MOUNTAIN SBMBL M BMYMMSI EBENSBURC, PA. THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 7. IS50. ETThe Sentinel, has much the largest cir-culation-of any paper published in this county 'and as an advertising sheet offers superior inducements to merchants and business men generally. Those desirous of making us of this medium for extending their business can do so by either sending their notices direct, or through the following agents; John Crouse, Esq., Johnstoicn. E. W. Carr, Evans' Buildings, Third st. Philadelphia. V. B. I'almer, Esq., New York, Philadelphia vnd Baltimore. E?The Democratic State Central Com mittee, which met at Buehler's Hotel on the 29th ult., have fixed upon Williams port as the place of holding the next State Convention to nominate a Democratic can. didate for Canal Commissioner, and the 19th of June next is the time appointed. This is ia accordance with the resolution adopted by the Convention which assem bled in Ilarrisburg in 1848. urln our last in announcing the ap pointment of State Agents on the Portage Road, we committed an error relative to the names of some of the gentlemen ap pointed. The following is, we believe' a correct list of the names of the gentlemen appointed. James MTntyre, Joseph Kemp, S. S. Barr, O. II. Traugh, Wm. MTarland, Vincent Phelps and C. Seely. GLTGov. Johnston has appointed A. W. Benedict, Esq., of Huntingdon, Deputy Secretary of the Commonwealth, in place of A. L. Rusell, Esq., appointed Secretary. Awful Explosion. .ibout One Hundred Lives Lost! The Pittsburg Post of Tuesday contains the intelligence, received by. telegraph, o an awful explosion which occurred in New York on the 4th inst., by which a6outone hundred lives were lost. The explosion took place in the boilers of Taylor's ma chine shop and printing press manufac- toiy. The first floor of the building was occu pied as a hat manufacto ry. On the sec ond and third floors Mr. Taylor had six heavy power presses in operation, and in the fourth story was a book bindery. The boilers were in the cellar. About 150 persons were employed in the building at the time, of which it is supposed that no nore than fifty escaped. Simultaneously with the explosion, the whole building was raised six feet from its foundation. It fell with a terrible crash At the time the despatch was sent, thirty dead bodies had been taken from the ruins and was supposed that sixty or seventy- more were still in the ruins'.- The bodies taken out were mangled in such a terrible manner that it was utterly impossible to recognize them. The .New Apportionment. We learn from a private source that the committees of the Senate and House on thepportionmentot the State have agreed upon a bill to be presented for the action of the Legislature. In this bill, Cambria and Indiana counties form one representative district, and send two memoers; ana Vambrxa Huntingdon and Blair are thrown into one senatorial dis trict. We can scarcely believe this, but if it is true, in the event of the adoption of the bill Cambria would indeed be noicherc. If till PAmrr.itlnne .-. . ! ...w vi.,,iih.i.3 ju iippuruumneni are uisposca to act so unjustly towards Cam bria county, our only hope is that the dem- crats of the House will defeat the passage oi me dui, or have it so amended that if we must be attached to some other county .. uuc d majority ot the citizens of which entertain the same political opin ions as our own. But we protest against losing our identity altogether, and bein o.Tu.ivCu up uy sucn a benighted den of whiggery as Indiana. This connection would be even worse than that with Som erset, and we sincerely hope that the House -will do better than the committees. We could not have expected worse had the whigs had a majority in both branches of the Legislature, and consequently the priv ilege of carrying everything their own way. But as our intelligence relative to this disposition of Cambria may be incor. rect. we will defer any further remark Until W0 i r - t-k I L - t a r ' ,w uo"u lacisor tne 'case. W -ineprrlv hn a ...... " 1 uowcrr,! that our Representatives in the Senate and the House will use all their influence and exert themselves to the utmost to give us a separate representation. We are much more entitled to it now than we were at the last apportionment, and we think it nothing more than justice that we should have it. . Appointments by the Canal Commissioners William English, Superintendent of the Philadelphia and Columbia Railrocd IVcigh Masters John Kline, at Phil adelphia; John Dunlap, at Lancaster; Thomas Welsh, at Columbia; Robert Vaugn, at Portsmouth. Cargo Inspectors Richard R.Young, at Philadelphia; Eli Overdeer, at Lan caster; J. C. M'Kissick, at Columbia, L. . Kinsey, at Bristol. rfsrents Piila. and Col. R. It. John Rankin, Jas. A. Cunningham, Isaac G Waterbury, Lewis Trauck, James Hun ter, Chailes Brady, A. F. llambright, Thomas M'Mtchae!. Randall M. Maddock, Inspector of Cars hiladelphia and Columbia R. R. B. M. Harvey, despatch agent at Plane John Kulp, keeper out-let lock at Col umbia. Dissolution of the Union. We are sorry to learn that this has be come a common topic of "conveasation in Washington citv, among members of Con- gress ard others A few northern and southern fanatics are actively engaged in fanning a flame which is calculated to wea ken &: perhaps destroy this glorious Union, endeared to every true American heart by the glories of the past and the brilliancy o' jts future destiny. The north is endeavoring to force the passage of the Wilmot Proviso, and the south threatens the Union if such is done, and are preparing to hold a con vention at Nashville to consult relative to what is best to be done. We canot regard these movements in any other light than as being merely one of those storms which is to test the permanency of the Union and to prove to the world that it is capable of riding safely through every gale it encoun ters. We have closely observed the course pursued by Wilmot and his colleagues, and we cannot brinT ourself to believe that they are actuated by any other motives than those of demagogueism. They are merely creating a storm on which they hope to ride into power, perfectly regard less of the consequences to the welfare of the American people and the preservation of the American Union. No man in his sober senses, and who is at all acquainted with the subj'ect, will for a moment admit that there is the least possibility of slavery ever being recognized or sanctioned by the people of California, New Mexico or Des eret. Then why does the north urge the adoption of the Wilmot"proviso? All the south asks is nn-iutervention in relation to the subj'ect of slavery in the territories. They contend that Congress has no right to interfere with the wishes of the people on that subject; that it belongs exclusively to the inhabitants of those territories to de termine under what institutions they shall live, and that they have the right, in the for mation cf their constitutions when askin g admission into the Union, to declare whether siarerv shall be recognized or not. We believe that the south is right, and that the north is wrong, and the north must therefore back out of its present position. It is madness on the part of the north to endeavor to maintain a position that is not sanctioned by right and justice, and we hope to see every man who has the welfare and permanency of. our Union at heart, but who has for a time permitted his prejudices to get the better of his judg ment, speedily unite in a general effort to frown down any attempt calculated to weaken or destroy the confederation. By this means our Union will safely ride thro the storm that now threatens its dissolu tion, and coming generations will look back upon the course pursued by such men as Wilmot, Garrison and Giddins with feelings similar to those with which every American regards the conduct of the traitor Arnold. Walter Savage Lander gives it as his opinion that, within two centuries from the present time, the Anglo-Saxon tongue will be spoken throughout the hemisphere, and over the greater portion of the world; that Rio Janeiro and Valparaiso will become eventually the two greatest cities of this hemisphere, and that their populations will vie with each other as to which speaks the English language with the most purity. This prophecy is by no means chimerical or extravagant. The elder Adams, the second President of the United States pre-1 during thelast four months. It isTspread dicted more than sixty years ago, that the!ing to a considerable extent in Covington Anglo-Saxon tongue would br spoken all and Newport. Likc.lhe Cholera it bears over Europe and America. a milder form now than'it.did in 183t! 3 i T: "it s c'Ul: I ts v?rv coli; Corrroponilcnco of tbo Mountain Sentinel. . Harrisbcro, Jan. 28t 1850... Hear Sir: . The Legislature have done a great deal of business, principally however of a local nature. A bill is now-befo"ra the house, which excites considerable interest. It is an act relative, to "the Philadelphia and Reading railroad company, prohibiting creditors from collecting bonds dF claims for the space of twentyyears. The com pany, I believe, is insolvent, $nd a claim of SI 3,000 is about to be collected bf lev ying upon their personal effects, which has induced the other bond - holders or a large portion of them .to come here and ask for a passage of an act of this charac. ter. The bill passed the Senate without difficulty, but meets with strong opposi tion in the House. Upon the second rea ding of 3d section Mr. Cessna of Bedford, offered an amendment, which, if passed, will prevent the company from accepting the bill, and upon which he addressed the House at length, and with much ability. Mr. Cessna speaks with much force and fluency, and if I mistake not, will prove to be one of the most talented, ancT active, among the young members of the .House, for I mustconfess there are a 2reat many young members, while at the same . time they are men of very good capacity. This bill may not be disposed of for two or three days. Many of our best democrats are supporting the bill, and I am not prepared to say but what the circumstances are of such a nature as warrant them Ui doin so; but I do think the principle is arbad one. A resolution was offered on Saturday and passed, which took up the session of that day, and produced an animated dis cussion between the two political parties. The Commonwealth, it appearspurchased two locomotives from Norris, Brother & Co., and at the proper time they called upon Mr. Ball, for payment, vhich was declined, upon the ground that . the funds must be retained in the treasury to pay the interest without resorting to a loan, in order that the fame of Mr. Ball as a finan cier might be trumpeted forth, and therby bolster up the administration of Governor Johnston. Honest creditors cannot re ceive their just dues until such tims as Mr. Ball sees to fit pay them, notwithstaning the money has been specifically appropri ated and is now in the treasury. Similar claims I have no doubt remain unpaid in your section of the State for the same rea son. The Board of Canal Commission ers submitted the matter-to the Legislature accompanied by a letter from Norris, Brother &, Co., after the reading of which Beaumont, moved for a committee of five to investigate with power to send for per sons and papers. This produced a terri ble fluttering among the whigs, while they i .t..i . fr I ruauriuu iu every inciuuu .j aiaic u wu. j r .u4 . o .i " i i muted every year's experience, from that our member, Mr. Smith, acquitted him- tQ the pfeeaU has served to demon self very well, in favor of the investigation strate its wisdom and patriotism. He as also Mr. Rhey of Armstrong. The j more fully foresaw the dangerous tenden yeas and nays were frequently called up by the whigs, with the view of taking up the time of the House till the hour of ad journment. IJut all would not to. i neir sensitiveness on the subject only excited the suspicions of the democrats the more, made them doubly determined 'to pass the resolution before adjournment. The hour was near at hand, and Allison of Beaver orthe floor speaking to time, when Hast ings of Jefferson, who by the by is a very active member, and quick as a steel trap, moved for the previous question andwas sustained. Here they flustered and floun dered, and the hour of one o'clock having arrived while the vote was tiking on the previous question, they rose to a point of i .1. - ct i j l.- oruer, wnen me opeaner urciucu inai wc House could not adjourn while a vote was taking. Smyser and Allison flew at their manuals, Killinger of Lebanon, (who is entirely out of place here without a guar dian) appealed; but upon ascertaining from his superiors that the Speaker was correct, it was withdrawn, and they sunk back in their seats, allowing the resolution to pass by a strict party vote, and I have no doubt with the mortification that the motion of their Ball would be brought to a half. Yours truly Manufacture of Iron It is stated that Dr. Wall, of London, has discovered and patented a process for manufacturing steel atid iron through the agency of electricity, which promises to cheapen immensely the cost of their production, and at the -same time improve the quality of the metal. .. It has been tested at several of the leading iron furnaces of .Alary land and.. Virginia, with the most satisfactory results. ; " : The Varioloid in Cincinnati. The Cincinnati Nonpareil of the 17th says: "It is estimated that GOOQ. persons, or nearly one fifteenth of the whole popula tion. hnv hnil thn small nnr rr v"r5rlnwl when it followed .in tlu wTike of tint dreadful bcoijr,j : A Capital Letter. V., We commend the following able letter of Col. Wm. Bigler to the careful attention of our readers. Mt was "written in answer "to a letter of invitation to attend a celebra tion of the Anniversary of the Battle of New Orleans in Lock Haven, Pa. As Col. Bigler has a reputation as a statesman and a ma.i of business inferior to the to none in the State, his remarks relative in vi.? 3i shialJ rszzi's the serious consideration of the members of the Leg islature, and the people of Pennsylvania generally. Clearfield, Jan. 13,1850. Gentlemen: I have your flattering favor of the 1st inst., inviting me on behalf of the Democracy of Clinton County, to join them at Lock Haven, on the 8th inst., in celebrating me approaching anniversary of the battle of New Orleans. A slight indisposition, which has confined me to my room for a few days past, will prevent me availing mysenoi yourninu iiivuauuu, which 1 very much regret: for it would afford me especial pleasure to meet our democratic friends of Clinton at the "festive board," on an occasion so well calculated to awaken interesting and gratifying re miniscences. I need not speak to you of the military career of the hero of the event which you meet to commemorate; of his skill, his bravery, his untiring vigilance, his toils, his victories and his final triumph at New Orleans. These are part of our national history, are familliar to all, and have long since assigned the name of Jackson to a hiffh Dlace in the temple of fame. As the beneficiaries of. his useful life, enjoying the blessings of his labors, we may very properly commemorate an event which distinguished him at once as a brave, skillful, and patriotic General, and reflect ed the highest honor on the American arms. There are, however, features in the civil career of this great man, still subject to the tests of time, which, in my opinion, may be appropriately and advantageously contemplated. Indeed his whole career as President of the United States is full of lessons of wisdom and instruction. Al though not regarded by some as a political philosopher, or as having as thorougnly studied the problems of Government as some other distinguished American states men, his heart was fully embued with the pure principles of Democracy and his impulses, therefore, were always correct. He aimed at the intellectual, moral and social elevation of the mass of his fellow citizens; unceasingly resisting the natural current ot power trom the many to me few, protecting labor, industry and enter prise against the encroachments of capital and monopoly, desiring always to give general and equal prosperity to all classes of the people and "special privileges to none." His -sagacious mind readily com prchuJcd the rignt, ana his clear judge ment and "Iron will" always enabled him to obtain it in the least objectionable mode. Thus foreseeing the inevitable ills to result from a continued existence of the United States' Bank, he determined, against the judgement and wishes of many of the most intimate friends, to reject its cnarier. i ne . - , - 1:1.. - ,l iustice of this decision is now readily ad cies of such an institution, with its means of concentrating the mouetary power of the country, and completely comprehend ed its baneful influence upon our political institutions, than any other man in the Union. May of those who regarded its existence as indispensible to the prosperity of the country, looking upon it as the great regu lator of the currency, and of foreign and domestic exchanges, have been forced, by time and experience, to treat the proposi tion as an "obsolete idea." Another re markable evidence of Jackson's great satracitv and patriotism, was presented in the truthfulness with which he foretold the ruinous consequences of a wild and almost unlimited credit system, then being engendered by an excessive issue of bank paper. Respect for his admonitions would have saved the country much subsequent . . disgrace ana sultenng. liut nis views, as given to the New York panic committees, were scouted by the merchants, specula tors, and bankers of the country they went on in their wild career, and finally became the victims of their own folly; w hich broke upon them in the shape of a immerrial revulsion, the like of which I com sincerely hope the country may hcvci again be called upon to endure. There are very few at this day who would be willing to assail the anti-Bank and anti monopoly doctrines of Gen. Jackson. The baneful influence of corporations and special privileges on the rights and posi tion of the working masses is shewn by the experience of the world. Every spe cies of monopoly' and special privilege tends to facilitate the passage of power and wealth from the many to the few; and may we not fear that too great facili ties for concentrating monetary power of the country may lead it to approximate the old feudal standard system in a tyran nical and absolute control of the rights and prosperity of the people? It should be the business of American statesmen to resist this tendency, and see that the bles sings of Government, like the dews of Heaven, are made to descend alike upon all. Indeed, in a mere commercial view of the subject, all experience seems to demonstrate, that' where banks of issue exist, the restrictive . policy in reference to their privileges, the omount of their issues the full liability of thoc who arc to reap the advantages of the business of banking.'is the true policy for the people. There is no danger of the country suticr- ing from a want of banking the danger is all on the other side. An excessive issue of bank paper never fails to enhance the nominal value of property, goods and commodities of the country above a true Rtnnrlrd. thus engendering a spirit of monopoly and .speculation, and these bring in their train a whole horde of les ser evils on society; and certainly no more efficient mode of "defeating the protective feature of a Whig tariff can be devised; and yet our Whig friends are at the same time the advocates of big banks and high tariffs. My experience as a business man leads me to believe that the more closely we confine our Bank issues to the actual wants of wholesome trade, the more certain and ample will be the rewards of labor, and the more reliable will be the prosperity of the country; certain I am, that in the ratio that we 'depart from this principle, we lessen the security of the public in the case of Bank paper, and in crease the chances of injury to the inno cent. The channels of our circulation in this part of our State are now polluted with all kinds of foreign and domestic trash in the s imilitude of small bank notes which are not unfrequently made the means of injury to the unwary; and it does seem to me, that the present time when we are receiving large accessions, of the precious metal of California and elsewhere, and when the gold dollar is being extensively coined and thrown into circulation, would be a most auspicious period to begin the good work of substi tuting coin for bank paper below ten dol lars. I am well aware that with the small issues of surrounding Stites forced upon us, there would be some difficult' in car rying this idea into practical operation but no worse state of affairs than the present could be produced, and might we not hope that our sister States, seeing the good ef fects of such policy wrould follow our ex ample, and thus release the people of all from great inconvenience and no inconsid erable loss. As disease always attacks the weaker parts of the human system, so the diseases of our system of currency in the shape of counterfeits and discounts, always fall upon those who are least prepared to detect the imposition or to bear its injuries. Within my business circle, I venture the assertion, that there is not one man in ten who has not got more or less of this small worthless trash on hand, for which an equivalent has been given. This is an evil that deserves con sideration. But, gentlemen, I am worry in vou with a long letter about matters you understand much better than I do. . . . . i t I am deeply sensible ot tne nonor con ferred upon me by your invitation, and by your kind allusions to my own personal and political character. You will please accept for yourselves, and those you rep resent, assurances of my high regard, and allow me to subscribe myself, very truly yours. W.U. UlULiltt. Retrocession of the District of Columbia to Hlarylaud. We see that the Senator from Illinois, the Chairman of the Committee on Ter ritories, has m;ide a movement towards the further r. t:o;ession of part of the district of Columbia. He is right, but he does not go far enough, for he ought to retro- Cfde the whole, incuding ihe city of Wash ington, and the public buildings. and thus prevent any further expenditure of the public money upon this hopeless and useless bit of national extravagance. This would render unnecessary, hisaddi tional proposition to give a lecal legisla ture to this little big city of some 20,000 souls, including therein the peculiar fa vorites of our Southern brethren, who seem to think the air we breathe is not wholesome unless sweetened by the balmy breath of negro slalvery The United States owe alreadyS900, 000, the remnant of a large debt, assumed by the naiion for the immature improve ment of Georgetown and Washinton. We go for entire and total retrocession. and a removal of the seat of the national Government to Pittsburgh. Let the Senator from Illinois propose this, and Pennsylvania will back him with her two millions and a quarter of free people. These questions would have been set tled long since, except for certain phra. ses, such as "a northern man with south ern principles," which is, however, bet ter than "a northern man with southern interests." Spirit of the Times. Elopement in High Life in Lowell. The upper circles in Lowell have been excited m the highest degree, by thedevel opemeivt of two elopements among the upper ten of the city of spindles. The parties are none of them out of their teens, and manifested very little of the romantic, excepting perhaps the fight, in the chase of that very little boy, Cupid. The first affair came off one week last Friday. The gay Lothario was John H. Atkins, aged 19, son of the editor of the Lowell Courier, and his inamorata. Miss Jane Hoffman, daughter of Olliver P. Whipple, Esq., the well known powder manufacturer, who is estimated to be worth $150,000. The girl is his only daughter, very pretty, and is only fifteen years of age. They proceeded to Nashau, and were married at that place. The other affair came off on Tuesday last. The gentleman is a Mr. Charles Dunbar, of the age of 19, and his lady. Miss Eliza Waugh, daughter of John Waugh, a contracting machinist, said to be w orth some $60,000. The girl is only 10. and wont w itii her lover to thr lovelv vil lage of Tewsbury, in this state, where they were married. Boston Herald. Kr. Clay's Resolutions. Whereas, it being desirable, for tho peace, concord and harmony of the Union of these States, to settle and-adjust, ami cably, all questions of controversy be tween thenv arising cut of the institution pf Slavery, upon fairequitable and j ust basis; Therefore. " Resolved, That California, wilh suita ble boundaries, upon her application be admitted as one of the States of this Union, without the imposition by Ccngrrss, cf any restriction in respect to the exclusion, or introduction, of Slavery within those boundaries. . . Resolved, That as Slavery does not exist by law, and is not likely to be introduced, into any of those territories, acquired by the United States, from .the Republic of Mexico, it is inexpedient for. Congses to provide, by law, either for its introduction, into, or its exclusion fiom any part of said territory; and that appropriate ter-itorial govennehts ought to be established by C;a gress, in all of said territories, not assigned within the boundaries . of the proposed State of California, without the aboUtioa of any restriction, or condition, on - (ha subject of Slavery. ; Resolved, That the Western boundary of the Slate of Texas ought to.be fixed on the Rio-del-Nor'.e, commencing one rn,a.-. rine league from its mouth and running up that river to the Southern line of New Mexico, thence with that line Eastward ly, and so continuing the same direction to the line as estaLHshd between tha United States and Spain. Resolved, That it be proposed to the State of Texas, that the United States will provide for the payment of all that poition of the legitimate and bona fide public debts of that State, contracted prior to its annexation to us, and for which duties of foreign imports were pledged by said State to its creditors, not exceeding the sum of dollars, in consideration of the duties as pledged, having been no longer applicable to that o' ject, after fad annexa tion, but having thenceforward, become payable to the United Stales, a -d upon condition, also, that said state shall, by some solemn and authentic act of her Le gislature, or of convention, relinquish to the United States any claim, which it has to any part of New Mexico.. Resolved, That it is inexpedient to abolish Slavery in the district of Colum bia, whilst that institution continues to exist in the State of Marylnnd, without the consent of that State, without the consent of the people of the District, and without a just compensation to tho owners of slaves within the District. Resclved, That it is inexpedient to prohibit, within the District of Columbia, the Slave Trade, and trade in Slaves bro't into it from States or places, beyond its limits, either to be sold therein as merchan dise or to be transported to other markets wiihout the District of Columbia. Resolved, That more effectual provi sions ought to be madaby law, for the ras- service or labor in any State, who may escape into any other State or Territory of this Union. Resolved, That Congress has no power to prohibit or obstruct trade in slaves be tween slaveholding States: and that ad mission or exclusion of slaves brought from one into another of them, depends exclu sively upon their own particular laws. These resolutions," said Mr. Clay, "involved no sacrifice of any principle; they were founded upon a basis of mutual forbearance and concession concessions not of matters of principle, but of feeling raerelv. .The British Debt. There appears an able review in Black wood, for December of the British Na tional debt, its causes and effects, which conveys some verjT instructive lessons to legislators, the world, as weU as the rest of mankind. It is remarkable how rapid ly wars and national extravagance brought up the debt of Great Britain. In 1633 James whole revenue amounted to a little over two millions of pounds sterling, and at this charge he kept together a strong and well appointed fleet, and an army of nearly twenty thousand men. The nation was comparatively free from taxation, prosperous, and the people well fed. The poor rates amounted to JE3QQ, 000 yearly. When William and Mary were proclaimed, there wai no such thing as a national debt. . William's legacy was sixteen millions four hundred thous and pounds of debt, at an annual charge to the nation of one million three hundred thousand pounds. At Queen Ann's death the debt amounted to fifty-four millions, and the interest to over three millions being nearly double the whole revenue of James. At the close of George the Sec ond's reign, the debt amounted to one hun dred and foity millions of pounds, and j ust one hundred years after the introduc tion of the funding system, it reached two huudred and fifty-two millions, with an interest often. Tventy-twoyears later that amount was trebled. The popula tion of England has trebled since James time, and the poor rates Teach the sum of seven millions, no proof of the superior comfort of the people of the present day. The interest alone of the. public debt amounts to twenty-eight millions. With tho funded debt arose the stock exchange, the monied. interest, public gambling, extravagant living, lotteries, bubbles, baseless speculations, and all the frauds and iniustict? which ruin a nation, corrupt J J - -! C jits morals, and load it with- taxation', oi the K'nefit of a few.