THE JOURNAL,I
•
liUN TIN GDON:
Wednesday, July 8, 1846,
Whig Candidate for Canal Commissioner,
JAMES M. POWER,
OP MERCER COUNTY.
Public Schools
Patents, desirous of sending their children to the
Public Schools of this district, should do so on or
before Monday next, otherwise they will not again
have an opportunity to enter before the first Mon
day in August. By order of the Directors.
July 0„ 1840. JAS. WIN, Peeet.
my. We invite attention to another communica
tion, given in this paper, in regard to the Congres
sional nomination for this district. Our correspon
dent of this week, it will be seen, differs very widely
from the one of last week. The people will de
ride between them.
rr . "7 The letter of Gen. GAIN EH, to the Secretary
of War, will he found in ahother column. We
hope all our readers will give it a careful perusal.
We think the Administration will soon discover
that old soldiers are rather reugh customorb to at
tack.
The Bnoks
Of Subscription to the Pennsylvania ilailroad
arc now open at Adam Hall's Hotel. We hope
that the capitalists of this borough will take $20,-
000, at least, of this stuck. It can be done with
ease, if our citizens but will it. It has been sug
gested that the borough corporation should take
some stock. Wo like the suggestion, and hope it
will be done. And we believe, too, that our Coun
cils have the nerve to do it, if they are but convin
ced that it would be acting in the line of their duty
and privilege.
Fourth of July,
'rhe day sacred to all lovers of liberty—the an-
niversary of our National political Independence,
passed elf very pleasantly in this borough. Al
though the morning was very inauspicious, the day
proved as fine as could have been desired. Those
who walked in procession, were neither scorched
by the burning rays of the 81111 or drenched by the
falling rain. A. full description of the exercises
of the day will be found in another column, fur
nished by A. W. Benedict, Esq., at the request of
the Committee of Arrangement, which renders
any further notice at our hands, wholly unnecessary;
as we believe it will meet the views, and be heartily
responded to by all who had the pleasure of hear
ing the speeches or partaking of the sumptuous re
past. We will only add that the speeches of
Messrs. Sco•rr and HALL, in pres,ting and re
ceiving the banner, were singularly appropriate snd
truly eloquent. We are at a loss which to admire
most—the beauty and elegance of the sentiments
expressed, or the manly self possession of the
speaker.
The oration of J. SEWELT. STEW.IIIT, Esq., was
a production somewhat out of the usual strain of
Fourth of July speeches. While none could fail
to appreciate the truly original ideas advanced, and
admire the vigor of the mind that conceived them,
some were somewhat startled atthe doctrines which
they seemed to convey. As this speech, together
with those above alluded to, are to be published, we
will not attempt to give any abstract of them at
this time, but give them to our readers, when fur
nished us, without any farther "note or comment,"
as they came from the speakers themselves.
The Alexandria Band enlivened the proceedings
of the day, with. " soul stirring" music, having
kindly responded to the invitation of the committee,
and visited our borough on the occasion, for that
purpose.
„33- We have the pleasure of stating to our read•
era that our neighbor of the Globe answers us in
his last paper, ” unhesitatingly," that he is "opposed
to the efforts now making by his party in Congress
to repeal the Tariff act of 1842." We are truly
gratified at this manly avowal on the part of our
neighbor, and only regret that his ready pen was
not long since employed in denouncing, not only
the efforts making in Congress to cut down the
Pennsylvania "'free of' Life," but also the efforts
of the President, and the Pres Trade report of
his Secretary. 11. J. Walker. with an occasional
rebuke to the British tone of the organ of this ad
ministration, which came into power with profes
sions of love for the protective policy upon its lips.
We hope, however, that we will yet see all this in
the columns of the Globe, together with a frank
avowal on the part of its editor, that the people of
Pennsylvania were deceived and misled when they
were informed that J.. K. Polk was a good Tariff
man, and that the present propective policy would
not be disturbed. Our neighbor owes an avowal
of this kind to his readers, as the above deceptions
were all proclaimed to them, through the columns
of the Globe, by his " illustrious predecessors."—
When he does this, we shell be happy to claim
him as a worthy co-laborer in behalf of Pennsyl
vania interests, and in opposition to the destructive
doctrines of Mr. Polk and his free trade allies.
Wo learn from the Hollidaysburg Standard,
thst the contract for erecting the public buildings
for Blair county, has been awarded to Mr. DANIEL
K. RGAMr, of Hollidayshvire.
(7.,:r A County Convention of delegates from the
rovers' townships, has been called by our friends in
blair county, to be held in Hollidaysburg on the
, lath inst. The delegate elections to take place
the Saturday previous. The object of this Conven
tion is to tom a County ticket, end circa a county
cr;a:urt,.k•a of the , piny.
Hon. John Blanchard.
This gentleman addressed the House of Repro
sentatives on the 28th ultimo in a speech of great
ability, in defence of the Tariff of 1842. It is
spoken of by Washington correspondent., as en
unusually able effort, and listened to with profound
attention, We some time since predicted that oar
representative would be found at his post when this
great question, in which his immediate constituents'
have so great a stake, would come up for consider
ation. The correspondent of the li. 8. Gazette
in speaking of his speech, pays the following hand
some compliment to our representative:
Mr. Blanchard, being :in bad health is scarcely
able to speak loud enough to be heard ten feet. He
has never spoken before, but he had not been on
his feet ten minutes before the House discovered
there was music in him, and all present gathered
around him.
Mr. B. is a man of abilities—for many years the
leading lawyer in his Circuit; possessing an almost
boundless influence over juries from the firm con
viction in their minds that he was honest, being
called, as often as any way, honest John. With
all his blunt honesty and candor, he has a ra. e
fund of common sense, and an inexhaustible reser
voir of the dryest kind of humor, mixed with good
humor. Thousands have felt the keenness of his
wit, but no man was ever angered by it. Such is
the man, or rathe., what is left of him, fur he has
been afflicted for many years with ill health, some
thing perhaps of a pulmonary disease, which has
deprived him of the strong voice ho once possessed,
and to which I have often listened while he was
taking a jury captive and carrying them with him
through an intricate course :—such I repeat is the
man who for the first limo addressed the Boum to
day, and took it captive by his wit and humor.—
t shall not now attempt to give a synopsis of his
remarks, as my letter is too long to admit of it; but
I will merely say that he told the House that his
constituents were much more afraid of the war
which the party here—the administration and Con
gress, were waging upon them and their interests,
than they were of any foreign enemy. Those they
could meet and flog, but the war made upon them
here was one they could not resist. They did not
fear foreign enemies, but they did their enemies
here. Alluding to the speech of Mr. Broadhead
of Pa., against the bill, he said that if the hill was
so bad that even the democracy of Pennsylvania
could not swallow it ; it must be bad indeed, for
they could swallow almost anything if you would
only tell them it was democratic. This produced
roars of laughter. There was more in the manner
I of saying it than in the matter, keen as the cut
was, and as just as keen.
We shall lay this speech before our readers at
length, as seen as we receive a correct reporter it.
General Scott.
The N. Y. Courier, sap Wo have letters
from Washington, from a source we doubt not is
entitled to confidence, that when the Secretary of
War first intimated to Gen. Scott the wish of the
President that he should take command of the army
of invasion, the General at once responded that,
wherever the heaviest blows were to be givers or
received, by the Army, there he claimed the right to
be; but that if, while he was in Mexico, war should
break out with England, (as there was some dan
ger.) and he should hear of armies invading our
borders and desolating our coasts, he should be ex
tremely chagrined if not called at once to face the
British.
In reply to this he received the assurance that, in
that event, the Government would not wait for his
application, but recall him promitly. "Then,"
added the General, "I claim the command on the
Rio Grand with the New Troops."
And yet in the face of these facts, (as we doubt
not they are,) knowing them as both the Secretary
and President did, they have yet permitted General
Scott to be assailed as unwilling to take command
of the army 1 His thorough brave , y and staunch
patriotism will outlive all the malicious efforts of his
partizan assailants."
Q We regret to learn that two young men,
named Wm. Rodney 45t Solomon Snyder, of Harris
burg, were very se. iously injured while engaged
in firing the cannon in that place on the 4th instant.
Mr. Snyder had one arm blown off, and Mr. Rod
ney, so severely burned, that his recovery is consid
ered doubtful. Mr. Snyder is expected to recover.
The War.
The Washington Union, ridicules and denoun
ces the proposition made in several quarters that our
Government send an embassy to Mexico with the
view of negotiating a peace, and intimates that the
Administration will make no advances towards
conciliation. " When Mexico," says the Union,
tt shall pt offer any terms of peace, ehe will he heard.
When she shall proffer suitable terms, they will be
accepted. Till this he done, our war will march
steadily and vigorously on—it will accend the table
lands of Mexico—it will march from province to
province, and from stronghold to stronghold, until
finally it shall dictate to Parades, or to any succes
sor, if need be, a compulsory peace, on proper
terms within the walls cf his capitol."
Marshall Tureen.
The Locofoco prints dub Gen. Scott Marshal
Tureen, by way of ridicule. An anecdote is rela
ted of the Marshal which shows that the application
has some propriety. On a certain occasion, an
impudent coxcomb. imagining himself to Irene been
insulted by the old gentleman, spit in hie face.—
'the Nlarshal, placing his hand upon the hilt of hia
sword, and fixing upon the audacious perpetrator a
look of Ineffable contempt, cooly observed : " Could
I wipe your blood from my conscience us easy as I
can your spittle from my face, I would in on in
stant plunge my sword through your heart, and
thus render it utterly iruposible for you ever to te
peat the offence." Equally silly and harmless does
Gen. Scott regard the attempt of Locofoco " cox
combs" to bring him into ridicule. As Mr. Ste
sans roma ked in hie speech last Saturday evening,
the friends of Gen. Scott would bu perfectly willing
to go into the next Presidential contest with the
. rallying words of " Soup and Marshal Turco !"
Lon,,,wer Tritn,ne.
ZEIGFILT IMPORTANT
FRO.II ift/Nilla
Deplorable News.
McrAY'S FREE TRADE BILL PASSED
IN THE HOUSE.
From the Baltimore American of July 4th, we
learn that the Free Trade Bill of Mr. McKay, haa
passed the House of Representative by a vote of 114
to 95. The correspondent of the American says:
The Secretary of the Treasury, Post Master
General, and Editor of the Union were in the House
of Representatives when Mr. McKay's free trade
Bill passed, and no doubt contributed to the result.
" You will observe that tea and coffee ere put
among the free articles as heretofore, that Salt is
taxed twenty per cent, and that the fishing bounties
remain as they are now."
Numerous amendments were offered during the
day, among which the bill of Mr. Hungerford was
then read as an amendment to Mr. McKay's
and amendments added to this amendment.
Some were cat vied and two of them to reduce the
duties to an ad valorem upon iron.
Mr. Schenck. of Ohio proposed as an amendment
to the Bill of Mr. Hungcrford, a new section requi
ring the Secretary of the Treasury to construe the
laws according to the principles laid down in a let
ter of 111 . Polk, dated at Columbia. in June, 1844,
and this letter was then read to the great amsetnent
of the House, arid when read was rejected.
The question tecurred upon M . Hungerford's
amendment to the hill of Mr. McKay, and it was
rejected, yeas 38. nays 90.
Mr. Brinkerhoff then proposed a new section to
the Bill giving the President power to enhance the
duties five per cent, by Proclamation if the Bill ac
ted upon failed to yield sufficient revenue.
Mr. Ewing contended that this was not in order.
The Choir overruled the objection upon the
ground that now sections could be reported.
Mr. Ewing took an appeal and the decison of the
chair was overruled, yeas 74, nays 98.
The Chair then refused to eceive any amend
ments though a score more would be offered.
Mr. Dromgoolo moved that the Committee rise,
and being overruled, the Chair refused to entertain
any other motion.
The Chair rose and reported Mr. McKay's Bill PI
amended and a score of members sprung for the
floor to move the Previous Question.
Mr. Broadhead moved to lay the Bill upon the
table and called for the yeas and nays.
The vote was yeas 96, nays 112!
['l'here woe a marked sensation in the_House
pending this vote.]
Mr Chapman of Md. asked to be excused for the
reason that he had paired off under peculiarcireum
stances with one of his colleagues. M,. C. was
excused from voting. The Previous Question was
then seconded, and the House brought to a vote
upon the amendments as they were presented.—
Those objected to were laid aside for contesting
votes.
The voting upon the article of salt, taking it
from the 20 per cent list end placing it upon the
free list, occupied more than an hour, and the vo
ting was intensely exciting.
The house concurred in taking salt from the taxed
articles by the close vote of 105 to 95.
A motion was made to reconsider. and the vote was
so close that no man could, by the closest calcula
tion, predict of the result.
1 ; 1;e vote was soon announced,
For reconsideration. 101.
Against reconsideration, 105.
Thiel was but half the battle.
The next motion required its insertion among
the free articles as the non•enumerated articles paid
a duty of 20 per cent.
Here the struggle was still more urgent, and after
the vote was announced it stood yeas, 105; nays 104.
The Chair. as he had a right to do under the
mile, tied the vote, and put salt among the 20 per
cent (or non•enumcrated articles.)
Mr: Jenkins of N. Y. now moved a reconsidera
lion of this vote, but as soon as the roll had been
called he announced that the vote just taken was a
the speaker had voted when he had no
right to. SALT WAR AMONG Toe race ARTICLES. "
The mistake had originated in adding up the list of
votes. The vote stood 105 to 11)2.
A motion now followed to reconsider this vote,
and the yeas and nays were ordered. The result
was, what many regarded as the feat vole upon the
bill, and it woe announced as follows—two mem
bers changing their votes to change the result : yeas
104—nays 102.
The question now recurred again upon placing
salt upon the free articles, and the yeas and nays
were again ordered, and the vote stood as follows:
yeas 104—nays 105. And thus salt pays a duty
under the new bill of 20 per cent...one of the non
enumerated articles.
The next struggle was upon the clause to repeal
the Fishing Bounties, and the House decided not
to repeal by a vote of 109 to 100, and so left the
Bill as it was.
None of the ether amendments were acted upon
by yeas and nays, and the bill, at twenty !nitrates
past three, was ordered to a third reading, and the
yeas and nays taken upon the passage of the Bill.
The vote upon the passage was: Yeas, 114.
Nays 05.
A motion was made to reconsider all the votes
that were taken, in order that there should be no
effort to reconsider hereafter.
The adjournment was to Monday next and the
free traders sent up a SHOUT at what had been
done, which the friends of Protection responded to
with a HISS. It was four o'clock when the House
adjourned.
The following are the yeas and nays upon the
the passage of the Bill.
YEAS—Messrs S. Adams, A irdereon, A tkmson,
Bayly, Bedinger, Benton, Briggs, J. A. Black, Bow
lie, Boyd. Brinkerhoff, Brockenbrough, W. G.
Brown, Hurt, Cathcart. A. A. Chapman, R. Chap
man. Chase, Chipman. Clarke, Cobb, Collin, Cul
lom, Cunningha.n. Daniel. Dargan, J. Davis. De
Mott, Dobbin, Douglass, Dromgoole, Dunlap, El's..
worth. Foram Ficklin, Fries, Giles, Goodyear. Gar
don.Grover, Hamlin. Haralson, Harmanson, Hil
liard, Hoge. I. E. Holmes, Hopkins. Hough. G. S.
Houston, E. W. Hubbard. J. 14. Hunt, Hunter, J.
H. Johnson, Jos. Johnson, And. Johnson, G. W.
Jones, S. Jones, Kaufman, Kennedy, P. King,
Lawrence. Leake, La Sere, Ligon, Lumpkin, Ma
clay, McClelland, McClernard, McConnell, Mc-
Crate, J.J. McDowell, Jas. McDowell, McKay, J.
P. Martin, B. Martin. Morris, Morse, Moulton,
Niven, Norris, Parish, Payne. Perri!, Phelps. Pills
bury, Rathbun, Reid, Retie, Rhett, Roberts, Sawtell,
Sawyer. Scammon, Seddon. A. D. Sims. L. H.
Sims, Simpson. Thos. Smith, R. Smith. Stanton,
Stark weather. St. John. Strong, Jacob Thompson,
Thurman. Tibbetts, Towns, Tredway, Wick, Wil
liams, Wilmot, Wood, Woodward, Yancey--114.
NAYS.--Messrs. Abbott, J. Q. Aflame, Arnold,
Aehmun, Barringer Bell, Black, Blanchard, Brod
head, Brown, Buffington, W. W. Campbell, J. H.
Campbell. Carroll, Cocke,Collamer,Cranston. Cra
zier. Culver. Darragh, Davis, Delano. Dixon, Dock
ery, Ethan, Erdman, J. H. Ewing. E. H. Ewing,
Foot, Foster, Garvin, Gentry, Giddings. G, ahem,
Grider. Grinnell, Hampton, Harper, Holmes, J. W.
Houston, S. W. Hubbard, Hudson, Hungerford,
Hunt, C. J. Ingersoll, J. R. Ingersoll. Jenkins, D.
P. King, Leib Lewis, Levin, Long. MeClean, Me-
CeugherY, McHenry, Mcllveine, Marsh, Miller,
Mosely, Pendleton, Perry, Pollock, Ramsey, Ritter,
' J. Rockwell, J, A. Rockwell, Root, Runk, Runscli,
Schenck, Seaman, Severance, T. Smith, A. Smith,
C. IL Smith, Stephens, Stewart, Strohm, Sykes,
Thibodeaux, Thomasson, IL Thompson, James
Thompeon, Tilden, Toombs, Trumbo, Vance, Vin
ton, Wheatoh, White, Winthrop, Woodruff,
Wright, 'nun
Central Railroad
The BOoks of subscription to this stock, closed
in Philadelplf aon Thursday evening last. The
amount subscribed during the ten days is not sta
led. Tlib bodks will he again operied in that city
on Monday, at 10 o'clock A. M. and remain open
for a few days.
We observe in the U.S. Gazette a legal opinion
as to the Right and Authority of the City corpora
tion to take stock in this road which concludes
with the following
For the reasons Which we hdve shove Stated, Are
are of opinion that the Corporation of Philadelphia
has the right and authority to subscribe to the
stock of the Pennsylvania Roil flood, and to raise
money by loan or otherwise to meet the subscrip
tion, and the interest thereon; and that further leg
islative action is not necessary to carry the same
into effect.
T. 1. WHARTON
T. M. PEWIT.
June 30, 1846,
Hnving considered the question proposed to as,
and bad repeated conferences with Mr. Wharton
and Mr. Pettit in the progress of their investigations,
I concur in the above opinion.
JOHN SERGEANT.
Philadelphia. June 30, 1846.
The above is certainly very high legal authority
Col. Benton is a wit in addition to every
thing else. The Washington correspondent of the
Philadelphia North American writes:
A capital thing was said by Col. Benton. a few
days ago to a distinguished Whig Senator, which
should not be allowed to perish. They were dis
cussing the effect of the Oregon compromise upon
the fifty-four forties, and the policy which that
division of the Democratic party had pursued.—
Sir,' said Col. Benton, „ when 'you were a boy,
your mother made you read the good hook. I fear
both of us have not paid that attention to it we
ought, since we have been left to our own guidance.
But, you will remember a passage of a mar. being
delivered of ce:tain devils—seven I believe. They
were cast into swine and the swine ran into the sea
and were drowned. There is no account that the
devils were d owned and the last time they appear
ed was in the shape of these fifty-fon forties. Now,
thOugh they have been killed off, the devils will sur
' vivre. and at some future period they will develope
themselves in a new party."
The Debate on the Tarifi:
The last w-i k has been one ot intense
interest in \Washington As the debate
upon the Tariff question approached its
close, the most bitter denunciation was
Indulged in between the different factions
of the Locoloco party. We cut the fol.
lowing specimen from the proceedings :
On Tuesday Mr. Brinkerhoff, (Loco) of
Ohio, stated to the House that the Ohio
delegatii n had unanimously detern►ined to
vote against the bill before the House.
Ile also d, flounced the Administration fur
deserting 54 40, and complained most bit•:
terly of Ohio not having received her share
of offices in the gift of the Administration.
Mr. B. was replied to by Messrs. Bayley,
Yancy and 1\ ick of Indiana—all Locos.
file latter was especially severe. In con.
eluding his remarks he said the Ohio del
egation might as well go over to the Whigs
at once. „ Such men are not wanted in
the Democratic ranks; God had deserted
them, the democratic party could not trust
them, tie Whigs despised them, and the
father of lies must take then►."
Notwithstanding all this, Mr. Brinker
hoff and his Ohio friends, were whipped
into the party traces, and voted fur the
bill, as will be seen by reference to the
yeas and nays upon its passage.
OrrICERS Or TUE ARMY.
Gen. Taylor has been nominated as
Major General, and Cols. Twiggs and
Kearney as Brigadier Genet als under the
first supplemental war bill. Under the
second bill the following nominations have
beets made:
Col. Butler, of Ky., as Major General
of Volunteers,
Also the following persons as Brigadier
Generals, which completes the number:
Pillow, of Tennessee.
Shields, of Tennessee, and recently of
the Land Office.
'1 lunnaa Nlarallall of Kentucky
Lane, of Indiana.
of Ohio,
A son of Governor Lincoln of Mass.,
who distinguished hitn:rlf in the battles
of the Bth and 9th of May, has been nom•
inated as Assistant Adjutant General, with
the rank of Captain.
The nominations of Gen. Taylor and
Col. Butler, have been confirmed by the
senate,
BOUGIE AND REAult. —A correspondent
of the National lute Mote. says: "A
friend of Gen. Scott accosted hint a few
days ago, a little before the brilliant vic.
wiles on the Rio Grande, thus: "Do you
not apprehend, General, that by achieving.
a brilliant victory, General Taylor will
become President." "Suppose he does,
we shall have for a President un honest
man and a good Whig," was the magnani.
mous reply —chitrarteristic of Gen. Scott."
(I* A letter from Washington to the
Philadelphia Ledger, da , ed Wednesday, 8
o'clock, P. M., sa,s !he nomination of the
lion. JAMES BUCHANAN as one of the
Judges of the' Supreme Court, was that
day made to the Setkte by the President.
0:7" HENRY CLAY has written a lengthy
letter to some ft lends in New York city
reiterating his confidence in the beneficial
tendencies of the •Iforitl' of 1542, and ear
nestly deprecating the effort now being
made by Mr. Puna and his friends to de
stroy it. And yet Mr. Polk was "a better
Tarittnian than Mr. Clay h'
Banner Presentation.
FOURTH OF JULY.
SONS OF TEMPFH ANCE.
Pursuant to previous arrangements, the Sons of
Temperance, met on Saturday last. July 4th, for
the purpose of receiving from the Ladies of our
Town, a Banner, which they had prepared for them.
Although the lowering clouds, gave indication of
rain, ilia Cold Water Army were not to be driven
from their purpose by a little of that pure and re
freshing element—and the Committee, took such
Isteps as should secure pleasure and comfort to all,
and notwithstanding all the necessary arrangements
had been made for a public dinner in the open air,
at the Cottage; the Committee sought and were
fortunate enough to secure, an admirable place for
•
the purpose, in doors,
The Sons" assembled at their Hall, at half
past 10 o'clock—at about which tinie the Alexan
dria Division arrived, accompanied by the excellent
Band of music, of that Borough ; who had kindly
volunteered to be present to enliven the scene by
their soul stirring strains. The procession was
then formed at about 11 o'clock and moved to the
M. E. Church—which was soots crowded to over
I flowing. The order sang an appropriate ode. The
Throne of Grace was then tipprdactied in prayer
by the Rev. Mr. Peebles. That appropriate National
hymn, " My Native country 'tie of thee" was then
sung by the congregation.
A beautiful Banner, which had beeh bdlf con
cealed was now displayed, bearing the inscription,
"Sons of Tentphi•ance, Aro. 17, Standing Stone
Division, Huntingdon;" while in its centre the
motto of the order " Love, Purity, and Fidelity"
tastefully arranged on a scroll encircled the "Star"
and " Triangle," from which the light of truth radi
cated in every direction—all of which was display
ed in great taste and beauty, in oil, and gold upon
a white silk ground, the whole surrounded by a sil
ver f loge. Upon the opposite side in plain gill
letters on a blue silk ground was Inscribed, "Pre
sen , ed by the Ladies of Huntingdon, July 4,
1846." Such was the banner we had met to re
ceive, and which reflected much credit on the gen ,
and taste of the fair donors.
erosit;
John Scott, Esq., on behalf of the ladies, pre ,
!tented the Banner to the Division, and J. A Hall,
Esq., for the •• Sons" accepted the beautiful present.
It would be injustice to either of the above gentle
men, to attempt a partial report of their eloquent,
touching, and appropriate remarks, if I could, as
it is expected that they will be published that all
may read them, but I am free to acknowledge that
I cannot, for my feelings became so enlisted in the
manner and matter of the Speakers, that memory
ceased to perform her functions. Music, by the
band—a Song--and rinsing prayer by the Rev. S.
H. Reid, ended the ceremonies at the Church.--
The procession was then formed, and proceeded to
the Court House, which was crowded to excess,
where the band discoursed most eloquent music.—
The Deck , ation of Independence was read by
A. W. Benedict. Esq., and an Oration delivered by
J. S. Stewart, Esq., which was listened to with
much attention and pleasure. The company then
p• acceded to the large room above the Court Hall,
and to the number of about 400 hundred gathered
around a table groaning with the luxuries of life;
which had been prepared and spread by the gener
ous hearts, and active hands of the ladies.
Every thin'g passed off delightfully, and nothing
occurred to mar the festivity of the day—every one
pleased with himself and his neighbor.
For the "Huntingdon Journal."
Congress.
M. CLARK.—I observe in 100kIng over your
paper of last week, on article signed " A Scott and
Irvin Whig," recommending Andrew Curtin, Esq.,
as a candidate for Congress in this district. There
are several objections to this article and the adoption
of its sentiments.
First. The assumption that Mr. Blanchard is,
or will be unfit to represent this district, is as un
warranted as it is ungenerous, and an insult alike
to Mr. Blanchard and his friends. What, I pray,
has Mr. Blanchard done, to bring down upon him
reflections of such a character? Is this the reward
of a life spent in the service of the Whig cause 1
Is this the gratitude due the man who has been wil
ling to spend and he spent in defence of our true
and tried principles? No. Not so will the people
of this district tell you, they among whom he has
gone laboring for the last thirty years; the same
people who in 1894 so generously gathered around
and stood by him, will stand by him again.
But what renders this article still more unkind
and out of place at this time, is the fact, that Mr .
Blanchard has just passed, or is about to pas.,
through one of the most important sessions of Con
gress—a session, marked by grave and momentous
questions—questions, invoking the highest interests
of the whole country; and on all these questions
he has acted with the intelligence of a statesman,
and voted with the independence of a freeman.
But it is further asserted, although the assertion is
couched in an inference and sheltered by an insinu
ation—yet it is asserted that Mr. Blanchard is not
equal to Mr. Gwin or Wilson before the people and
that defeat is inevitable. Let 118 see how this is.
And first, where's the evidence of it? Is it to be
found in the fact that in 1844 Mr. Blanchard was
opposed by Dr. Joseph Henderson, a man who has
always been regarded the most popular in the die ,
trict ; a man who had not only the strength which
a high and unsullied reputation gives, but he had
the advantage of having distinguished himself by
mingling freely where slaughter was thickest in the
last War—and yet, with all these advantage., ale.
Blanchard was elected over him by near five hun
dred majority. It is in vain, then, to talk of Mr.
Blanchard bring weak before the people. lie has
been tried and not found wanting.
but there is still another objection to the article,
and it is this If Mr. Blanchard should refuse a
nomination, (which I do not anticipate} then
Huntingdon county is entitled to the man; arid I
rejoice that she has a man worthy in all respects,
and quite tho eq...1 of Mr. Curtin—and that man
is Col. S. S. WHARTON.
A W and
From tho Washington Union.
GEN. GAINES.
The President laid before the Senate (on the 24th
ultimo] the following letter from General Gummi
to the Department of War, which was read and
ordered to be printed
HEADQUARTERS WESTERN DIVISION,
New Orleans, June 7th, 10413.
SIR: I have to acknowledge the honor of your
letter of the 28th May—last month.
It was with surprise I learned the Department
of War regarded with disapprobation the request
made by me upon the Governor. of Kentucky esti
, other Statesfor assistance. At the time it was made
r (the 4th of May last) General Taylor was in the most
critical situation. He had been left with neither
adequate means nor men to sustain the national
honor--opposed to an army near four times as
strong as his own, and cut off from his military
stores. The country was uncertain whether he
could escape destruction. By his own gallantry,
and the indomitable courage of his officers and men,
and the providence of God, he extricated himself
from the difficulty. At this crisis he requesfed
troops to be sent to him with all possible dispatch.
As commander of this division of the United States
army. I immediately sought the means of meeting
his wishes. And I would have deemed myself
recreant to my trust, and meriting dismissal frem
the service, if I had postponed action on the sub*
ject for two weeks, until orders could have been
receivbd from Washington.
The War Department may deem the number of
troops asked by me as greater than the exigency re
quired. This, I must confess, would astonish me,
as the War Department asked and procured a bill
authorizing the levy of 50,000 volunteer., and np
propriating ($10,000,000) ten millions to meet the
mime exigency.
The Wit Department seem to be of opinion
that there is no discretionary power lodged in the
to act withoht positive orders. I therefore would
ask, for infordiation, if a servile insurrection should
occur; if an irruption should be made by large
tribes of Indians ; if a swami of steamers, wills
Paixhan guns, were seer hovering about this sea-
coast ; or if a General, at the bead of a great part
of the anny of the United States upon the frontier
of a neighboring Slate neat me, should ask wedr
lance, would it be my duty to refuse all aid until I
should have received orders from Washington 1
humbly conceive that the latter crime has Witted
within the last month: and if I have erred in deem-.
ing General Taylor and his army in a situation so
hazardous as to demand unmediate succor, it is an
error under which the country, the Colima., end
the Wt r Department have equally labored. Had
assistance been delayed by me, and bad General
Taylor and his army been cut off, I woad haves
regarded it as an indelible stigma upon my name.
I am aware that the exercise of such a discretion
must ever be at the peril of the officer exereieing
it. That peril I can never hesitate to incur when-
ever the welfare of the country demands ft. If I
exercise it unwisely, 1 ens stilling that my comniis
sion shall be fo feited ; or if I exorcise it vainly,
or for dishonorable purpose., I am willing to be /
shot. lam more than willing to abide the conse
quences of my conduct in this matter, confident as
I am that I have not transcended my duty, or acted
with greater zeal than the emergency required.— -
If the battles of the Bth and 9th of May, so well
contested as they were for a time on both ci dos.
had resulted in the loss of Taylor's army, it would
have plunged the whale Union into deep mourning,
and into that most poignant of all human griefs, an
abiding sense of self-reproach for the settled and
cold indifference with which his want of competent
force and supplies had been for months witnereed.
The talented and gallant General Deßuys, who
for a long time commanded the finest division of
volunteers I have ever seen since the war of 1914
and 'l5, and who, I inn sure, has no impede), for
the command of this description of force, with 1..
Texada, Esq., one of the most promising yourg
members of the Legislature, and the talented Judge
Bryce, were not, as you seem to suppose, private
citizens. They were Louisiana volunteers, and
gentlemen of high respectability, and were appointed
by me to act as officers of the general staff, up ‘2,1
the same principle that the distinguished Edward
Livingston, A. L. Duncan, and John R. Gryme g,
all first-rate lawyers, were appointed by Jackson to
act as staff officers.
Jackson's object was, as my object has ever been
upon such occasions, to maintain the great princi
ple upon which the defence and the independence
of our beloved Union must forever depend; that to
be a private volunteer is to hold a station of high.
honor, whence an acting general staff may with
propriety be taken and put on duty in the absence
of the regular staff of the army.
These appointments, all the measures taken
by ma to which you object, were deemed by use a.
essential duties, and discharged by me upon princi
ples sanctioned by the greatest and best men over
known to me, some of them whom took their deg
greee in military and political science in the school of
our beloved Washington, Green, and Knox; and its
the more civic school of Jefferson, and Dearla rat.
A. W. B
and Gallatin; and, though last, not least, in the
school of Madison, Eustis, Dallas, and Armstt ong.
Monroe, and Calhoun, the master spirits of the war
of 1812 to 1814 and 'lll.
Be assured, sir, that I will obey with much plea
eure the orders of the President of the United \
Stat.s, according to my oath of office. As to the
repruaande with which you have honored mein the
last year, and the lest and present month, althocgh
they strike me as novelties not being warrant, I by
the sentence of a general court-martial, yet I . art
lessly eubinit to them, ae they seem to be a source
of pleceure to the War Department, and certainly
inflict no injury on me. I can conceive but one
motive for their frequent occurrence, and that is,
that my name shall be bandied before the country
that the public may be prepared to see with in./ if
[arctic° my nsme pawed by in silence if more lie
tinguished officers are created in the army. If this
is no, the labor is useless, as I may very soon be
unable to discharge the active duties of my profes.
lion, (though long in the enjoyment of excelent
health ;1 for I am already old, of a contented dispo•