THE JOURNAL
Huntingdon, Tuesday, December 28. 1817
WHIG DELEGATE MEETINGS
COUNTY CONVENTION,
111 HE Democratic Whigs of the several
1 . townships and boroughs of Hunting
don county, are requested to assemble
at the usual place of holding delegate
meetings, on SATURDAY, the Seb of Jan
nary next, to select two delegates from
each to represent said boroughs and
townships in a COUNTY CONVEN
TION, to assemble in the Court House,
in the borough of Huntingdon, on Wed
nesday evening, the 12th of January, for
the purpose of electing a delegate to the
State Convention to nominate a candi
date for Canal Commissioner, and to ap
point two Conferees to meet those of
the other counties of this Congressional
district to elect a delegate to the Nation
al Convention to nominate a candidate
for President of the United States.
By order of the County Committee.
A. W. BENEDICT, Chairman
[CP- Hon..). Blanchard has our thanks
for very valuable favors received during
the past week_
Kr No change in the markets since our
last.
ID". This being the holydny season,
our readers will excuse the want of va
riety which our paper presents. Print
ers must have some recreation as well
as other people.
County Convention,
We would respectfully urge upon our
Whig friends in the different townships
and boroughs of the Count•;, the pro
priety of sending delegates to the Coun
ty Convention which has been called to
meet on Wednesday evening of the first
week of the Court. It is of the first
importance that the views of the entire
party of the county should be expressed
in that Convention on the subject of the
next Whig Presidential nomination, so
that those selected to nominate a delegate
to the National Convention may be ena
bled to act understandingly. We have
our own individual preferences, but do
not desire to urge them upon our read
ers, for the purpose of trying to inter
fere with the free action of the people.
Our attachment to principles outweigh
our preference for men, and we shall
therefore be happy to act in accordance
with the views and wishes of the major
ity of our party friends throughout the
county, whenever they are fully ascer
tained. We therefore hope that we
shall have a full representation and a
fair expression of the popular will in
the coming Convention.
The Bay State Vocalists.
The EDDY FAMILY, conducted by Profes
sor COOLIDGE, have been giving Concerts
here for several nights past, to crowded
houses. Their proficiency in vocal and
instrumental music has been witnessed
with delight and astonishment by our
citizens. The vocalists are four in num
ber, two Ladies and two Gentlemen,
hailing from the Old Bay State. They
have a choice selection of Songs, Glees,
Quartetts, &c., which they sing, accom
panied by a Melodian of the sweetest
notes; and the combinations are admi
rable. As an evidence of the merits of
thiamusical Family, we may state that
their first Concert here wits thinly at
tended, but so highly delighted were
those present that at the two succeeding
Concerts our large Court-House was a
perfect jam. We take pleasure in com
mending this interesting and entertain
ing Yankee Family to the lovers of good
music, in every community which they
may see proper to visit. Indeed, " mu
sic bath charms!"
0=1". We gratefully acknowledge the
receipt of three large, fat, elegant tar
kies, by way of Christmas presents.
Who among our cotemporaries can boast
more substantial tokens of the kindness
of their friends 1
.2_
We have received a copy of the
Catalogue and Register of Dickinson Col
lege, for the Academical year 1847-48.
This institution is located in Carlisle,
Pa., and is represented to be iu a flourish
ing condition.
lry- A destructive 'fire occurred at
Utica, N. Y., on Saturday last. The
loss is set down at $30,000, and the in
surance only $9,000.
The Legisluture of this State
meets on Tuesday next.
Tax on Tea and Coffee.
The President's Message, and the
Secretary of the Treasury's Report,
strongly recommends a TAX of THREE
MILLIONS of DOLLARS on the poor
man's Tea and Coffee 1 It will therefore
not amaze any one that the Locofoco
presses throughout Pennsylvania are
THE NEWS ITLO3I MEXICO.
"going it strong" for n tax on tea and
The news from Mexico which we give
coffee. However much our neighbor of this morning, conveys a brighter prose-
the Globe " deprecates the idea of inn=
ect of than any which has yet come from
posing a duty on these articles of con
that country. The election of Anaya to
sumption by all classes of the people,"
the Presidency—although the Presidem
yet he would rather do that than run
cy only of a month—the selection by
counter again to the views of the Presi
him of cabinet ministers, all said to be
(lett and his Free Trade Secretary of
favorable to once the declarations of
the Treasury. The Globe "would infi
the government to the governors,—and
nitely much rather contribute its mite in
this way, than adopt the course pursued above all, the appointment of commis•
by the federal leaders by giving laid and sinners to repair to Mexico and re-open
rn ,
comfort' to a treacherous and barbarous negociations,—are all pregnant circu
enemy." What patriotism! i stances; but more pregnant still, is the
A duty on Tea and Coffee is accessary, ' statement in regard to the voting down,
i
we are told, as a war measure. And has in the Congress at Queretaro, of Otero's
it come to this at last I We in the free ' resolution forbidding the government to
make peace on any terms involving the
North are opposed to a n tax% Tea and .
alienation of Mexican territory. If these
Coffee, because it falls hardest on the
poor. Tea and coffee have become in- i stories be true, they.indicate the triumph
dispensable necessaries with the poor in fo the peace party, and the prospect of a
the free states, where we area tea and i speedy cessation of hostilities. And
coffee drinking community. In the south 1 they indicate, too, the blunder made by
we admit it is not so. The nabob—the
the Administration in revoking the com
wealthy planter—drinks his fine tea and mission of Mr. Trist, without arming
General Scott with the power to treat
coffee, his wine and brandy, but those
for peace.
The accounts respecting the
who labor, the negrocs under their " pe- i
consume
none
of movements of Santa Anna are highly
collar institution,"
contradictory. Tne story of the revolt
these articles. It is therefore easily
in his favor and of his intended move , .
seen that such a tax is unequal, unjust
meet towards Queretaro, seems scarce
and iniquitous—the poor man must have ly probable.—x american.
the articles—he must pay as much tax
THE PRESIDENCY.
on them as the rich man, rolling in ease
A Washington correspondent says
and luxuriance.
there are many speculations in the city
It is the poor man that shoulders the
in regard to the Presidency, with both
musket and steps into the ranks, and
fights the battles of his country. You parties, and much is said also in regard
find but very few of the rich in this to the proper time for holding a Nation
al Convention. Some of the friends of
comfortable and perilous business. Is
this not so I It is so—but it seems to General Taylor would prefer that no
be not enough. The poor man at homenomination be made in Convention, and
that General Taylor should be elected
must pay for the fighting by a tax on
every pound of tea and coffee which he by a sort of spontaneous effusion of the
and his family consumes! Such is the
popular will. I doubt if that be practi
plain operation of this war measure—
cable. Delegates have already been se
this tax on tea and coffee, for which the leered from several States, and the
Locofoco leaders and editors are trying friends of other candidates are by no
to procure laver. It is infinitely worse means ready to surrender their estima
than
tion of the popular will, or their presu
med action of a National Whig Conven
" *ID AND CONTORT'." Ilion. The time of the Convention is
It is boldly asserted in the Globe of also a subject of considerable interest.—
last week, that the late Clay meeting in The people of the seaboard, and enga-
Philadelphia, passed the following reso- ged in general pursuits of business, can
lution, and that it was " suppressed" in attend a Convention as well in mid
the published proceedings : summer as any other time, but not so
.Resolved. That our Government in waging and those of the interior, engaged in agricul
rentinuing the prt gent war with a sister Republic
for territorial agg• nntlizentent, is unjust, and de- tural pursuits. The representatives of
serves a signal rebuke from the American people, the yeomanry are anxious that such a
and that the sympathies of the civilized world day should be selected as will enable
should lie extended to a nation defending it. homes
and firesides from invasion. And that in order to this large class of persons, particularly
relieve Mexico from her distressed condition, we from the Northern Agricultural States,
recommend to the Whig party generally, the pro
pritty of appointing a committee of citizens, to be present at the deliberations of the
(friends of the great Statesman of the West,) to body.
solicit subectiptions in money, to be sent to that The Loto Feces tire quite anxious to
country."
follow the action of the Whigs rather
Now, if the above resolution was
tsup
pressed in the published proceedings than precede it. If the Whigs take a
where does the Globe get it froml Is civilian, they will take a general, and if
,
it not original with the Globe? Or is it the Whigs take a general they will
copied from some equally unprincipled probably select a civilian. Between this
and the early part of May, there will be
Locofoco sheet? We call for the evi
-1
dance. but little done in public, beyond the na
ming of a day for a Convention, for that
Such a resolution was not heard of in
the Clay meeting in Philadelphia. The I presume must be done by the Whig
I
m Globe itself furnishes the evidence that members of Congress. So far, the friends
it was not made public, for it says it was of General Taylor are the most active,
I"suppressed." I particularly those from the Southern
Who has rend a Locofoco paper du-
States. The friends of other candidates,
ring the last year, or since the com
however, are not silent. The National
I mencernent of the war, that has not con- i
Convention must decide between the
itained elaborate columns to prove that respective persons, and I hope wisely
for the Whig party and happily for the
the Whigs were giving "aid and com
fort to the enemy 1" The same was the Countr y'
V-CONGRESS is fairly entering upon the
burden of Mr. Polk's annual message in
1846. Will not the ignorant, semi-bar-
business of the Session. On. Monday
barons Mexicans be encouraged by the
several very pertinent resolutions of in
comfortable intelligence that the Loco- quiry were offered, which we hope will
focos send them 1 Will they not thank
pass. Among them was one by Mr. Gog
gin, inquiring of the President for the
their stars that the great Whig party
are collecting money to send to them
whole history of the "pass" he gave San-
Next to the sending of Santa Anna their to Anna. This ressolution was voted
ablest general, they will no doubt con-
down last session by the heavy Locofoco
eider money the most desirable " aid and majority in the House,
comfort." (1",- There has been a little pleasant
Let us not he accused of "giving aid raillery going on for some time between
and comfort to the enemy" by transfer- 1 1 the editors of the Lewistown Gazette and
ring the forged resolution to our col- I Irllidaysburg Standard, which we are
umna—it is done to show tip the villainy I apprehensive is about to end in an open
of Locofocoism, and it accompanied with declaration of war on both sides. In
its own antidote. But the Globe pub- this the season of general festivity and
lishes it as a bona fide fact, as a demon- good feeling, we should regret such a
stration of the views and feelings of the termination of the controversy, and was
Whig party. And although the resolu- it not for the apprehension of sharing
Lion is a vile falsehood—a fabrication the fate of the man who interfered ins
from beginning to end, it is not the leas fight between a husband and wife, we
"aid and comfort" when unaccompanied shoidd like to throw in a soothing word.
with a denial. Indeed, front our location, a word of this
Next we expect to see the resolution kind. would seem altogether proper, but
copied by the Mexican press to show the , for the reason above stated, we forbear.
fenlings of a large and respectable por
tion of the people of the United States;
and what powerful arguments the Tory
presses at home will make lit of that
fact, to prove that the Ithigs have been
prolonging the war by this "aid and
comfort" to the distressed Mexicans.
Whig National Convention.
I TB.OM WASUINOTON.
There can now be no doubt that the There has as yet been little or no pub
Whigs, generally, of the country, will
I lie business transacted by Congress, and
choose delegates, to represent them In a 1
Whig National Nominating Convention, I will not be until after the holidays.—
and abide by its results, We notice, iWe make a few extracts from Washing.
however, with pain, there are a re* of : ton Letters :
the presses, favorable to General Z. I Dec. 17. The Senate held no session,
Taylor, who oppose a convention,
_and ; to day, and but very little was done in I
insist on running him as the
_ .. .
''re° - : the House.
plc.'s candidate." - This is rank folly.—
Suppose the friends of Scott, Clay, M'-
lean, Webster,&c., should take the same
course, what kind of show would our di
visions make against the opposition, in
the great struggle'? And the friends of
either of the above named gentlemen
would be equally justifiable in doing so,
with those of Gen. Taylor. Although
comparisons are invidious, in what does ,
Gen. Taylor surpass Gen. Scott'? Was
hit achievements in the last war—a war
against a foe worthy of our steel—more
brilliant than Scott's I—has his attach
ment to the Whig cause been of longer
duration and of a less qaestionable char
acter than Scott's 'I Have his deeds in
Mexico eclipsed Scott's'? Are his civil ca
pacities so superior to Scott's, as to
make him the candidate'? And we might
make similar comparisons with either
of the other candidates named. Admit !
that Gen. Taylor is the almost unani
mous choice of his party: what objections
can his friends have, then, to going into
Convention. These riends can be there,
and give him the endorsement of the
Convention. The Whig party adopts
no two third rules, but meet together to
have a fair expression of the Whig sew
timent of the country. If Gen. Taylor
is the choice of a majority of the Whigs
of the country, he would be nominated ;
if not, as a good Whig, he should not
(and will not) pemit himself to be used
to distract and defeat the Whig strength.
Such friends of Gen. Taylor are his worst
enemies. They are placing him in a
false position, and one, we feel confident,
the old Hero will not permit himself to
remain in.
The public sentiment of the country
is so strongly in favor of a convention,
that there must nod will be one; and
, when the time shall arrive, we feel con
fident it will be acquiesed in unanimous
ly by the Whig party. Lebanon county
has a preference for a candidate, but she
has a stronger preference fbr Whig prin
ciples, and will not be the less energet ,
is in the campaign, should some other
good Whig and true, be nominated.—
This is the spirit that should pervade
the party everywhere. Everything for
principle, nothing for men. There is
no man named for the high station of
President by our party, who would not
honor the °lnce. But we should take
the man most certain to be successful—
select him who embodies those eharact=
eristics most likely to ensure a triumph.
Who that man is will be for the Conven=
tion, assembled from every part of the
Union, to say; and it will be the duty
of every true Whig to adopt their selec
tion as his candidate, and rally to his
support with that enthusiasm which
shall wrest the wand of power from the
present unworthy possessors, and place
it in the hands of those who regard A
merican Industry, American Honor, and
the American Constitution. We feel a
conviction that the Whig Sentinel's cry
will yet be, 'All's well.'—Lebanon Cour
ier,
Stn. CLAY.
The Louisville Journal ; in commen
ting *upon Mr. Clay's celebrated speech,
uses the following language "We are
unprepared to concur in opinion express
sed by many of the Eastern editors that
this speech will inevitably make Henry
Clay the Whig candidate for the Presi
dency; for we strongly incline to the be
leif that, even if the mass of the Whig
party shall seem disposed to nominate
him, he will decline the nomination.—
We are all convinced that Mr. Clay will
not (and assuredly he should not) permit
his name to be used in another doubtful
contest."
Gen. Scott, under instructions frotn
Washington, for quartering on the ene
my, has issued an order that no more
bullion, bars or ingots either of gold
or silver shall be shipped from any port
in itletico, until the rate of duty shall be
fixed by the authorities at Washington,
and that after a certain time specified,
no more rents will be paid for quarters
occupied by the American army. Sub
sistence for the army, forage, &c. will be
paid as heretofore. The injunctions and
penalties of the martial law order, pub
lished at Tampico, Feb. 19, 1847, will be
strictly enforced.
The elephant Columbus, belonging to
a menagerie at Philadelphia, broke the
legs of his keeper on Wednesday f dashed
a cage to peices containing wolves and
hyenas, killed some smaller animals,
and made awful work among the ben
ches, &c. He was finally arrested in
his mad career ; but not until prepara
tions had been made to sluiot him.
Cassius Me CLAY.—The citizens of
Lexington held a meeting on Monday
evening last, at which they resolved to
give Captain Clay, an his return home,
the compliment of a public reception.—
The military companies of Lexington
have resolved to tender him the same
compliment.
Mr. Pettit, of Indiana, called the at
tention of the House to a misrepresen
tation of his remarks yesterday, which
appeared in the "Union," of last even-.
ing. He abused his political friend, the
venerable editor of the "Union," with
out stint or charity. And what made
the matter still worse, not a few Loco
loco members were chuckling at a fast
rate in honor of the sport. These hick
' erings and heart-burnings among the
"democracy" will never do—no never !
There must be concession—union--har
mony ! They must each and all bear
and forbear, and stick more firmly and
devotedly to the everlasting principles'
of '9B and '99 and " John, of Caroline!" I
If they do not do this and unite harmo
niously upon Buchanan, or Dallas, or
Cass, or Woodbury,or Butler, the Whigs
will walk over the course !
Dec. 20: In the Senate, Mr. Calhoun's
resolutions were postponed till the first
Tuesday in January. Mr. U. said the
I conquest of Mexico was the real ques
tion before the country, and he should
discuss that if a debate ensued on his
resolutions.
In the House, Mr. Goggin offered a
• resolution in relation to the return of
Santa Anna to Mexico.
Mr. Grinnell presented a resolution
of inquiry whether the President had
appointed the officers to conduct the ex
' pedition for exploring the Dead Sea.
Schenck submitted resolutions of
enquiry respecting the conquest of New
Mexico, and the orders for the siirne.
Isaac Holmes submitted a resolution
i calling upon the States to return the old
I surplus fund of thirty millions distribu
ted among them before any more new
loans should be created: •
Dec. 22. In the Senate several ine
r tnorials and petitions were presented:—
, Among the petitions presented Was
one by Mr. Hale, from New Hampshire,
and another from Indiana, on the sub
ject of slavery, which were ordered- in
lay on the table by the following vote.
Yeas 32, nays 10.
I Mr. Cass, from the Committeeon For
eign Relations, reported a bill for rais
ing additional forces for carrying on the
war with Mexico.
HOUSE.—After a prayer from the Rev.
Mr. Gurley, the Journal was read and
approved.
The bill appropriating one million of
dollars for the Subsistent Department
was taken up find passed;
Mr. Lincoln submitted a resolution,
which was laid over, asking the Presi
dent to state when and where blood was
shed on American soil during the pres
ent war.
Dec. 23. In the Senate, Mr. Johnson
of Maryland, submitted a resolution,
which was adopted, asking the President
to inform the Senate as to the costs of
the War, the number of killed and
wounded, and the number now In the
service.
111 r, Crittenden introduced a hill hp
propriating twenty five thousand dollars
for the purpose of purchasing the Mad=
icon papers, which was laid over.
Mr. Fairfield, from the Committee on
Naval Affairs ; reported a bill for appoin
ting Assistant Pursers in the Navy.
After the reading of the Journal, Mr.
Alorris, of Ohio, announced the death of
his colleague, tlid Hon. Mr. Hamer.--
After passing the usual resolutions of
respect and mourning, the House ad
journed till Monday.
What Congress thinks of the Veto.
On Tuesday last, in the House of Rep
resentatives, Mr. Wentworth submitted
the following declaratory resolution, the
answer of the House to the opinion ex
pressed so broadly by the President, in
his last veto message, of the unconsti
tutionality of the internal improvement
system :
Resolved, That the General Govern
ment has the p6wer to construct such
harbors, Lind improve such rivers as are
"necessary and proper for the protection
of our navy and our commerce, and also
for the defences of our country."
This resolution, after the benefit of all
debates, was agreed to by a majority of
138 Yeas to 54. Nays, being a majority
of upwards of two thirds.
So much, then, for Mr. Polk's consti
tutional abstractions and his fine-spun
theories about "tonnage dut
american.
Dj'THE POLICY OF A DEFENSIVit LINE, @IT'.
bracing the section of Mexichn territory
we desire, as suggested orriginally by
Gen. TAYLOR, is made the subject of stu
deid and vehement attack by the Presi
and Secretary of Witr. The principle
argument urged in favor of it by Gen.
Taylor was, not only that it would se
cure a peace, but that it would change
the character of the war from one of ag
gression to one of defence. This very
important point the President does not
notice !
GEN. 'TAYLOR—TILE ADMINISTRATThN.
" I tp;ow NOT how others felt," said
Gen. TAYLOR, in one of his brief and
beautiful replies to the complimentary
addresses made to him in New Orlean,,
" but for myself, how much soever
may forget, in the hour of battle, the
sad consequences of the strife, they al
ways rush npon my mind afterwards,
making my heart sink and causing me
to feel like a child. I had hoped to have
done more for my country than I have.
1 thought I might have been enabled to
accomplish a speedy and honorable peace
—an event essential to the welfare of Loth.
countries and particularly so to our own."
How different the tone and sentimunt
breathed in this simple yet touching,
effusion from the spirit that coldly runo-.
through the President's official remarks
on the subject of the war.
Whatet'.er stress may be laid upon the
idea of compelling Mexico to. make
peace on the basis of our demands ; how
plausibly soever those deinands may be
glossed under the yap* genettlities of
"indemnity for the past and security
for the future," the belief, we presume,
is almost universal that the President's
policy of carrying the war with renew-. •
ed force into " the vital parts of the en
emy's country," and t f continuing to
strike a prostrate adversary, will not
result in any peace save such as may be
enforced by the occupation of the whole
country and the'continucd presence o f
our armies there. •',
This view presents a gloomy prosplie
We turn from it to find relief and
cheering hope in the language of the
brave warrior, who, in the stern usages
of camps and the strife of battles, prc.
serves a heart lull of the kindest sym
pathies and a head :Ilvtiys clear,
intelli
gent and self possessed. A speedy and
an honorable peace is, indeed, "an event
essential to the welfare of both courA
tries, and partic , ilarly so to our own."
The course of the administration gives
no hope of such a peace.— Batimori
.Imerican.
Remains of Capt. Ca Id well,
The remains of Col. Roberts, of Fay:
ette, Capt. Caldwell, of Mifflin, and R.
C. McGinley, of Westmoreland, arrived
in Pittsburg on the steamboat De Wit ,
Clinton, oh Thursday afternoon of last 1
tveek;
The retitaini of Col. Roberts.were es
corted from the River through Market
street to Fourth, up the latter to Smith
field, Ethel from thence to the Mononga-,
hela wharf, where they were., received,
by the Fayette county cottmittee, on
board the Brownsville steamboat Packet
Louis McLean. The Flags of all the
steamboats in port, were lowered at half
mast immediately on the arrival of the
De Witt Clinton at the wharf and re
mained to during the afternoon. Tho
U. S. Flag formed the pall which ce
shrouded the coffin of the deee.nsed, and
the mute of the m'uffled elrom from a
military band accompanied the rro.les-
Sion in its march.
After the Brownesville steamer had
departed, the procession repaired again'
to the De Witt Clinton, and escortt.d . the
remains of Capt. Caldwell to a store in
Market street, and R. C. MeGin'ew to
the Exchange Hotel, there to a*. it ar.;
rangements for transportation to their
respectite destinations. The 'eerie was
mournful, and a sad commentary upon
the effects of war. 'rears bedimmed •
tilt eyes of mitny who were present.'
The three corpses were brought from
Mexico under the charge of Lieut. Kane,
who arrived in the steamboat.
OS x-President Tyler, says the Lou
isville kernel, recently came to this city
and staid all bight, yet none of our eit ,
laces would have known of his being
here but for the publication of the lists
of arrivals at the hotels in the newspa
pers. We are told that he was neiihnr
called oh nor taken by the hand by a
solitary individual in the city. He went
from here to Frankfort, and the Frank
fort editors did not even hear of his be
ing there until some time after his de
parture. His ex-Accidency's fate will
be very poor encouragement to future
Presidents.to turn traitors.
GENERAL SCOTT AND HIS GENERALE.-
The New York Journal of Commerce, in
alluding to the recent news from the scat
of war s says :
g 4 We trust there is little or no found
ation for the report of the arrest of Gees: '
Worth and Pillow and Col. Duncan.—
The accounts containing this report,
!eft Vora Cruz Dec. Ist; whereas advi
ces fruin the same port to Dec. 7th, sub?'
sentiently received, make no mention of
it. Again, a letter of Nov. 28th from
the Mexican capital, received by a come
=rein] house here, says nothing of the
rumor, but speaks as though every thing
were going on well. This letter is of a
later date from the capital than any other
accounts received here."
FATAL ACCIDENT.--A melandholy acci‘
dent occurred on the Philadelphia and
Columbia Railroad, on Tuesday last.—
When near the Bird in Hand Depot, the
the cars going at a rapid rate, ran over
a female, completely severing her head
from her body. Our informant says the
accident hafipdned at a short curve ; and
the motoent the engineer discovered a
persda Upon the track, he made every
effort to stop the locomotive, but in vain.
'the tinfortuate deceased was aged be
tween 25 and 30 years, and resided in*
the neighborhood.