MQMTAMNTI1L, EBENSBURG, PA. THURSDAY, DECEMBER 13, 1850 U"Thb Scntincl, has much the largest cir tulation of any paper published in this county 071 J as an advertising shset offers superior inducements to merchants and business men gtnt rally. Those desirous of making us of this medium for extending thetr business can io so by either sending their notices direct, or through the fallowing agents- John Crouse, Esq., Johnstoicn. E. W. Carr, Evans Duildingi, Third Philadelphia. V. B. Palmer, Esq , XeicYork Philadelphia J Baltimore. Dedication. 'We. have been requested to announce that, by Divine permission, the St. Ben. edict Church at .Carroltown, will be dedicated to the service of the Lord on Christmas day, next. Attention ! The Allegheny Infantry, Loretto, will assemble at Carroltown, on Christmas day, the 25th inst., with arms and accou trements in proper order for drill. By order of the Captain. BWe regret to learn that Mr. Patrick Regan died on Friday evening last. It may be remembered that he was seriously injured some time since on the Railroad, by the cars running off the track, a notice of which we took at the time. From that injury he never recovered, and that was the occasion of his death. He was about 45 years of age. He leaves a wife and a family of small children to mourn his un timely end. Capt Nagle. By the following item of Washington news it will be seen that Capt. Nagle will by "jerked up" for his proceedings relative to company claims. Unless we are mis taken, both the companies from this county, entrusted him with their claims against the General Government. Washington, Dec, 1 1 Capt. Nagle, who disappeared from here about a year ago, after being detected in defrauding the Government, by presenting forged vouchers of claimants, has been in dieted in this Court coon the testimony of Capt. Quail of Pittsburg. He is said to be doing a private banking business in St Louis, and the President will make a re quisition for him. GF We were not a little amused last week to see an article in the Johnstown cho, which endeavored to throw the blame of the defeat of Dr. Smith on what they are pleased to term the Campbell fac tion. Such an effort is only calculated to excite the contempt of its readers, when it is so well known that those who control that sheet were indefatigable in their ex ertions to bring about a result so disgrace ful to the democratic party. Finding that their conduct du ring lost summer is calcu lated to injure the prospects of some of them who are or will be applicants for of fice during the coming winter, they now make a vain effort to throw the censure which they know they deserve, off iheif own shoulders. They are now heartily ashamed of their conduct on that occasion when they find a knowledge of it may operate against them in obtaining a share of the plunder which they so anxiously desire. It won't do, however, as the authors of that disgraceful transaction are well known to every voter in the county, and we dare the Echo man to say that those who control that sheet were not the fathers of it. We know that tiekets were printed in that office bearing the names of John Lin lon and John Cessna upon them, and we know that those tickets were distributed throughout the northern part of this coun ty by a candidate for Congress. We also know that at least two men who have held high and responsible offices in this county now residing in Johnstown, stood at the polls during the entire day, and exerted all their influence to bring about the defeat of Dr. Smith. These things are well known and cannot be refuted. No, ro, Mr. Echo. It you wish to conceal your own conduct, you must not do it by attempting to cast the censure on the shoulders of the innocent. If you wish to get office, do so honorably, and acknowledge manfully that you acted in conceit with those who brought defeat, apon ths dernssra'ic party. John S. Rhey, Esq. The Fulton Democrat objects to the election of this gentleman to the Speaker ship of the next House of Representatives, because he was the author of the Appor tionment Bill passed last winter. If the editor can 'find no other grounds :upon which to base his opposition, we think he had better stop it. ' Mr. Rhey's course in the Legislature, and especially in refer ence to that very Apportionment Bill has been endorsed not only by his own con stituents, but generally throughout the State. We were opposed to that Bill, and expressed our sentiments freely in relation to it, believing, as we do, that Cambria was not treated as she deserved, but inasmuch as we are willing to believe that it was the best that could have been made under the circumstances, and as it has been ratified by a majority of the party in the State, we think it silly on the part of any man now to urge it as an objection to the election of Mr. Rhey. It is conceded on all hands that John S. Rhey is better qualified for the station for which he is a candidate than any man in the .House. His conduct as a man and a democrat is unexceptionable, and the importance of the post in which his friends wish to place him, and the importance of the next Legislature to the welfare and prosperity of the State, both point him out as the man for the occasion. We think the Fulton Democrat takes a ground too bitter against Mr. Rhey in ref" erence to the Apportionment Bill. It has proven itself democratic, and if the Clarion District had given anything like its usual majority, our party would have a majori ty in both branches of the Legislature. We say nothing against Mr. Cessna and his claims. He is our Representative, and we will sustain him, but he ought no1 to suffer his friends to abuse Mr. Rhey, in urging his claims, as it is known to us that Mr. Rhey exerted his influence in this county to secure the election of Mr. Cessna. Hon. James Campbell. Considerable interest is being enlisted in the selection of Judges of the Supreme Court, and this feeling has been strength ened by several attacks which have been made by the whig press upon the promi nent democratic candidates. The Phila delphia Daily Neics is violent in its attacks upon Judge Campbell of that city. This course on the part of the whig press is unjust and uncalled for, and can neither do themselves any good, nor can it injure the prospects of those seeking a nomination from the democratic party. Judge Campbell has occupied a seat upon the bench for ten or twelve years, and sustains a character that is irreproach able. He occupies a high rank in the estimation of all legal gentlemen, and as Philadelphia is entitled to one of the Judges, we kiioW of no man in that quar ter whose nomination" would be hailed with more cordiality throughout the State. A California Letter. We have been favored with the pcriaJ of a letter from California, from which we make the following extracts: Macwsmev River, California, July 28, 1850. Dear Mother: Among bears, Indians and large mountains of California, I write you a few lines to let you know that I am in better health (if possible) than ever I was at home. You may judge of this, when I tell you that I was in Sacremeuto City the other day, and I weighed 187 lbs. I am as fat as a hog, but how I got so I don't know. I eat pork and beans, and slap-jacks, and when we, (I mean the young men of the camp) can see a slow elk (that is a California ox or steer) we have fresh beef. I have been living among a large tribe of Indians for the last few weeks in the mountains. .When I came first to the mines, the water was too high fo do anything; now it is down and is much better. I have been averaging fiom ten to twelve dollars per day, and I have made as low as six dollars but seldom. I have bought a splendid California horse for SI 00. A man in this country must have one to pack his traps from one mine to another, or he can't live long. I have tried that myself. Many do die by pack ing their camp things over the mountains. Now comes the tug of war and the truth the trip to this country is one of them trips you read about. I came on board the steamship Oregon, and almost every man on board had the diarrhoea or fever, and three of them died and were cast into the sea. I never had a touch of either disease. Several met with sad disappointments more than two thirds m this country will meet with the sarna. . Thousands come to this country and go to look at the mines and becoming dissatisfied, turn, back to: the city, and work for three" or four -dollars a day to get money enough to carry them home. They say if they once get to God's country (meaning the states) they will never leave it again liut we have been very fortun ata mora so than a great manv thatrnmv here. We have made for three, or four 'diysone ounce per d.iy each" of tis (Hop- kins, Ned, and myself) while others dont make their boarding. There are thousands coming over the plains this summer who will I think never get here,1 and "ff they do they will never get back again. I have often said at home that there was plenty of room in California tor a man to dig, but I was mistaken. There is one miner for every ten feet of digging, and in one month more there will be thousands without a place in which to earn their boarding. Men come to this country to make their fortunes in one season, that is three or four months. Well it has been done by probably one min out of a thou sand. Generally, when they come to the city, some merchant gets hold of them and tells them to go to Yuba for instance. Well off they go to make their pile as they call it, where they find out who this man is he owns a store at Yuba. This is the way that miners are often taken in. All the fat and rich letters you get at home are written by California speculators, i have not seen any of those big chunks in the. mines vet, nor do I expect to set any of them, but if I keep my health I will not leave this country until it pays me well for my trouble. If my good luck continues I intend sending vou a small present by the next mail. Give my love to all my friends. Tell Mr. George Ross that I' have found Dick Owens, the mountaineer. He intends going home in the spring Let me know how uncle John D. ind Daniel Jones are, and remember me kindly to them. Yours affectionately DANIEL J. GRIFFITHS. Homeward Bonnd! One of the Boston papers, the name of which we do not remember feelingly re marks, that it is "a sad ta-le tkat now comes to us from the golden plainsof the Pacific. The first flush of enthusiasm over, we have the dread wail of suffering and dis tress. The young men of. New England who, a year or two since; rushed impetu ously to the California mart and mines, now are returning in swarms to linger out, alas! too frequently, a feeble existence or meet a speedy death. Note the contrasts of this Californian excitement. The stea mers Crescent City and Pacific, lately ar rived, found on the isthmus about one thousand steerage passengers waiting for a chance to get home. . Three hundred and fifty were taken on board one, and five hundred on board the other, steamers of very moderate size. On the Pacific they were absolutely packed in bulk, and for nearly one day before reaching Hava na, were without provisions and water! Of the Crescent City's passengers, a num ber are sick at New York of Chagres fe ver; others, worn out with their hardships in California, are not only sick, but abso lutely penniless, and will have to depend upon the charity of strangers for means io reacn tneir various nomes. une or two reached this city on Saturday morn ing, having received a free passage by the Stonington route. One young man who arrived was unable to walk, had scarcely a decent suit of clothing, aid not a cent in his pocket. He had not the least idea as to how he should get food or a chance to reach home. Of all the Crescent City's passengers, perhaps not more than twenty or thirty have gained anything by iheir California trip, while hundreds of others have not only lost their all, but are also ruined in constitution! A sad narrative will be the true history of the American Eldorado. WAGES IN IRELAND. We copy the following from the Lon don Times: At the petty sessions, lately held at Kariturk, Ireland, an Irish farmer, Green hv name, was summoned by one of his laborers for the sum of one shilling and sixpence, which, 've might suppose, rep resented a day's work. " It appeared, how ever, that it was claimed for three week's work, done at the rate of one penny per denn during harvest time for eigiiieen days, eighteen pence. There was no dispute about the fact of the labor having been performed, the farmer's reluctance being grounded on the exorbitant charac ter of the demand. Mr. Green declared that he should never have .thought of en gaging a stravelling like the complainant Walsh at that money, when he could get the best men in the country for as little. He could bring a witness to prove that the wages really' covenanted ' were one half penny per week; it was purely a commer cial question; he had made a bargain, as he averred, in accoi dance with the state of the labor market in that locality ..taking into consideration the capacity of Walsh; he considered that a bargain was a bar gain, and ought to be kept; finally, he tendered three half pence as the amount ol the legitimate claim. Astounded by such an offer, the magistrates demanded of Walsh what he had obtained in the way of food from his employer. They receiv for answer as follows: "Whilst I was with him 1 was obliged to be up in the morning about 4 o'clock, to let the cows out of the sleeping field, ah'd remain herd ing them till the other men would come to their work, and used then to be obliged to work with them all day, and get nothing for my support 6ut a bit of dry Indian gruel. They used togivejnilk-tolhepigs and calves before my face, but would not give me a drop.' ' Under these circom stances, the magistrates gave orders for the payment of the more exorbitant sum of one penny per day, "not, however, with out renewed objections on the part of Mr. Green, who stoutly maintained the justice and the sacredness of his bargain. This conduct of the Irish farmer affords a clue, if we do not greatly mistake, to the horrible sociable condition of Ireland. Treason in Vermont . The . Northern agitator, who lives by Creating bad feeling on the slave question, is in many instances a tanatic, but in all instances a coward. Fanaticism is gener ally understood to mean an adhesion to favorite ideas at the risk of all personal consequences. But is the abolitionist a brave man after the fashion of the fanatics of the olden time the stalwart Crusader, and the fierce Puritan? These latter dared everything and suffered everything for the cause they sustained holding life as dust in the balance, and undergoing the worst tortures of self denial and of self sacrifice. Our abolition zealot, however, is like neither of these. He takes good care to keep aloof from the States his doctrines, if enforced, would drench in fraternal blood. He excites by anathemas and by words, but is exceedingly cautious in venturing into the neighborhood where his motives would justly entitle him to be held a stern accountability. He does not, like a true fanatic, rush over the Potomac, sword in hand, but he stands at a conve nient and comfortable distance, and fires long shot into the slave holding States, re maining safely ensconced in some Wom an's Rights meeting or some Anti-Sunday and Anti-Bible Convention. Thus there is nothing to respect in such agitators. To their unblushing treason, they add a cra ven cowardice no less unmanly and dis graceful. It will not do to say that it requires moral courage to assert the doc of Slade, of Thompson, and of trines Garrison, for heretofore they have been regarded by the people of the free States more with pity than with anger. How far they will dare to venture the publica tion of their treasons, we shall be able to estimate after a few more of them haye been Haynaced according to the fashion of Faneuil Hall. The last specimen of Northern Fanati cism has just been exhibited in Vermont, and we allude to it with feelings of the deepest mortification. That such pro ceedings should have been originated and consummated in any State of this Union, is in itself a profound cause for regret. It is not in this regard alone, however, that the act of Vermont assumes its most de plorable aspect, but it is because the actors in it have convicted themselves alike of ignorance, of treason, and of the worst spirit of lawlessness and infamy. In order to show that we do not too severely characterize it, we give the f olio wmg copy of the act alluded to : From Hie Vermont Phosnix. AN ACT relating to the writ of habeas corpus to persons claimed as fugitive slaves, and the right of trial by jury. It is hereby enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Vermont Sec. 1. The same power is hpreby given to, and the same duties imposed upon, the circuit judges of the several judicial circuits of this State which are given to and imposed upon the judges of llie Supreme Court by the provisions of chapter thirty-eight of the revised statutes, entitled of "Habeas Corpus." Sec. 2. It shall be the duty of State's attorneys, within their respective counties, whenever any inhabitant of this State is arrested or claimed as a fugitive slave, on being informed thereof, diiligently and faithfully to use all lawful mean to pro tect, defend, and procure to be discharged every such person so arrested or claimed as a fugitive slave. Sec. 3. "The application of any State's attorney m writiug to any one of the judges of the Supreme Court, or to any circuit judge, sigued by said State's attor ney in his official capacity, stating in sub stance the name of the prisoner and the persons detaining him, if known, and that the person arrested, claimed, or imprisoned is arrested, claimed, or imprisoned as a fugitive slave, shall be sufficient authority to authorize the issuing of the writ of habeas corpus, as provided in said chapter thirty-eignt ol the revised statutes; and said writ may be signed by any one of said judges, or the clerk of the Supreme or County Court; and said writ shall be made returnable to the Supreme or County Court, when in session, in the county where such application is made: and in vacation said writ may be made returnable forthwith before either of the judges afore said. Sec. 4. It shall be the duty of all judi cial and executive officers in this State, in their respective counties who shall know,! or nave goou reasons to believe, ttiat any i itwiauiiaiii ui una uiaie is auuui io ue ar rested or claimed as a fugitive slave, forth with to give notice thereof to the State's attorney of the county in which such person resides. Sec. 5. Whenever the writ of habeas corpus is granted in vacation, as provided in this act, or as provided by existing laws; if, upon the hearing of the same before any oneof the judges aforesaid, the person imprisoned, arrested, or claimed as a fugitive slave, shall not be discharged, such person 6hall be entitled to an appeal to the next stated term of the county court in the county where such hearing was had, on furnishing such bail, and within such time, as the judge granting the writ, on hearing the case, shall adjudge to be reasonable and proper. Sec. 6. The court to which such ap peal is taken, and any other court to which habeas corpus in behalf of any suchperson claimed or arrested as a fugi tive slave is made returnable, may and snail, on application ot -etiher-party to such proceeding, allow and direct a trial by jury, on all questions of fact in issue between the parties, in the mater afores aid; and the taxable cost of such a trial shall be chargeable to the State whenever the same would be otherwise chargeable to the person arrested or claimed as a. fugitive stave Sec. 7. The several circuit judges shall have the same powers now vested in the judges of the supreme court, by virtue, of an act in amendment of chapter one hund red and three of the revised statutes, rela ting to persons confined in close jail on executions of tort, approved November 13, A. D. 1848. Sec. 8. This act shall take effect from its passage. Approved Nov. 13, 1850. Here now is a bold and audacious defi ance of the National Constitution as deliberately carried out, withal, as if those who enacted it did not know that they were perjuring themselves in the sight of Ltou. Ii,very member who stood up for this State Law had previously sworn to support the National Constitution, and yet it was by the vote of such men that a statute is created, the object of which it is to defy and to defeat the Constitution they had sworn to support. Perjury could not have been more deliberately or more cooly perpetrated. The authors of this work of Treason, let us not forget, are among those who profess to be the exclu sive followers of the Bible example; and yet their vaunted superiority in this res- I pect, did not prevent them from first swearing to support a Constitution which they afterwards attempted to break down ! It will not do to say that when they took this oath they did not know that-the Law they have since defied had not been passed j by ""gressfor it was the theme of uispuie anu uiscussion in every otate oi the Confederacy. They proceed to stul tify themselves with heartless deliberation that shows how well they understood the infamous responsibility they were assu- ming. In order to show the difference between s.,ch a State as Vermont and our own Pennsylvania, it is not inappropriate to say that, while the former is preparing to nullify the Constitution, the latter, with a voice almost of unanimity, will in January next wipe off from her Statute book the act placing obstacles in the way of the execution of a most important clause of that fundamental Law. The Legislature of this State, in 1817, owing to a remark able decision of the U. S. Supreme Court, passed, nearly without opposition or de- hate with little of thought or of care a law denying the use of our prisons to the omcers oi me general Government in 'or- uc iu viujr uui nit: men exismig r ugiuve Slave Law. The influence that suggested and enacted this act of wrong were soon exposed and denounced to the people. During the last session of the Legislature, a bill repealing it was passed through one branch, out it tailed in the other, owing to j the opposition of Governor Johnston and; .... . . cenain v nig oenaiors. low an aroused anu almost united" l'ublic Opinion de-' rnands its unconditional repeal. One of j the very first acts of the new Legislature, wnicn meets in January, will be to insist l upoa ine iiiiiesi oneoienee io tne public; newed on the 25lh. and in several of the will on this question. Both parties now!gtreels the soldiers of the two countries unite m this simple act of justice. Both had very sanguinary conflicts; the inter- r ii i- . - I i. ii as u was wrong at nrst, anu we,Vemion of strong patrols could not then had the pleasure of being one of the serve the peace in ihc city. icw mai saiu so.; so lias it since assumed, The Austrian or Federal army in Hesse an aspect of grave injury to the Union, a'is suffering for want of provisions, and testenng sore, and a poisonous blot, uponheir commander has informed the Frus the records of the Pennsylvania Legisla-siHI1 General that he will be compelled to ture. Such is the position of our own ; aj vance. Gen. Greber replied ihst the great State as contrasted with the cold-j Prussian troops under his command would blooded recklessness of Vermont. who.not fall back under any circumstances does not hesitate to allow her own ser-1 whatever. Th? r-.hin nf PrPKm ii vants to proclaim her shame and their own infamy in the same breath. We drew, at the beginning of this arti-; would at the same time be a war against cle, a short portrait of the peculiar char- Russia. After Berlin, the war party will acters of the fanatics of the North. Isitjfind most support in the Russian pro wonderful that with such exhibitions as vinces. this of Vermont, there should be violent and ultra men at the South ? Would it not be worse than injustice, if an attempt were now made to assimilate the extreme Southern men with the fanatics of the free oiaies--tiie tanatics who glory in the in-j Saturday morning, the 7th inst. from famy just enacted in the State alluded to ? Chagres, by the way of Havana, with tha Such has been a fashionable course of mails from the Pacific. The Georgia proceeding on the part ol certain tender ' brings three hundred and thirty passen footed politicians. For refusing to tnaKe ' gers one hundred thousand dollars in this comparison, we have been denounced freight, and it is reported that there are with vehement and protracted calumnies, about a million in the hands of passengers. But time at last maks all things even; The Georgia sailed from Chagres on and now there are few who do not ac- the 26th of November, and brings dates knowledge the wide and wonderful difTer-' from san Francisco to the 1st of tha ence between the agitators and fanatics of month. The steamer Northerner aitived the free States, and the ultra Southern at Panama on the 19th, from San Fraa- men. Vermont nas given a new evidence of lhe grievous wrong which a cowardly fanaticism has perpetrated upon the patri otic South; and we hope those who enact ed the wrong, will be held up to the scorn of the whole country, until they repent their war upon tht e Constitution tney:'eers. The accounts which swore to maintain and defend. CALIFORNIA SENATOR. The California papers express consid erable doubt as to whether Col. Fremont will be re-elected to the United States Sen ate, parties being nearly equally balanced. The Stockton Journal says: J in nnnr f hnco rilL aI r t o a w am ' to suoersede Col. Fremont, are Colonels. Weller and Geary, of San Francisco; Ma-)been swept away by the fell dfcSlri?'er;r! jor Bryant, the author of 'What I saw in! It states that: "From St. David. Ingnuw California;' Capt. llalleck, formerly Sec retary of the Treasury; and some say our present able and honest State Treasurer, Major Roman. Here is quite an array of military candidates, who, w ith the excep tion ot the last named, are preparing their forces- for-the fray. " The contest will, no doubt, be an exciting one, and vigorously carried uu between the parties." We infer from this that the Democrats will have a majority in the Legislature ofj California. I his will upset the calcula tions of the illustrious James Madison Crane, Editor of the San Francisco Courier? EUHO?SAI? HEWSl ARRIVAL OF THE I Halifax, December, II , The steamer America, from Liverpool arrived here at 8 o'clock. The Baltic ar! rived- at Liverpool at half past io on Thursday morning. She encountered un usually heavy weather throughout her passage from New York. ENGLAND. The agitation is greatly increased ia England and Scotland, .in regard to the anti-popery movement, and the Dally News asserts that the Attorney General is preparing a bill making it penal for the Catholic Clergy to hold English titles. The Times significantly remarks thatDr! Uilathorn is the first, as he assuredly wili be the last Bishop of Birmingham. ' Lord Beaumont, a Catholic nobleaaa has taken the field against the measures of the Pope, and maintains that his ap pointments to English Bishoprics ate de rogatory to the crown, and at variance ta the Constitution. Immense meetings de nouncing the aggressive policy of the country have been held and in some casej led to serious riots, especially at Berkea head, where the meeting advertised for Wednesday was attended with one of the wildest riots since the days of the Reform Bill. The magistrates ot police were compelled to flee before the mob. FRANCE. The latest ad v ices from Paris announce that M. Persigney, from Berlin, ha ex pressed his conviction that the King of Prussia will have great difficulty ia re straining the warlike disposition of his people, and that he cannot and ought ao: to make any further concession. ROME. The latest advices from Rome slate :hat propagandi affect to treat lightly the com motion in England, on the late papal ag gression, and profess to regard it as amert question of e.iquette. GERMANY. The latest news from Germany is in no respect less pacific, nor is the state of affairs less critical and complicated than for the two weeks pre.ious to the sailing of the America. PRUSSIA. The Prussian Chamber was opened on the 21st by a speech from the King, which was favorable to the war party. He sav we seek no war, but demand an arrange ment of the general fatherland, suitable ta our present position in Europe and Ger many, and corresponding with the amount nf ritrht ivhi"li (Jn.l Ii ia rwlir.i,l in i- i - r-i - ..-v. k..VtV. VPvt. hands. We have a good o'.d right a wiu deieml it. and remain tinier arms nn- we have secured its recognition. We its recognition. owe this to Prussia we owe this to lie:- many. The disturbance between the Prussian and Bavarian troops at Frankfort was re- pre- reported to have formally ,i,at a war of Prussia i . - . a .-.I r it ?- i. - niaue Known against Austria From California. The United States mail steamer Geor gia, Lieut. D. D. Porter, U. S. Navy, commanding, arrived at New York on c;sco with $600,000. and the Panama 03 the 21st with 81.951,194. The steamship Empire City, which sr- irivea in iew iors, on ounuay roornicg. the 9th mst., bnnjis over two tmlliorx& Void dust and over three hundred passes she briji from Jamaica represents that the ravage of the cholera have been dreadful. Kingston is reported to have lost 5,000 by that disease, and a proportionate num ber at Port Royal; it had entirely dsa? peared from the latter place. The most melancholy accounts ae received frorflth interior and agricultural districts. T8 Journal says that, m the Plantain uaruea Iviver districts, one tnousanu iciau.- accounts have been brought to town. i only have the great mass of the popula tion between the Eleven Mile Ta. era ana Yallah's and a large number ol the itants in and a away, but U is said that the whole police force, sergeants, cororals, and privaU'fc have been immolated the who!l forc8 dying, as it i said, under literal raat of sustenance, in consequence of the lion payment of their, pay. In the mountain districts of the same" parish, the cholera15 said to be equally destructive. It na appeared at Radnor, a property 3000 ie above Uic-lcvtl of the -sea, and the fio? STEM Ell
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers