Jeffersonian Republican. (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1840-1853, May 02, 1844, Image 2

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JEFFERSON IAN REPUBLICAN
JE.FFERSONIAN REPUBLICAN
-Stroudsburfr, May 6, 1844U
Tcnns, $2,1)0 :n advance: $2.25, naif yearly: aird $S,50 if not
PhkI befoi the end of the ver.
OCT Jr- A Palmer, Esq., at his iteal Estate
and Coal Office, No. 59 Pine street, below Third,
yi wo squares S. the Merchants' Exchange, Phila
delphia, is authorised to Teceive subscriptions and
advertisements for the Jeffersonfan Hrpitbhcan,
ami nive receipts for the same. Merchants, Me
chanics, and tradesmen generally, may -extend
their business by availing themselves of the op
portunities for advertising in country papers which
liis agency affords.
r - i - - - i
FOR PRESIDENT
HENRY CLAY,
OF KENTUCKY.
Subject to the decisionof the Baltimore Convention
FOR GOVEIlNOlt,
GEN. JOSEPH MARKLE,
OK WESTMORELAND COCNTV.
FOR CANATi COMMISSIONER.
HIM EON GUILFORD,
Of LEBANON COUNTY.
Senatorial Electors.
CHESTER BUTLER, of Luzerne;
TOWNS END HAINES,. of Chesier.
Districts.
I Joseph G. Chrkson, Philadelphia.
ti John Price Wetherill, do.
3 John D. Xeiusteel, . do.
4 John S. Little, Germantown, Phlla. co.
5 Eleazer T. M'Dowell, Doylestown, Bucks co.
G Benj. Frtck, Limerick, p. o. Montgomery co.
7 Samuel Shafer, Chester county.
8 William Heister, New Holland, Lancaster co.
y John S. Heister, Reading, Berks co.
10 John Killinger, Anville, Lebanon co.
11 Alex. E Brown, Easton, Northampton co.
12 Jonathan J. Slocum, Wilkesbarre, Luzerne co.
13 Henry Drinker, Montrose, Susquehanna co.
M James Pollock, Milton, Northumberland co.
15 Frederick Watts, Carlisle, Cumberland co.
16 Daniel. M. Smyser, Gettysburg, Adams co.
17 James Mathers, MifHintown, Juniata co.
18 Andrew J. Ogle, Somerset, Somerset co.
19 Daniel WashabaUgh, Bedford, Bedford co.
20 John L. Gow, "Washington, Washington co.
L'l Andrew W. Loomis, Pittsburg, Allegheny co.
22 James M. Power, Greenfield, Mercer co.
23 William A. Irvine, Irvine, Warren co.
24 Benj. Hartshorn, Curwensville, Clearfield co.
The Legislature.
Our Slate Legislature, no doubt, terminated
their labors at Harrisburgb, on Monday last.
Our newa from lhere is down to the noon of
that day, at which time the Governor had just
signed the Bill for the sale of the Alain Line of
our Public Wsrks, it having previously pasted
both houses. The price is fixed at $20,000 000,
and the Act contains a section authorizing the
laying of a State Tax of ihree mills on lhe dol
lar, to pay the interest of our debt.
On Monday, Mr. Bigler, resigned hit office
of Speaker of the Senate, and after a number
of ballottings, Mr. Wilcox was chosen in his
place.
The Gorernor also vetoed the Appropria
tion Bill, on account of its containing a clause
taxing the salaries of Judges. The reason giv
en by the Governor is, that the Supreme Court
have decided that the Legislature possesses no
- power to tax such salaries.
General Iffarkle.
The spirited Whigs of Philadelphia, favora
ble lo the election of the Hero of Missiasinewa,
10 lhe Gubernatorial Chair, held a raass.meet
ing on Friday evening last, in frent of the Old
State House, in that City. Thousands were
in attendance, and every thing passed off in the
most harmonious and spirited manner. A cum
ber of good addresses were delivered.
Lehigh Comity Bank.
The Bill for the incorporation of the Lehigh
County Bank has become a law. The Capi
tal is fixed at $100,000: ill of which must be
paid in before the Bank can begin operations.
The Stockholders are also made personally re
sponsible for the management of the affairs of
the Institution.
Berks County Bank.
We are glad to announce that the Legisla
ture has passed a law to redeem the over issue
s..of relief Notes by the Berks County Bank.
. Death off a Member of Congress.
The Hon. P. E. Bossier, member of Con-
gross from Louisiana, died at his residence in
Washington on Wednesday night last, after an
illness of many weeks.
arV
Adjournment of Congress.
A Washington letter writer slates that it is
the settled determination of a majority of the
members of Congress to adjourn on the 27(b
instant.
-
OLD VIRGINIA, O. K.
The good "Old Dominion" is coming to
swell the tide ol Whig triumph, which has set
in against the spoilsmen and office seekers.
We have not yet received returns from every
part of the State, but as far as heard from, the
news is of the most exhilarating character; and
shows an astonishing Whig gain.
In fifty three counties heard from, the Whigs
have carriod 43 members of the Legislature,
and the Locos 23. Last year, in the same
counties the Whigs had 35, and the Locos 31,
showing a neil Whig gain of 9 members.
A gain of 5 more will secure a majority on
joint ballot, and sccuro the election of a U. S.
Senator in the place of Mr. Rives, whose term
expires on the 4th of March next.
In two Districts there were elections for
Congressmen, to supply the places of Mossrsk
Wise and Gilmer. The Whigs have carried
both last year the locos carried both. This
is a gain of two more Whig Congressmen, ma
king fourteon since the beginning of the Ses
sion. Since writing the above, we have received
the N. Y. Tribune, of Tuesday, which contains
the following extract of a letter from Washing
ton. "I am informed that Post Master General
AVicklifle, has returns from various parts of
Virginia, by to-day s mails, which render cer
tain a Whig majerity of ten on joint ballot.
Huzza, for the Old Dominion !"
Huzza, say we too, for the Old Dominion,
and let every Stale follew its gloriaus exam
ple. New York Town Elections.
f The Town Elections in this State hare
closed, and the Albany Daily gives returns of
the Supervisors elected in each county, which
sum up as follows:
1844. 1843.
Van Buren, 457 545
Whig, 408 337
Native, 17 0
Total, 884 882
Whig gain, from last year 71; Loco loss, 86.
Net Whig gain, 157.
The National Convention.
The Whig Nat'onal Convention, met at Bal
timore, yesterday, and nominated candidates
for President and Vice President. Henry
Clay, no doubt, received the unanimous nom
ination for the first office. Next week we shall
be able to announce who was selected for the
second.
The Ratification Convention.
This is the day fixed for the grand assem
blage of Whigs at Baltimore, to respond to the
nominations which were made yesterday. For
a week past the various routes leading lo that
city, have been crowded with delegates, has
tening to be present on this interesting occa
sion; and-from the arrangements every where
made to secure a full attendance, we have no
doubt the Monumental City is at this time lit
erally jammed with human beings. We will
be able next week lo give an account of their
doings.
The Annexation of Texas.
The Treaty has at length been sent to the
Senate, and its terms made known to the pub
lic eye. During the past week Henry Clay
and Martin Van Buren have both published let
ters unfavourable to the annexation. It is con
ceded on all sides that it cannot be ratified.
Beware of Counterfeits.
The Daily Chronicle of Wednesday last,
says : Counterfeit half dollars are in circula
tion. They are exceedingly well executed,
and in the absence of sound would deceive al-
most any person. We were shown one ot
these pieces taken last evening, which was
pronounced by judges to be genuine, until it
was tested with acid when it was discovered
to be worthless. The dates of the counterfeits
are 1842, and 1843. A number of quarter
dollars made of iron, brass, etc., and silvered
over by the galvanic process are also circula
ting among us.
Drunkenness has brrn made a legal ground
for a divorce in New York, by the legislature
of State or rather it i about to be. A
bill to lhat effect, has been, spoiled, and will
no doubt become a law,
The Crops.
We are informedsays the Baltimoro Patriot,
by an extensive flour merchant, who has re
cently beau through three counties in Maryland
and nine in Virginia, that the prospect for a
large crop of Wheat has never been better than
it is at the present time in thoso counties.
From Hie Daily Forum.
Amos Kendall, the Arch-Liar of ILo
cofocoism His Corruptions whilo
in Office.
We hardlv dare to trust oursolves to speak
of Amos Kendall, as he deserves, for we have
been taught to reverence grey hairs ; but ihis
hoary wretch has forfaited all claims to respect
by his lying spirit and his despsrato and fiend
ish attacks on estimable private citizens lo sub
serve political ends. He has published to the
world several recent tracts, in which 'omens"
are recounted as evidence that the vengeance
of omnipotence has fallen on our nation in re
tributian for the election of Gen. Harrison and
that lhe crime which the people of this Union
committed in 1840, by refusing lo derate Mar
tin Van Buren again to the Presidency has
called down providential visitations on the land.
Tho blasphemous wretch quotes scripture, as
lhe devil can, " for his purpose," and irreverent
ly mingles parlizan falsehoods and sacred texts
in the same black page of his infamous wri
tings. We're we inclined to believe his asser
lions, that our country has for its sins been vis
ited with plagues as was Egypt of old for its
hardness of heart, it would be difficult to give
an expression of loathing lo the plagues of lice,
locusts and vermin which beset the Court of
Pharaoh, more complete than is felt towards
the pestilent influences produced by Kendall,
Blair, Isaac Hill, Medary, and ethers, self-engendered
from lhe corruption and rottenness of
Van Burenism.
As Kendall has taken upon himself the office
of lay preacher for locofocoism, to convert the
heathenish Whigs, it may be worth while lo
inquire in what college he received his diploma,
and by what imposition of hands he received
orders. He is a true graduate of the Van Bu
ren school, bold, unscrupulous and never stick
ling at a lie, except when the truth will equally
serve his turn ; a public plunderer who has
lived for years on the federal treasury, and
when his hand was withdrawn by tho voice of
popular indignation, becoming an eleemosynary
pensioner on his party, and cringing at the foot
of those whose principles he has slandered and
iatentions perverted showing himself a3 ready
could he ha e obtained the public printing at the
present session, to betray his latest friend, Van
Buren, as he was once before to prove treach
erous to his early friend, Mr. Clay. To show
how totally unfit he is to be the censor of polit
ical morals, we avail ourselves of some facts in
his official career, which we find m the Wash
ington Standard.
Amos Kendall, all the world knows, (many
a contractor to his utter ruin) was Postmaster
General under both Presidents Jackson and
Van Buren. During his incumbency the " in
cidental expenses" of the Post Office Depart
ment rose from 75 or $80,000 per annum, to
the enormous sum of $437,000 in one or two
years. In his Annual Report of 1836, he said.
" It is expected that tho Department will,
have a surplus of cash in Bank before the first
of August next, exceeding $700,000 !"
In his previous Annual Report of 1835, which
was, we think, his first one, he had said that
the condition of the department, when he en
tered it, was almost hopeless. Hopeless one
year, and a promised surplus of near three quar
ters of a million the next ! Now, it will be re
collected, that 1836 was a year for a Presiden
tial election; Van Buren was in the field, and
a strong prejudice against him. It was there
fore necessary to lie the people into the belief
that he had extricated the Department from its
" hopeless condition" to a position of unexam
pled solvency ! In. 1837 he reported that the
anticipation's of a surplus were more than real
ized, and that the Department was ahead $800,
000. But jn the same report, he shows us that
the Treasury was not to rcceire any benefit
from the surplus, but he told us what disposi
tion he intended to make of it, in this language :
"In consequence of the failure of Congress
to reduce the postages at the last session, ar
rangements have been made to improve .he
mail scrvico beyond the extent of the accruing
revenue, so as to absorb the surplus. The ca
reer of improvement has been arrested by ap
prehensions of a reduction of revenue, growing
out of the general commercial embarrassments ;
but no reduction of tha service contracted for is
at present contemplated."
This was a strange time, lo extend iho ser
vice, when a " reduction of revenue" was appre
hended, and "commercial embarrassment" ex
isted ! Any one might have forseen the event
it will appear by reference to his next annu
al report of 1838, that not only was the whole
surpltfs of $800,000 wasted, but he was unable
to pay demands to the amount of $319,641, on
; tho department. In 1837 he said that " no re
'duction of the service contracted for" was con
templated; in 1838 he says " to avoid danger
of embarrassment from the ecent check upon
the revenue of the Department, retrenchments
and suspensions of service have been made to
the amount of $349,641." Was there ever
such gross contradiction ! There was a defi
ciency acknowledged in 1838; when from
the same report it appears that the revenue of
the year had increased $160,000, from the pre
vious year, which added to the surplus of 800,
000, aUo acknowledged, gives near a million
dollars lst, squandered or stolen during the
year! What became of this sum? how was it
expended? who received it? The expendi
tures for the year ending June 30, 1838, ex
ceeded those of the previous year more than
one million, three hundred thousand dollars! a
sum equal nearly to the entire expenditure of the
previous year !
How was this ennrmons increase expended ?
A friend has given us a clue, in one item of ex
penditure denominated "incidental expendi
ture" amounting in that year to tho extraordina
ry sum of $137,349 55. This item did not ob
tain a place in the report, though it might seem to
deserve a very conspicuous one, if we estimate
its importance by Us magnitude, or as com
pared with previous " incidental expenditures."
In his report of 1S35, Mr. Kendall says the
" incidental expenses" amounted to $92,924
92 ; the previous year it whs much less. Thus
it will he seen, t hut during this unfortunate
year, 1838, the "incidental expenses" are
swelled lo an enormous amount, and e.xceed
those of 1835 more than three hundred and forty-four
thousand dollars. This item of "inci
dental expenditure" was omitted by Mr. Ken
dall in all his reports, subsequent to 1835, and
why ? We learn from authentic sources that
" it is a branch of expenditure, subject to the
exclusive direction of the Postmaster Gene ral,
and may be considered as his secret service
fund, and might be tued for political objects, if
that officer had not .sufficient integrity and moral
honesty to resist audita temptation to use pow
er and money in aid of party movements, as ev
ery body knows Amos Kendall has. Certain
ly: his integrity is proof against any such temp
tation. But one fact is undeniable: that under
Mr. Van Buren's administration the expendi
tures under the head of " incidental expendi
tures" exceeded lhat under Gen. Jackson's ad
ministration by more than a million of dollars.
We leave it to those who use the money to
render an account of it, and call upon thern lo
do so.
Is it at all wonderful that, with such an ad
ministration of the Post Office Department,
with (he bung-hole of " Incidental Expendi
tures" wide open, the Department became bank
rupt, and that an appropriation of half a million
of dollars from the Treasury became necessary
to relieve it from dtbt when the Whigs came
into power? And yet this honest Amos is la
boring with as much assiduity and zeal to raise
from the dead the administration of Mr. Van
Buren as a hyena labors to dig up a corpse.
We mistake the people egrcgriously, if ihey
have any denire to see that rotten administration
exhumed, for, " by this time it siinkoth," not
being in very good odor even four years ago,
when there was a majority of 145,000 against
it
General Markle's Competency
The Somerset Herald, in speaking of the
charge of incompetency, so boldly made by Lo
cofoco editors, against Gen. Markle, says :
This declaration of the Locofoco press, is an
insult lo the people of Westmoreland, Alleghe-
aiy, vvasinngion, rayeue, ueaver, oumeraei
and other Western counties where Gen. Mar
kle is best known, and where his worth is ap
preciated an insult that will be resented at
the ballot box, so as lo make these rerilers of
the old Patriot tremble.
W kuow not what standard the Locofocos
would establish, by which to judge of a man's
capacity lo fill the Gubernatorial chair; but this
we do know, if Geu. Markle had been half as
long in public life as Henry A. Muhlenberg,
the Locofoco nominee, he would have given a
thousand stronger and better evidences of ca
pacity to fill the office of Governor than Mr.
Muhlenberg has done. We know the old He
ro of Mississincwa intimately and well, and we
feel indignant when we hear charges of incom
petency, which we know to be false, urged
against him. We know him to bo a man of
sound sense, strong judgment, extensive read
ing, and one well acquainted with the political
topics of the day, and wc therefore tell those
who clamor so much about his incompetency,
that they are either ignorant of his character,
or they wilfully and basely falsify.
We have said lhat lhe Locofoco Press, with
three exceptions, had made the charge of unfit
ness. It may be well to mention the fact, thai
those exceptions are the Locofoco papers pub
lished in Westmoreland, the county where
Gen. Markle resides. They have not yet pre
tended to tell the people of that county, thai tho
man who lives among them, and is esteemed hy
them for his many virtues and excellent quali
ties, is unfit to be Governor, and our word for
it, they dare not do it.
But( the People understand this charge, il
was made by the same party against the la
mented Harrison. An indignant people then
told these calumniator;, in thunder tones, lhat
they lied ; and the same people, that performed
an act of justice to the good Harrison by pro
tecting him from the calumnies of pensioned
editors and hirelings, will now step forward to
the rescue of Harrison's fighting Captain, and
triumphantly sustain him, against those who
wish to destroy him by defamation!
Arrival of Gen. Thompson.
Gen. Waddy Thompson, late Minister of the
United States to Mexico, arrived at New Or
leans on the 12th iusiaut, in the U. S. Brig
Bainbridge, which lofi Vera Cruz on tho 1st
instant.
Gen. Thompson, previous to his departure,
visited Santa Anna at his country seat, and
obtained, by his earnost solicitation in their be
half, the liberation of the remainder of the Tex
as prisoners, taken in September 1842, at San
Antonia de Bexar.
About the time of his departure, the question
of the annexstipn of Texas to lhe U. S. excited
the wrath of the press which was responded to
by the people.
Reminiscences. His (Andrew Jackson's)
election will be a curse to ibe country. Rich
mond Enquirer.
Ritchie is the greatest scoundrel in America.
Andrew Jackson lo Judge Breckenridge.
The Postage Bill.
The Washington Spectator gives the follow-
ing abstract of the bill reducing the rates of
postage, as ordered to a teird reading in the
Senate by a Urge majority on Wednesday of
last week.
For every single letter for less than 30 miles,
3 cents; over 30 and not over 100, 5 cents ;
over 100 and not exceeding 300, 10 cts.; over
300, 15 cents. Single, double, and quadruple
letters in proportion. A quarter of an ounce in
weidht eqivalont to a single letter. Drop let
ters, 2 cents each. Letters advertised to be
charged with tho cost of advertising. News
papers not more than 1900 square inches, may
be sent through the mail by their publishers to
subscribers within 30 miles free of postage; be
yond 30 and not over 100 miles a half cent;
over 100 miles 1 cent. On newspapers f
greater size than 1900 square inches, tho same
rates or postage as magazines or pamphlets.
Printed or ligthographed circulars not larg.-r
than foolscap shall bo charged 2 cents each,
sheet for any distance. Pamphlets, periodi
cals, magazines, 2 1-2 cents each copy weigh
ing not more than an ounce, not exceeding 100
miles; 5 cents for any greater distance; and I
cent additional for each additional ouues in
weight, a fraction of more than half an ounc
to be charged as an ounce. Where the mail
are so heavy as to retard materially the speed,
a separate mail to be provided for letters. Ail
acts granting the right lo any person to receive
through the mail free of postage letters or news
papers, &c. are annulled. The officers f
Government having tho franking privilege u
keep an account of the postage on all official
matter received or transmitted through the mail,
and the same to be paid out of the contingent
funds of tho respective Department.!
The franking privilege allowed to the thrre
Assistant Postmasters General and the Pom
maslers throughout the Union on letters only
relating to tho buines of the Department.
The President, Vice President, widows ol ex
Presidetits, cx-Presiedenis, ex Vice Prudent-.,
the Heads of Department., and Auornuy (Jen
oral, are allowed the franking privilege; Mem
bers of Congress, Delegates of Territories, Sec
retary of the Senate, and Clerk of the Hmise,
authorised to receive and transmit public docu
ments free of postage, and also during each se
jinn and for thirlv davs nreceedintr and ubsc-
qer l0 receive all letters not exceeding twt
J k
ounces; the postage on all over two ounces n
be paid out of the contingent fund of i ach
House. In lieu of tho pritl-ge therefere al
lowed of transmitting written or printed matter,
free of postage, to be furnished wiih a number
of free stamps or envelopes, equal to five per
day during the sesston; but any matter enclosed
in them, weighing more than two ounces, to be
subject to postage. Private expresses and'
mails forbidden under heavy penalties, as aUn.
those transmitting the letters, and the proprie
tors of the means of conveyance. The free
exchange of newspapers between publishers,
permitted. Heavy penalties provided for a!!i
violation of the law. Contracts for tho mail
hereafter to be given to the lowest bidder, with
out regard to the mode of conveyance, and ihe
contractur not required lo tako the stock of his
predecessor. Letters to be advertised in pa
pers having the largest circulation, if inserted
for a price not greater than is now fixed by
law.
Bow to Clean a Fowling Piee-?.
Sir Astley Cooper seemed to be innately
philosophically diposed, and always had some
object of practical utility in view. In this sci
entific inquiries, he had a remarkable facility
of applying his knowledge to the daily con
cerns of life, and delighted in suggesting im
provements for mailers which might also ap
pear too trifling lo attract his notice. A friend
of his sas: "I remember upon one occasion
saying in his hearing, 1 must send my gun to
have il cleaned, for it has become so much
leaded, that it has become unfit for u;c."
"Pooh!" said he, "send it to London! Keep
a few ounces of quicksilver in the gun case,
and then you can easily unload your gun your
self. Slop up the louch hole by means of a
little wax; and then pouring the quick.iilver in
to the barre.ls, roll it along them for a fow min
utes. The mercury and the lead will form an
amalgam, and leave the gun as clean as the first
day it came out of the shop. You have then
only to strain lhe squicksilver through a piece
of thin washy leather, and it is again fit for use,
for lhe lead will be left in lhe strainer." This
plan has been used with perfect success.
Common Schools and Academies. On the
27th, a bill lo suspend all appropriations to
Common Schools, Academics, &c. passed on
second reading, and the bill to regulate the is
suing of eertiiicates in payment of inicresl otv
ills Stato Debt, passed final reading.
Keep it before the shoemakers -.--Tha
the present 1 artlT protects the American, Boot
makers, by placing a duly of 25 per pair mi
imported boots, Tho new bill reported by
Van Buren committee of Congress reduces thai
duty to 30 per cent--aboul one half! Yi ihwe
men pretend to be the friends of the Working
Man JState Tribune,
During Mr. Clay's Southern lour, ho was
called upon fo reply lo an address from a dep
utation of cabinet-makers. In the course of j
his remarks, the " bank aristocrat, who has not
i single feeling in common with the working
people," stated that his only surviving full bro-
ther was a cabinet-maker, and that much of tho j
furniture now in use at Ashland was the work j
of that brother's hands. There will be another
cabintt-mak,er in the family before the world l
a y olaer i