The journal. (Huntingdon, Pa.) 1839-1843, August 10, 1842, Image 1

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VOL. ♦II, No. 31.]
PUBLISHED BY
THEODORE H, CREMER,
TMRI\IO.
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ed, it will be kept in till ordered out, and
charged accordingly.
From an Old Paper.
I've Been l'hinking.
I've been thinking, I've been thinking,
What a curious world we're in,
Men are sleeping, eating, drinking,
Just as they have always been—
Beaux are strutting, dandies quizzing,
Misses toiling night and day,
Boys are sporting, girls are fi fizzing,
Grandmas fidgetting away.
Torn is crying, Mary singing,
Jack is laughing merrily,
Dust is eying, tea-bells ringing,
These have music sure for me;
Peasants toiling, rich men riding,
Staring with a lordly phis,
Rogues through every crowd - are gliding,
Zounds, how queer a world it is!
Marrying, some in marriage given.
Others hke the world of old.
All hut me are feasting, living—
Would that wives were to be sold!
Others have their dears in plenty.
And their bosoms heave with love,
live hia; chances, nineteen, twenty—
But I dare not one improve.
Brokers shaving, sheriff's dunning,
Politicians pull your sleeve,
Printers scolding, wits are punning,
Jail-birds begging for reprieve;
Preachers warning, idiots ranting.
Bacchus, too, hath devotees,
Yonder wretch, your wife's gallanting,
What a duced fool is he !
Lawyers spouting, clients lisening,
Doctors' prattling of their skill,
Patients groaning, school-boys whistling,
Striving all old time to kill,
Pedagogues of science telling,
Milliners of pretty things—
Lovers stroll with bosoms swellings
List'ning while the night bird sings.
Clouds are lowering, tempests howling,
Friends suspecting, foes are glad,
Children screaming, mistress scowling,
Merry bosoms now are sad,
Presto! they are gone forever,
All is gay as it hath been, •
Sun-beams shine, the girls—oh, never!
What a curious world we're in!
From the London Foget-me-not.
Old Friends Together.
Oh! time is sweet when roses meet,
With spring's sweet breath around them
And sweet the cost, when hearts are lost,
If those we love have found them;
And sweet the mind that still can find
A star in darkest weather;
Bat nought can be so sweet to see,
As old friends meet together I
Those days of old, when youth was bold,
And time stole wings to speed it,
Ard youth ne'er knew how fast time flew,
Or knowing, did not heed it!
Though gray each brow that meets us now,
For age brings wintt y weather,
Yet nought can be an sweet to see,
As those old friends together!
lhe few long known when years have shown,
With hearts that friendship blesses,
A hand to cheer, perchance a tear,
To soothe a friend's distresses ;
Who helped and tried, still side by side,
A friend to face hard weather ;
Oh! thus may we yet joy to see
And meet old friends together!
A clergyman of rigid faith, once under
-took to convert a negro, who was all but
incorrigible. As an argtementum ad hom
inem, he told Cuffv that the wicked did
net live out half their days : " Dat dare
is queer," said Cully —" him no live out
half him day, hah. Well, den, 1 ',pose
him die 'bout 'Leven 'clock lore-noun."
_'rueftiendship is like sound health : the
ritioe of it h tekkom known oatil it is lost.
:4 1
.‘„,„
XICOMLLAIIMOtrea
Dr. Doddridge 7 s Dream.
Dr. Doddridge was on terms of very
intimate friendship with Dr. Samuel Clark,
and in religious conversation they spent
very many happy hours together. Among
other matters, a very favorite topic was
the intermediate state of the soul, and the
prrbability that at the instant of dissolu
tion it was not introduced into the pre
sence of all the heavenly hosts, and the
splendours around the throne of God.—
One evening, after a conversation of this
nature, Dr. Daddridge retired to rest with
his mind lull of the subject discussed, anti
in the visions of the night," Iris ideas
were shaped into the following beautiful
form : He dreamed that he was at the
house of a friend when he was suddenly
taken dangerously ill. By degrees he
seemed to grow worse and at last to expire.
In an instant he was sensible that he cx•
changed the prisonhouse and sufferings
of mortality, for a state of liberty and
happiness. Embroiled in a splended
wrial form he seemed to float in a region
of pure light. Beneath hint lay the earth,
but not a glittering city or village, the for
est or the sea was visible. There was
naught to be seen below save the melan
choly :coup of friends, weeping around
his lifeless remains. .
Himself thrilled with delight, he was
surprised at their tears, and attempted to
inform them of his change, but by myste
rious powerutterace was denied, and as
he ensiously leaned over the morning cir
cle, gazing fondly upon them and strug
gling to speak, he rose silently upon the
air; their forms became more anti more
distant and gradually melting away from
his sight. Reposing upon golden clouds
he found himself swiftly mounting the
skies with a venerable figure at his side
(guiding his mysterious movement, and in
whose countenance he remarked the lin•
eamenis of youth and age were blended
together with an intimate harmony and
majestic sweetness. They travelled
through a vast region of empty space until
at length the battlements of a glorious
edifice shone in the distance, and as its
form rose brilliant and distinct among
the far-off shadows that flit t ell athwart
their pats, the guide informed him that
the palace he beheld was for the present
to be his mansion of rest. Gazing upon
its splendor he replied, that while on
earth he hail often heard that eye had not
seen, nor had the ear heard, nor could it
lenter into the heart of man to conceive
he things which God had prepared ftii
those thi;t love him: but notWit . is nd inr!
the building to which they were the% ora:
pidly approaching was supering , to any
thing which he had actually before seen.
yet its grandeur had not exceeded the
conceptions he had formed. The guide
made no reply, they were already at the
door and entered. The guide introduced
him Into a spacious apartment, at Ott ex
tremity of which stood a table covered
with a snow white cloth, a golden cup
and a cluster of grapes, and then said h
must remain, for he woold receive in a
short time a visit from the Lord of the
mansion, and that during the interval be
lore his arrival the apartment would fur
nish him with sufficient entertainment and
instruction. The guide vanished and he
was left alone. He'began to examine the
decorations of the room and observed that
the walls were adorned with a number of
pictures. Upon nearer inspeet;iqi hr
found In his soooishment, that they for-
med a complete biography of his own life
Here he saw upon the canvass that an
gels, though unseen, had ever been his
familiar attenuants, and sent by Ciod.lthey
had sometimes preserved him from imme
diate peril. He beheld himself first rep•
resented as an inlaat just expiring, when
his life was prolonged by an angel gentle•
man breathing into his nostrils. Most of
the occurrences here delineated were per
fectly familiar•to his recollection and un
folded many thitfgs, which he never be
fore understood, and which had perplexed
him with many doubts and much uneasi
ness. Among others, he was particularly
struck with a picture in which he was rep•
resented as falling from his horse, si hen
death would have been inevitable had not
an angel received him in his arms, and
broken the force of his descent. These
merciful interpositions of God filled him
with joy and gratitude, and his heart over
flowed with love as he surveyed in them
all, an exhibition of goodness and mercy
far beyond all that he had imag ined.—
Suddenly his attention was arrested by a
rap at the door. The Lord of the man
sion had arrived—the door opened and he
entered. So powerful and so overwhel.
ming, and withal of such singular beauty
was his appearance, that lie sunk down at
his feet completely overcome by his ma
jestic presence. His lord gently raised
him from the ground, and taking his hands
led him forward to the table. He pressed
with his fingers the juice of the grapes into
the golden cup, and alter having drank
himself, pro:Anhui to him, :vino, "This
•
"ONE COUNTRY, ONE CONSTITUTION, ONE DESTINY."
HUNTINGDON, fiNNKirLVANIA, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 10, 1842
is the new wine in my Father's kiaidom."
No sooner had he partaken than all uneasy
sensatifffis vaiii,hel, perfect love had now
cast out fear, and he conversed with his
Saviour as an intimate friend. Like the
silver rippling of the summer sea, he heard
fall from his lips the. great NI approbation:
"Thy labours are over : thy work is splint
veil, rich and glorious is the reward "
;,l'hrilled with an unspeakable bliss, that
ulided over his spirit and slid into the very
depth tibia soul ‘ he suddenly saw glories
upon /done bursting upon his view. The
Doctor awoke. Tears of rapture from
his joyful interview were rolling down his
cheeks. Long did the lively impresions
of this charms its dream remain upon his
mind, and never could he speak of it with
out emotions of joy and tenderness.
A Bustling Paragraph.
"Why, Jonathan, what are you going
to 'do with that load of bran down in
York ?" said a pretty Yankee girl to her
sweetheart as she saw him driving his
team to the sloop.
tt I%ell. I guess I shouldn't like to tell."
" Well, now, do tell," said the curious
girl.
Well, it's to make women things of."
tt Women things oft" said Sally, blush
ing a
1 . W ell, I guess so—that's what I call
'em. The ladies down in York have got
a crazy notion of looking tat in an odd
part of the body, and bran's riz in con•
sequence"
Sally blushed still more, %and went
away thinking bran a strange article for a
woman to get lat on.
MAJORITV REPORT
Of the Joint Committee of the Senate and
House of Representatives of Pennsylva
nia, appointedto investigate and report,
whether any corrupt means have been at
any time employed by Banks, or their
agents. or any ol them, directly or in
directly fa. the pu::p , se of influencing
the ac ions the Legislature or any
other Dep , rtment of the Government al
this Commonwealth. in regard to any
legislation ter their ben,fit.
[The first part of the Report treats of the
causes which led to the investigation, and
the imp ortance thereof. Want of room
.
compel tens toomit that portion of the Re
port ]
The Commmittee commenced their
labors on the 14th of February, 1842.
They have sat almost constantly during
the session of the Legislature and have
'examined seventy-three witnesses. They
resorted first, as was natural, to the offi . .l
cers of the B ink of the U. S. The per.
matient expense account of that institution
was produced, and the vouchers of its
several items exhibited. These vouchers
are receipts of the officers for various
sums of money, but do not at all explain
the objects to which the money had been
applied. There was produced, however,
as authority for the expenditure of a por
tion of them, a resolution of the Board of
Directors of March 4, 1840, in the follow.
log words:—
o Resolved, That a Special Committee
of three directors be appointed with au
thority to proceed to Harrisburg, and gen
erally to adopt such measures as they may
find necessary to protect the interests of
the Bank." Whereupon the President
appointed Price, !lowly and Lew
is, to compwe said Committee. l'he
entry of expenditures on the permanent
expense arr.mnt made under the direction
of this Committee is as follows:
1840—March 31.
Voucher of R. Price, Geo. Handy and
T.aw..Lewis.
Special Cum'te, 24 March, 1840 1115,700
500
23 April, " 22.700
20 " " 59.900
11 11 1,000
899,200
There gso appears to have been allow
ed on the vouchers of this Committee, but
charged to another account in the Bank:
Voucher of George Handy dated
June 16, IR4O, $28,800
Vouchers of R. Price, L Lewis,
G. Handy, Oct. 17, 1840,
As the resolution under which — this ape.
dal committee, consisting of Messrs.
Price, Lewis and 1-Tandy was appointed,
refers in terms to the Legislature, it was
thought proper to direct the investigation
to that point, more particularly as it was
that to which the public attention had
been more immediately turned. The
amount of money atone withdrawn from
the bank by the committee and allowed
them for the purpose of carrying out the
object of their appointment, is almost of
itself sufficient to satisfy the mind, that it
could not have been employed merely in
paying for the expenses and services of
gentlemen coming to Harrisburg, with a
view of making /air representations to the
Legislature of the condition of the bank,
and its relation to the community, which
was all that it was proper to do.
Even the use of it in calling great num
bers of men from all quarters of the state,
with a view to impress the Legislature
with the idea that th• measure required
was demanded by the voice of their con
stituency, or to bring strong personal in•
thence to operate on the minds of the
members was highly improper, dangerous
and unjustifiable. The directors of the
bank, knew, or ought to have known, that
these large sums of money had been est;
pended. Their duty to the stockholders,
the widows and orphans, whose interest
they were placed in that post to guard and
protect, their duty to themselves and
their character to the country, of which
they were citizens, imperiously required,
that they should have called for and ex
amined the particulars of those expendi
tures, recorded them in detail us the
books of the bank, and been satisfied that
they were proper and within the legitimate
extent of the powers conferred on that
committee by the board.
So far Irmo this, it appears that the com
mittee at sonic subsequent period sit , ply
reported that they had performed the du
ties of their appointment, and were there
upon discharged. if the expenditures tad
not beeneimproper and had not been gen
erally known to have been improper, is it.
possible e hen that report was made to the
board, that some one director would not
have enquired as to the amount expended
by the committee, and being told the
enormous sum of $150,000 and upwards
would not have called for an exolanationt
The testimony of some of the officers, and
directors of the bank, as have heen exam
ined, present one of the most curious parts
of the whole transaction. The President,
cashier, accountant general, profess the
most profound ignorance; even Messrs.
Price and Lee is, two of the special corn.
mince, testified that they never knew,
never had been informed, never even had
enquired into the particular application of
of the money. Many of these gentlemen
were present at the time the vouchers toe
the money were signed. Strange to say,
not a syllatile was uttered, not a whisper
breathed try any one. The most profound
silence reigned within the walls of the
bank on this subject. If this be credible,
does any one desire better evidence, could
any worth.) or expressions have more clearly
and conclusively indicated, the knowl
edge and belief of the whole bank, that
this money had been corruptly and im
properly used ? It is hard to come to
the conclusion, that men of refined edu
cation, and high and honorable character,
would wink at such things, yet the con
clusion is unavoidable.
George Handy, to whom, according to
the evidence of the cashier, the greater
part of the money was actually paid, and
who therefore must know something of its
disposition, when called before the com
mittee, declined at first the oath tendered
to him in the ordinary form. As he ap
peared entirely ignorant of the extent of
his right as a witness, and was wavering
in his purpose, the committee were indu
ced to grunt his request for a postpone
ment, in order to enable him to consult
his counsel, and friends as to the course
lie ought to adopt. It could not be doub
ted, that it was to him personally a ques
tion of the deepest moment. His decision,
one way or the other at that time, would
I have a lasting effect on his character and
life. It appeared, therefore the dictate of
humanity to allow him the opportun'ty,
anti it was done, under the hope That these
considerations which ought to weigh upon
him as a mac, and a citizen, would lead
him to a full disclosure of his knowledge
and agency in this affair. Mr. Handy
lengthened the postponement much be
yond the period originilly contemplated
anti allowed him by the committee. He
did nut appear again until the 24th of
March, when he finally and decidedly re
fused to testify. He handed to the com
mittee a paper in the following words:
When previously before the commit
tee, I stated that a criminal prosecution
had been instituted against me and that I
was threatened with a civil suit, since
which the civil suit has been commenced.
Under these circumstances, I do not think
the committee should press me to give
evidence which might be prejudicial to my
interests, and perhaps, in these exciting'
times, to my liberty.
, My ideas of the obligations of the oath
proposed to be admistered is such, that if
I take it, I should feel bound to tell every
thing however prejudicial it migt be either
to my interest or liberty. 1 hope, under
these circu instances, the committee will see
the propriety of excnsing me from taking
, the oath and rest assured that in declining,
nothing is further from my wish or inten
tion than to show any disrespect either to
r the committee or the respective Houses
h which they represent."
i As it seemed very strange, that the
r bank should have selected this very pre
cise period of time to commence their long
s threatened snit against Mr. Handy, the
2,175
8181,175
'committee put further questions, with a
view to ascertain whether he had not him- I
self some agency in procuring the suit to I
be brought, which, however, he very deci
dedly and solemnly disclaimed.
It was determined to report Mr. Han
' dy's contumacy to the House, and the
proceedings which followed in regard to
him, are too well known to require repeti
tam in this place.
When under the protection of the reso
lution of the general assembly passed
March 29, 1842, Mr. Handy appeared be
fore the committee and was duly qualified
by oath. He stated that the whole amount
of the money expended by that committee
had not passed through his hands, but that
every dollar of what he did receive, of
which he could not state the amount ex
actly, was paid loylltim to Daniel NI. Broil
head, and George, W. South for George
Read. The sum of *120,000 to Brod
head in pursuance of an arrangement or
understanding with hint that he was to
receive that sum in case such a law was
passed as the bank desired. That he had
also requested Joseph Solma to go to Har
risburg to assist in the accomplishment of
the object, anti at a subsequent pet iod,
Samuel It. Wood, and John C. Boyd. As
confirmatory of this statement, and also
containing all the information he possess
ed as to the application made by Brodhead
of the money, and of the means employed
to procure the law which was passed, he
submitted a number of letters received at
the time. He stated also, that he had
never asked nor received, more par
ticular information as to the disposition
made of the money, though he did not
pretend to deny, that he knew or believed,
that at the time it was advanced that it
was for corrupt purposes.
These three persons [Brodhead, Solms,
and Read] appear to have been therefore,
, the principal agents of the bank in this
, matter. the committee do not conceive
it to be necessary to enter upon a review
of this extraordinary correspondence. It
will be sufficient to cite some parts which
demonstrate must conclusively that the
writers were extensively engaged in the
work of corruption, or were pretending so
to be, with a view of deceiving the batik
end extorting money.
The first and most important letter be
cause it furnishes a key to the a hole series,
is one dated March 6th, 1840, from Brod.
head to Handy, shortly after the arrival of
both Brodhead and Solms at Harrisburg,
in which he says: ''The result is yet
doubtful, and will remain so until I see or
hear from your friend. I was sorry to
come up so unprepared and undetermined.
It appears to me that this important mat
ter is wonderful', trilled with. In all the
conversations I had with him I could not
arrive at any certain conclusion. In
speaking of stock lie appeared to talk as
though I was to run the risk of the ad
vance. Now my dear sir, I cannot talk
to g you or write to you fully, but only have
to say, that all the risk I have to run is the
final passage of the Bill. II it passes, can
I depend in such a manner as to pass my
word that the contingent fund of which we
spoke will be provided o ithout failure. The
only answer I want to this question, or to
my letter, is from you or Mr. Biddle, if he
understands you, to say, all will be right."
A letter from Solos to Handy, dated,
the next day, March 7th, shows him to
have been the friend alluded to, for he
says, .. the deposite made this day, and
the promised deposite on Monday, worked
well as you perceive by the result, bitt this
result increases expectations and great
demands. They are such as I ft-el myself
not authorized to grant ; therefore, I con
cluded either to go to the city to-morrow,
or let the person go himself. Feeling
rather unwell this evening, I suppose in
consequence of over exertions of a wea- ,
kened frame, I let him go, so that you be
come acquainted with the pretentions.”—
Broadhead accordingly went to Philadel
phia, and had an interview with Handy,
the result of which is a note from Handy
to Broadhead, dated March 10, 1840, in
which it is said : " Agreeably to the.proin
ise I made you last evening::. I avail my
self of a moment's leisure to give you an
answer to the questions you proposed, to
wit : That course of legislation would
be most likely to secure to Mr. Van Buren
the vote of Pennsylvania? I answer;
first, leg alizing the suspension, until Feb
ruary, 1141. Secondly, a release and
suspension of all penalties to which the
Banks are now subject, other than the le
gal interest to be recovered only in the or
dinary course of law, and this should be
done in the course of ten days. If Febru-
my won't do, the third Monday of January
will answer. This done, and all will be
right." This then was the contract, and
that Salm knew of its precise date, terms,
character and object, is very clear, from
his letter of the 18th March, to Handy, in
Which he says, " the agreement you made
on the 10th instant, expires on the 20111
instant, as it was for ten days °nig bind.
ing. Don't omit to inform me whether
this agreement shall continue in fore. with
i en it rig At."
[WifoLE No. 343.
A corrupt contract was made then, to
which Wins was privy, and that contract
was signified or understood between them
by the expression, "all will be tight," or
all is right."
That these two Individuals held out to
Mr. Handy, that they were faithfully, be
tween them, carrying this corrupt bargain
into execution, no intelligent reader of.
the correspondence can doubt. Whether
this was a vile falsehood, meant to cover up
their own fraudulent purpose of converting
the money to their own use, or a true rep
resensation of what was going on, must
be left to the decision of the public, upon
the whole evidence. Their own testimo
ny and conduct as witnesses, with that of
their coadjutor, George Read, favors the
former corichision, AND THERE IS
CERTAINLY NO DIRECT EVI
DENCE OF A SINGLE DOLLAR
HAVING BEEN PAID BY EITHER
OF THOSE MEN TO eV Y ROD y.
Yet according to the testimony of John
IC. Boyd, confirmed by the testimony of
Samuel R. Wood, who states that Mr.
Boyd, mentioned the circumstance to him
at the time it occurred, Mr. Barret, one
of the editors of the Keystone, knew that
Brodhead had money, or the command cf
money, for lie told M r. Boyd, that he might
have $5,000, if lie could procure the vote
of Col. Fleming, of the Senate ; and up
on being asked where the money was to
be had: answered from Brodhead. Mr.
Barrett, does not recollect this matter,
;ind denies positively any knowledge that
Brodhead had money. It is but right to
add, that according to the concurring tee
' timony of Mr. Bovd,, and Col. Fleming,
NO MONEY FIAS OFFERED OR
RECEIVED BY HIM. The money
found in the trunk of Charles Chandler,
the member from Susquehanna, who died
at Harrisburg that spring, being $l2OO in
notes of the Berks. County Bank, was
undoubtedly paid to him by Brodhead, who
had exchanged a large part of the notes
received trim Handy, with Lloyd Wharton
for Berks county bank notes. Yet the
letter from Brodhead to Chandler, also
(Mind in his trunk along with the money,
and referring to it as the profits llt some
speculation in stocks, is slated January
10th, 1840. and post marked the someday,
so that it must relate to some other prior
transaction. There was a small loan to
Judge Myers, of the Senate, of $lOO,
which appears to have been afterwards
duly paid. This is the only evidence oa
he subject.
In order to exhibit the character of these
Men in their true light, before the commu
nity it will be proper to give one or two
more extracts from the letters, which
might be multiplied, but it is not deemed
necessary.
In Solnis letter of March 11, to Bandy.
he says ‘. your letter all is right, of the
10th has been received ; there is an objec-
non. The five thousand dollars must be
placed immediately in hands." In Brod
head's of the 13th, in reference, no doubt,
to the same thing, he says, «draw the five
to-morrow, and let J. S. bring it up. It
is a most desperate conflict. Do not omit
this, or else mark somebody's check good
to my order."
Brodhead, in his letter of the 28th says.
" I was quite astonished at that part of
your letter of yesterday, which I received
this afternoon, in which you say, "if the
amount reduced in the resolution passed
by the House to a sum sufficient to pay
interest, &c., that then nil would be right/
I hope and trust 1 am not placing myself
in a false position, as my word, and, in
some instances my written agreement, has
gone out to a lar4e extent, and time only
condition is the tune to January '4l, and
release the penalties." So in his note
written in Philadelphia, April 2d. 184 D, he
says, 1 shall be well enough to return
in themorning, but you kno;r I cannot
return until you prepare the necessary
documents for me to take along, as all my
friends will expect to see them when 1.
return." Su in the note of Brodhead to
I Solms, written in Philadelphia, April 16.
I wrote up last night requesting the gen
'lemon from whom I bought lumber to
hold on till I come, that I would certainly
be up to night. Do attend to this, as my
credit would be ruined, if I did not pay
promptly for the lumber which 1 have
bought. Let the whole matter be closed
up to day." And on the sth June, 1840.
as an evident receipt in full he Says, " I
received the certificate of deposit and all
is right."
In making these few extracts from the
letters, the inain object is to prove, beyond
a question, that by
their own showing,
Solms and Brodhead, were engaged in a
work of fraud and corruption p and great
care has been taken, in making these ex.
tracts, to avoid all those which contain any
allusions to, or implication of third per.
sons.
Let us now turn, for n single moment,
from the letters to the evidence of the wri
ters of them. Unfortunately for them
selves. they had both been examined be
fore the production of the correspondence.
Brodhead swore most distinctly sot