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Jhmorrnf nnii Irntinrl
kicbabd whitk::::::::;;;.;:::v"""h2 c. oevtke
sfSlTS DBTIIZ, Editor and Proprietor.
EBEHSBTJRG.
WEDNESDAY MORNiyQ-n:::::::::::MAY 23.
"" E7Messrs. LkxXOX AKittell have just recei
ved a large and splendid assortment of fancy dry
goods, jewelry, 4c Their soda fountain is also
iu operation and all who desire a cool and refresh
ing beverage are inrited to give them a call. .
The Past and the Present.
It is certainly to be regretted that a few of the
Apostles of Know-Nothingism, such as Simon
Cameron, Joseph Hiss, Judge Baird, and a choice
selection of the young patriots who have been re
cently appointed Aid-de-Camps to his Excellency
with the rank of Colonel, were not in existence
during the early days of the Republic They
would doubtless hare done much towards enlight
ening the old fogy statesmen of that period, by
convincing them of the absurdity of several foolish
notions, such as.fhat religion is an affair between
each individual consrience and God, superior to
all political institutions, and independent of them,
which they regarded as eternal truths. It is also
highly probable, thry would have prevented by a
timely interference, several fatal blunders in the
organization of the government, which, according
to recent discoveries, have been the "direful spring
of woes unnumbered" to this country, and well
nigh brought it to the verge of ruin. Of course
they would have at once apprised the American
people of the dangers to be apprehended from
foreign and Catholic influence, and Patrick Henry
would have been properly rebuked for uttering
the following sentiments in addressing his fellow
countrymeu : " Encourage emigration, make this
world of promise the home of the industrious, the
enterprising, the skillful, and the happy, as well
as the asylum of the distressed, fill up the measure
of your population as speedily as you can, by the
means which Heaven has placed in yonr power,
and I venture to prophecy there are those now liv
ing tcho vbSL see this favored land among the most
powerful on earth."
If they bad been about during the memorable
era of 1776, they would have at once perceived
that George III was an excellent Know-Nothing,
inasmuch as he had given several convincing
proofs that he was a narrow minded bigot, and
endeavored to prevent the population of these
States, for that purpose obstructing the laws for
naturalization of foreigners, and refusing to pass
others to encourage their migration hither ;" and
as in duty bound they would of course have set to
work to prevent the Declaration of Independence.
It is a little doubtful however, whether their ef
forts would have been crowned with success, but
they would doubtless have received much valua
ble assistance from one - Benedict Arnold, ho is
generally regarded as the first live Enow-Nothing
patriot cur country ever produced, but who was
bora, just a century too soon to- be properly ap
preciated . But perhaps otrr readers may think we have
been ranging long enough in the regions of Fogy
dom, and we shall therefore emerge at once into
the light of this ever glorious nineteenth century.
We are instantly edified with the glorious princi
ples of bigotry and intolerance, which we hear
openly proclaimed on every hind ; our attention is
immediately arrested by the formidable prepara
tions which are being made to resist the invasion
of this country by the Pope of Rome and all his
hosts, which is expected to come off shortly, and
the meekness and humility with which certain
newly appointed Aid-de-Camps, bear their Wash
ing honors, excite our unbounded admiration, and
compel us involuntarily to exclaim, O this ever
glorious nineteenth century !
" We have a few words to say in conclusion to
those who are satisfied with the Constitution as it
exists,, who revere the V-achings of the early fa
thers of the Republic, and who are now rallying
under the standard of Democracy, determined to
make another effort in defence of the principles of
Jefferson and Madison. . Beware of traitors in
3 oar own ranks, of men who a few months ago
posted off to Hanisburg, and labored Vog and
zealously to secure the election of a Enow-Nothing
as United States Senator, thereby -endorsing prin
ciples which if carried out, would render them
. anf a large number of their fellow citizens out
casts in the land. It is true these men are now,
if we may befieve their professions, the pure and
immaculate disciples of Democracy, but at the
present time,- when treachery is the order of the
day, no man should be lecognized as worthy of
your support, who is not as far as regards- Know
Notbwgism at least, pure and above suspicion,
1. : The Virginia Election
The election 16 Governor in the Sfcfhr of
States' comes off os Friday, and how proud will
stvery friend of the Constitution be, if she sustains
herself in the fight, and casts from her with scorn
the renegades, wb have dared to unfurl the ban
ner of intolerance crer-tho tomb of .Washington,
end in sight of the greerr slopes of MontfceHo. -The
friends of Mr. Wise, the Democrafve candi
date, are confident of his triumphant election:
He has been engaged for several months fn
. stumping" the State, appealing to the honesty,
patriotism, and common sense of every true son of
Virginia, ana in showing up Know-lTothingism
in in its real hideoos colors. The result is that
while hi? prospects are constantly brightening, the
forces of his opponents are constant y growing
beautifully less. If the " OH Dominion" is true
to herself in the present contest, she will infuse
new the breath of Efe into' the Democracy, and
she may expect a response from- the " ' Old Key
stone" in October next,
TJk Jura answering through u mikf y shroud,
Back to the joyous Alps, that call to her aloud.' ..
' OAfr &e present session of the Supreme Court
la prins25li, EL. Luanda C. Neavers, of Long
mesdow, recovered tS 249 84 of Samuel" C- Booth,
for bijuries euetauKd by th bite of 6'eftnrlat,s
The Outrage Consummated- -Sacrifice of the
Main. Line.
Our readers are all twin that a bill was pend
ing before the Legislature, for several months, lor
the sale of the Main Line of our public works.
We have not now the time to trace the history of
this bill from its inception to its coneumma'.ion-fcut
a notice of one or two points will enable the reader
to understand the whole matter.
The bill for the sale as it passed the House, origi
nally, fixed the minimum price at eight and a half
millions. W hen it went to the Senate, that body
reduced the price to eight millions, and added to
the effect that if the Pennsylvania Railroad Com
pany should become the purchaser, they should on
the payment of an additional million of dollars be
t i r ii. .1 - -1 1 . : . .1
reicaseu irom me mree mm tax now luipcaeu up
on the tonage of their road. The House non-con
curred in the amendment of the Senate, and a com
mittee of conference was appointed, whose duty it
was to adjust the points of difference. This com
mittee after one or two unsuccessful efforts, finally,
on the last night of the session, agreed upon a re
port which was submitted to the two Houses.
The extraordinary character of this report astoun
" ded both the friends and opponents of the sale. In
stead of adjusting the difference between the two
Houses as to whether the minimum price should
remain at eight and a half millions as fixed by the
House, or eight millions as fixed by the Senate,
the committee took the unprecedented responsibil
ity of fixing the amount at seven and a half mil
lions or if the Pennsylvania Railroad Company
should become the purchaser, at eight and a half
millions and the tonage tax repealed. -
Now we take the position first, that the action
of the committee was a palpable usurpation of pow
er, not delegated by parliamentary rules, or pre
cedent in legislation but in derogation of both ;
and secondly, that the adoption of the report by
the two Houses, and the bill becoming a law by
the signature of the Govenor, shuts out all com
petition in-the shape of rival bidders that there
can be but one bidder and that one the Pennsyl
vania Railroad Company.
We deem it unnecessary to elaborate xipon the
first proposition. We challenge the friends of the
bill to produce authority or precedent , which could
warrant the committee in reducing the price below
what had been fixed by either House. But our
second proposition does not rest upon parliamen
tary rules or Legislative precedent. It is a plain
matter of fact, and as susceptible of demonstration
as any problem in Euclid. Then for the proof.
In order to arrive at a proper understanding on
the subject, we remind our readers that the acts
incorporating the Pennsylvania Railroad Company
imposed by and with the consent of the Company,
a tax of three mills per ton per mile, on all tonage
carried by the Company between Harrisburg and
Pittsburg. This tax amounted the past year, as
shown by the report of the Canal Commissioners,
to one hundred and thirty six thousand dollars,
equal to the interest at five per cent, on two mill
ions seven hundred thousand dollars The provis
ion in the bill, authorizing a sale, proposes to re
peal this tax upon the payment, by the Company,
of one million of dollars. - In other words it gives
the Pennsylvania Railroad Company the advan
tage, over all competitors, of the difference between
one million, the bonus fixed in the bill, and two
millions seven hundred thousand dollars, the ac
tual capital which the tonage tax represented the
last year, to say nothing about the immense in
crease which will follow the completion of the
second track of the Central road, and its connec
tions with the various roads extending through the
vast West. It is confidently believed by many
intelligent gentlemen, who hive given the matter
their attention, that before the expiration of the
period fixed for the last payment in the sale bill,
this tonage tax will be worth at least five million
of dollars, and that, ultimately, it will be worth
more than the entire Main Line, and yet it is pro
posed to give it avay for one million, an amount
greatly below half its present value.
. This honest tax payers of Pennsylvaaia, is a
specimen of the reform Legislature, controlled by
Know-Nothings. We shall have more to say a
bout their acts of reform hereafter. Harrisburg
Patrio'.
Know-Nothing Blisters.
"The bosom of America is opetl to receive,
not only the opulent and respectable stranger,
but the oppressed and persecuted of ALL NA
TIONS and of ALL RELIGIONS, whom we
shall welcome to a participation in ALL OUR
RIGHTS AND PRIVILEGES." Wash
ington, ' ;
" Our eivil rights have no dependence on
our religions opinions, MORE than our opin
ions in physics and geometiy. To proscribe
any citizen as nnwortby the public confidence
by laying npon him an incapacity of being
called to offices of trust and emolument unless
he profess or renounce tbia or that religious
opinion, is depriving him injuriously of those
privileges and advantages to which, in com
mon with his fellow-citizens, he has a natural
right. It tends, also, to corrupt thj princi
ples of the very religion it is meant to encour
age, by bribing with a monopoly of worldly
honors those who will externally profess and
conform to it. Every person has an equal
right to the honor and confidence of bis fellow
citizens, resulting, NOT FROM BIRTH,
BUT FROM HIS ACTIONS, and their sense
of them." TJiomaa Jefferson. . .
; Resolved, That the liberal principles em
bodied by Jefferson in the Declaration of In
dependence, and sanctioned in the constitution ,
which make ours the land of liberty, and the
ASYLUM OF THE OPPRESSED OF EV
ERY NATION, havi been cabdinal pbiw
cifles in the Ddmocbatic faith, and etery
attempt to- ABRIDGE THE PRESENT
PRINCIPLES OF BECOMING CITIZENS
and the owners of soil among us, ought to be
resisted with the same spirit which swept the
alien and sedition laws from our statue book."
- Resolution of the Baltimore Democratic
Convention.
" The history of the present King; of Great
Britain is a history of repeated injuries and
usurpations, all having itt direct object the es
tablishment of iro absolute tyranny over these
States'. He has endeavored to prevent the
population of States. FOR THAT PUR
POSE OBSTRUCTING TnE LAWS OF
NATURALIZATION OF FOREIGNERS,
REFUSING TO PASS OTHERS TO EN
COURAGE THEIR MIGRATION HITH
ER, and raising the conditions of new appro
prhrtions of land-" Declaration of Indepen
dence . :. ' . -. '
. TJhir doom Foreseen!
(0-The American Standard, the Know Nothing
organ published a-t Uniontown, Pa. in his paper of
the 25th April, in a rong article' urging the Leg
islature not to adjourn withoot electing a U. 8
Senator, gives his co-workers in miqratj the fol
lowrag pointed and significant pacagraph : .
But it! is not too late to remedy the evil and
r 3 - - a i ;
ioreiena me i wuica awaua us, u wis question
of the United States Senatorshrp shall be thrust in
to the next general election I f the American par -ty
does not elect its Senator before the SI Tuesday
of October, it will not do it afterwards. J f this
Legiatdkart dd not elect an American the next one
vuL eua a utmacrcs. -Truly,
the next Legislature will elect a Deatr
orat, and we trust such men will be nominated for
the Legislature as will secure & brightest intel
lect ia the State. ; ' .
They HaveQonal
At last the Legislature of this State has
adjourned, and senators, and member and bo
rers gone home. We feel assure4 the people
will become freer and easier at this circum
stance, and thank God that the reform Legis
lature, which the foulest deception and hypo
crisy ever practiced in any country brought
into 'power, did not, while perpetrating all
manner of rascality, deliberately, skin the
people alive." Never within the history of this
State, -hare such a set of men been called to
gether by the public will. For.fraud, specu
lation and villainy, it is without preceedent,
and God grant it may have no fellow. We
admit there were men in both the Senate and
House wko nobly stood npfor the rights of the
people, but they were powerless. The time
is even now when their efforts are duly appre
ciated, and we mistake the public mind if they
will not be respected and esteemed as faithful
public servants when ' thorn against whose
schemes of plunder thej fought, will be dis
carded and despised. - r "
Fanaticism has had its day, and there is in
this State such a revolution going on, as will
bury in graves so deep as to be beyond the
hand of resurrection those who have stood at
the head of all this political villainy. Well
may they cry out now when public indignation
is visible in every quarter j ' Hdp us Cassias,
or tee sink" but the deed has been doue and
the responsibility is with them, Let them
answer to a betrayed, insulted and injurod
people.
There is a disposition in some quarters to
plaster up the late anti-license law, parsed by
the Legislature, and make it appear as the
first 6tep of moral reform in the State of
Pennsylvania It will not do. such a work
in an up hill business, and those who are en
gaged in it will find too soon that they have
mistaken the people of the " uia &.eystone.
The Legislature which has just closed its
session, was hailed from one end of the Com
monwealth to the other as a reform Legisla
ture," and the people were taught to believe
that " milk and honey," without "money and
without price," was to be profusely dispensed ;
but what bas been the result ; There has been
more villiany perpetrated than can be undone
in the next ten years, and the anti-license law
is a fair sample. A law to make drunkards
by the wholesale, is a fit enactment to emanate
from men whose fechrjgs of justice and right
have been effectually swallowed up by the
meanest kind of fanaticism.
Once for all, we state that the people of
this State will not stand such , laws. The
time has come for action. So Iocg as fanati
cism merely introduced itself into the political
arena, as a kind of "balance ef power" to
overawe and deter, parties whose existance
was established upon broad, comprehensive
principles of National and State policy it was
well enough. But now, that it has assumed
the form of law, and the bone and sinew of
the country are seeing the bad effects of itq
workings, a condemnation as lasting as it Is
deserving awaits those tricksters who have
basely traded off the public good, to gratify a
mean and sordid disposition.
Men may laugh and talk, and say this is all
exaggeration; But we say in time to all, 'stand
from under Long before the second Toes
day of October arrives, there will be witnes
sed a public indignation of such laws and law
givers as will make even the boldest of them
all tremble. The honest yeomanry of the
country will not sanction the proceedings of
the late Legislature. They cannot do it, un
less, indeed, they countenance villainy in pref
erence to honesty. '
To those members and Senators who- have
nobly battled for the people, w say "well
done." Return to your homes. An aflec
tinnate welcome awaits you, and an honest
constitcsncy will reward yon by requirrngyonr
services again. Democratic Uhipn.
Opposition to Law.
Massachusetts has at all times been celebra
ted for opposition to the Union and thc?e laws
which may be passed for its maintainance and
perpetuity. In the war of 1812 she refused
to allow her troops to aid the other States in
their struggle against the gigantic power of
Great Britain, and concocted the Hartford
Convention to thwart the government in its
financial arrangements.' In 1846 she ridicu
led the Mexican war, stigmatized as murderers
all those who participated init, and insulted the
remains of her brave sons, who fell fighting '
on the plains of Mexico, when brought borne
for interment. Such has ever been the course
pursued by the dominant party in Massachu
setts, and at the present time treason and in
fidelity to the Constitution is as rampant within
her borders as it was daring the war of 1812,
or that with Mexico,
An act to render the fugitive law inopera
tive in Massachusetts has been introduced into
the Senate of that State, and we presume is
likely to. become a law. Its provisions are
numerous. , Any person who shall act as coun
sel or attorney for any claimant for any alleged
fugitive from service or labor, under or by vir
tue of the sets of Congress, shall be deemed to
have resigned any commission from the Com
monwealth of Massachusetts that he may pos
sess, and shall be thereafter incapaciated from
appearing as counsel or attorney in the Courts
of the Commonwealth. Sheriffs, Deputies,
Coroners, Constables, Police Officers, and the
volunteer militia are all forbidden to aid in any
way in the arrest or rendition of a fugitive
slave, under penalty of $1,000 or $2,000 fine,
each and every one of them, and imprisonment
in the State prison for one or two years.
There are other provisions equally iboo
etrous. We need not enumerate them. The
act, if passed, will be an act of nullification,
without one palliating or excusing circum
stance to redeem it from public odium. But
a compact bas been entered into between the
Abolitionists and Know-Nofhings, and this is
one of its first fruits'. Mr. Wilso was elected
to the United States Senate by the same fusion!
of fanatics and traitors, and now they attempt
to out Herod that act by passing laws to im
pede ad Dulify Unitdd State laws within that
Commonwealth. This ts the culminating
point in Know-Nothing and Abolition hostility
to the Union. ' Henceforth1 tbe eyes- of all pa
triots will be turned upon- these- traitors and
their treason, with loathing and disgust; '
i Evening JLrgus
A Cuts Taict. G. W. KendaTll in a letter to
tbe New Orleans Picayune, from Sew Braunfels,
1 exas, gives the following : "Late one evening, a
young feUow came to tbe house of a German on
the prairie, and asked for a couple of ean of com
to help him catch a horse. The corn was given,
but the next morning tbe Gerrosa- mused bis fevo
rite and best horse, and found that the scamn bad
asked fbr the corn to enable him to rob the poor
-tti.. -'- ' - . .. . . .
SUMMARY OF NEWS.
09-The St- Paul Uinniaotian says that 4,000
emigrant have landed at that place since the
opening of navigation. ' t
- ft-Tho New Orleans Delta announces the death,
in that city, of Mrs Rosalie Hestord,at the advan
ced age oi xuz years. ; , v
09One-sixth of a valuable coal mine in tbe
Racoon Mountain, m Tennessee, has been sold to
Mr. Boyce of Charleston, for $25,000. .
CO-A locomotive on the Lake Shore Railroad
last week ran into 8 flock of sheep, in Frie coun
ty, Ohio, and destroyed upwards of sixty of them.
ftj-The Poole Association, of New York; have
issued a call for a meeting to take measures to se
cure the conviction of Daker. This is a new
wrinkle in law. . ,
OCT" Lake Huron is 420 feet deep ; Lake Erie,
6U to 70 leet : Lake Ontario 452. All the Lakes
cover an area of 43,540,000 acres. ; '
3-A treaty has. been concluded between the
United States and the Kidgdom of Hanover, for
the mutual extradition t fugitive from justice.
, OO-The notion of a more general Tar in Europe
being at hand is now prevailing, founded on the
belief that if Austria backs out Hungary and Po
land will be up. '
CO-The Boston Courier contradicts the report
iV.i T 1 ' 1 1 1 . . I
mat xriusa recruiting omcers naa amvea at mat
port. ' - -
03-The firt Provincial Council (Catholic) of
city, on the 13th May. -
CO-The board of Trade of Pittsburg bare just
adopted a report in favor of the municipal consol
idation of Pittsburgh, Allegheny, South Pitts
burgh, Birmingham, &c, into one corporate city.
CCrThe Doyljstown Intelligencer says that the
fruit prospect in Bucks county is highly encour
aging.
The hotel keepers of West Chester have deter
mined to raise their prices from fifteen to twenty
five per cent. '
CO The Legislature at its recent session passed
six hundred ond eighty -four bills.'
France and England have about twenty-five
American ships under charter, in conveying troops
and munitions of war to the Crimea.
fJO-Capt. A. Walsh, formerly an officer in the
British army, has been arrested at New Orleans,
charged with recruiting men for foreign service.
&The Dal ton (N. C.) Times says that, in that
region, more than half of the people are without
corn or money, and are suffering almost a famine.
fpy Secretary Dobbin is still at bis residence in
Fayetteville, N. C., slowly recovering from his re
cent indisposition. He expects to return to Wash
ington towards the close of the month.
09-Four hundred thousand bushels of wheat
and corn are stored by one firm at Chicago ; enough
to fill forty schooners such as navigate the Lakes.
(XRev. Andrew Marshall, the colored pastor of
a Baptist church at Savannah, 99 years of age on
Christmas last, and on Sunday, tbe 8th inst.,
preached a serrnan, having among bis bearers ex
Postmaster General Granger, of New York, and
Rev. Dr. Chouks, of Newport, R. I.
(XJ-A ater?OTary remarks that the new pos
tage law r" ' ' : J efTdctual damper on anonymous
lrtterv V i who send them are now compelled
to Y'J out three cents, which, to mean souls, im
parts a much greater pang than their effusions
can possibly hffict on any one else.
03-A Hog, said to weigh thirteen hundred and
thirteen pounds, wa taken through Toledo on
Friday last on his way for exhibition ins. New
York. This monstrous animal is described as
three years old. three eet eight inches high and nine
feet long. It was raised near Monroe, Michigan.
0A letter from Mathewtown, Inagua, of April
18th, says that heavy rains have destroyed the
prospects for salt for the next few months. About
60,000 bushels were then on hand at twenty-five
cent. - , -
QT'Clars, the murderer of Mr. Wight at New
Haven, has expressed a great desire to know what
the newspapers say of him, and complained that
the rules of the prison, while they allow him books,
refuse him newspapers,
!J7We learn, says tbe Mountain Target, that
a few days ago there was passed out of the Wild
Cat Mine, n in Floyd county, Va., a lump of cop
per ore weighing about two thousand pounds, and
containing about fifty per cent, of copper.
(7"LsTrzaa from the continent report that the
season in Europe is three weeks behind hand, and.
at the last accounts, there was a cold spell of bit
ter winds, which are very injurious to the early
vegetation. , ,
fkTrade is so dull in . New . York that many
packages of dry goods, which were sent to this
country last fall, have been re-shipped to Eng
land. ' . " .
ftJ-Hon. Lucius B. Lincoln, the Chairman of the
Committee which investigated the charges against
the late Hon. Joseph Hiss, died recently at his
residence, in Massachusetts, of typhoid fever. ,
0A Indian at Grand Rapid's, Mich., recent
ly ran a distance of three thousand feet (nearly
three quarters of a mile,) in three minutes ten sec
onds. .
ft-WHiJ the Emperor of France was elected
President of the French Republic, he proceeded to
Southampton. England, and alighted at Silva's
Hotel with one attendant, previous to em Darning
in the Havre ooat. lie was not Known or noucea .
on board the packet. This was scarcely five years
ago. ' V.
63-The Government has directed a civil suit to
be commenced in New York against T. Butler
Kins, late Collector of the Customs at San Fran
cisco, CaL, for a balance of about $40,000 claimed
by the accounting officers of the Treasury to be
due the United States from Mr. King. '
(O-Tre new Mayor of Cincinnati is rivalling
Mayor Wood in the thoroughness with which he is
enforcing law, particularly the Sunday Law. .
(tJ-Rev.fDr. Barry, Roman Catholic Vicar-Gen
eral of Savannah. Ga., bas been appointed Bishop
of that diocese, vice Bishop Reynolds, deceased.
y The Legislature Their; Eefoxihav
It was very truly said by one of the mem
bers of the House of Representatives, on com
ing out of the Hall after the final adjournment,
that " this Legislature will be remembered ;
we hare paid ourselves, given' away the prop
erty of the State, and repudiated her debts "
All these acts were done. They tooK a round
sum of $500 each for their services ; 'they pas
sed an act to sell tbe main Hue' of ofir public
improvements, leading from Philadelphia to
Pittsburg, at less than half its cost ; and agreed
to relieve the Pennsylvania railroad company
of the tonnage tax, worth to the Common
wealth at least three millions of dollars, and
defeated the claim bill, which provided for
the payment of the honest, bard-working la
borers, who bad assisted tccorrstruct 3td keep
in repair this- luiprweiaent ;. many of whom
bad beeft kept out of tbeu just claims for a se
ries of yeaTsv. If this be reform, we hare it
fully and fahirfirlly carried out.
It now remains to be seen bxrtrthe people--the
master of these pabflc servants will view
these acts. Their decision will be pronounced,
either by sendrog them back, ae confirming
their doings; or giving then? liberty to stay at
borne, as a conu'eninatioii of their conduct. -We
predict that cot one-half of the members
of this reform party will be re-elected.' We
trust better men may occupy their places.
.Dent. Union, - J : 1
,,. , . From, the Wash'Bgtoa SentindL
A Brief History of th Act and Doings of the
TTaiOTchTifetULcgiriatcre Eoxbury nr.
Hiss Hr. Psiter3n--Enow,-ot3iingism.
Few histories are reliable Old historiea
for the most part, made up of stupid fables aad
absurd superstitions. They were written long tS-
iler the occurrence of the events they narrate, bt-
fore printing was discovered, and made up from
dusty scrolls and wretched parciunenta. The
sources of all ancient' histories, to say the least.
are suspicious.
The truest histories are those written by men
who are eye-witnesses of the events they relate
Yet such histories, even, are not beyond criticism
and not free from suspicion. Events oftentimes
occur in the presence of a number of men, it may
be a small or a large number. It rarely happens
that all of the number concur in their narratives
of such events. Conflicts and contradictions usu
ally distinguish their statements. ' Even in courts
of justice, where men are put on oath, respectable
men, and where the issues of life and death are
involved, it seldom happens that two men give
tbe same testimony. This is a sad commentary
on the value of human testimony;
But there is one thing that has happened in our
day, and in our country, before our eyes, m ref
erence to which all national men a Tree. It is the
course and conduct of the State of Massachusetts.
When the historian takes bis pen in hand to re
cord the events of which we tpeak, he will not be
loss for the material wherewith to compose
Lut history. The records of the present Legisla
ture will be sufficient.
Those records will cufurm him that that legisla
ture has taken, not one, but many steps back
wards. That it has gone back, not only to the
horrible and revolting blue law days ; not only to
tbe scarcely less revolting period, when cropeared
covenanters alternately bowled and prayed, but
to those more distant and more nuseralable times,
when priestcraft asserta! "dominion over men,
both spiritual and temporal, and wheD supersti
tion, that curse alike of the ignorant and the over
learned, taught men to cultivate vices fbr virtues,
and to worabip devil for gods,
In that saintly and scholarly Massachusetts
Legislature, there are, we believe, two score and
ten canting parsons. Not God's ministers. Not
Bible ministers, but wolves in sheep's clothing,
who are infected with every ism in politics, and
who burn with every fierce pasbion that man is
subject tow They arc not the meek crtscipfes of
their bumble savior, but severe and amd-mouthed
sons of thunder- Not cwrrtent with preaching re
ligion, they must needs preach politics. - When
the Bible is in their way, they construe it out of
their way. Wheutheconstitution imposes a bar
rier to their insane progress, they boldly break it
down. These men, we believe, are all know-no
things and all abolitionists:
Besides this eantrng crew of reckless and wretch
ed hypocrites, the Massachusetts legislature eon
tains a vile set of scrub politicians aud gutter dem
agogues, who have risen by espousing someascea- i
dant isms and by pandering to some prevailing
caprice. Bedlam exhibits no crazier assemblage
Five Points, no more vulgar ruffianism,
From a legislature thus composed of Abolition-
ixed Know-Nothing fanatics, and hypocritical re
ligious dissenters, nothing gfxw could beexpected.
Yet, in the sunlight of this enlightened, nineteenth
century, so much of evil could hardly be expect
ed as is exhibited in tbe proceeding of tbe body-. .
It bas passed resolution setting aside the fugi
tive slave law, and making any citizen of Massa
chusetts incapable of holding a State office who
recognizes it, or aids in its execution. It has re
solved against the admission of any new slave
State into the Union, whether the jxople of such
State desire slavery or not. It has protected vile
Emigrant Aid Societies designed to send leprous
vagabonds to settle Kansas, and expel slavehold
ers and their rightful property. It bv passed an
address praying the Governor to degrade Judge
Lonng by expulsion from the judicial bench, be
cause, in conformity Co bis oath as aU nited States
Commissioner, be sought to give efficiency to the
Constitution and the laws passed in pursuance f
it, in the case of the fugitive slave, Anthony
Burns. It appointed a Nunnery Committee to
persecute, vex, and insult Catholics, men. women,
and chiMren. It sent that. committee out on its
disgraceful mission, charged with high powers,
and armed with all the authority of law.
True to tbe mlsston to which it was appointed,
that august committee visited pubCc and private
Catholic seats of learning and of piety. The
crowning glory of that committee was exhibited
at Roxbury, where helpless girls and unprotected
women were subject to close scrutiny in their per
sons, their bed rooms, their wardrobes and their
trunks where they were alarmed by Styr leers,
insulted by coarse propositions, and outraged by
brutal ruffianism.
The chief Hero and head devil of this- committee
was one Mr. Hiss, a representative from the godlv
and " solid " city of Boston the seat of learning
and refinement the A there of America. " Ap
preciating the designs of the Legislature, and true
to the high functions expected of him, Air. Miss
gave himself free scope and ample latitude. Mot
content with the insulting tenderness be exhibited
towards the pious and unprotected ladies at Rox
bury, he signalized himself by a notorious love
adventure at the neighboring hotel. ' He recorded ,
a name more infamous than immortal, among the
memorable names of his brother committee-men
that of Mrs. Patterson. She passed for a member
of the Legislature, and her hotel bill was charged
(at Mr. Hiss's instance) to the State.
These treats, Irenes and lollies soon became ru
mored abroad, and entwined with the names of
the nunnery committee and associated with the
euphonical name of Hiss that of Mr. Patterson
has become famous. ' Billy 1'atterson " made it
notorious before ; Mrs Patterson has by her ex
ploits added to its lustre.
Mr. Iliss both gained and lost by these transac
tions. Ho has been nominated fbr the Presiden
cy, with Mrs. Patterson on tlie ticket, for Vice
President. That much he gained. Ilia loss was
his good name, and his seat in the Legislature.
No sooner did these disreputable transactions
get abroad than a committee was appointed to in
vestigate and report upon the conduct of rite nun
nery committee. Days and weeks were consumed
in the,investigation. Finally, the committee re
ported and reccrrnnended the expulsion of Hiss
from the body of which he had been so gay a mem
ber and so shinning an ornament. Tbe report
was adopted almost by acclamation. Thus the
gay, the sportive and amorous rjuss, has been
made the scapegoat of the nunnery committee and
of the Legislature by which it was appointed.
The report of tne investigating committee now
stands permanently On the records of the Massa
chusetts Legislature the grave, the godly and the
learned Massachusetts Legislature! A report, tne
most foul in its vulgar details, the most coarse in
its minute description of the tavern scenes, that
ever was made to any assemblage. Those who
have read this report will know to what we allode,
those who have not, are better and more innocent
in their ignorance.
Massachusetts is fhe black sheep in the fold of
this Union. Her former glory has departed.
She ts disgraced. AU of her most prominent acts,
passed br her present Legislature, look to seces
sion. Why dees she not secede? The Union
Would be far more respectable without her. In
the above we have faithfully described Massachu
setts Know-Nothingisrn.
EXCITEMENT IN THE MASSACHUSETTS
LEGISLATURE.
Boston, May 14. There was considerable con
fusion and excitement in the House of Represen
tatives this afternoon from tbe fact that Mr. Hiss,
the expelled member, twice resumed bis vacant
seat, and was each time removed by the sergeant-at-arms
at the order of the House, passed nearly
unanimously. It is presumed that Mr. Hias acted
in this singular manner at tbe advice of his coun
sel, B. F. Butler and BenJ. Dean, who have pub
lished an address denouncing the expulsion of Mr.
Hiss a an arbitrary axerdse- of powrr.--mnd inti
mating that the House feared important develop.
XL erts to be made in the case.
AIUUVAL0F THE BALTIC.
ONE WESK LATER FEUX EUROPE,
New Yosx. May 18 Tbe steamer Balti?
arrived this evening, with Liverpool dates to
tbe 5th.
The Baltic brings pae hundred and sixty -passengers.
'.-- .. '
, The allies are gaining ground ; all the Wa-.
sian outworks were taken after sanguinary en-
counters, which were frequent. A large num
ber of Russian mortars were taken, with many
prisoners. TbeSebastapoldate9aretothe4th.
Louis Napoleon narrowly .escaped assassin- '
ation on the evening of the 28th. An Italian
fired two pistols at him while riding en horse--
back. Personal revenge was the object of the -attempt.
" - - - :'
There is nothing in the news from the siege
to warrant a prediction of the result. .. The
bombardment was much slacked, and had -not
produced the effect anticipated. .
The position of the allies is regarded as
critical. Notwithstanding the advantages
gained, the fire slackened on the 28th, in or
der not to exhaust the amraunitioa
An immense Russian force is reported as
concentrating sear Sebastopol ; it is said to be
100,000 strong.
Daily telegraphic communications are had
with the Crimea, but the government is cau- - -t;ous
with the news.
Lord John Russel reached London from
Vienna. -
The British budget bra passed both houses.
The King of Prussia is ill of a fever.
Lord Raglan admits that the bombardment
has not produced the result looked for. The
fist of casualties to the aMea was not heavy.
Tbe general impression in England is that the
siege will be abandoned for the present and tbe
whole of Kanaeschaad Bcdaklava left te de
fence by a few corps. Tbe main portion of
the allies will try to penetrate into the interi
or, in order to cut off supplies te Sebastopol,
and then to completely invest the town.
iNnmerous reinforcements were constantly
reaching tbe allies. A French reserve of
eighty thousand men, near Constantinople, are
expecting to be sent to Balaklava.
Russian official accounts dated the 24tb rep
resent the damages as of but little account.
It was actively repaired while tbe skirmishes
were Generally raccessfsl. Tbe loss sustained
by the garrison from the lltb to the 15th was
7 subalterns and 436 men killed, and six eu-;
peuor, o-t subalterns and J4U men wounded.
The English captured tbt first RnRan rifle
pit on the night of the 17tb, after a desperate
encounter, m which Col. uraham fcgerten, &
field officer in command, was killed. On the
20th an attack was made on the second Rus
sian pit, which was almost iai mediately aban
doned. .." v-
Aceordlng to the statement vC two Polish -deserters,
100,000 Russians were in the vicin
ity of Sebastopol, 60,000 of whom arrived
from Sebastopol .
Tbe forts on the north kle of the harbor had
taken part in the cannonade, carrying shots
clear into the lines of the Allies.
The telegraph to London from the Crimea
is perfect, except a small portion, across the
Danube. Despatches reached the British "gov
ernment in a few honrs, but were not general- '
ly corn ni unicated to tire public, although night
ly questions were asked i Parliament.. The
Ministry declared that tbcj eLould exercise
due discretion in tbe publication of the news.
Lord John Rusfrf has reappeared in his seat
in Parliament. . , -
Drouyn dd'Hoys has returned to Paris.
"Lord John Russel stated in substance that
negotiations intimated and protocols wiil.be
submitted to Parliament.
" There was an insnrreetloo In Ukraine, Rus
sia, which extended to three other govern
ments. Twenty landed proprietors, with their
wives and families, have been destroyed.. . . -
At St. Petersburg every article of consump--tion
is of famine prices ' .
GREAT BRITAIN.', .
The loan bill of a .16.000,000 was passed
on the 1st by the Commons,, and on the same
night was ordered to be committed to the Lords. .
The monthly returns of the Board of Trad
are short as contrasted with the same month
last year, showing a falling off about 100,000.
Metals have experienced the greatest decline,
owing to the diminished demand for iron in
the United States. . .
The budget virtually passed both Houses
with but little opposition or modification.
Throughout the kingdom there is a strong
feeling against the ministry manifested. w Iu- .
dignation meetings regarding the conduct of
the war have been held in various places.'
Latest Despatch. "
A sharp engagement took place on the night
of the 1st of May. The front and left attack
of the -whole Russian rifle-pits were taken, with
eight light mortars and two hundred prisoners.
The whole affair was brilliant for the allies. -
Coxstxxtikopix, May 2 Stratford de Rad- '
cliffe has returned to Constantinople. Mehe
met Ali bas been recalled from exile.
, Canrobert speaks of bis troops as being -ready
for immediate operations.
Orders have been received to prepare trans- .
ports , . '
SEMSTorot, May 4. On Wednesday night r
the French under General Pellissier attacked
the advanced works at Quarantine 'Bastion, ,
and carried them at the point of the bayonet,
taking twelve mortars and estabhshiag them-.,
selves in tbe position. The following night
the Russians made a sortie to regain the posW .
tion , when, after a sanguinary encounter, they ;
were driven back. ; -,'
Esanre Tidk or Ikish Em uiGBATiK.-Thom-aa
D' Arcy McGree in a letter to Irish . editors of
America, says that the effect of tbt policy pursued
by the " American" party in this country is driv
ing the Irish Catholics to Canada and back to Ire
land. - We quote bis words.
" Already a small number of our eountryrnen
have abandoned the United States to settle in Can
ada West. The Emigrant t gent of that provihee,
Mr. Hawke, has in hu report for the present year,
estimated Canada' s gain in tbia class at 20, 000,
and be very naturally attributes this fact to the ao- ;
tion of the proscriptive party here against foreign- "
era, and especially against the Irish Roman Cath
ones.' - '
" So you preceive that . the people themselves
have begun to find out that the British flag does,
not of itself outweigh actual social wrongs, though,
perpetrated under the standard of a republic
" Another class of our settlers, possessed of.srnUr
means, (from 4-500 to (5000.) are - pouring back
into Ireland. I learn from the shippers of passen-
gers at this port that the return emmigration si- .
ready proceeds at the ratio of 6CQ per week.
Since the first of January the departures? said
almost to ballance the arrival a highly curiam
and instructive fact, " s . '
i
in