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.