coNGitr.ss.
Since our Lost, the House hos pissed the Oregon
Law Bill by a vote of 103 to 59. This bill'prn.
vides for the extension of the !amid the U. S. over
the Oregon territory
'rho Senate •• Notice Bill" was taken up and
rejected, and a substitute, submitted by R. DALE
0 wax, adopted.
In the Senate resolutions, " the President is au
thorized, al his discretion," to give the notice.—
The House resolutions read
:
That the President of the United States eause
to be given to the British Government the notice
requircd•by its said second article for the abrogation
of the Convention, of the 6th of August. 1827."
The resolutfons were then sent to the Senate, and
the Senate refused to concur in the amendment of
the House. On the 21st inst. it committee of Con
ference was appointed in both I louses, to settle the
differences between them.
In the Senate the Committee are Messrs. Berrien,
Coiwin and Haywood. These gentlemen all voted
for the Senate resolutions.
The House appointed Messrs. C. J. Ingersoll,
Oxen and Hilliard. One of these gentlemen, Mr.
Hilliard, is considered favorable to the Senate Res
olutions, and it is supposed the Committee will re
commend the House to recede.
A Message from the President.
MR INGERSOLL'S CALL.
From the Washington correspondent of the Italti.
more American
The Comtnitte rose, on motion of Mr.
BAGBY, to receive a Nles.tage in writing
from the President of the U. States.
The Message was read, beginning with
a recital of the resolntion calling for the
items of the secret service fund. Ihe
President says that, :with an anxious de•
sire to furnish the intormation, if it were
consistent to do it, he must decline. The
foreign intercourse Act of 1810, in par•
seance of which information was commu
nicated, was stated.
The law required the public items to
be given publicly, and the private items
to be stated privately. The ['resident's
certificate was only required to be pre•
tented to die accounting otiicer to secure
the payment of the shine. llad the pub•
lic items been called for they would have
been communicated with great pleasure.
But the secret . expent'itut es cannot be
made public without injury to the pu bile
interest. Some Of his predecessors have
not specified for wht.t purpose the secret
service fund was exponded.
Ilia predecessor bail &elated that the
sum of 58450 was expended for foreign
intercourse. Mr. Polk says-the question
is:whether the tesolution can be answer.
ed at. all with .propriety. As a general
rule, it should not be done, and whether
it could be done under any circumstances
or not is a subject for serious coasideraro
The President rosy keep the, information
•in 'his own hands if he chooses, in which
case the items do not become public rec
ords by being filed away. They are not
seen by the accounting nffieer.
The provisions of the law of 1789 were
then staled and explained, when Mr.
Polk says that if called upon to answer
(his Resolution, he would be under the
necessity of answering all such
whether under one administration or an•
other, or whether in Peace or in NVar.—
The President says that he is aware of
the prejudices against keeping anything
secret, but there are circumstances which
may require it.
While in office, says Mr. Polk, I have
had no account settled upon -the Presi
denb's certificate, and it would be an ex
treme case that would allow hint to use
his certificate. Still, if there was a ne
cessity for this, he should most cheerfully
take the responsibility of doing so. The
House, as the grand inquest of the nation,
hove a right to investigate the conduct of
all public officers, but it must always'be
by a committee. - Such committee would
have the right to demand the appearance
• of every •public and private I apex, but
they would not communicate w:iat was
dune to the injury of the public intercs a.
entninunication is found upon the
files of the Depnt tmen', in refe• once to tl e
special mission to Eng'and,•stys Mr. Polk,
and therefine this part of the info, oration
is not given, as desired, by Mr. Polk. A'l
publi?.. papers (and they cover forty or
fifty pages) are communicated.
The message having been read,
Mr.INGERSOLL said the .
Res
olutionss had been answered in a manner
different from what he had expected.
Mr. I. said.he had information in his
possession by which he expected to prove
the charge that Mr. WeLater did make
application to the Committee on Foreign
Relations for a special mission to England
through the ;gentleman from MasSachu
setts, Mr. Adams.
Mr. ADAMS sail that the tact of the
application of the Secretary of State to
the Committee fur a special mission to
England was undoubtedly true. Ile re
collected of HO C olll llll.ll,lCatioll to him,
and it there had been, he should have
known it. He did not believe flirt any
communication had been made for a sp...
cial misiion by letter to himself. lie
never thought, however, that there was
any secrecy in such a communicatitm, or
any treason whatever in it.
_ _
Mr. INGF.RSOLL contended that the
fact was sustained which he had asserted,
a n d which watothat.Mr. Webster had a,k
ed for a special mission. In clost,g,
I. said that the charges I:, . ad prekrred
were entirely rue, and they were suscep
tible of proof, though it was out his iliteo
tion to move any further in the consider
ation of the question.
Mr. KING, of Ga., replied with mace
interruptions upon poin's of ord. , r.
denied that the member ft om Perins)l va-
Ma had sustained n single one of all the
charges which he,had made. Wil6slll'•
nri,eil when they were made, hut he was
more amizcil at the attempt to susstan
tiale such chat es, though not one scin
tilla of proof hail been offered, and upon
the head of the member whit made the
chat ges. all the respow.ibility would rfsf.
'I he Previous question was then moved
and seconded, and the main question or•
tiered 116 to 62.
The papers Were then ordered to be
printed.
Co!reipontlence of the Baltimore PattiPt
April C.'2, 1845.
IN THE SENATE.
Mr:Webster asked the ( hairman of tl e
Committee on Finance hen the Sub.
Treasui y bill would be repored, and
%%holler with amendments.
r. Lev is ' , Tiled, in part. Could not
tell when the committee would report the
bill. They hail other bills before them,
uhich they 0 ould report first —among:
(hem two for Branch Mints at New Ymk
amid Charleston.
Mr..larnagin then called up his resolu
tion relative to the secret service money.
Mr. Webster rose and read a very
s•rong and dignified denial of Mr. lugrr•
still's charges against him. Ile covered
the whole ground and pronounced the
charges ti.t.dly unfounded and false. his
defamer hail either seen or not seen the
papers which had been referred to. If
they sustained the charges, why did he
not produce them. That they did lint
sustain him, is clear enough from their
nun-production.
Mr. ‘Veh,ter said he approved the
course taken by Mr. Polk in the matter—
complimented Mr. Tyler's prudence in
public disbur3ernents—and declared that
not one dollar had been expended while
he (Mr. W.) was Secretary of State, with.
out the President's order.
As to this vile slanderer, he would
leave him in the very worst company he
knew of—to a ernincuinoa with hinvelf !
Mr..larnagin proposed to withdraw his
reolutions, but there being otjection,
they were put to vote and voted down ;
ayes. I (Mr. Turney,) nays 44.
• The Senate took up Mr. Clayton's bill
relative to the French Spoliations, and
Mr. Clayton took the floor, and as this te
pert closes, he is speaking on it.
The House went at once into Commit
tee of the Whole (Mr. Port in the chair,)
and took up the bill relative to the Smith.
sonian institute.
Messrs. Owen, J. R. Ingersoll and
Stan addremd the committee—the
last named now speaking,
Prom the Pennsylvania Ira/rarer.
ARRIVAL. OP TIM
EITZIAIVLIIR‘CA.LEDONIA
SIXTEEN JUTS LITER FROM EUROPE.
The Caledonia steamer is in. She arrived at
Boston on Monday the 20th Inst. The news is
most interesting. We are indebted to our attentive
correspondent in New York, who furnished the
news by Special Messenger—also to Adams & Co.
for papers to the latest dates.
The Liverpool Times says :
" Since the despatch of our paper by the "Uni
corn,' our advices from Bombay inform us of two
more great battles having been !•ought in India be.
twcen the British and Sikh armies, both terminating
in decisive victory to the fernier. The first was
under the command of Sir H. Smith, and the latter
Sir Hugh Gough, which was perhaps ono of the
most bloody on record. In Sir H. Smith's battle,
the whole army of the enemy has been driven
headlong over the difficult ford of a broad river ;
his camp, cannon (56 pieces,) baggage, stores of
ammunition and of grain—his all, in fact, wrested
from him by the repeated charges of cavalry and
infantry ; and in that of Sir Hugh Gough's, the
Sikles lost 12,000 .nen and 65 pieces of artillery.
'fire English had 300 men killed, IS of whom
wore officers, and 2500 wounded, of whom 101
were officers. Her Majesty's 53rd and 02d regi
ments suffered enormously. General Dicke and
Brigadier Taylor arc among the dead.
The same paper says :
. .
o According to present appearances, it would
seem that extreme competition is to be the order of
tho day in the matter of intercourse, by steam 'mi
nk, between America and England; that the
mighty ocean, dividing the two hemispheres, is to
be navigated as a mere river, and that rich compa
nion are to enter the lists, each under a belief of
achieving some unheard of miracles, and at the
same time, to pour stints of wealth to their several
projectors.
Our Bamberg correspondent, under date of the
28th ult., says, the emigration from Germany to the
United States this year would have been very groat,
if it had not been that the Oregon question deters
loony from going, as they fear war. The uncer
tainty about the new Tariff in the United States
prevents goods from going forward, and will greatly
lessen the receipts of duties in the United States
for the first half of this year, so that the apprehen
sion of war is almost as bad as war itself. There
is a report that the Zollvorin intend increasing con
siderably the duties on American tobacco, and it is
very probable this increase will take place if the
American Government refuses to ratify the Zoll
verin treaty. The price of wheat and grain of
every kind is falling in Germany, as there ie every
prospect of large crops this season.
ITEMS,
Mr. M'Lane—His Excellency the American
Minister was prevented by indisposition from at
tending the Queen's Drawing room, on the 19th
ult.; but Mrs. M Lane, the lady of his Excellency,
was present, and also the Secretary of Legation,
Mr. Cameroon Melville.
Vistt of the Queen to the French Court.--Pri
rate letters mention that the preparations for the
visit of her Majesty Queen Victoria to the King
and Queen of the French were proceeding without
intermission at the Tuilleries, Neuilly, St. Cloud,
and Versailles, and parlictilurly at the Trianon.
Death cl Mr. Liston the Comedian,—Mr.
ton, who lias long been in a declining state of
health, exfr7ed on the 22nd tilt., at half past ten
o'clock at his 'residence at Hyde Park-corner, Lon
don. As a performer of comic characters, his
placa will, perhaps, never be agequately supplied.
Wuriike Prepat ulions.--Tho greatest activity
continues in all the dock yards in England, and
the recruiting for Ito army is still going on with
great spirit. Six thousand soldiers were ordered to
India, three thousand of which were to proceed by
:he overland mail route. It is mw stated that that
order will be rercluded• There is a rumor current
that an additi , mal tittinher will proceed to Canada.
THE JOURNAL.
HUNTINGDON:
Wednesday, April 29, 1846.
Democratic Whig Candidate For
Canal Commissioner
JAMES M. POWER,
OF MERCER COUNTY.
a:7- See fourth page for a column - of interesting
reading matter.
(Z." Thanks to Hon. Jolts Ewirra, for a public
document.
Oen 11.111.1 AM ConacseorrneNT.---In this
number of the Journal our readers will find the
farewell letter of our able correspondent, giving an
account of the proceedings of the Slate Legisla
ture up to its close. We think all will acknowl
edge, that wo have presented to our readers during
the past session, a more full and satisfactory ac
count of the Legislative proceedings, than any of
our country cotemporaries. VVe have done this at
considerable expense, having had the services of a
gentleman, who is pronounced by a leading Phila
delphia paper 0 one of the very best correspondents
at the seat of Government." We have the gratifi
cation of knowing too, as far as we can learn, that
his letters have given entire satisfaction to our rea
ders. We therefore tender our thanks to friend
" Phi" (we suppose a fender of a more substantial
commodity would be preferable) for the very able
and satisfactory reports he has furnished us, and
hope that our patronage may increase in such a
way as to enable us to secure his valuable services
at the next Session of the Legislature.
Qj On our first page the foreign news, brought
by the Steamer Unicorn, which includes the views
of the leading British statesmen on the Oregriti
question, is given. In another column will be
found the news brought by the Caledonia, sixteen
days later—the most important is given.
The New Officers.
The new borough officers were installed on
Monday evening last; nu nooner was the form of
installation got through with, than a motion was
made, and unanimously carried, to commence the
work of improvement, and thereby carry out their
pledges to the people, previous to the election. Ac
cordingly, on yestorday,vve observed the Supervisors
busily engaged in fixing the crossings in our streets
and making other necessary repairs. Our anticipa
tions in regard to the efficiency of our new borough
Administration, we feel assured will be fully realized.
Complimentary.
The Pledge and Standard," a Temperance pa
per published in Philadelphia, in speaking of the
vote in the House gn the al to allow Chester and
nineteen other emu/ties the right to decide by ballot,
on the license question, pays the following compli
ment to our representatives, who it appears dodged
the question:
" The two members from Huntingdon dodged.
We looked for better things from Huntingdon.
Cowards arc not tit to represent that excellent
county."
Wo invite the attention of all visiting the
city to our Philadelphia advertisements. They
will find that those who advertise, invariably sell
the cheapest. M. Tracy it will be seen, offers an
extensive assortment of ready made clothing to the
public; and we can soy, front experience, that this
establishment cannot be beat in Market street, for
cheap and well made garments, of the latest and
most beautiful style of goods.
ACCIDENT.—Wo regret to learn that Mr. Samuel
Steel, an aged citizen of Henderson township, in
this county, was badly injured a few days since,
while engaged in blowing rocks. We learn that
he was about drilling the hole, in which he had
previously put powder, larger, when the powder
ignited from the sparks occasioned by so doing, and
a very serious injury to himself was the result.—
Some fears aro entertained of his recovery.
PETEEEEPHO HOTEL.—By reference to our ad
vertising columns, it will be seen that JOSEPH FOR
REST, formerly of the Warm Springs Hotel, has
removed to Petersburg, and opened a public house
of entertainment. We can safely recommend this
house to alt our friends fond of good living, that
may have occasion to visit or pass through Peters
burg.
ACQUITTAL OP POLLY 80111..-The New York
Herald of a late date say.: " We aro indebted to
Mr. Barnet, of Newburgh, who arrived by the Al
bany boat this morning, for a copy of the. New
burg Courier of yesterday, containing the result of
the trial of Polly Bodine on the charge of murder.
Tho jury returned a verdict of not guilty.
0:7• The Baltimore Republican says that Copt,
Band, who arrived at that port on Friday night, in
the fast sailing schooner Galena, seven days from
Havana, reports that Santa Anna had been sent
for by the Mexican Government, to come to Mexico
immediately.
Tito editor of the Hollidaysburg :Standard
whines in his last paper like a whipped baby, or:
account of " both friend and foe" stating to their
readers the fact of his having came out in opposi
tion to Mr. Foster. •He blubbers out, that he " to
for Mr. Foster, co he is," and that "the Journal man
116, so ho dues," for charging him with having
"kicked out of the traces." 'Well, well, little one,
you are for Mr. Foster, then ; we shall never again
publish what you may say one week as any evi
dence of what your position will be next. Not us•
Next Governor.---Gen. tames Irvin.
We have not, up to this time, been payingmuch
attention to what has been said or done, in regard
to who should be the next candidate of the Whig
party of Pennsylvania for the Gubernatorial Chair.
We hod no desire to soy any thing on the subject
for the selfish purpose of being in the front rank of,
the friends of any particular gentleman ; and we
did not deem an early discussion of merits and
claims necessary to the success of our favorite, or
calculated to promote the harmony and united ac
tion of the Whig party thoughout the State; which
latter we deemed vastly more important.
Our attention, however, has been called to the
subject recently by a communication in the Penn'a.
Telegraph, which we give below. An attempt it
will be observed was made by the writer of a for
mer communication, for the some paper, to induce
the belief that Lancaster county had committed
herself against her former favorite—Gen. Irvin--
and declared her preference fur another distinguish
ed Whig. The article which we give, sots this
matter right, and fully explain. itself.
We do not give place to this communication to
disparage the claims of any one, but merely to keep
our readers and the people of this section of the
State correctly advised as to the true slate of pub
lic opinion elsewhere. And for the information of
our friends throughout the Commonwealth, we
may as well here say, that the gentleman tvhose
name heads this article, is the first choice of the
entire Whig and Anti-masonic party in the county
and section of State in which it is our fortune to be
located, so far as we have been able to ascertain.—
But we were still of opinion, that, as other names
had been brought forward in connection with the
aforesaid office, it would be well to allow the peo
ple to take their own course, without the interfer
ence of the press, or any attempt on its part to fore
stall or manufacture public opinion for them, and
merely record their wishes and opinions, when,
in their own good time they were pleased to express
them. As this does not, as will be seen by the ar
ticle to which we alluded, appear to be the determi
nation of all, we conceive it to be nothing more
than our duty to our patrons to speak out.
The favorite of the Whigs of the 17th Con
gressional District desires not to be the candidate of
the Whig party, unless it appears to be clearly and
unequivocally the wish of a majority of that party,
that it should be so. Gen. JAMES IRVIN cares
more for the success of Whig principles in Penn
sylvania, and the ultimate redemption of our coun
try from the blighting influence of Locofocoism,
than for any political promotion of himself. There
will be no occasion, therefore, for any bickering or
heart burnings between the friends of the different
candidates, as we aro quite willing to accord the
same amount of patriotism to the other gentleman
named, that wo claim for the favorite of our district,
and believe all now before the people to be Whigs
of the right stamp—willing either to bear the Stan
dard, or do battle for the success of their principles,
as private soldiers in the ranks. If, therefore, the
different interests and divisions of the Whig army
but act prudently, the most harmonious and auspi
cious nomination may be effected with ease, and
the candidate, be he Irvin, Cooper, Markle, Stewart
or Storhm, or any other good Whig, triumphantly
elected.
'rite friend. of Ittvisr, it may be expected by all,
will be moderate, yet firm and unwavering, in his
support. They will stand by the matt of their
choice, and with becoming zeal support his nomina
tion by the Convention, until they discover that
there is a majority against them ; but in that event,
they will go in heart and hand to the support of any
other gentleman that may be selected, with as much
zeal and industry es if the choice had fallen upon
their own favorite; provided Ito possess the indis
pensable qualifications—. honesty and capability."
This has been their course upon a former occasion,
and will be again, if those wino differ from them
but treat them honestly and fairly in the matter.
But to the article from the Telegraph, the intro.
duction of which was our only purpose when we
sat down, not intending to extend our remarks to
so great a length.
[From the Pennsylvania Telegraph.]
Nen Govornor.
'A communication appears in the last Telegraph
over the signature of a "True Whig," in which
it is asserted that the " Whig County Convention,
recently held by the old guard of Lancaster coun
ty," passed resolutions, in favor of the Hon. JAMES
C001 , .a as the next candidate for Governor. A.
this article, if suffered to pass uncontradicted,
would convey an erroneous impression, it is due to
truth and justice to say that no such resolutions
were either passed or offered at any county con
vention ever held in this county. And it is also
due to the Whigs of this county to say, that if any
attempt hard been made at the recent County Con
vention (called for the purpose of sending delegates
to the late State Convention to ncminate a Canal
Commissioner) to commit the county in favor of
any gubernatorial candidate, it would have been
rebuked in a manner not soon to be forgotten.
l'he resolutions quoted by a "'Prue Whig" es
having been passed at a Camay Convention, were
in reality adopted by a township meeting, at which
some. eight or more individuals were present, and
cannot with propriety, be said to speak the senti
ments of even that township.
At the last occasion on which this county was
called upon to express its preference of a guberna
torial candidate, Gen. In yrs was clearly the people's
choice ; and as our people are not given to changing
their views without just cause, there is reason to
believe the " popular Congressman" still the favor
ite of the county. But in due time old Lancaster
will speak for herself.
Any attempt on the part of a "True Whig," or
others, to make capital for their favorite by misrep•
resenting tho feelings of this county, will benefit
them but little in the long run.
LANCASTER COUNTY.
Aptil 2.0, 1846.
Senatorial Term.
Tho Senatorial tons of the following gentlemen,
have expired: Henry Chapman of Bucks; James
D. Dunlap of Erie ; Adam Ehaugh, of York ; John
Foulkrod, of Philadelphia county ; Jefferson K.
Heckman; of Northampton; Joseph P. Quay, of
Clinton; Georg° Bohn, of Schuylkill; John B.
Sterigere,,. of Montgomery ; Daniel L. Sherwood,
of Tioga Chariot C. Sullivan, of Butler; Samuel
Fegely, of Berke. Of the above named gentlemen,
eight are Democrats and duce Whigs,
Pennsylvania, Legislature
Correspondence of the Huntingdon
Journal.
FINAL ADJOURNMENT OF TEE LEGIS
LATURE—TARIFF RESOLUTIONS--
oRIGHT 0 f.' WA Y"SIGNED—PASSAGE
OF A 'NOMINAL REVENUE BILL—
REFLECTIONS ONHUMBUGS—TRIAL
OF M'COOK,4c. .
Ilinursurrna, April 22, 1846.
My Dcar Captain :
The Legislature adjourned
sine die this dry at a half past 11 o'clock A. M.
with less disorder, than is usual on such occasions,
which is owing in a great measure to the operation
of a new Joint Rule of the two Houses, which pro
hibits the presenting of any Bill to the Governor
after 8 o'clock in the morning of the day of final
adjournment. To pass any Bills to-day, would
therefore have been useless, as they could not have
been presented to the Executive.
7'he Tariff Resolutions were, however, taken up
this morning, and the Senate receded from its non
concurrence in the House amendments. The Joint
Rules above alluded to, being suspended the Res
olutions were sent to the Governor to be transmitted
to Washington. They are the same which passed
the House, viz t The Original Resolution of tho
Senate—passed unanimously—in favor of the
Miller '842, with Mr. Pio:let's apendoges in favor
of the Sub-Treasury, and against a distribution of
the proceeds of the Soles of the Public Lands, and
against a National Bank. If the people do not
learn from the conduct of the " Democrats" of our
Legislature in regard to these Resolutions,—their
trifling,—dodging,—truckling,—burthening,--and
procrastinating, mancevres, to weaken, if not utterly
destroy, the influence they ought to have exerted in
Congress;—if they do not learn from all this, prop
ly to appreciate their " better tariff" professions,
"neither would they be persuaded though one rose
from the dead !" If there is a single friend of the
protective system who yet clings to that party, it is
time he would see to it, and learn to know Isis
friends.
The Revenue Bill after having been killed in the
Senate on third reading, was revived again, by a
reconsideration on Tuesday, not, however, until a
message had been received from the Governor in
forming the Legislature that unless some further
measures were taken to replenish Cie Treasury, the
loss which the Commonwealth had sustained by the
late freshet, (estimated at $250,000 viz: $lOO,-
000 fur Extraordinary repairs, and $150,000 by
delay in opening the navigation) would render the
payment of the August interest wholly itnpractica
hie ; and urging upon the Legislature the impor
tance of doing something before they finally ad
punted, to save the credit and honor of the Corn
monweslth. The Senate then struck out all of the
House Bill but its title, and a substitute was return
ed to the House, in the shape of a" Senate amend
ment ;" which was read by the Clerk of the house
at the desk, and great confusion immediately after
it was received, and the Caine was passed also by
the House on a simple motion to concur—(Yeas
49, Nays 33)—being an entirely new Bill, upon
which, the Speaker decided the vote could not be
taken by sections, but must be swallowed whole.—
You may guess how much a majority of the House
knew of its provision.. It has however a very pop
ular title, being called a Bill to provide for the
reduction of the Public Debt." It retains scarcely
a vestage of the original Bill passed by the House.
The tax on tonnage, and the tax on Coal is stricken
out, and the most important feature in the Bill is a
provision requiting every person to hand to the As
sessor of his District, when called for, a statement
of the amount of money at interest &c. which he
has,—in default of which the assessor is to rate
him as high as he thinks is right, to which the
County Commissioner. are authorized to add fifty
per cent, as his assessment. Should any person
l i give in a false statement he is liable to a penalty of
$lOO to be recovered in a qui tarn action by any
person who will sue for the same.
The Ball. Sc Ohio Rail Road Bill has passed
finally, in both Houses, and been signed by the
Governor, and is therefore a Law, as well as the
Penn'a Rail s ßoad Bill. The Senate reconsidered
their vote on the House amendments, and. concur
red in all of them, as I predicted. The Bill con
tains Mr. Kunkel's amendment, providing that if
the Penn'a Company shall have $3000,000 of its
stock subscribed, and $1,000,000 paid in, i.nd thirty
miles of its Road put under Contract on or before
the 90th of July 1847, then the "Right Way"
granted to the Balt. & Ohio Company, to be null
and void. This provision seems to place these two
compcnies on tolerably fair ground—or rather it
gives the Eastern inhabitants of the State a chance
to opon an avenue for the Western Market through
our State, whilst, at the same time, it affords to the
West an opportunity to look out for a market
somewhere, should the Central or Penn'a route,
not be available. And if nothing is done by the
projectors of the Central road, by the meetii,„ of
the neat Legislature, I predict that the cry of the
West will net be easily hushed. They will demand
and receive, the " right of way" almost en their
own terms,—mark it!
The Speaker of the Senate, as is usual, at the
close of the Session, resigned hisatation yesterday,
in order that some one might be elected to that post
whose Senatorial term does not expire until the
next Session. Before leaving the Chair Mr. Sher
wood delivered a very neat and appropriate valedic
tory to his brother Senators, which was kindly re
ceived by all, for Mr. S. was an attentive and gen-
tlemanly officer. The Senate then proceeded to
ballot for a successor. The Loco Focos had in
caucus fixed upon Mr. Bigler as their candidate,
and the first ballot resulted for Bigler 15—Mr.
Dunk 12—Scattering 4 ; no choice. The ballott
ing then continued throughout a great portion of
the morning, the Whigs (except Mr. Crabb) after'
1101T10 time falling in (together with Mr. Dimmick,)
for Mr. Ross or LuxErixs, who on the 28th ballot,
was duly elected Speaker of the Senate, the vote
being, for Ross 16—,Bigler 11,—Blaak 3,—Steri
gero 1. Mr. Crabb voted for Mr. Bose on the lust
ballot—Mr. Gillis was absent, and Mr. 800 did not
vote, Mr. Bigler's opposition to the " right of
way" defeated !fist.
A number of private bills were disposed of dur.,
ing the lust few days of the Session, amongst them
aeveral extensions of Bank Charter., and a bill
changing the Corporate powers and name of the
Southern Insurance and Trust Company, to the
Tradesmen's Bank of Philadelphia, which, how
ever, it is said the Governor will veto. The bill to
extend the jurisdiction of the District Court of
Lancaster, to Dauphin county, where the !rsine%
of the Common Pleas is about three years in ar
rear, received as an amendment, in the Senate, the
bill to abolish the Mayor's Court of Lancaster,
which, as I have said before, is of no earthly use,
except to provide a sinecure poet and handsome
salary for a good Loco Foco Recorder. But the
House refuse to concur and amongst hands the
whole bill was allowed to fall. Many other me,
, lotions bills upon which much time had been spent
I were permitted to die in like manner. Some got
into the "right of way," whilst others were affec
ted in another way.
Now, that the Legislature has adjourned,vse may
be permitted to recapitulate the amount of their ser
vices to the Commonwealth. They melon the 6th
day of January, 1846 and adjourned on the 22nd
of April, having been in session one hundred and
six days—and what did they do?—Aye, there's the
• stomper! It is true they passed a great many bills
—something like five hundred, perhaps,—but of
these not more than half a dozen were of any good
to the people at large, and these half dozen, might
have all been disposed of in a month. It is Ince.-
eery and proper that an appropriation bill should
pass, and a decent Revenue bill ought to have been
passed. It was right, moreover, that the Central
Rail Road Company should receive a charter, and
the consideration of the Right of Way could not
well be dispensed with, but the enormous mass of
private bills which occupies the time of the Legis
lature is a grievous infliction of expense upon the
Commonwealth, and in nine cases out of ten, works
direct injury to the rights of individuals, whmo
property is thus without their knowledge, much
loss their consent, specially dealt with. Bet let
them go. As men, the great body of them of both
parties, were respectab!e, and pleasant follows.—
The Speakers and officers of both Houses, wcrd
unassuming, courteous and gentlemanly in the
discharge of their respective duties, and have my
highest respect.
You will understand that all the matters hereto
fore noticed as having been agitated—ouch as Bien.
nial Sessions of the Legislature—sixty and thirty
days' Sessions, and a dollar a day for any longer
period; and all such humbugs, got up for Bun
combe," having served the purpose of their mover,
in a speech or newspaper paragraph, are permitted
to sleep the Lethean Sleep or have been consigned
to the tombs of the capulets.
The Court of Quarter Sessions meets in this
county on Monday next. The most important
matter which is expected to occupy its attention is
the trial of M'Cook for tiro alleged attempt to bribe
Col. Piolet in relation to the investigation entered
into by the Legislature in reference to the Lehigh
County Bank ; which investigation lies all ended
in smoke—no action having ever been taken on the
report of the Committee on Banks. Messrs.
Btrr
reil, Piollet, Galloway and other members of the
Legislature, are remaining here to attend the trial.
Some interesting proceedings are anticipated as
Mr. Stevens and Mr. M'Cormick are concerned fur
the defendant, and if the matter comes to be can
vassed before a Jury, the conduct of COL Piollet in
that singular confab and sequel which occurred be.
twee° him and M'Cook, will be closely and severely
scrutinized. I incline, however, to the opinion that
the Court will Quash the indictment, as it is very
doubtful whether an indictment at Common
Law (and there is no statute) will lie, for bribing a
member of the Legislature.
Having now, my dear sir, given yourreaders all
that was worth reading (and more too sometime)
of Legislative and other proceedings during the
past Session, I now bid them and you good bye
(" for a bit," at least) with the best wishes for the
prosperity of all who patronize and encourage you
in tho arduous, but laudable cause in which you
have embarked. I inn much pleased with the able
manner in which the " Journal" is conducted, and
ant also gratified with the evidences of succest
which appear thus far to have crowned your efforts
to establish an energetic, dignified, and fearless
Whig Journal, and an interesting literary newspa.
per.
*.lt will be seen by a reference to our Von
gressional news, that Chad.; J. Ingersoll, the man
who admitted the other day in the American Con
gress, that ho would have been a Tory had ho lived
in the days of the Revolution, has been most essen
tially used up, in his attempt to cast odium upon
the fair fame of Daniel Webster. His own politi
cal friends refused to sustain him in Iris fiendish
work of defamation and slander. The message of
Mr. Polk, its relation to the disbursement of the
Secret Service fund, during the time Mr. Webster
was Secretary of State, was not satisfactory to Mr.
1., because the President was unable to commutd•
cate any thing that would sustain him in his infa
mous attack. Mr. Webster, in referring to thi'l
subject a few days since, said Its would now leave
his slanderer (Mr. Ingersoll) in "the worst company
pony he could be found—to a communion
wlUi
himself." Poor Charley, he has fallen into a pit
dug by Ins own hands, and is left to die, politically,
"from the poison of his own nature."
The Potato Disease.
The accounts of Irish distress in the papers are
heart rending. The Evening Post gives the follow
ing extract of a letter from the Rev. W. It. Towns
end, rector of Aghadda, diocese of Cloyn. The
communication is addressed to a medioal_friend in
N. Y. city :—" In this part of Ireland we ate in a
frightful state, the humbler class all living on the
contaminated potato. The sides of the fields and
gardens aro litterally covered with cotton One.,
thrown away. The detail of destruction is endless .
That employment should wanted for the people.
while ono third of Ireland is as much a Nvaso as
the woods in Canada, and the rest badly cultivated,
not affording half labor, is a strange anomaly."
0:).Tho P.tteral on the 18th Inst., de+•
(rived forty thousand dollars of Relief Notes, which
had been cancelled by the State Treasury.