What i« a Radical.
There are radical'» in politics, in regli
gion. in science, In war, in trade, and in
all that engages the attention of man :
But the word radical , for a few years past,
has been the worst abused word in the
English language. In the South it is hiss
ed from the mouths of Secessionists
against Union men—in the North it is
hissed from the mouth of every Copper
head against loyal men. It is an epithet
of contempt on the lips of all old maids
and fossils, who oppose the spirit of prog
ress. These fossils, had they lived in the
days of Hampden, Sydney, Hancock,
Washington, Jeffcrsou, and Patrick Hen
ry, would have denounced these men as
most hateful radicals. Noah was a radi
cal for attempting to launch his ark and
opeu up a new communication with heav
en. Galiler was a radical; and persecu
ted Luther, whom the whole Protestant
world worship, was a radical of the first
water. Even the great Fulton, when he
began to experiment with steam, wassneer
ed and mocked at as a crazy radical. In
a word, had it not been for these
the world would now be standing where
it was six thousand years ago.
A. Lincoln, Esq.. is a radical, and will
during a reign of four years, crush out
the largest Rebellion known to the world !
Thanks to God for the gift of such a rad
ical!—Knoxville Whig.
NEWBERNE, N. C., Feb. 20. —The
Charleston Mercury says that Secre
tary Chase is miking every exertion
to flood the South with greenbacks,
which, unless immediately checked,
will subvert our currency, and thus
inflict a mortal blow on the- cause.
The same paper says that the con
stant propping of the enemy's shot
and shell is telling upon the lower
part of the city.
The Newborn Times say 3 that the
late rebel raid has strengthened the
Union feeling. We cannot for a mo
ment doubt that should a strong fed
eral force move on llaleigh and un
furl the starried banner from the cap
itol, it would be hailed with-shouts of
intense joy by tens of thousands.
A yumor says that General Pickett
will be courtmartialed for not captur
ing Newberne. Col. lJutton, of the
21st Connecticut, has been announ
ced as chief of Staff by General I'eck.
Large numbers are enlisting in the
2d Tnion North Carolina regiment.
THE EIRE AND THE FLOOD.—Ac
cording to the Charleston Mercury,
Gilmore's fire is making havoc in at
least a portion of that justly doomed
city. It says: "Gradually % the con
stant dropping of the enemy's shot
and shell is beginning to tell upon
the lower part of the city of Charles
ton. * * Broj|d street is consid
erably encumbered with bricks and
other ilebrin knocked out by the ene
my's projectiles. It will take much
time and money to repair the damage."
Hut if fire is the element of destruc
tion which threatens Charleston, as
appears to be admited at last, the
same Mercury is also our witness that
another agent of destruction, very
diverse in kind, however, is equally
threatening the whole "Confederacy
—or, as the Mercury expresses it—
"The South and the Southern cause."
It says: "Secretary Chase is making
every exertion to flood the South
with his greenbacks," which, unless
immediately checked, will subvert our
currency, and thus inflict a mortal
blow to the success of the Southern
cause."— Pittsburgh Gazette.
WHOLESALE REBEL DESERTIONS.—
A letter from the New York Time K
correspondent with Meade's army
ways that deserters continue to come
in daily, particularly from the Lou
isiana regiinlints. Nearly the whole
of the Fourteenth and Fifteenth Lou
isiana Regiments have deserted du
ring the last month. The reason
assigned by them for the starffyede is
that they had read the President's
Amnesty Proclamation in one of our
newspapers. Great efforts have been
made by some of their -officers to ob
tain possession of the contraband
publication, but without success. It
has passed through nearly every
man's hands in those regiments, and
when last seen was nearly worn out.
CONCERNING DESERTERS FROM THE
ENEMY. —By order of the Secretary
of War, deserters from the enemy
who come into our lines, and on exam
ination prove to be bona fide deser
ters, with the intention of taking, the
oath of allegiance under the Presi
dent's Amnesty Proclamation, will be
sent to the Provost Marshal General
of the defences South of the Potomac,
by whom they will be released on ta
king the oath of allegiance: their
horses shall be bought by the Quar
termaster's Department, if the service'
needs them, at a valuation determin
ed by a Board of Appraisement. No
personal property, excepting arms,
will be taken from such deserters.
THE DRAFT. —The readers of the
Gazette of Satuarday morning were
informed that a resolution had passed
the House of Representatives extend
ing the tiuie for the payment of boun
ties from the Ist of March to the Ist
of April. A later dispatch informs
us that the Senate will also pass the
resolution. The draft u not to be
postponed.
*ajr Advices from Southeast Tennessee
state that the refugees arc leaving that
State and Georgia by thousands. Many
ofthemare inastarving condition.
numbers of deserters from the rebel army
continue to arrive at Chattanooga daily.
A Feeling Tribute.
We are permitted to make the follow
ing extract from a private letter written by
an officer of the 85th regiment, which
shows hw warmly the memory of the la
mented Col. Purvianceis cherished by his
old command, and how deeply they feel
his loss yet. No officer in the service
could have been more beloved by his sol
diers. and among all the gallant dead who
have gone down in this fearful struggle,
nono has fallen more sincerely mourned
than this brave and accomplished com
mander.— Washington Tribune.
******
Amid the excitement, enthusiasm arid 1
joy that attend the march of our victori
ous armies, and the defeat and prospective \
overthrow of this cruel rebellion, we are
I too prone to forget the brilliant dee Is and ;
invaluable service of the many noblemen 1
whose lives haje been sacrificed while
struggling for the preservation of our l:b
--erties and the unity and integrity of the i
government. Only a few months have i
passed since the startling announcement !
was made that the name of the gallajit and i
fearle-s Col. Purviance had been added to !
the list of our illustrious dead. Few seem :
to know or appreciate the extent of the ,
Ration's loss in the death of this noble j
man ; but among the officers and men of j
this regiment, who are familiar with his !
ardent devotion to our country's causc.his j
unflinching courage in the face' of theen
emy. and the unswerving fidelity and in- j
tegrity which governed him in the uiinu- j
te-t affairs of lite, his memory will long j
be cherished with reverence and affection.
As a regiment, we are proud of our or
ganization—proud of the many battle-fields j
over which ourold flag, ta tered with balls, i
has floated in triumph—proud of the long
and arduous' campaigns whose glory we
have shared ; but above all we arc proud ]
of the gallant commander under whose j
leadership our victories have been won, j
and-to whom alone we are indebted for j
whatever efficiency, discipline, and reputa- j
tion a« a regiment we have acquired.—
"When the command of the 85th was en
trusted to Col. Purviance, it was destitute ,
of discipline, without prestige from for-1
mer victories—in fact a raw, untrained bo- |
dy of men. but containing the finest ma- ;
terial in* the world for soldiers. To mould j
these m"n into soldiers, invincible in ac- ;
tion and distinguished for their courage and
fidelity, was his constant aim and the ob- j
jeet of his ceaseless and untiring, oxer- ;
tions. For whatever services the 85th has \
rendered the nation in its struggle for sell |
preservation, and for whatever success it !
has achieved during the last two years of j
its existence, let the glory be attributed to j
him to whom alone it is justly due—Lt. j
Col. Purviance. No man ever possessed
the confidence and devotion of this regi- !
nient to such a degree as he, and none cv- ;
cr will. Never was he known to falter or
lose his wonderful presence of mind ; no i
matter how perilous the undertaking or !
how terrible the danger ; not even the cer
tain prospect of death itself would cause
him for a moment to hesitate in the path
of duty. Such was the character of Col.
l'urviance asa soldier,and well did he mer- I
it the resfoct, esteem and affection of the
I entire regiment.
The Defc'necM <>«' Mobile.
A correspondent of the Chicago Tt ,
[writing from llnntsville, Alabama, con
tributes the following interesting infor
tton, gained through miliiary sources:
In the rear of Mobile, and as much as ,
five miles from the city, arc three very
heavy lines of earthworks. Fort No. lis
!on the southeast side of the river, oppo
i site the termination of St. street. ,
I As you go down the river and turning to !
j the left, is the landing of the Mobile and |
Ohio Railroad. Here is located battery
N'o. 3, consisting of three rifled 32 pound
guns, and one 10 inch gun. This is call
ed the Spanish Battery. Further down j
the bay, to the left, is Battery No. 0, call- j
led Pinto's Battery. Between this and
Fort Morgan are Batteries Choctaw, Ce
j dar Plain. Grand Spell and Light House
| Battery, in all. six. consisting each of six
| 32-pound rifled can noil.
At the tin:c my informant was there, j
Fort Morgan had 500 men in it of the Ist !
Confederate regiment, and Fort Gaines
was garrisoned by about an equal number.
Upon the walls and within the cmbra- j
sures of Fort Gaines are eighty guns —or
thirty-two guns and the rest howitzers—to
repulse a land attack. Fort Morgan has
one hundred guns and a number of how
itzers. Two of the guns from Fort Sum- i
ter, used in sinkingtlie Keokuk, have been
removed to Fort- Morgan, and are now
there prepared to do more of the same
kind of work.
About the harbor of Mobile the rebels
have two gunboats, the Morgau and the
Gaines, each having on deck some ten
guns, but the propelling power of these
boats is defective. They move very slow
er- i
There is a third gunboat called the Sel
ma, made like a barge, after the monitor
pattern carrying eight guns, but she can- j
not be of much effect, from the same
cause, defective propelling power. In ad
dition to these the Confederates have two
very small iron-clad monitors, but they al
so move clumsily ah >ng in the water. They
have a howitzer in front and five port I
guns each. These, with the Lady Davis,
ten guns, and Richmond, eight guns, and
two others, not so large, carrying six guns
—now off or in the vicinity of Richmond
—constitute the rebel navy now stationed
at the two points mentioned.
With the exceptions uamed. my inform
ant says the entire distance from .Meridi
an to within six miles of Mobile was un
fortified. and unprotected by Confederate
soldiers. Except the railroad is torn up
and completely destroyed, there is nothing
to prevent a force from moving direct by
that route. At the some time the cavalry
troops might co-ojicratc by moving them
south faorn Jackson as far as sajr Broad
haven. and then cutting across the country
obliquely and in a south westerly course to
the rear of Mobile.
German Republican Central
Committee of New York, have passed res
olutsons protesting against dropping the
name of "Republican" partv. and recom
liiending'the re adoption for the Presiden
tial campaign of 1864 of that name under
which the lovers of humane liberty, hav
ing in 1850 signed the death-warrant of
the slave oligarchy, carried it into execu
tion in I860."
shc Jmcvicnn Cttfeen.
THOMAS ROBINSON, l Fditors
CYRUS E. ANDERSON, I*- 0 "o™- 0 ™-
BUTLER PA.
incus isoi.
«S- "Liberty and Union. Now and Forever, One
end'nseparable.'' —D. Webstar.
FOR PRESIDENT IN 1864 : •
ABBA HAM MMOLX.
Committee Meeting.
The members of the Republican Exe
cutive Committee of this are re
quested to meet in liutler, on SATURDAY,
the 12th inst.. for the purpose of consid
ering important business. A full attend
ance is respectfully requested.
THOS. ROBINSON,
March 2. 18G4. Chairman.
A Copperhead Rebuked.
While standing on the platform at the
Depot of the Penna. Central, awaiting
the departure of the Veterans of the 102 d,
we noticed a copperhead of this place,
and a clever fellow too by the by, ap
proach a pcntli miin frtm cue of the
districts of this county, and with rather a
curious air inquired, " Have you seen the
squad of recruits from Township ?
No! where are they, was the rcp'y?—
There they are. was the answer, pointing
to a squad of colored soldiers near by.—
I would rather associate with these men
than with half the Copperheads in my
township. The former are willing to fight
for their country, the latter are not." Our
copperhead neighbor yielded to the re
buke, in the best possible manner, with a
slight shrug of the shoulder and a dry
laugh.
Our Knrolliiii; Hoard.
Having been invited by the recruiting
ami bounty committee of our township,
(I'enn) to accompany them to the city, in
company with our quota of recruits, it
gives us great pleasure in thus publicly
testifying to the gentlemanly manner in
which we were all received by Capt. Kir
kcr and his collegues of the board of enroll
ment, They were evidently overbur
dened with official business, yet this did
not prevent them from giving prompt
attention to cent the smallest details. It
is true they rejected some who we thought
should have passed, but this only strength
ened our confidence in their fairness and
impartiality. It would ha\e been much
irfore pleasant for them, to be able to pass
all who presented themselves, especially
when pressed to do so by their respective
friends, whom the board would much
rathet have gratfiied than displeased, yet
their duty to the government was not
forgotten ; unpleasant as it was to do so
thev ftrltny rejected all who did not come
up to the requirements of the law. This
was inconvenient to some, but all felt that
it was just.
In behalf of our district, wc tender the
entire board, (as also their corps of clerks)
oursiucere thanks for theunsullied courte
sy and unbiased justice which governed
them in their official conduct with our
citizens.
Departure of Veterans.
Being in the city on Wednesday last,
we embraced the opportunity of bidding
adieu to quite a number of the veterans
of this county, who were going cast on
the evening train.
We reached the depot before eight in
the evening. The train left about half
an hour afterwards, aud wc were much
pleased to see that the cheerful counte
nances of those brave soldiers were not
changed, even at this, their last hour, (for
the time being) with their friends. "Ral
ly round the flag boys," was sung with
a will by those of them whose voices en
abled them to be heard in the promiscu
ous crowd in the open air, while the rest
endorsed the sentiments of the song. Un
qualified curses were pronounced upon
traiton », and no one who observed those
brave boys as they were about taking leave
of the peaceful scenes around them, to
again return to their duties in the camp
and on the battle field, could for a mo-,
nient suspect-that "greenback*" were any
part of the consideration which induced
them to risk the hazards of military life.
On the contrary, all felt that their motives
could be nothing short of the highest im
pulses of the patriot—the end of their
ambition the crushing of the rebel army,
the overthrow of the rebellion; the main
tenance of the Constitution, and the res
toration of the Union over every foot of
territory.
After the veterans had been seated in
the ears, a platoon of colored soldiers,
whom we were led to believe had been
brought iu froiu camp, and were possibly
on their way to the south-west, were halt
ed on the platform immediately alongside
of the cars, the windows of the cars were
up and quite a number of our veteran
soldiers struck up one of those negro mel
odies.prophetic of-the near approach of the
year of " Jubilee," and a general good
feeling seemed to pervade all present, of
both colors.
How T was amused to reflect that it
was for the singing of just such a melo
dy that Gen. McClellan had ordered the
" Ilutcheson family" outside of our mili
tary lines in the spring of 1862; and
th-at these same veterans were a part of
the army of the Potomac, of which that
same General declared that the avowal of
radical sentiments would disintcgrade it;
surely the world moves.
The fatigue of long campaigns, the de
compiling effects of many battles, the
painful suspense of
'•pays of danger, nights of waking,"'
have finally enabled that brave army to j
rise above the prejudices of its early
ucation, and to recognize as an ally, every !
one. however ebony his skin, who is will
ing to bear with them the hardships of
the camp and the dangers of battle.-r-
This is as it should be ; and had a Banks,
a Rosecrans, a Grant, or a Butler, the I
organization of that army, it would have
been so long ago. The border State pol
icy would not have cursed the country so i
long. Tha impulses of the army were
always right, and now, that the fogy ism
of commanders is not allowed to stand in
their way, all will soon be well.
Matrimonial.
One of the strongest evidences of the
favor in which the Union soldier is held,
is the warm reception he has every where
received while at home, by the fair sex.
While the jealous -'stay at home" was
talking about men fighting for money"
the veteran soldier was welcomed to every
"ladies bower." To their praise be it
said, our young ladies vied with each oth
er, in acts of kindness, in demostration of
sympathy, and this being leap year, their j
conduct was the more commendable. It I
is gratifying too to know, that this detn- j
onstration of special esteem, was properly
appreciated by these veterans. Every j
few days.duringtheir stay, was recorded a j
happy union of a loyal lady and a "I uion
brave," nor was one incident of this kind'
per day sufficient to complete the matri- j
monial engagements to be consummated I
before their return to the army. On yester- j
day week three couple joined hands at
once. Rev. Ogdcn being the officiating
minister.
In short, the veterans seemed to carry
evrything before them, with the ladies,
and we were led to realize the truthful
ness of the Poet's assertion, that
• " in hour.
Victorious love assert* hi* power
O er coldness aud disdain."
"And flintv i* hor heart, eivn view.
T'» battle much ft lo'er true
Can hear, per chance, hl« last adieu,
Nor own her share of pain."
We wish them all a long and happy
life in which to enjoy the many blessings
resulting from the restorat on of that
union for which they have been doing bat
tle, as also for the enjoyment of the nu
merous blessings resulting from the hap- |
py union they have so lately consumated. j
Change of Front.
One of the most remarkable incidents
in passing events, is the made
by the Democracy to change front on the
slavery question! When we remember,
that the almost united energies of that j
party have been repeatedly put forth in fa- j
vor of slavery extension, when we reeol- '
lect with what profuseness the country \
was flooded with the speeches of Toombs i
proving slavery to be a divine institution J
—when we recollect too how they circulat- j
ed the speeches of Governor Hammond j
proving that slavery was the natural stat- '
us of the laboring men of all classes-—and
when we recollect that at a still later day j
Judge Woodward declared that if slavery j
was not divinely ordained, it was at least |
divinely sanctioned—and that it was an j
incalcnlubk blessing—when we recollect ;
all this and then recollect that this same j
Judge Woodward was afterwards chosen 1
as their standard bearer in the last cam- j
paign their avowals now, that they have ,
always been opposed to slavery is certain
ly cool. But this, altlynigh inconsistent,
is by no means strange. We will doubt
less witness several more sudden changes
of both base and front before they settle
down for the next Presidential campaign
—they are only feeling the popular pulse
as yet..
The Herald and the Soldiers.
From an article in the Ilerald of last
week, we learn that it was quite alarmed
for its safety while the soldiers were home
on furlough. It says: 'We called.on
some of our Democratic friends and fouud
them ready and willing to defend us, and
if need be to exact reprisals from the in
stigators of such an outrage were it-com
mitted." Can it be possible that the Her
ald foutid it necessary to call on its Demo
cratic friends to protect it from the fury
of the brave soldiers of that gallant army
who fought so uobly under
while the name of that General was at its
mast bead as its choice for the Presiden
cy ? This is certainly a betrayal of that
professed confidence which that paper, in
common with its copperhead coteuipora
ries. profess to have in the devotion of
the soldiers to that ambitious intriguer.—
But the editor is mistaken in assuming that
there was no such design on the part of
the soldiers—that it originated with "a
few cowardly, howling hounds who infest
the county of Butler." We have been
informed by several qf them that before
they left their camps they had determin
ed on paying tlieir respects to that con-,
cern; and while %tey were here, we were
informed by one of their favorites, that had
it not been for his remonstrance, they would
have made good their promise. We don't
believe that there were any here who wish
ed to see this threat consummated. We all
know that paper has been anything'else
than a friend to the cause for which those
brave boys have sacrificed everything dear
to them, and beiug an enemy* to that cause,
it cannot be justly Faid to be friendly to
the soldiers. but we were willing that it
should goon in its efforts to defame the
Administration, its only effect (although
not so intended) was to drive loyal men to
gether. For"this reason therefore, we
were in favor of letting it goon in its ef
forts to detract and defame—as also for the
additional reason which Burns urged* gainst
his 'Brunstone majesties" using his cat
of nine tails on Holy Willy.
But had the soldiers known that the
Herald had put'itself in a state of defense,
it is very doubtful whether even the influ
ence of their friends could have restrain
ed them from their threatened raid ? Why
did not the Ihrald announce that it was
ready for any emergency before the brave
boys left? It is certainly very brave of
it now to avmv its courage? It may rest
assured that its" Democratic friends"would
have been as iuijrtitcnt a defence as the
name of Gen. McClellan seemed to be!—
Nothing of the "old flag" to which
that paper was reluctantly driven, on a
former occasion, could have saved it from
the of those Union
braves.
Mr. Chase nnd the Presldeney.
We have not one word to say against
the fitness of Mr. Chase for the high office
of President of the United State*. He
is a statesman and a patriot. He is anti
slavery to the backbone. He is certainly
honest, If he should receive the nomi
nation for the Presidency by a convention
of our party, we would work for him to
the day of the election with all the abili
ty we possess. If elected, as we believe
he would be if fairly nominated, we feel
sure that he would make a good President.
Having said this much by way of in
dorsement of Mr. Chase's fitness, we feel
that we have some right to criticise the
means by which his nomination and elec
tion are sought to be secured. Mr. Chase
and his interests are not in good hands.—
We might almost say that Mr. Chase is
not in good company. For weeks the.
country has known that there was a move
ment on foot to make him President upon
the conclusion of Mr. Lincoln's term. —
The nature of that movement —the fing
ers with which it was manipulated—the
oil which lubricated it-were not so well
known. Its secrets, however, have been
at last disclosed.
The telegraph yesterday morning bro'f
us two items of important intelligence—
one to the effect that the National Repub
lican Committee, of which Senator Mor
gan is Chairman, had adopted a call for a
national convention to meet at Baltimore
on the 7tli day of Juno next; another
consisting of the Chase circular, which
will be found on our first page this mor
ning, and which advocates the nomina
tion of Mr. Chase by the just called con
vention. Both documents —the call and
the circular—were evidently the result of
concerted, as they were of simultaneous
action. '-The "Chase movement" produ
ced them.
We object to both. If there were no
other reason, we object to the call for the
convention because it has been hitched on
to the movement in favor of Mr. Chase.—
But we object to it for other reasons. It
is premature. The Union party of the
country had not called for it. The pub
lic mind was not prepared for it. The
military situation forbade it. The action
of the Opposition party in calling their
convention to meet a month later viz: on
the 4th of July, absolutely prohibited it
as a matter of common senso. We hope
—we earnestly hope—that the Committee
may be induced to reconsider their action,
and postpone the holding of the conven
tion until August or September.
Touching the circular, we do not hesi
tato to say that wc do not like its tone. —
More than this, we do not like its asser
tion*. It is not manly. It is n<H truth
ful. It is mean. This base attack upon
Mr. Lincoln and his Administration will
not make any friends for Mr. Chase among
honorab.e men. We risk nothing in say
ing that - it will do him positive harm
wherever it is read, unless its statements
Mfc speedily contradicted and promptly
disavowed by Mr. Chase himself. He is
a member of Mr. Lincoln's Cabinet, and
as a man of honor he must at once disa
vow the action of his friends or resign
his portfolio. We trust that he will do
the former, and thus preserve his honor
and his hold upon the affections of the
people.
Below is the Circular Letter issued in
behalf of the claims of Secretary Chase
to the Presidency, and referred to in our
Washington dispatches.— l'itt. Gazette.
[.STRICTLY PRIVATE.]
WASHINGTON,
SIR : The movements recently made
throughout the country to secure the re
nomination of President Lincoln render
necessary some counteraction on the part
of those unconditional friends of the Union
who differ from the policy of his Admin
istration.
So long as no efforts were made to forc
i stall the political action of the people it
; was both wise and patriotic for all true
j friends of the Government to devote
their influence to the suppression of the
! rebellion. But when it becomes evident
that party machinery tfnd official influence
are being used to secure the perpetuation
of the present Administration, those who
conscientiously believe that the interests
of the country and of freedom demand a
change in favor of vigor and purity and
nationality have 110 choice but to appeal
at once to the people, before it shall bo
too late to secure a fair discussion of prin
ciples.
Those in behalf of whom this commu
nication is made have thoughtfully sur
veyed the political field, and have arrived
at the following conclusion :
1. That, even were the re-election of
Mr. I jncoln desirable, it is practically im
possible against the union of influences
which will oppose him.
2. That should -lie be re elected his
manifest tendency towards compromises
and temporary expedients of policy will
become stronger during a second term than
it has been in the first, and the i'au-e of
human liberty and the dignity and honor
of the nation suffer proportionately; while
the war may continue to languish during
his whole Administration, till the public
debt shall become a burden too great to
be borne.
3. That the patronage of the Govern
ment, through the necessities of the war,
"has been so rapidly increased, and to Bach
an enormous extent, and so loosely placed,
as to render the application of the "one
term principle" absolutely essential to the
certain safety of our republican institu
tions.
4. That wc find united in lion. Salmon
P. Chase more of the qualities needed in
a President during the next four years
than are combined in'any other available
candidate; his record, clear aud unim
peachable, showing him to be a statesman
of rare ability, and an administrator of the
very highest order, while his private char
acter furnishes the surest obtainable guar
ranty of economy and purity in the man
agement of public affairs.
5. That the discussion of the Presi
dential question, already commenced by
<W friends of Mr. Lincoln, hasdcvclopod
a l#>|>ularity and strength in Mr. Chase
unexpected evenHo his warmest admirers;
and while we are avtyire tlmt this strength
is at present unorganized and in no condi
tion to manifest its real magnitude, we
arc satisfied that it only needs systematic
and faithful effort to develop to an extent
sufficient to overcome all opposing obsta
cles.
For these reasons, the friends of Mr.
Chase have determined to measure which
shall present his claims fairly and at once
to the country. A central organization
.has been effected, which already has its
connections in all the States, and the ob
ject of which i3 to enable his friends
everywhere most effectually to promote his
elevation to the Presidency. We wish
the hearty co-operation of all those in fa
vor of the speedy restoration of the Union
upon the basis of universal freedom, and
who desiit an administration of the Gov
ernment, during the first period of its new
life, which shall, to the fullest extent, de
velope the capacity of free institutions, en
large the resources of the country, di
minish the burdens of taxation, elevate
the standard of public ami private morali
ty, vindicate the honor of the Republic
world, and in nil things make
our American nationality the fairest ex
ample for imitation which human progress
has over achieved.
If these'objects meet your approval,
you can render efficient aid by exerting
yourself at om'c to organize your section
of the country, and by corresponding with
the chairman of the National Executive
Committee, for the purpose either of re
ceiving or imparting information.
Very respectfully, .
S. C. POM F.ROY.
Chairman National Executive Committee.
Important ISiII.
We are indebted to Mr. llaslett,,of the
House of Representatives, for a copy of
"an act .to provide for the better assess
ment and collection of Taxes."
The following remarks upon the Bill,
ami synopsis of the same, taken from the
Pittsburgh Gazette of the 29th ult., will
be found as comprehensive as anything that
wo could give. We therefore take the
privilege of placing the same before our
readers.
" The bill is important inasmuch as it
contemplates a radical change in the meth
od of assessing and collecting taxes thro'-
out the commonwealth, it provides for
tly_- appointment of a Commissioner of Rev
enue, to take charge of all mutters pur
taiuing to the assessment and collection of
taxes; collect statistics relating to the re
sources, productions and tradeof'thc State;
receive from county commissioners full re
turns or schedules of the several assessors,
with the amount and value of all real es
tate, as revised by a Board of Revision.—
On the second Monday of November.
l£<i4, and in each year thereafter, the
commissioners of each county shall issue
a precept to the assessors,requiring them,
on or before the second Monday of Janu
ary next ensuing, to make outa true sched
ule of all males over twenty-one years,with
all others holding in their own light or in
trust, any property, real, personal or mix
ed, and classify the-same as taxables. In
addition to these persons, the assessors shall
also make out a list ef all merchants, liq
uor dealers, auctioneers, peddlers, butch
ers, drovers, dairymen, artists, manufac
turers, coal dealers, oil dealers, insurance
companies, stock and money brokers, mer
chandise brokers, common «xpress carriers,
public amusements, sporting saloons, eat
ing houses, inns, ami all occupations and
professions yielding a clear annual iiicou,«i
of over six hundred dollars.
Each taxable, when required by the as
sessor, shall prepare a statement showing,
all moneys at interest, stocks, ground
rents, bonds, notes, mortgages, or other
obligations for ihe paymrnt of money, all
horses, mules, cattle, sheep, hogs, carriag
es, buggies, wagons, watches, clocks, gold
or silver ware, and all other personal prop
erty, including all capital employed in any
trade, profession or business of any- kind,
the capita J. of which is not taxed under
any other provision of the act, with the
actual aggregate value thereof. Also,the
number of dogs owned aud kept by each
taxable.
Merchants, baukers, insurance agents,
and all others enumerated under the vari
ous classes, shall return the gross amount
of their sales, profits, premiums, etc., t-j
the proper assessors. In other words, full
information in reference to all objects tax
ed under the act, set forth upon suitablo
blanks furnished to the taxable, and sworn
to as correct.
The commissioners and the associate
judges of each county shall constitute a
Board of Revision —except in the city of
Philadelphia. where the board shall con
sist of the City Commissioners, Treasurer
and Receiver, aud in the county of Alle
gheny, where the board shall consist of the
County Controller, Treasurer and Commis
sioners. Said boards shall see that the
returns of the assfftmt assessors are made
according to law, and whether all proper
ty require!! to be taxed for State and coun
ty purposes has been valued truly—with
power to raise, reduce and equalize, hear
appeals, examine under oath, etc., and to
report to the Revenue Commissioner,with
in thirty days after completing their ta
bles. the amount and value .of all taxable
property in each borough, ward and town
ship..
The bill imposes a graduated tax upon
all public offices —prothonotaries, regis
ters, recorders, treasurers, etc., lor the use
of the State; and one dollar State tax upon
each male over twenty-one ; a State tax
of two mills on real estate, and the same
on personal property, as fixed by the next
tri-ennial assessment; gross sales of liquor,
two per cent:, on auctioneers, one per
cent., capital or accrued profits of brokers,
bankers, etc., two por cent; policies of in
surance or risks taken by any foreign com
pany, five per cent.; common carriers two
per cent, upon gross receipts; public
amusements, four per cent. 011 gross re
ceipts ; itinerant shows six per cent.
Every bank, saving institution, trust,
insurance, railroad, or other company .or
corporation, shall annually, in November,
pay into the State Treasury at the rale of
one mill upon each one per cent, of divi
dend declared upon the capital stock and
one mill of each one percent, interest, in
terest paid to the holders of any part .of
the funded or floating debt, which shall
I be held or paid under the like penalties
l for withholding of dividends upon banks
! -.-turnpike and plank road companies ma
king no dividends are not liable to tax up
; on their stock, and the capital stock, fund-
I ed and floating debt, surplus and conting
eat fund subjected to taxation under this
! act shall not be subjected to taxation for
other than State purposes.
Kvcry bank, saving institute n and trust
company, and every insurance company
incorporated by the State, shall report to
the Auditor General, in addition to the •
capital stock as now required, the wholo
amount of assets invested the dividends,
thereon, amount of contingent or sinking
| fund, also of any certificate of profits is
sued therein, upon which shall be paid
| the same tax now imposed upon the cap-
I itat stock of such institutions by existing
laws—and the said insurance companies
shall pay upon all dividends hereafter de
clared the same tax now imposed upon
bank dividends, and the duties in regard
to their collection are made the same as in
the case of banks.
All railroad, express, steamboat and
other transportation company, bridge, gas,
manufacturing, mining, telegraph, stage,
ferry, turnpike and plankroad company,
and all other companies, shall report in No
vember, annually, to the Auditor Gener
al, the amount of capital stock, bonded
debt, and all other, securities, with the
dividends declared, surplus or sinking
fund—and in addition to the present tax
upon its capitrl stock, shall be levied up
on the bonded debt and other securities,
the same corporation tax that is levied by
existing laws upon its capital stock.
Railroad, telegraph and canal compa
nies.extending their lines into other States,
shall pay the same tax upon the corpora
tion stock and debt, and also upifn the div
dends, ss is required of works entirely
within the State.
The bill then provides the manner of
collecting taxes in the several counties,
which does not differ essentially from the
plan now in use in this county.
The bill is extremely lengthy, covering'
twenty-six pages of the printed Ilouse
File, but we have endeavored to give a
fair synopsis for thv information of our
readers."
FLORIDA.—A correspondent of the N.
Y. Times, who accompanied tlie late ex
piditio'n to Florida, states that Jackson
ville, Baldwin, and liarbcr's Station will
be strongly fortified and garrisoned; with
a view to the permanent occupation of
that State, by which the Confederate Gov
ernment will be deprived of its chief
source of animal supplies. The State,
from one end to the other, abounds with
cattle, and thousands of them have been
driven into Goorgia and South Carolina.
Conversations with the " few white per
sons" whom the writer had met led him
to believe that the majority of the inhab
itants of Florida arc tired of the war, and
heartily desire a return to the Union.—
The rebel Government has dealt severely
with them, and pushed not only the young
and vigorous but the old and decrepit in
to the ranks of the army. A large sup
ply of the President's proclamation had
arrived from Washington, and are to have
an extensive circulation among the peo
ple. 'I he writer says that many negroes
cannot be liberated in Florida, for the
reason that they have been sent out of the
State into Georgia and Alabama. In
traveling sixty miles on horseback he had
only seen three persons of that class.
Two litBKL HtOlMl;M« WITHIN OVH
LINES:—The Washington L'hrunule, of
Monday, Mays: l.etteis received in this
city last evening from ihe Anny uF the
li'otoiuac state that two regiments, the 14th
and latfi Louisiana, have come within our
lines during the past month, in squads
and detachments. These soldiers statu
that they became acquainted with llio
I'resident's emancipation proclamation
through (he Chronicle, pnecopy of which
reached theiu, and was passed from hand'
to hand until both regiments became ac
quainted with its provisions. It is also,
stated by these rebel soldiers that a largo
number of bank note issues of Northern
States, exploded, altered, and counterfeit,
are being sold to the rebel soldiers of the
South, and are eagerly bought up by these
at a premium of from twenty to twenty
live per cent., under the impression that
our u greenbacks" possess but little more
value iu the North than do the rebel scrip,
in the rebellious States.