VOL. VII, No. 3.]
TEP.I:I3
OE THE
HUNTINGDON JOURNAL,
Che" JOURNAL" will be published every
Wednesday morning, at two dollars a year,
4f paid IN ADVANCE, and if not paid wirh
in six months, two dollars and a half.
Every person who obtains five subscribers,
and forwards price of subscription, shall be
lurnished with a sixth copy gratuitously for
one year.
No subscription received for a less period
thin six months, nor any paper discontinued
until all arrearages are paid.
itrAll communications must be addressed
to the Editor, POST PAID, or they will not
be attended to.
Advertisements not exceeding one square,
will be inserted three times for one dollar,
and for every subsequent insertion, twenty
five cents per square will be charged. If no
definite orders are given as to the time an
advertisement is to he continued, it will be
kept in till ordered out, and charged actor•
dingly.
AGENTS
FOR
rhe Tustin adon J our n al.
_ . .
15aniel Teague, Orbiaonia; David Blair
Esq. Shade Gap; Benjamin Lease. Shirleys
bare; Eliel Smith, Esq. Chilcottstown;
Entriken. jr. Ceffee Run; Hugh Madden'
Esq. Springfield; Dr. S. S. Dewey, Bir
mingham; lames Morrow. Union Furnace;
John Sister. Warrior Mark; James Davis,
Esq. West township ; D. H. Moore. Esq•
Frankatown; Eph. Galbreath. Esq. Holli
daysburg; Henry Neff. ✓llexondria; Aaron
Burns, Williamsburg; A. J. Stewart, Witter
Street; Wm. Reed. Esq. Morris township;
Solomon Hamer. Acre Mill; James Dysart.
Mouth Spruce Creek; Wm. Murray, Esq.
Graysville; John Crum. Manor Hill; Jas.
E. Stewart. Sinking Valley; 1.. C. Kessler
Mill Creek.
Temperance Songs.
The Victim.
Tum—Ashury,
"Rom me the bowl, ye jovial band,"
We said, "'twill rouse my mirth,;"
But conscience seized his trembling hand,
And dash'd the cup to earth.
He look'd around, he blushed, he laegh'd,
lie sipp'd the sparkling wave;
In it he read, .'who drinks this draught,
Shall dig a murderer's grave.
lie started up like one from sleep
And trembled for his life;
He gazed, he saw his children weep,
lie saw his weeping wife.
In his deep;dreatx he had not felt
Their agonies and fears;
Hut now he saw them as they knelt,
To plead with prayers and tear..
Bat the foul fiend, her hateful spell
Threw o'er hie wildered mind,
He saw in every hope a hell,
He was to reason blind.
Hs grasped the bowl to seek relief;
No more his conscience said;
His bosom friend was sunk in grit,
His children begged for bread
Through haunts of horror and of strife,
He pass'il down life's dark tide;
He cured his beggar'd babe and wife;
He curs'd his God—and died)
Time—Bavaria.
Come ye messengers of mercy,
Ye whose gospel trumpets sound,
Aid us in this contraversy,
Satana kingdom to confound;
Come and join us;
So shall righteousness abound.
Come, ye men of working classes,
Ye who labor hard and long;
Ye who think your single glasses
Make you party hale and strong,
Come and join us;
Come and prove us, wright or wrong.
For your country's' reformation ,
For your children's future weal,
For your own sure preservation—
To your conscience we appeal.
Come and join us;
Touch not,,taste not, drink no more.
'Round the temp'rance standardrally,
All the friends of human k ind;
Snatch the devotees of folly.
Wretched, perishing and blind,
Loudly tell them
Raw they comfort now may find.
Plant the temp'rance standard firmly,
Round it live, and round it die, •
Young and old, defend it sternly,
Till we gain the victory.
And all nations
Hail the happy Jubilee.
THE JOURNAL.
HUNTINGDON; PENNSYLVANIA, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 19, 1842.
A Pair of Scales.
BY NIBS HARRIET ST. JORN..
Yes, a pair of Scales! and how often
have I passed them by unnoticed and ne
glected. Pay after day, year after year,
have I seen them, and thought ot them
only as things that could administer to my
personal wants. It has always been the
opinion of wise men, that the attentive
mind can glean some instruction from the
simplest object, that "all things are open
to the searching eye of an attentive intel
lect." Those are the first objects that
meet my view, and though I do not pro
fess to be acquainted with human nature,
1 think I see beneath that cold exterior,
principles which require naught but some
magnetic influence to draw them from
their secret cells. It is an old adage, that
"familiarity breeds contempt," and Cha
rity might assign that as'a . reason why
mankind pass them by neglected. But
what think you would be the feelings ot a
monarch if he should receive no praises,
no adulation; if during a long life spent
in promoting the prosperity of a nation, he
should receive no thanks, no gratitude
from the people on whom he had confer
red so much happiness? But which is of
the most importance, the monarch, or a
pair of scales? The monarch holds the
reins of life and death over a single na
lion, a pair of scales ever the civilized
world; for what human agency possesses
more influence over the life and death of
mail, than the scales in the shop of the
a pot ht cary?
The merchant rolling in wealth, who
expects his ship laden with the finest fa
bric of India, anxiously weighs his cargo
that he may know how true the scales
have been to his interest. Ship after ship
crosses the broad expanse of waters, in
terchanging the commodities of distant
climes, but what would there be to regu-
late this interchange, did not the scales
stand at every port? It may be argued'
against their usefulness that they are oft
en deceitful; but what should we think of
a man who would declare against the use
fulness of his sovereign, because lie had
erred in a few instances during a long and
glorious reign, either from the wrong ad
vice 01 . 114 coat tiers, or by the insuffie:en•
cy of his own judgment? We will not so
far insult poor human nature as to sup.
pose that any would offer such an objec
tion.
The material universe is guided by One
above, who holds in his hand unerring
scales. He portions out to every leaf and
flower its verdure--to every clinic its ri
ches—to every star its brightness. He
measures the waters of the sea "in the
hollow of his hand ;" he gives them their
bound and says, "thus far shalt thou go
and no farther." "He weighs the moun
tains in scales, the hills in a balance." To
the one, he gives eternal snows, to the
other, a verdant, enamelled turf. Earth
speaks in many voices, and acknowledges
the power whlch guides her. _ .
T . he human mind is a pair of scales.—
But oh, how delicate , The metaphysical
mind turns on a diamond's point. It
weighs with nice discrimination the many
and perplexing questions of science. In
one side it places the negative, in the oth
er the affirmative, and accurately it de
cides. The imaginative mind weighs not
with such discrimination—it deals not
with such subtle arguments. Beautiful
and bright are its objects, but light and
airy as gossamer. It compares not their
worth—it weighs but their beauty, T he
(dogmatic mind, seldom or never 'used on
nice and delicate points, grows rusty by
non-usage. Always placed in one posi
tion, it weighs but one narrow idea—one
favorite opinion, which is so deeply im
bedded in the surrounding rubbish that
nothing else can ever enter.
Nor to mortals alone, is confined the_
utility of scales. The muses met in a
sequestered glen by the side of a clear
stream, which sparkled brightly in the
moonlight. The busy hum of the insect
throng had ceased, and naught was heard
but their clear sweet voices. But hark
Sounds of contention proceed from the
bright group in yonder arbor. The olym•.
pian sisters are loudly disputing who shall
be their queen. Poetry and music are
their canditates, but which to choose they
know not. Poetry led them in delightful
flowery paths, in wilds inaccessible to
any but those who followed her light,
elastic tread. Her lip was always wrea
thed in smiles, and in her apparel was
the chaste simplicity of refinement. But
Music came with a soothing power. She
could charm away the evil passions, and
put to flight all discordant emotions.—
When their eyes were heavy and their
eyelids drooping, she lulled them into
forgetfulness with sweet, melodious
strains. Which should they choose I and
in their doubt, they resolved to send fur
Usefulness, the hermit of a neighboring
rock. He came; anti, in the scales he
held in his hand, he weighed Poetry and
Music. He speaks. "Muses," said lie,
, "see! in my scales they are balanced.--
"ONE COUNTRY, ONE CONSTITUTION, ONE DESTINY."
A. W. BENEDICT PUBLISHER AND PROPRIETOR.
They may not be separated. Hand in
hand, they have wandered together, and
now why make the one the subject of the
other', In this bright sphere, the Earth,
over which you shed your gentle influ
ence, they have always been united. Let
them reign together upon your throne,
and believe me, that your contentions re
specting your own pre-eminence would
not be so long nor so frequent, if you
would recollect that each one is useful in
his station." The Muses twined an ivy
wreath for their queens; and when the
first gray light of morn stole upon the
glen, they sipped the dew from each pur
ple cup and departed.
In that same fairy glen, a child of Earth
wandered and seated herself by the clear
and sparkling stream. Two spirits came*
and stood beside her. The one smiled
sweetly on her, and beckoed her to a!
dis
tant and flowery path. The other, with
grave aspect, pointed to a rough, untrod
den way, and urged her to follow him.—
"Imagination," said she, know your
paths of old, through flowery meads and
hills and dells of unearthly verdure, At
this witching hour of twilight, you always
come to lure me to your haunts, but when' .
I leave your fairy scenes, the Earth, ever
this beautiful Earth, appears insipid. If'
I resign myself to the guidance of yonder
stern, majestic Judgment, I can explore,
the 'abstruse regions' of the philosophic
world, and expand my mind in the study
of the exact sciences, Usefulness with
his scales shall be my umpire." "Child
of Earth," said he, "take from your brow
the fancy wreath which Imagination has
placed there, and twine it round with the
oak leaves of Judgment. Let those of
calmer feelings resign themselves to her
sway--let those beware to enter her court
who find they love her shades too well."
The Child of Earth smiled--and depart
ed.
As there are scales in the material and
metaphysical world, so there are scales in
the moral and literary. . . . .
A youth is just stepping on the broad
arena of life. Home has hitherto been the
centre of his existence. The world ap
pear s like a fair creation, without spot or
blemish. The simple cottage has always
been the scene of his joys; but now he
must leave his home, and seek his fortune ,
on the turbulent waters of Life.
He enters the hall of Justice where the
cause of the injured and oppressed is
pleading. Eagerly he listens. On onH
side, he hears the simple, eloquent narra
tion of facts; on the other, the subtle ar
gument--the hidden fa:lacy. The veil of
Sophistry is too thick for his unpractised
eye to penetrate, and like the apples of
the Dead Sea, all is fair without though
foul within. Worldly Justice weighs the
cause, but what appeal to facts could out
' balance the mystic web of legal subtlety,
when placed in scales whose only weight
is gold? The youth gazes in silent admi
ration on what appears to him wisdom;
but the injured man, who feels that his
cause is just, looks up with Fancy's eye,
and beholds a Divine Judge weighing ac
curately his cause, anu registering the in
justice in Heaven.
From the court of Justice, the youth
passes oft to the halls of Legislature, For
a moment he pauses to admire the beauty
of the classic shade ere he enters. There
he beholds a speaker. Language, rich
and flowing, pours from his mouth like
the rich libations o'er some costly altar.
The earth—the air— the sea—is sought
fur imagery. A flower blooms at every
step. The audience hang delighted on
his words, and when he ceases the walls
ring with loud applause. Another speak
er rises. "Thought" seems written on
his brow. Intellect beams in his dark eye
And he too speaks. His language is sim
ple, his style is concise. A few wild
flowers, fresh from the rocks and dells of
Nature, are scattered here`and there. But
there is a richness in his ideas that cannot
be surpassed by the melody of Imiguage•
Yet when he ceases, he hears no applause.
' A few faint murmurs of approbation from ,
those who know how to appreciate his'
worth are all. - Thus it is that the world
weighs words and ideas in the scale of
Superiority. But though the one pleases
for a moment, his glory vanisheth like the
morning dew—it is transient as the pass
ing cloud. The name of the other will be
borne unsullied by Fame, down the stream
if Time, untouched by the waters of Ob
livion, and revered by those who can ap
preciate ti ue genius.
The youth enters the pillared church of
some proud city. Its walls are hung with
the rich tapestry of eastern looms—its
floors .covered with the richest web of
Turkey. The light streams through rich 1
ly stained glass, and 'the sacred desk is''
hung with gorgeous velvet, In silk and
satin the congregation enter—bow the'
head as if in silent adoration—then gaze
around upon the splendid scene. The
man of God, in long and flowing robes,
proclaims the vanity of all earthly things,
the deceitfulness of riches. The youth
sees the world hold up her scales and
place in one side the church. High, high
it rises, till lust in the mist of Flattery.
The true Piety which once burned on her
altars is extinguished by the breath of
Ostentation, and Humility is banished by
love of pomp and worldly show. But he
reverts to the little white church that
stands in the glade of his native village,
where the clear stream which rolled gen
tly by and was always the baptismal fount.
He sees with Fancy's eye the congrega
tion in simple, neat apparel, entering
noiselessly; the old, the revered minis
ter, whose hairs have grown gray in that
sacred desk, speaking in trembling tones
of Him who sated] on the throne, and
with low, impassioned voice, waging his
acceptance. He places the simple church
in the scales which weighed the wore
gorgeous house of God. Down, down it
sinks—it has outweighed that domed ca
thedral—the blessing of Jehovah was up
on it.
But the time is coming when man will
feel his own frailty—his own weakness— ,
when worldly wisdom which has been his
stay would gladly be exchanged for true
piety. In that day, earth's triumphal
arches will fall—her gorgeous churches
will be laid low in the dust. Buried in
the sin of ages, she will be "weighed in
the balances and found wanting." Endless
punishment is the penalty of her guilt, and
the sounds of wailing and dispair will
arise from a lost and ruined world. But
lo One stands by the Father in the
brightnesss of the Godhead and intercedes
for man. In spotless purity lie comes to
earth, and with his own blood washes out
the dark stain of guilt. Then those, who
have receieved the incarnate Son, robed
in spotless white, will enter that abode
where sorrow and sighing ever flee. The
music of a thousand golden harps will wel.
come them to that. home of bliss, and E
ternity will be spent in turning anthems
to Him who redeemed them from sin and
death, when they were "weighed in the
balances, and found wanting."
MESS4GE.
TO THE SENATE AND HOUSE OF
hEPRESENTATIVES OF THE COM
MONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVA
INA A.
CONCLUDED
A convention was held within the last
season for the purpose of devising and re
commending a more effective military sys
tem, and the result of their labors will
shortly be laid before you; in relation to
which I take occasion to say, that the opi
nions of that convention, coming as it
does much of the talent, experience and
military knowledge of the country, will
be entitled to, and doubtless will receive
at your hands, the most respectful con
sideration. American freemen should
never lose sight of the solemn injunction
of the father of our country, "in time of
, peace prepare for war."
The geological survey of the State is
nearly completed,—the past season hay.
ing brought the explorations to a close.
As soon as the field work can be reduced
to shape, the State geologist will, this win
ter, enttr upon the preparation of his gen
eral report. intended to embody the re
sults of the whole survey. While the fi
nal report is in progress, the engraving of
the maps and drawings, which will re
quire time, and the arrangements of the
State cabinets, as far as they are in read
iness, might be advantageously commenc
ed. As a portion of the work can be put
to press before the meeting of the next
legislature, it seems advisable that provi
sion should be now made, for preparing
and publishing the details. This very iin
portant survey, developing the nature and
extent of our immense mineral resources,
having been prosecuted steadfastly to its
completion, sound policy and economy
certainly require that the results should
be embodied and published with all possi
ble despatch.
The enormous amount of capital invest
ed in our various works of internal im
provement, admonishes us to exert our
utmost power, to render them productive.
'there is one matter connected with this
subject, to which I desire to call your
earnest attention. The experience of ev
ery year proves more clearly the necessity
of our action upon it. I allude to the re-,
moval of obstructions from the channel of
the Ohio river. the general government
has several times directed its inquiries in
to this measure, but has never yet under
taken the effectual execution of the pro
ject. It is a measure in which Penney!
vania is most deeply, but not alone inter
ested. he great and growing western
and southwestern states, embracing near
ly the entire valley of the Mississippi and
its tributaries, have a direct and abiding
interest in its speedy completion, as well
as Pennsylvania. For the important na
tional purposes. of transporting the mail,
for transferring armies and conveying the
minutions of war, it is of quite as great
I moment. Indeed it addresses itself to
I every duty, state and national, and ap
t peals to every interest that should coni•
mand the care and guardianship of both
governments, in a manner not easily re
sisted. Considering it, (as the legislative
guardians of Pennsylvania,) we are con
strained to urge it upon the general gov
ernment on grounds the most Just and un
answerable. Cut oli, as the navigable
communication with our improvements, is,
from Pittsburg to Louisville, for a large
portion of the year, it diminishes the val
ue of these improvements to a ruinous de-
I gree,—forces business upon other less di
rect and convenient routes, and of course
operates to the serious disadvantage of the
mercantile, agricultural, and manufactur
ing classes of our citizens. It is a singu
lar and startling fact, that insurances on
goods to be delivered at Cincinnati, are
now effected in the city of Philadelphia
cheaper and more readily, by the way of
the New York canals, Lake Erie and the
Ohio canal, than by the direct and natural
route through our own improvements to
Pittsburgh. I learn that the whole diffi
culty in this particular, lies in the uncer
tainty of the navigable state of the Ohio
river. Thus is a large share of business
daily diverted from our public improve•
ments, and the probability, nay the cer
tainty is, that as regular lines of transpor
ration are establishud on those collateral
improvements, this division of business
will be greatly augmented. We are
most imperatively called upon to look to
this matter before it is too late.
In the commencement of her stupend
ous system of public improvements, this
state was induced to incur the vast liabili
ty she did, under a conviction that the
trade and business of the west and south
would afford an adequate return. It was
on the general assurance that this would
be secured to her, that she opened the
highway to the seaboard for those rich and
vast interior regions. Pennsylvania sow
relies on the sense of justice, whish she
knows will on this, as on all subjects ac
tuate her sister states, in determining on a
measure calculated to alleviate the bur.
then that is weighing down her citizens.
These states which, during the progress
of our main line of improvements from
Philadelphia to Pittsburgh, looked on with
an interest little less lively than our own,
will not surely withhold their aid from
rendering the channel ot the Ohio naviga
ble at all practical seasons, and thus com
pleting the entire line of improvements
began by Pennsylvania, now when cape
rietice has demonstrated the necessity of
this measure. 1 trust the Legislature will I
exert its utmost eftorts, to engage the na- I
tional government in this work, which is
so obviously one warranted by its consti
tutional power, and by sound policy.
It is proper to mention two other mea
sures of national policy in connection with
this subject, in both of which this State
has such an interest, as to justify the in
terposition of the Legislature. I speak
iu reference to the establishment of a na
tional Foundry, and the construction of a
Dry Dock at Philadelphia. The first of
these has recently engaged the attention
of Congress, and seems likely to be re
ceived with general favor. Not dispara
ging the claims of other sections ot the
country, we may without fearing contra
diction on very rational grounds, urge in
behalf of Pennsylvania the most couclu
' sive reasons. Among them are our cen
tral position, our contiguity to the seaboard
our numerous and perfectly safe inland
communications with almost every section
of the Union, and above all, the deposits
of coal and iron scattered throughout our
borders, to an extent unknown in any oth
er quarter of the world. We have in
these every conceivable advantage, to re
commend some point, perhaps in the val
ley of the Susquehanna, to the selection
of Congress, as a site for a National Foun
dry ; and the same reasons in point of lo
cation apply with equal force in favor of
constructing a Dry Duck at Philadelphia.
In addition to these, its safety from the
attacks of an enemy, its fresh water sup.
plies, its convenience of procuring timber
and workmen, all conspire to s enforce its
claims upon the notice of the General Gov.
ernment in the most convincing form. I
will cheerfully co-operate with you in any
manner deemed most advisable in impres
sing these considerations upon the Nation
al Government. If properly represented,
do not think they can be overlooked.
The recent convulsions in our commer
cial affairs have tended to the deep and
lasting injury of this Commonwealth. I
fear it will require years of industry, pru
dense and integrity to wipe out the stain
from our escutcheon, and to replace us on
that solid, manly and proud footing we
once occupied in the estimation of the
world. The wild and headlong spirit of
speculation, and stock gambling has bro't
disgrace to our doors, and stamped every
thing depending on our business fidelity,
with suspicioe and discredit. This taint
of character has extended too far, It has
readied the whole community, when in
truth it ought to have been confined to
those only, whose folly, imprudence, or
dishonesty gave colour to the charge. The
great body of our citizens are free from
[WnoLE No. 315.
debt have never engaged in ruinous fancy
stock speculations, are abundantly able
and willing to comply with all their obli
gations, to each other, and to the citizens
of every other State or country. It is true
our situation and habits of business have
rendered us a debtor State, and subjected
us to responsibilities, which might easily
have been avoided under•a different sys
tem of policy. We purchase large a
mounts of manufactured goods of all
kinds from the eastern States, to consume
ourselves, and to sell to the citizens of
the south west. We are liable on the fail
ure of our debtors to pay for the commo
dities we purchased and sold to diem, and
we of course must pay for those we use
ourselves. We can only discharge these
debts in cash, or by selling to our eastern
manufacturers, our coal and iron in their
raw state. This very iron, in a thousand
shapes, we purchase afterwards at an en
ormous advance for the labor bestowed
oat its manufacture, and thus become debt
ors for labor that we ought to perform)
ourselves. For leather, boots, shoes, &c.
cloths and other domestic manufactures,
we are daily incurring immense debts to
the citizens of other States, and are now,
in the hour of necessities, feeling the hea
vy hand of the creditor laid on all our re
sources.
This ought not to be. It is unworthy
the great State of Pennsylvania to depend
on the manufactures of other states or of
foreign countries, to supply her citizens
with those articles for the various pur
poses of life, which they can produce them
selves as well, as cheaply, and as abund
antly as any other people un the face of
the globe. Our valleys teeming with
plenty, owe hills with exhaustless coal
and iron deposits—our streams abound
ing with water power for all purposes, un
surpassed by that in any other country--
and our citizens stimulated by enterprise
and possessing means to render it effec
tual, should awaken in us that spirit of in..
dependence which disdains to seek at the
hands of others that which it can furnish
with its own. It is with no feelings. of
1 1 envy, or of local jealousy of others, that I
bring this subject to your notice, bat with
an honest feeling of state pride, and a
generous emulation, which should inspire
us with a determination not to be indebted
to others for those solid and useful means
of promoting our prosperity and independ
ence, which nature has bounteously lav
ished on our own citizens.
The duty of encouraging manufactur•
ing establishments, to convert to useful
purposes our coal and iron, and indeed to
supply all our domestic wants, has become
one of peculiarly imperative obligation.
The commercial calamity under which
we are suffering, has been so much heigh
tened by the circumstances to which I
have just adverted, and the inability of our
citizens to perform all their contracts has
been so generally exaggerated by the in
terested and malicious in other States that
self respect, as well as public spirit, calls
upon us most emphatically to turn a kind
and cherishing eye to their advancement.
Every measure that can conduce to this
end, will meet with my hearty concur
rence. I think inquiries on this subject
should be instituted. We want facts as
the basis of legislative encouragement.
Let them be diligently sought for, and
when ascertained, let them be promptly
applied to some useful purpose. It is
high time the Legislature of Pennsylvania
should remember that the interest of Penn
sylvania are confided to their especial
cute. It is a source of pride and gratifi
cation to reflect, that but a small amount
of the indebtedness to other States, which
is now griping and annoying us, is for
commodities disposed of to our own citi
zens. Nearly every dollar of this domes
tic debt has been faithfully paid. The
sum now due, is for sales made to pee
chasers in the west and south west, for
whom Pennsylvanians are in truth mere
ly to be regarded as the guarantors. This
circumstance is entirely overlooked by our
detractors, who are attempting to hold
the citizens of Pennsylvania to a rigid ac
countability, as if ahe were the very pack
horse of the Union to bear more than her
share of all its burthens and reponsibili.
ties. This is unjust—we owe it to our•
selves to assume our true position.
Permit me fellow citizens, in conclu
sion, to urge upon you a thouroagh and
searching inquiry into all abuses of gov
ernment and all expenditures of the pub
lic money, which are nut clearly warrant
ed by enlightened prudence.' 'l' he condi
tion of the public treasury demands this
at your hands,—and the people confident
ly trust, that those to whom they have
confided the guardianship of their interests
will faithfully perform the duty both of
inquiring into, and correcting all the evils
they find to exist. It will afford me great
pleasure to co-operate with you, in the
completion of this salutary work. !Fe
may meet for a time with obstacles,—we
will doubtlesess encounter resistance en
the part of those who are interested in
perpetuating either abuses or extrava
gance; but ultimately, we cannot fail to
triumph over all difficulties, and to curry