody record of fanatical persecutions
teas spread out before them, and in it they
read of those atrocities that were the
darkest stains upon the character of the hu
man race. From the earliest days down to
their own time, had the history of mankind
shown that its advancements- in civilization
had been retarded, and sometimes almost sti
fled in the ferocious conflicts' between con
tending sects and exterminating propagand
ism. In all parts of 'the world had fire and
faggot, the sword and the spear, brutalized
men into implicit obedience to religious opin
ions they did not understand, 'and faiths at
which 'their consciences revolted. From re
ligious persecution had their fathers flee,
and by emigration had their sovereignties
been established. Up to that time, by God's
providence had this land been the refuge—of
oppressed men, and with God's protection
they were resolved to dedicate their country
to the cause of civilization and religious
freedoin, and from that day to this time has
their noble work remained untouched. May
it last forever 1
. But now, after we have enjoyed the bles
sings of these sacred provisions, has a party
risen in our midst, and with secret oath
bound combinations , resolved to blot. out this
pure and life giving principle, and by forest
and violence of law, restrain and abridge the
' liberties of men and limit their civil rights
, by ah odious and impious religious test. As
citizens of this mighty Republic, as mem
bers of the great Democratic party, as men
for the sake of mankind at large, we call up
. cn yop to resist this sacrilege and rebuke
these conspiraZC against the honor and dig
nityre of our Constitution and ialYs•
After the adoption of ale Constitution, and
during, the administration of the elder Ad
ams, Congress enacted two statutes, one con
cerning aliens and the other entitled an act
for the punishment of certain crimes against
the United States, known as the Alien and
Sedition Laws. Immediately upon the en
actment of these statutes, the States of Ken
tucky and Virginia passed certain' resolutions
condemning them as violations of the letter
and spirit of the Constitution, and reproba
ting them as gross attempts to establish ar
bitrary authority, and as subversive of the
liberties of the people. The Kentucky reso
lutions were written by Mr. Jefferson, and
those'of Virginia were written•by Mr. Mad
ison, and both of these were addressed to the
Legislatures of the several States, inviting
their co-operation to resist these Statues.— 1
Some of the Legislatures refused to co-oper
ate with Virginia and Kentucky, and pro- .
nounced these resolutions to be of a danger
ous tendency, and therefore not fit subject
for further consideration. To these - refu
sals the Commonwealth of Virginia replied
in the form of a Report drawn by Mr. Madi
son, and adopted by the Legislature of the
State in 1799. The object of the Alien law
was exposed in these resolutions and in that
Report, and the mischievous consequences of
its adoption were fully explained and demon
strated in those masterly papers. In them
it was proclaimed to be inhuman, impolitic,
illegal and irrational for Congress to restrain
the current of emigration that was setting in
towards our shores, caused by the high tides
of civil convulsions and public discord that
were raging in Europe. Mr. Jefferson there
said that "the Alien law will furnish new
calumnies against republican governments,
and new pretexts for those who wish it to
he believed that man cannot be governed but
by a rod of iron, and that a very numerous
and valuable description of the inhabitants
of these States would, by this precedent, be
reduced as outlaws," and that "the mild
spirit of our country and its laws had
pledged hospitality and protection to these
friendless strangers." It was denounced by
Mr. Madison in his report, as tyranical in its
spirit, and conferring a despotic power upon
the President, to banish "an alien, from a
country into which he had been invited as
the asylum most auspicious to his happiness,
a country where he may have formed the
most tender connections, and where he may
have infested his entire property."
• This law thus resisted, and nullified, and
defeated, never assumed to do more than ex
ercise a restraining power over ALIENS, and
harsh as it was, had no relation to naturaliza
tion, and no man among the hardiest of its
supporters at that day, dated to propose the
disfranchisement of emigrants or the aboli
tion of the naturalization laws. The public
that was indignant at the tyranical spirit of
that statute, would have burst out with one
shout of condemnation at any attempt to
outlaw freemen and reduce them to the con
dition of slaves, because they were born in
another country, and were of another people.
Upon the resistance to the Aliersand Sedi
tion Laws, and in support of the principles
announced in those resolutions and that Re
port o€'99, was Mr. Jefferson elected, and
the Democratic party established as an orga
nized element of political action in this coun
try. From that day 'to this,, has it been
steadfast in its integrity and purity, uphol
ding and vindicating the liberties of the coun
try.
. Our Constitution was not wrested from the
reluctant hands of lawless kings. It was the
free compact of free soverign ties of free men,
made with each other • for their own domes
tic advantage in the common cause of human
freedom, and for the perpetuation of human
rights. Our commercial and public necessi
ties, and our political principles, all prompt
ed us to encourage emigration, and by its
healthful influence have we prospered as a
people. We have multiplied in our inhabi
tants. We have increased in our wealth and
grown mightily with a population that has
been diiven to us for ,shelter and to whom
we are pledged before the world to secure
the rights of civil and religious liberty, and
upon .whom we are likewise pledged as Dem
ocrats, to confer the rights of citizenship as
the inalienable right of their manhood. In
the making of the laws that govern them
they as freemen have a right to participate.
To refuse them that right would be impoli
tic, illegal and inhuman. By adopting them
we have secured the service of men skilled
in all the mysteries of the mechanic arts, and
we have despoiled Europe, and European
Monarchies of greater sources of national
and personal property, individual happiness
and public renown, than if we had conquer
ed in a hundred fights. Treat then a§ aliens,
disqualify them by statute, and we have in
our midst a body of oppressed, unhappy and
dissatisfied men, who -would feel their degra
dation among freemen, and sink to its level.
There is not an evil complained of in the
whole catalogue of accusation preferea
against the naturalized voters of the country,
that would equal the -wrong that would be
done to our principles and our people, by the
refusal to allow the right of suffrage and the
equal right of office to all citizens. In coun
tries where the government is a fraud upon
the people, and the right of suffrage , but a
name, restraints upon the rights of citizen
ship and religious tests may be hi strict har
mony with their constitutions, but in . this
country dedicated to civil and religious liber
ty, laws for those imposes would be violent
inconsistencies that must shock all right
minded men. We know that there are many,
very many, honest and well meaning men
who wandered off from the proper path, and
in their desire to correct alleged abuses of the
naturalization laws, have suffered themselves
to give their support to this new and perni
cious political heresy. To those ineri • we
would especially appeal, and earnestly en
treat them to pause before they shall aid in
furthering projects, the result of which will
startle their understandings and appal their
hearts. Let them beware of a political par
ty that has been afraid to reveal its principles,
and conceals its actions—let them cons'.
eler how unmanly and irrational must those
men be who would thus secretly unite, arid
binding each other in the spirit of mutual dis
trust, by solemn and illegal oaths, to carry out
a great public purpose and to produce a great
political revolution. In tyrannical countries,
where political intolerance and persecution
proscribes men for liberal opinions, such
combinations are some times necessary, but
always dangerous for the cause of freedom.
But it was left for a Democratic country, in
a Democratic and liberal age, for men thus to
conspire in favor of political intolerance and
persecuting bigotry. To the pure minded
men who have thus erred and strayed away,
do we submit these considerations for their
action, hoping that they will yet return to
correct views, and sustain the cause of repub-
I icon liberty by a zealous opposition to the
pernicious principles, and intolerant discip
line of this new and dangerous faction.
Before we conclude this appeal to your
reason and your patriotisin, we must invite
your attention to the subject of domestic sla
very. With that institution Pennsylvanians
have nothing to do. In the exercise of a
wise philanthropy, we have long since abol
ished it. But because we have exerted our
sovereign power over it, we must not endea
vor to control sister States in the regulation
of the subject. If we entertain sentiments
adverse to its introduction, we must not prop
agate those opinions at the cost of the domes
tic tranquility of other States, or at the risk
of perrilling our common Union. It' would
not become freemen to be involved in inap
_pea.sable discord, for the sake of a small
number of slaves, whose condition we can
not change. The Constitution was the re
sult of many adjustments and compromises,
and with it we have secured domestic tran
quility, private prosperity and public liberty.
Time will reveal the end and purpose of this
institution of slavery existing in some of the
States of this Union ; but while we live un
der the Constitution, we must abide by its
provisions and its solemn compacts. All at
tempts to regulate this subject by congres
sional action must prove abortive and end in
tumult and disorder. With us the Constitu
tion is paramount to the laws, and it is dis
obedience and insubordination of , the worst
kind, to strive, by political agitation, to sub
vert the one, and encroach with the other.
Like all other questions of strictly local
concern, that of Slavery should be submitted
to the exclusive jurisdiction of the people of
the territory or place in which it is proposed,
to establish or reject it. This
‘ principle of
local self-government is the basis of all our
institutions, and is essential to political free
dom. It may for a time, be abusei and tram
pled on, as other rights have been, but men
should not, because of that, be deprived of it.
It is for the common interest of all that each
and every citizen should freely and peaceful
ly exercise the right; and the principle and
practice that; universally Ordained and re
commended by the founders of our govern
merit, will be firmly maintained by the Dem
ocratic party. j. F. JOHNSTON )
Chairman.
14. A. GiI:DEA, /Secy's.
JACOB ZEIGLER,
Agricultural Society
In pursuance of adjournment the Hunting
don County Agricultural Society met at the
Court House in the borough of Huntingdon,
on Tuesday evening the 14th of August, 18-
55, and was called to order by the President.
The minutes of the last meeting were read,
and approved ; and upon the suggestion of
the President, the proceedings of the meet
ings of the Executive Committee of the So
ciety, were read by the Secretary.
The Treasurer presented the Constitution
of the society to the meeting, for the pur
!;.:,...se of obtaining members. The Librarian
the same time presented to the meeting a
large collection of choice seeds and grains,
which were distributed in small packages to
the members of the Society.
On motion, H. N. McAllister, Esq., of
Bellefonte, entertained the meeting with a
very instructive and eloquent address.
On motion of Gen. Watson,
Resolved, That the ViCe Presidents of this
Society be instructed to call meetings in
their respeCtive townships, some time be
tween this and the time of holding the Fair,
for the purpose of obtaining members and
creating greater interest in the enterprise.
On motion, Benj. K. Neff, Esq., was elec
ted a Vice President for West Township, in
place of Joseph Reed, Esq., dec'd.
On motion, the borough of Huntingdon
was declared entitled to a Vice President ;
and A. W. Benedict, Esq., was unanimously
elected as such.
The folloWibg subject was offered by Gen.
Watson, for discussion at the meeting of the
Society during the November Court, viz :
The best way to resuscitate a worn out piece
of meadow ground.
The following subject was also offered by
Gen. Speer, of Cassville, viz : The best meth
od of preventing the potato rot.
On motion adjourned to meet at the place
of holding the Fair, on the 10th of October
next.
JON. MCWILLIAMS, Prest
J. S. BARR, }
See'ys.
J. S. IsETT,
Report of the Executive Committee.
In pursuance of notice. the Executive Corn
rnittee of the Huntingdon County Agricultu
ral Society met at the office of J. Sewell
Stewart, Esq., in the borough of Huntingdon,
on Tuesday the 14th of August' at 3 o'clock,
P. M. and was organized by appotnting J.
S. ISETT, Esq., Chairman ; and J. S. BARR,
Esq., Secretary.
After hearing a number of verbal repbrts
.from members present, it was on motion,
agreed that the Executive Committee should
immediately visit the Lot in West Hunting
don, offered by Wm. Dorris, Esq., to the
Committee of Arrangements. for the purpose
of holding the Annual Fair in October. Af
ter the Committee returned from viewing the
ground, which was found to be a favorable
locality, and well calculated for the purpose,
it was on motion.
Resolved, That the Committee of Arrange
ments be instructed to accept of the Lot ; and
proceed forthwith to. have it enclosed with a
board fence (with the exception of one side,)
and that J. S. Isett, Esq., be authorized to
purchase a su - fficient quantity of lumber to
enclose the ground ; and erect the necessary
sheds, &c.
On motion of Gen. Watson, the Commit
tee of Arrangements were instructed to in
vite the Hon. Thadens Stevens, to deliver
an address before the Society, sometime du
ring the Fair, and in case of his declining,
to invite some other distinguished speaker.
On motion, A. W. Benedict, Esq., and
Hon. James Gwin were appointed a Commit
tee to solicit membership and collect funds in
the borough of Huntingdon, for the use of the
Society.
Whig County C onvention
Agreeably to public notice, the Convention
met at the Public School House, in the bor
ough of Huntingdon, and organized by elect
ing Daniel W. Wornelsdorf. Esq., of Frank
lin, President, and David F. Tussey of Por
ter Secretar..
A motion was then submitted, requiring
each delegate to pledge himself that he has
no connection with the secret political orga
nization commonly called Know Nothings.
The resolution was adopted (only two del
egates Dr. Brown and David Clarkson, Esq.,
from Cass, dissenting) and the following
pledge was.subscribed to by all of the dele
gates, except the two above named, to wit.—
Whereas, as we have met in Convention in
accordance with the long-established usages
of the Whig Party of Huntingdon County, to
nominate a-ticket to be supported by them at
the ensuing election, and as it is important
under the present political times, that the
members of this Convention act towards each
other, and the Party which they represent,
in good faith, and honesty, without any dis
simulation whatever : Therefore,
Resolved, That we sincerely and truly
pledge our honor as men and as Whigs, that
we have no connection with the secret polit
ical organization commonly called - Know-
Nothings, or by any other name whatever,
that we are Whigs in faith and practice, and
owe no allegiance to them or any other par
ty that does not endorse and sustain our prin
ciples of opposition to all such secret and
oath-bound political organizations.
Resolved, That we fully, freely, and unre
servedly make and give the above pledge un
to each other,and as evidence of our politi
cal faith and assent thereunto, we do hereby
subscribe our names.
On motion it was resolved to be inexpedi
ent to make any nominations for County Of
fices, by the Convention at this time, but
that a Committee he elected to take into con
sideration, the propriety of nominatiag a full
Whig Ticket under the new, apparently
changed political condition of the party in
the county.
On motion, the Committee then proceeded
to elect the Committee provided in the above
resolution, with power to nominate a full
Whig Ticket, if deemed expedient, or to
meet a similar Committee to be elected by
the Democratic County Convention, for the
purpose of forming a ticket to be supported
at the coming election by all wbo are oppo
sed to such secret political organizations, as
have sprung up amongst us, within the last
year.
Daniel W. Womelsclorf, Esq., Lewis H.
Knode. Daniel D. Wood, James McDonald,
and Henry Cornprobst were declared as
being the duly elected members of the afore
said Committee.
On motion, John W. Mattern, Esq., was
elected Representative Delegate to the Whig
State Convention, which is to meet at Har
risbura on the 11th day September next, and'
Col. John Doyle, John MeCallan, and Tobi
as Flemish, Senatori - e2. Confeiees to meet the
Conferees of Blair and Czmbria to choose a
Senatorial Delegate to b.) same Conven
tion.
On motion, the Convention by their Presi
dent appointed a Whig for each township as
the Whig County Committee for the ensu
ing year.
The following gentlemen compose the
Committee.
Col. John A. Doyle, Huntingdon; Samuel
Wigton, Franklin; John Rung, West; John
Dean, Walker ; John Lutz, Shirley; Simon
Gratz, Cromwell, Isaac Smith, Cass ; James
McDonald, Brady ; David F. Tussey, Porter ,
John Davis, Morris, Robert Cummins, Jack
son ; Wm. Hutchison, Warriorsmark ; Hen
ry D. Robison, Dublin ; R. Davidson, Barree;
Isaac Peightal, Penn,
On motion, the Convention adjourned.
DANIEL W. WOMELSDORF, Pres't
DAVID F. TUSSEY, Sec'y.
A. Frank Admission from a 'Know-
Nothing Organ.
Prior to the late elections in Tennessee,
Kentucky, and North Carolina, the Buffalo
(New York) Commercial, a leading know
nothing organ, made the following frank ad
mission, which was not only uttered in sin
cerity,but has the merit of being founded in
truth:
."If Gentry is defeated in Tennessee, and
the democrats achieve a decided successs in
North Carolina, the American party will no
longer have an existence as a national orga
nization. Even if they win a signal victory
in Kentucky on Monday next, it will avail
them nothing, coming upon an overthrow in
the other States just named."'
The Albany Argus of the 9th instant has
the following seasonable comments on the
above :
"The Buffalo Commercial used the above
language in an article concerning the elec
tions in North Carolina and Tennessee, which
appeared in that paper on the 2d instant.—
The contingency suggested has occurred.—
Gentry is defeated in Tennessee, and the
democrats have acheived a decided success
in North Carolina—electing, in the latter
State, five out of the eight members of Con
gress. The Buffalo Commercial is a know
nothing paper, and of course looks with anx
iety upon the result of the summer elections.
It very frankly states the importance of the
struggle in Tennessee and North Carolina,
and does not over-estimate the influence of
a result adverse to know-nothingism. Fol
lowing upon the heels of a defeat in Virgin
ia, the repulse in the two former States set
tles the question that the order - has no polit
ical strength in the South, and "will no lon
ger have an existence as a national organize
non." The Commercial is right in its con
clusion that success in Kentucky, which the
know-nothings have probably secured, "will
avail them nothing, coming upon an over
throw in the other States just named."—
Knownothingism now disappears from the
stage as a powerful political element, and
the presidential contest will he conducted
uninfluenced, to any considerable extent, by
this disturbing force.
"It is to be presumed that candid and in
telligent members of the order, after this
distinct admission by one of its leading and
its ablest organ, that it 'no longer has an ex
istence as a national organization,' will pre
fer to abandon its past pretensions in that
respect, to regard the mission of the order as
ended, and to attach themselves to such liv
ing political organizations as best accord
with their sympathies. Democrats, it seems
to us, will not deem it wise to separate
themselves longer from their political breth
ren, in the expectation that this secret order
will have the power to accomplish any re
sults which they desire."
The contingency suggested by the Buffalo
Commercial has not only occurred, but Ala
bama, too, has proclaimed in thunder tones
to her sister States that know-nothingism
cannot have an existence as a national or
ganization.
State Central Committee.
The Democratic State central Committee
met at Harrisburg on Wednesday last, a fnll
attendance of members being present from
every section of the State. The best spirit
prevailed, and the information from all
quarters indicates a decisive and complete
overthrow of the know nothing treason.—
Honorable and high minded Whigs are corn
ming out openly everywhere, and refusing
to act with them.
The Committee adopted an address which
we publish in to-day's Globe.
The following letter from the Hon. AR
KOLD PLUMER, in reply to the one from
the State Central Committee, will be read
with pleasure. It is full and ingenious in
its declarations, and worthy of so noble a
Democrat as our nominee for Canal Commis
sioner :
SIRS :—Having received the nomination
for the office of Canal Commissioner, from
the Democratic State Convention ; assembled
at Harrisburg on the 4th inst., and said Con
vention having passed the following resolu
tion:
Resolved, That the candidates for nomina
tion for Canal Commissioner be_ severally
pledged that they are not at the present time,
members of, or in any way connected with,
any secret political association; that they
will not become connected with such associ
ation, if nominated, at any time prior to the
election, nor, if elected, during their contin
uance in office; and that the nominee of the
Convention shall give to the State Central
Committee a pledge, which they shall pro
scribe, in relation to the subject of Know-
Nothingism and that if he decline to take
such pledge, the State Central Committee is
authorized to make a nomination in his
stead.
It affords sne pleasure hereby to pledge
myself to the State Central Committee, that
I am not at the present time, nor have I been
at any time, connected with any secret politi
cal organization or association—nor will I
become connected with any such association
or organization at any time prior to the elec
tion, nor if elected during my continuance in
office.
This pledge is given in the language of
the resolution of the State Convention, and
in the form proscribed by the State Central
Committee; but I desire further to state to
that Committee, and through them to the vo
ters of the Commonwealth, that 1 reject in
the most unqualified terms the doctrines. of
the Know Nothing , party, so far as they have
not been takan from; and do not conform to,
the avowed principles of the democratic par,
ty, they being otherwise anti-Republican and
anti-American. As a citizen of , ,the United
States, as a Pennsylvanian, professing to be
governed by the Constitution of my country,
and liberal Christian principles, I could not
subscribe and solemnly . take the oath requi
red of me upon assuming the office of Canal
Commissioner, "to support the Constitution
of Pennsylvania and the Constitution of the
United States ," If I had taken an oath or
other obligation binding myself to reject the
claims of any American citizen for office, on
account of his religious belief or the place of
his birth, such tests being expressly forbidden
by both those sacred instruments.
From the principles involved in the ap
proaching election, I deem it the most impor
tant which the Democracy have been called
upon to participate in for many years. To
be chosen standard bearer of the party in
such a contest, is a high honer, for which I
shall ever be greatful.
Truly yours.
ARNOLD PLUMER.
To JAS. F. JOHNSON,
Chairman of State Central Committee.
Public Meeting
At a large meeting of the friends of Tem
perance and good order, held in the hall of
the Sons of Temperance in the borough of
Birmingham, on Friday evening August
24th, 1855, JoHN OwENs, Esq., was called to
the chair, Rev. ISREAL U. WARD ar.d Rev.
ELISHIA BUTLER, were selected as Vice
President, and Join( M. STOREROAD, Secre
tary. After the presiding officer had truely
stated the object of the meeting the Rev.
THOMAS WARD submitted the following pre
amble and Resolutions, which were unani
mously adopted :
WR theinhabitants of the borough of Bir
minghamand vicinity, both male and female,
feeling a deep and abiding interest in the
welfare and peace of our community, all of
which were to some extent involved in the
prosecution recently carried against a number
of our most esteemed and respectable young
men for the alleged demolition by them of
the most corrupting and peace_ disturbing
nuisance with which any village was ever
infested and afflicted, deem it our duty to
give public expression to that which we be
lieve to be the prevailing sentiments of this
neighborhood, therefore
Resolved first, That we now as ever look
upon tippling houses and groggeries where
drunkenness, disorder and crime are engen
dered and encouraged, as nuisances of the
worst kind, and if they be as confessed and
admitted by the counsel employed by the
prosecetor in the case alluded to, nothing
better than "nuisances sustained by law," it
is time we should take decided measures to
rid ourselves as well of such laws, as of the
nuisances which they are obliged to sustain.
Second, That while we utterly deprecate
a resort to anything like mob laws for the
correction of the ordinary misdemeanors
that occur in community it is asking too
much of parents and relations to stand by
and daily see their sons and friends slowly
murdered and dragged to death, without
putting forth a band at once to arrest these
remorseless destroyers.
Third, That while the Court and the jury
under the technical rules of law, which their
oaths binds them to respect, could not act in
the said trial otherwise than they did, we ful
ly adopt and endure the statements made to
Governor Pollock to the effect that if teciii
cal rules did require the jury to convict, pure
natural justice required there should be no
punishment. That the action of His Excel
lency the Governor in granting a pardon
promptly for the arrest of sentence, meets our
most hearty approbation and entitles him to
the most cordial _thanks of the lovers of
virtue in every community.
Fourth, That we feel under obligations,
of no ordinary character, to Messrs. Scott,
Campbell and Williamson, for their able de
tence of our young friends, knowing as they
did, if any had participated, it was in the
abatement of a most loathsome nuisance in
which some of their associates had been en
trapped in the way that leads down to the
chamber of death.
Sixth, That at this juncture it .is highly
impolitic, and what the ememy ought not to
expect, for the friends of Temperance to
relax their efforts, while his allies are
in the field marshalling their forces and
appropriating their means, a desperate strug
gle to prolong the malignant reign of alcohol,
and to sabvert the happiness of mankind.
That the editors of the Huntingdon and
Holidaysburg papers, and all Temperance
papers be respectfully requested to publish
the proceedings of this meeting. [Signed by
the officers.]
Late and Important from Mexico.---
Abdicatidit. of Santa Anna
NEW ORLEANS, Aug. 25.
By the arrival of the Orizaba, we have advi.
ces from Vera Cruz to July 22, Santa Anna
left the city of Mexico on the 9th, under an es
cort of 2,500 men, and upon his arrival at'Pe:
rote he signed his abdication of the presidency.
On,the 17th, lie embarked at Vera Cruz, but for
what place is not stated . A day or two after
his leaving the city of Mexico 700 or 800 of the
escort revolted, and after killing one or two of
ficers proceeded to join the insurgents of Alva
rez.
General Carre has been appointed Provisional
President, and General La Vega commander in
chief of the army.
The State prisoners at the City of Mexico
had been liberated, and a mob ,committed a
number of excesses; the house of Santa Anna's
mother-in-law was completely gutted in the ex
citement.
WHERE TO KEEP THE GREAT WHEAT
CRoP.--The Illinois Central Railroad 7,ompa
ny have commenced building' a granary at
Chicago, which is 200 feet long, 100 wide,
and more than 100 feet high. This building
covers nearly half an acre; and will require
about two millions of Milwauki brick in its
Construction. Its capacity will be over two
millions of cubic feet; so that; it filled full, it
w ould hold more than one million six hun
dred thousand bushels of grain, It is, how
ever, to be arranged with bins, &c., so as to
hold about seven hundred thousand bushels.
This is to be the storehouse at one end of a
single railroad.—American Aericulturist.
HORRID DEATH.—David Wright, convicted
of the murder of A. M. Robinson, at Colum
bus, Ga.., committed suicide under horrible
circumstances. He commenced sawing off
the chain from his leg and set fire to his cell,
in order to knock the jailor down and escape,
when the alarm was raised. The fire, how
ever, became too hot before he got the chain
off, and he was discovered roasted to death,
having crawled off as far as the chain would
allow him.