TI 4 '1
LOBE!.
Circulation—the largest in the County
HUNTINGDON, PA.
Wednesdays ,Tune 11, 1856
FOR, PRESiDEN'T,
JAMES. -BUCHANAN,
OF PENNSYLVANIA.
FOR VICE PRESIDENT,
JOHN. C. BRECKENRIDGE,
OF REIVTUCKY
Democratic State Nominations
CANAL COMMISSIONER,
GEORGE SCOTT, of Columbia-county.
AUDITOR GENERAL,
JACOB FRY, Jr., of Montgomery county
SURVEYOR GENERAL,
TIMOTHY tVES, of Potter county.
THE, DEMOCRATIC NOMINEES.
Much of our space to-day is taken up with
the proceedings of the Democratic Convention
which placed in - nomination Hon. James Mt
charism, for President, and Hon. Jno. C. Breck
enridge for Vice President. It is well known
to our readers that Gen. Lewis Cass was al
ways our first choice; but we can and will
give Mr. Buchanan a cordial support, and use
every honorable means to give him Old Hun
tingdon by a handsome majority.
'Mr. BUCHANAN was born in
,Fra.nklin Coun
ty, Pennsylvania, on the 19th of April, 1791 ;
and therefore 65 years old. , He served fits
the State Legislature two years, in'the House
of Congress ten years. Gen. Jackson sent
hire to - RusSia as Minister in 1831; - Where he
remained three years. in 1834 he was elect
ed to the United States Senate, and remained
there eight - years. He was Secretary of State
under President Polk, and Minister to Eng
land under President Pierce.' He has filled,
therefore, nearly every civic station of dis
tinction, the post to which he has just been
nominated being the last and highest 'which
the people of the country have to bestoW
upon him.
Mr. BEtCKENRIDGE ) of Kentucky, the can
didate for Vice President, is 'comparatively a
young man, and a. nephew of Rev. Robert J.
Breckenridge, D. D., the distinguished Pres
byterian clergyman, He is understood to be
one of the progressive Young, American
school; popular in his own State, 'and was
offered the mission to Spain on the .resigna
tion of Mr. Saute, but declined it. He serv
ed two terms 'in Congress .
DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CONVEN-
TION.
The Convention assembled at Cincinnati
on Monday the 2d inst., and organized tem
po:arily by calling Samuel Medary to the
chair.
On the second day the Convention• organi
zed permanently with John E. Ward, of Geor
gia as President, assisted by a number of Vice
Presidents and Secretaries.
Mr. Ward on taking the chair, said " that
the summons to preside over the deliberations
of the Convention was as unexpected as the
honor was undeserved. The distinguished
gentleman who yesterday presided, who was
the connecting link between the past and the
present, has carried them back to a period
when the Democratic party was accustomed
to assemble and go forth and do battle with a
great, noble and gallant party, but that party
with the issue that divided us' has passed
away, and the great leaders of the party,
have one by one stolen away to their silent
resting-place filled with years and honors,
mourned by political friends; for.
"How sleep the brave who sink-to rest
With all their country's honors blest !"
Others of that noble ' v band, who still sur
vive, are with us to-day to take part in our
deliberations, and to go forth with us to battle
for the Constitution and the Union.
But this great, party having passed away,
we find ourselves - surrounded by dangers be
fore unknown, and our land from end end
convulsed with factions. On one. side are
men who will admit foreign born citizens
among us only on condition of serfdom.—
They would dictate laws that power should
be held only by those who bow before the
same shrine as .themselves ;. they hold that
they only are fit for power who, approach the
Throne of Grace; after the fashion they
themselves prescribe. On the other side is a
faction only more dangerous, because more
numerous than the first, a faction with liber
ty on their tongues, but with treason fester
ing at their hearts, who profess love for the
Union.only that they may bury- in the ruins
of the Union the 'glorious memories of the
past and - the hopes of the future. This fac
tion is formidable only in case of its success
to unite against the Democratic party with
the first faction. The National Democratic
party have met to day to appoint standard
bearers to carry on the war against these fac;
tions.
Let us, then, come together like a band of
brothers, to lay on -the altar of patriotism and
of the Union a willing sacrifice of perSonal pre
ferences, sec..ona:l feeling, snd, above all, pri
vate dissensions. Let our deliberations and.
actions be sanctioned by higher and purer
motives. Let our preferences for persons be
lost in a desire to protect and save the Consti
tution of the country.
Two sets of delegates from Missouri and
New York appearing, their claims to seats
occupied the attention of the Convention un
til it adjourned.
On the third day Mr. Hallet from the born
mittee on resolutions presented the following
which were adopted. - The first 'part of the
report endorses and affirms the general prin
ciples of the last National Convention held at
Baltimore in - 2852. The report then proceeds
as followis : • -
And whereas, since the foregoing declara
tion was unanimously adopted by•our prede 7
cessors in National Conventions, an adverse
political and religious test has been secretly
organized by a party claiming to be exclu
sively Americans, and it is proper that the
American Democracy should clearly define
its relations thereto ; therefore
Resolved, That the foundation of this Union
of States having been laid in its, prosperity,
expansion and pre-eminent example in, free
government, built upon entire freedom in
matters of religious concern, and no respect
of persons in regard to rank or-place of birth,
ao party can justly be deemed national, con
stitutional, or in accordancewith American
principles, which bases its exclusive organi
zation::upon religions oßjnions and accidental
birthplace... -
That we reiterate with 'renewed energy of
purpose the well : considered declarations: of
former Codyentions updryithis sectional issue_,
'of domestiC slavery, and 'Concerning the" 're
served rights of the States; and that we may
more distinctly meet the issue on which a
sectional party, subsisting exclusively on sla
very agitation now relies, to test the fidelity
of the people North and South, to the consti
tution and the-Union—
Resolved, That claiming fellowship with
and desiring the co-operation of all who re
gard the preservation of the Union, under
the constitution, as the paramount issue, and
repudiating'all sectional ‘parties and platforms
concerning ddmestic slavery, which seek to
embroil the States and incite to treason and
-armed resistance to law in 'the Territories,
and whose avowed purposes, if consummated'
must end in civil war and disunion, the
American Democracy recognize and adopt
the principles contained in the organic laws
establishing the Territories of Kansas and
Nebraska, as embodying the only sound and
safe solution of the slavery question upon
, which the great national idea of the people of
this whole country can repose in its determi
ned conservatism -of the Union : non-inter
ference by 'Congress with slavery -in States
and Territories • that this was the'basis of the
compromises of 1850, confirmed by both the
Demociat:o and Whig parties in National
'Conventions, ratified by the people' in the
election of 1852, and rightly applied to the
organization of Territories in 1854 ; that by
the uniform application 'of this Democratic
principle to the -organization Of Territories
and. the - Admission of new States, with or
without domestic slavery e as they may elect,
the equal-rights of all the States will-be pre
served
_intact, the original compacts of the
constitution • maintained. inviolate, and the
perpetuation and expansion of the Union en-,
I sured to its utmost capacity of embracing, in
peace and-harmony every future American
State that may be constituted or annexed with
a republican- form of government. --
Resolved, That-we recognize the right of
the people of all the Territories, including
Kansas and Nebraska, acting through the
fairly expressed will of the majority of actual
residents; and whenever the number of their
inhabitants justifies it, to form-a constitution
with or without domestic slavery, and be ad
mitted into the union upon terms. of perfect
equality with the other States.
Resolved, finally, That in view of the , con
dition of the popular institutions of the Old
World, and the-dangerous tendencies of sec
tional agitation, combined with the attempt
to enforce civil' and -religious disabilities
against the rights of acquiring-and enjoying
citizenship in our own land, a high and sa
cred duty has devolved an increased respon
sibility upon the Democratic party of this'
country, as the party of the Union, to uphold
and maintain the rights of every State, and
thereby the Union of the States ; and sustain
the advance among us of constitutional lib
erty -by continuing to resist all monopolies
and all exclusive legislation for the benefit of
the few at -the expense of the many and by a
vigilant and constant adherence to those prin
ciples and compromises of the Constitution,
which are broad enough and strong enough to
embrace and uphold the Union as it was, the
Union as it is, and the Union as it shall be,
in the full expansion e; the energies and ca
pacity of this great and progressive people.
1. Resolved, That the questions connected
with the foreign 'policy of the country are in
ferior to no domestic question whatever.—
The time has come for the people of the Uni
ted States to declare themselves in
,favor of.
free seas and a progressive free trade through
out the world, and by solemn manifestations
to place their moral influence by the side of
their successful example.
2. Resolved, That our geographical and po
litical position with reference to other States
of the Continent, no less than the interests
of our commerce and the development of our
growing power, requires that we hold to the
sacred principles involved in the Monroe
doctrine. Their bearing and import, which
admit of no misconstruction, should be ap-.
plied with unbending rigidity.
3: Resolved, That the great highway which
nature, as welt as the assent- of the States
most immediately interested in its .maipten
ance, has marked for a free communication
between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, con
stitutes one of the most important achieve
ments realized by the spirit of modern times
and the unconquerable energy of our people,
and that this result should he -secured by
timely and efficient exertion; the control
which we have-the right to claim over it.—
No power on earth should be suffered to im
pede or clog its progress by any interference
with the relations that may suit our policy to
establish with the governments of States
within whose dominions it lies. We can un
der no circumstances surrender, our prepon
derance, in the adjustment of all questions
arising out of it.
4. Resolved, That in our view of so com
manding an interest to :he people of the Uni
ted States, that they cannot but sympathize
with the efforts which are being made by the
people of Central America to regenerate that
portion of the Continent which covers the
passage across the Oceanic lithmus
5. Resolved, That the 'Democratic party
will expect from the next administration ev
ery proper effort made to ensure our ascend
ancy in the Gulf of Mexico; so as to maintain
the permanent protection of the great outlets
through which is emptied into its waters the
products raised on the soil and the commodi
ties created by the industry of the people of
our western valleys and the Union at large.
The folloWing is the Baltimore platform of
1852:
Resolved, That the American Democracy
place their trust in the intelligence,. the patri
otism, and the discriminating justice of the
American 'people.
Resolved, That we regard this as a dis
tinctive feature of our creed, which we are
proud to rnaintain, before the world, as a great
moral element in a form of government,
springing from and upheldby a popular will;
and we contrast it , with the creed , and prac
tice of Federalism, under whatever name or
form, which seeks to palsy the vote of the
constituent, and which conceives no impos
ture too monstrous for - the, popular credulity.
Resolved, therefore, That entertaining these
views, the democratic party of the Union,
through their delegates assembled in a Gen
eral Convention of the States, convening to
gether in a spirit of concord, of devotion to
_the doctrines and faith of a free representa
tive government, and appealing to their fel
low citizens for the rectitude of their inten-
Lions, renew and reassert before the American
people, the declarations of principles avowed
by them, when, on former occasions in gen
eral convention, they presented their candi
dates for the popular suffrages.
1. That the federal governmeht is one of
liberal powers,
derived solely from the Con
stitution, and the grants of power made there
in.- Ought to be strictly construed by all the
departments and agents of the government
and that it is inexpedient and' dangerous to
exercise doubtful constitutional powers.
2. That the Constitution does not confer
upon the General Government the power to
commence and carry on a general system of
internal improvements.
3. That the Constitution does not confer
authority upon the Federal Governrrient, di
rectly or indirectly, to assume the debts of the
several States, contracted for local internal
improvements, or ether State purposes; nor
would such assumption bejust or expedient.
4. That justice and sound policy forbid the
Federal Government to fostet one 'branch of
industry to the detriment of another, or to
cherish the'interests of one portion to the in
jury of another portion of our common coun
try; that every citizen . and 'every section of
the country has a right to demand and insist
upon an equality of rights and privileges, and
t. 9 complete an ample protection of persons
and property from domestic violence and for
eign aggression.
5. That it. is the duty of every branch of
the Government to enforce and practice the •
most rigid economy in conthicting our public
affairs, and that no more revenue ought to be
raised than is required to defray - the neces
sary expenses of the.government, and for the
gradual but certain extinction of -the public
debt.
6.. That Congress has no power to charter
a' National Bank ; that we believe such an in
stitution one of deadly hostility to .the best
interests of our country,,-dangerous to out re
publican institution's and.the liberties of the
people, and calculated to place the business
of the country within the control of a con
centrated money power, and above the laws
and will of the people; and• that the results
of Democratic legislation in this . and all other
financial measures upen which issues have
been made between the two political parties
,of the country, have demonstrated to practi
cal men of all parties, their soundness, safety
and utility, in all business pursuits.
7. That, the separation of the moneys of
the Government from all banking institutions
is indispensable for the safety of the funds of
the ,Government and the. rights of the peOple.
B. That the liberal principles advocated by
Jefferson in the Declaration of Independence,
and -sanctioned in the Constitution, which
makes ours the land of liberty, and, the asylum
of the oppressed of every nation, have ever
been cardinal principles in the Democratic
faith ; and every.attempt to abridge the priv
ilege of becoming citizens and owners of soil
among us, ought to be resisted with the same
spirit which swept the alien arid. sedition
laws from our statute book.
9. That Congress has no power, under the
Constitution, to interfere with or control the
domestic institutions of the several States,
and that all such States are the sole and pro
per judges of every thing appertaining to
their own affairs not prohibited bythe Consti
tution_ ; that all efforts of the Abolitionists
or others made to induce Congress to inter
fere with questions of slavery, or takeincipi
ent steps ilftrelatior. thereto, are calculated, to
lend to the most alarming and dangerous
•
consequences, that all such efforts- have an
inevitable tendency to diminish •the happi
ness of the people, and endanger the stabil
ity and permanency of the Union, and ought
not to be countenanced by any friend of, our
political institutions.
Resolved, That the foregoing proposition
covers and was intended to embrace, the
. whole subject Of slavery agitation in Con
-gress, and therefore, the Democratic party of
the Union standing on this national platform ;
will abide by and adhere to a faithful execu
tion of the acts known as the compromise
measures settled by the last Congress, the act
for reclaiming fugitives from service or labor
included; which not being designed to carry
out an express provision of .the constitution,
'cannot, with fidelity thereto,, be repealed, or
so changed as to destroy or impair its effici
ency.
Resolved, That the democratic party will
resist all attempts at renewing in Congress,
or out of it, the agitation of the slavery ques
tion, under whatever.shape, or color the at
tempt may be made.
Resolved, That the proceeds of the public.
'lands might to be sacredly applied to the na
tional objects specified in the constitution,
and - that we are opposed to any law for the dis
tribution of such proceeds among the States
as alike inexpedient in policy and repugnant
to the constitution.
Resolved, That we are decidedly opposed to
taking from the PreSident the qualified Veto
poiver, by which he is enabled, under restric
tions and responsibilities, amply sufficient to
guard the .public interests, to suspend the
passage of a bill'whose merits cannot secure
the approval of two thirds of the Senate and
House of 'Representatives until the judg
ment of the people can be obtained thefeon
and' which has saved the American people
from the corrupt and tyrannical do,rninton of
the Bank of the United States, and from, a
corrupting system of general Internal Im
provements. . .
Resolved, That the . Democratic party will
faithfully abide by and uphold the principles
laid down in the Kentucky and Virginia reso
lutions of 1792 and 1798 and in the report of
Mr Madison to the Virginia Legislature in
1799—that it adopts these principles as con
stituting one Of the main foundation of its
political creed, and is resolved to carry them
out on their obvious meaning and- import.
That in view of -the condition of the popu
lar institutions in the Old World a• high and
sacred duty is involved. with increased re-.
sponsibility -upon the Democracy, of this
country, as the party of the people, to up
hold and maintain the right of every State,
and thereby the union of the States—and to
sustain and advance among them constitu
tional liberty, ,by continuing to resist all mo
nopolies and exclusive legislation for the ben
efit of the few, at the expense of the many,
and by_a vigilant and constant adherence to
those principles and compromises of the
Constitution—which are broad enough and
strong enoug to embrace and uphold the Un
ion as it is, and the Union as it should be—in
the full expansion of the energies and capaci
ty of this great and progressive people.
The claims of the two sets of delegates
were again discussed until the Convention
adjourned.
Fourth day—morning session. Both sets
of delegates were admitted to seats with half
•
vote by each.
Afternoon session." The convention then
proceeded to ballot for a candidate for the
Presidency when 14 ballots were had, result
ing severally as folltilys -
BUCHANAN. PIERGp. DOUGLAS. CASS.
Ist ballot, 135 422. ' - .33.• _,5
2d, do. . 139 , ' 119 . 3 , 1 6
3d do. 139 119 , 32 • ;, 5
4th do. , 141 ll9 . 30 5
sth do. 140 119 31 .0- 5
.6th do. . 155 107 28 • 5
7th do. 143 89 58 5
Bth do. 147 , 87 56 5
89th do. 142 87 48 7
10th do.• 150 80 59 5
11th do. 147 80 63 5
12th do. 148 . 79 63 5
13th do. 150 ' 77 63 - 5
14th do. 152 - 79 - 63 5
The following is a detailed statement of the
first ballot by-states :
States. " Buchanan. Pierce. Douglas. Cass.
Maine, 5 ' 3.
N. Hampshire, • 5
Vermont, - -- 5 "-
Massachusetts, 4 9
Rhode Island,', ' 4" -- --
Connecticut, • "6 -2- , --
New York, 17 18 .
New Jersey, 7
Pennsylvania -27 ----
Delaware,
-- . 3 ' -- —.-
Maryland, 6
Virginia, 15 —
N. Carolina , --- •10 •
...... . ..
S. Carolina, 8
Georgia; "• • 10 '
Alabama ; "9
Mississippi, 7 --
Louisiana, • 6 ,
Ohio, 13 4 4 1
Kentucky,
.4 5 _ 3 —7
Tennessee, •12 • —.—
Indiana, - •
.' 13 -
Illinois, -7- - 11 -
Missouri, . 9
Arkansas, _ — ' 4 - ' --.--
Michigan, - 6 -
,
- ,_-
Florida, 3 - •- _
Texas, - 4 . --.
lowa,
Wisconsin, 3
EMI
Fifth day. The - Convention re-assembled
this morning and immediately resumed the
_
ballotings. _ _ , .
_ .
• Buchanan. Pierce. Douglas. Cass.
15th ballot ; 168 • 3 118 4
16th do. 168 121 6
17th do. 296 - -- -- --
After the 15th Pierce was withdrawn.. Af
ter- the 16th Douglas Was withdrawn. Gen.
Cass was . not a candidate. ,
Afternoon session. The Convention pro
ceeded to nominate a candidate fOr Vice Pres
ident. The ballot resulted as follows :
Breckenridge; 55 Fitzpatrick, 'll
Quitman, 59 Brown, 29
Boyd, 33 H. M. Johnson, 31
Bayard, 31 Rusk, '
- 2
Dobbin 13 Trusen Polk, (Mo.) 5
After the ballot was announced Delaware
withdrew the name of Senator Bayard.
A. delegate from Connecticut begged to say
that if thedelegates south of Mason' and Dix
on's line could agree on a - candidate, Connec
ticut would. go for her candidate, if not,'
lie
had the name of a distinguished son, 1:•aao
Toucey, to propose.
Another delegate said that was not so
Connecticut reserve(' Toucey for higher game
The name of Brown, of Tennessee, was
withdrawn, and Tennessee cast her vote for
Breckenridge, and several other States then
changed their votes to Breckenridge, arid
amidst great excitement Mississippi withdrew
the name of Quitman, and recorded-her vote
for Breckenridge.
Judge Beardsley, for the New . York Hards,
changed their votes from Butler to Brecken
ridge.
The vote was then announced as follow•s:
John C. Breckenridge, of Ky-286
•The,nomination was then declared unani
mous • and was received with immense ap
plause.
• Mr. 'Breckenridge, being loudly called for
took the stand amid.. deafening cheers, 'and
said the result was quite unexpected to him,
And he bad no words to'express the' profound
gratitude he felt for this mark of honor and
confidence from the Democrats of the United
States. He did not intend to make a speech,
but only -to return thanks , from his heart for
the honor done him. With- regard to the
first nomination he -could only say that Mr.
Buchanan had lived 'down detraction arid cal
umny; and was now about to be • crowned
with the highest honor that could be.conferred
on an American citizen.
He desired to say generally that he was a
States Right delegate, and that he trusted, if
elected, to the high office.fOr which he had
beeri nominated he should never do acything
to pervert the high trust reposed ih him.
After several speeches by delegates the
Convention adjourned sine
An "American " Legislature
The NeW York Herald has the following
amusing exposition:
".A Nut for the Know Nothings.—We have
before us a list of the members and officers
of the last Assembly.of this State, with their
places of birth, &c. There are 149 in all—a
large portion of whom, it will be remembered,
were elected as Know Nothings. Their con
stituents will be amazed. to learn that the on
ly Man out of the whole party who was of
American parehtagp was Francis B. Spinola,
whose father was an Irish man and mother
an American. Not one of the others was
Sprung from, natives either ()alba father's or
mother's side. The fathers of the 149 were
as follows.—Englishmen, 80; Germany, 10;
France, 6; Holland, 14; Scotland, , l2; Ireland,
16; Wales, 9; Switzerland, 4; Italy, 1. .The
Mothers were of foreign birth (w;th the ex
ception of . Mrs. Spinola,) in about the same .
proportion."
WALKING UPON RAILROAD TRACK.S.-A
person who walks 'upon a Railroad track but,
slightly apprehends the danger „of his, posi
tion. He Imagines that he can step out of
the way upon the approach of 'a train, but
there are now, unfortnnatelp,too - ma.nY instan
ces upon record of the lallacy.of the supposi
tion. A strong instance of this kind lately
occurred upon a railroad running out of Bos
ton. The engineer of the train running at
the ordinary speed, discovered ahead a wo
man upon' the track, with a child in her arms.
The alarm whistle was blown, but she did
not move from her position, 'and then the•
brakes were so effectualiy applied that the
train was brought to 'a stand-still at about ten
feet from her. When she was reached, 'she
was crouching down with her child clasped
in her arms, and appeared to be as incapable
of any effort for her own safety as if strucki
suddenly with paralysis.
124
France and the United States
A Washington correspondent of the New
York Herald, in giving an account of the ef
forts of M. de Sartides, the Francla Minister,
to.inclube'thb Amer:lean GoVernment to ac
cept the explanation of Mr., Crampton and
Cord ClarehdOri as satisfactory, gives the sub
joined account of an interview between the
Minister and Mr. Marcy:
He represented that the continuance ofpeace
ful relations between England and the United
States was the earnest wish of his master,
the Emperor, who, since his acccession to the
throne of France, had personally and through
his representatives, evinced on every possible
occasion a friendship to the Union. Mr.
Marcy is said to_ have expressed , satisfaction
at the assurance given, and remarked that it
did not correspond withother official state
ments which the United, States had received
froai parties of reputable standing in their
own . country.
The Minister liromptly interposed,-and de
nied in the firmest manner the, truth of any
report adverse to the one which he had just
made.
,The scene at this moment; according
to representation, - must have been one of in
terest; fer Mr. Marcy, rising from his seat,
excused bis absence for a moment, when be
returned ,an adjoining ,a adjoining room , .with "an
original despatch in his hand, addressed, to
the . Secretary. of War, Mr. Davis, which he
opened, and by permission •of M. Sartiges,
commenced reading an extract therefrom.
"Now," said Mr. Marcy, closing the doc
ument, "what I have just read to. you is from
a report of .an army commission which, was
sent out by this Government for the benefit
of science; and am I to understand from the
free assurance that you have given, that his
Majesty, the Emperor,was ignorant of the.lan;
guage used by his war Secretary to the officers
of this mission, to whom he not only declined
extending the courtesies solicited, but added
to the refusal an expression hoping 'that when
they next met it might be at the cannon's
mouth.' ", Mr. Marcy continued: "This lan
guage is further corroborated by a despatch to
this department from our Minister at Paris."
De Sartiges took a hurried leave.
From the Washington Union
Kansas and Nebraska.
Abolition journalists and abolition orators
insist with frantic pertinacity that the agita
tion, disorder, violence, and evenbloodshed,
which have marked the brief history of-Kan
sas, are to be solely attributed- to the organic
laws of the Territory, and that the murders,
assassinations, house burnings, bogus -dele-.
gates, bogus legislatures, and bogus senators,
are the legitiinate fruits of the practical en
forcement of the popular-sovereignty prine.i .
ple. To each and all _of these assertions we
have but one reply. It is opposition to, not
acquiescence in, the great principle imbodi
ed in the . Kansas-Nebraska bill, which has
caused all the recent difficulties which patri
otic men in every section- of the Union. have
viewed with the deepest solicitude, and which
have been fomented and heralded with fien
dish exultation by•the abolitionists of New
York and New England. In Nebraska,
which has the same organic laws as her sis
ter Territory of Kansas, and which has thus
far been regarded as a profitless field for the
nefarious agitations of abolitionism, the wis
dom, patriotism, and sound republicanism of
the popnlar-sovereigntk principle have - been
fully and triumphantly illustrated. What the
people of Kansas -want, in order to attain a
degree of happiness and prosperity commen
surate with their intelligence, enterprise, and
the great natural advantages by which they
are surrounded, is to be let alone—to be free
from the traitorous influence of the New
England Emigrant Aid Society—to be secure
from the plots and -devices of men armed
v;ititSharpe's rifles, and goaded to murder
one mischief by the studied ravings 'of the
New- York - Tribune and the blasphemous,
fanatical exhortations of the Beechers, Park=
ers, I)uttons, and the other reverend violators
of the laws of God and their country. We
make these hasty remarks by way of intro
duction to the subjoined eloquent extracts
from an article on this subject which appears
in,a late number of the Albany Atlas and
Argus :
"While Kansas is torn and- disordered by
civil commotioes, a prey to alien factions,
a creature upon which the demagogues of the
North and South are testing fatal experi
ments,as chemists by their poisons upon some
vile animal, its neighbor State of Nebraska
enjoys profound repose. and uninterrupted
prosperity. Nebraska is, compared with its
twin-brother, a vast, cold, barren, inaccessible
region,. menaced by Indians, and without the
facilities for transportation or business that
its neighbor enjoys. It has no soil like that
which fills the rich valleys of Kansas, and no
multitudinous stream, such as afford mill
sites to its southern neighbor. Nature has
done everything for Kansas—nothing for Ne
braska; but why is it that the latter presents
such a contrast of prosperity and domestic
tranquillity to its neighbor
'The law to organize Nebraska is the same
as that which gave existence to Kansas. it
provided in like manner for legislative, exe
cutive, and judicial departments. It gave, in
like. manner, the appointment of governor
and judges to thafederal executive, and left
. the: legislative power in the -hands of - the
people ; and in the organic law . in regard- to
each it -declared it to be 'the true . intent and
meaning of the act- not to legislate slavery
into any Territory or State, or to exclude it
therefrom, but to leave the people thereof
perfectly free to form and regulate the do
domesticinstitutions in their own way, sub
ject only to the constitution of the United
States.' In the organization of the State
there was no discrimination, except that a I
northern governor was chosen for Kansas,
and a southern one for Nebraska. .
"Why, then, we again ask, is there so much
difference between the two Territories at this
moment? Is it not to be found in the man
ner in which the two populations.were trea
ted by the people of the other States?
"Nebraska was left to itself. The emigra
tion that flowed to it was impelled by the
natural laws of population. It flowed in an
even and well-regulated stream. The people
who made theit homes in Nebraska . desired
to frame its institutions to suit their own
principles and interests. They, have not as
ked any one abroad what they should do, nor
how they should do it. They have not invi
ted borderers to rush to their polls. They
have not depended on the alms of Aid Soci
eties, oi- the contributions of fanatical meet
ings. The philanthropists have sent no ri
fles thither. The divines have counselled no
bloodshed. Beecher has blessed no bullets
for them. In a word, they have been let alone!
"They are free, prosperous, and happy.—
They have organized, under to act of Con
gress, a territorial government, to which
they are unanimously loyal and true. There
is neither demonstration of violence, nor
outrage, nor armed insurrection, nor the as
sassination of dheiiffs, among them. Their
course is, indeed, whol)) , undistinguished by
any catastrophe or event.
"Nebraska has according!) , fallen into great
disrepute with - the politicians. It is unwor
thy-of their consideration ! It does not call
forth a single paragraph from the sectional
presses, They have a sovereign contempt
for - a Territory that has not yet produced a
single outrage, and will never attain even to
the rumor of a general massacre. Its name
is never mentioned.
"And yet does not the example of Nebras
ka show that the question of self-govern
ment may be safely left to a-terrritorial pop
ulation, when acting for itself ? Would not
Kansas, if left to the same influences, undis
turbed by the sectional propaganda, have
wrought out its own destiny, peacefully yet
auspiciously.
"We do not doubt it. Nor do we doubt
that at any time the errors committed in the
organization of Kansas could be'retrieved, if
the question had been left to tbefree and un-:
biased judment of the people; nor that, if
this
. rbitrament was to be regarded as deei--
sive, the affairs of the Torrritory could evert
now be peacefully settled at once."
THE CLAIM BlLL.—Governor Pollock has
signed the Claim Bill, passed by the last Legis
lature. The, 16th section makes provision for
the 'adjustment and payment of- old claims
against the State. The aggregate of these
claims is large, and held by pers - ons all over
the Commonwealth.. The Governor has ap
pointed the Hon. Thos. E. Franklin, the At
torney Gen eral, who, together with Mr. Banks,
the Auditor General, and Mr. Magraw, the
State Treasurer, constitutes the Board of Com
missioners. The . Board will organize for
business at Harrisburg, during the next month.
Section 16th of the Claim Bill reads as fol
lows:
SEC. 16th. That the" Governor is hereby
authorized to appoint a Commissioner, who,
in conjunction`,with the Auditor General and
State Treasurer, are hereby authorized to
re-examine the claims certified to be due and
unpaid on the main line of the Public Works,
by the Commissioners appointed in pursu
ance of the 29th section of the act of the 9th
of May, one, thousand eight hundred and fif
ty four, in their report dated seventh Decem
ber, one thousand eight hundred and fifty
four,—and may certify any clairwor claims
they ifind to be just , and, legal,
_to the Audi
tor General, whereupon the same, shall be au
dited and shall be paid by the State Treasurer
out of any monies in the Treasury, not other
wise appropriated. Provided, That said
Board shall have power to send_ for persons
and papers, and issue rules to take depositions
in their investigation's of said claims. And
provided further, That the said Board shall
report their proceedings under this section
with a statement of the claims- allowed by
them to the next Legislature, and the sum of
five hundred dollars, is' hereby appropriated to
pay any expenses incurred in said investiga
tion, to be paid by the State Treasurer upon
warrants drawn by said Board, therefore, Pro
vided further, That the whole amount of said
claims so adjusted shall not exceed the sum
of one hundred and forty-nine thousand three
hundred and seventy-seven dollars and forty
nine cents.
Important to Postmasters
To the Editor of the Republican :
DEAR SIR : Will you favor me and the public
by publishing the following letter in reply to
an inquiry made by me of the department,
in relation to tha duty of Postmasters in the
transmission through the mails of newspa
pers in which are enclosed, as in the instance
referred to, pamphlets and other matter, as is
getting to be too frequently the ease ? The
duty of the Post-master in such case, and the
liability incurred, is probably not understood
by the public, and may not be. by Post-mas
ters ; hence the request I make of you for
the space which it will occupy in your , col
umns. H. RAZEY, P. M.
POST OFFICE DEPARTMENT,
, Appointment Office, May 10, 1856..
Sra. : Yours of the Bth instant is received,
accompanied by a copy of the "Cattaraugus
Freeman," a weekly newspaper published in
yonr village, having a pamphlet composed of
a speech of the Hon. Wm. H. Seward, and a
circular of Lewis Clephane enclosed, and sta
ting that other copies of, that paper' with a
similar pamphlet enclosed, done up in packa
ges and directed to 'Subscribers have at the
same time been brought'to the office to
be
mailed, the publisher of the paper claiming
that the pamphlet was a supplement to it, and
that you had rejected his claim arid refused
to mail the papers, at the usual newspaper
rates.
In answer, Jam instructed bythe Postmas
ter General to inform you that your action in
the premises is approved. The specimen
pamphlet which you transmit has no claim
whatever to be regarded as a "supplement"
to the newspaper in which it is enclosed.—
On the contrary, its imprint, as well as the
circular which forms a part of it, shows it to
have been printed and published in the city
of Washington. The enclosing it in a news
paper was, therefore, illegal, and subjected
nor only the particular newspaper, but the
entire package of which it was a part, to let
te) postage ; which postage—the fact having
been discovered at the mailing office-should—should
be prepaid before the paper or package is enti
titled to be mailed. .
Had the fact escaped your attention, and
the papers in question had reached the of
of delivery, it would have been the . duty of
their respective postmasters to have charged.
them with letter postage, and if that was re
fused to be paid by those addressed, to have.
returned them to the postmaster of the mail
ing office, to prosecute those who caused
them to be 'thus fraudulently mailed for the
legal penalty of five dollars for each offence.
Respectfully, &c:,
HORATIO ,KING,
• First Assistant Postmaster General.
P. M., Ellicottsville, Cattaraugus co. N. Y,
132" Queen Victoria's eldest daughter--aged
fourteen—is soon to be married to a prince of
cassia—heir to the throne, aged twenty-five::
e British parliament are about to bestow
on the youngprincess a life dowry, of no less
than .£30D,000 sterling per annum; which, if
she lives to the age of fifty, will amount to
the small sum of only fifty mil/ions of dollars,
almost as much as it takes to support the
goverment of the United States, with one
twenty-five millions of people for a-year,