THE JOURNAL.
Huntingdon, Tuesday, February 8, 1848.
Gen. Scott and his Persecutor.
Gen. SCOTT has been suspended ! Jas,
K. Polk, who sent Santa Anna safely
into the enemy's country, to command
her armies, has thus committed another
act, which, if possible, gives still great
er aid and comfort to the enemy ! Gen.
SCOTT, who has triumphed in every bat
tle--led our gallant army into the very
Halls of the Montezumas, and planted
the stars and stripes upon the capitol of
the enemy ; he who deserved so richly
to come home in honor and in triumph,
the corrupt politician now at the head of
the National Administration, would fain
drag home a prisoner and in chains!
Why is this 1 The cause is ground
ed in jealousy. Gen. Scott had won
himself imperishable honors at Queens
town, Lundy's Lane, &c., in measuring
swords with the tried veterans of proud
old England. A grateful and admiring
nation were breathing the name of Scott
with enthusiasm as a candidate for the
Presidency. Gen. Taylor was ordered
on to Mexico with a small army to kin
dle a little blaze of glory for the Presi
dent, so that Gen. Scott might be obscu
red and forgotten in the smoke. But the
imbecile management of the war, togeth
er with its unconstitutional commence
ment, made no capital for the President,
while the laurels were gathering thick
and fast around the brow of old "Rough
and Ready." The battle of Buena Vista
had no parallel in the annals of war.—
But what was the reward of the hero of
that brilliant and victorious contest 1—
A shadow was indeed cast upon General
Scott. Gen. Taylor was the observed of
all observers—the admired of all admi
rers. James K. Polk was to the world
as an eclipsed satellite, compared with
the effulgence of the meridian sun.—
This was too much for a weak and en
vious mind like Mr. Polk's. Old Zach
ary was named for the Presidency—that
was the political death -knell of Mr. Polk
his followers. Therefore the career
taut army were 'taken irom nun. .411111
Scott—the then almost forgotten Scott
—even he of the "hasty plate of soup,"
was resuscitated and sent on with a
handful of men to "conquer a peace"
with Mexico. With such an army, Mr.
Polk and his counsellors never dreamed
that the old veteran could accomplish
anything in the heart of the enemy's
country, other than perhaps leave his
bones there and those of his devoted
army ! The wish was doubtless father
to the thought. But lo! Vera Cruz and
the impregnable castle of San Juan D'-
Ulloa, surrendered to Gen. Scott and
his gallant army ! He pressed on with
amazing rapidity, and battle after battle
was fought—victory after victory won,
in quick succession, until the theretofore
ideal was realized—our army was "rev
elling in the Halls of the Montezumas"
—and the stars and stripes were proud
ly waving over them! What hero of
ancient or modern days achieved won
ders like these But before the shouts
of victory had died away, the breathings
of vengeance were heard in the White
House. The people heard of nothing
but unparalleled victories, and the name
of WINFIELD SCOTT and the Presidency ;
but Mr. Polk "snuffed treason" afar
off—he saw guilt where the people be
held nothing but glory, and the victori
ous Commander-in-Chief was put under
arrest—a Court of Inquiry is appointed
—and such a Court—to sit upon the
case and adjudge the gallant Scott !
Was ever such iniquity—was ever such
an outrage perpetrated upon the rights
and the hopes of a free people 1
The enthusiasm of the American peo
ple for Scott, like the once smothered
fires of the volcano, will burst forth in
one unextinguishable flame when his en
emies least expect it—and those who
venture too near to extinguish those
flames, will find themselves scorched by
the fires which they themselves have
kindled.
[1:?.- The Whigs of Congress have de
cided upon calling a National Conven
tion. Another meeting, to fix the time,
will be held this week.
Er The report of the death of Hon.
John Davis of Massachusetts proves to
be incorrect.
Mr. Poinsett's Letter.
On our fourth page will be found the
letter of Mr. Poinsett, on the subject of
the war, referred to in our last. It is de-
serving of attention, and entitled to great
weight. Mr. P. has always been a prom
inent member of the Locofoco party,
and has filled several important stations
under the Government. During his resi
dence in Mexico, as Minister, the fol
lowing incident is said to have occurred
which serves as a good illustration of
Mr. P's knowledge of the Mexican char
acter. One of those revolutions to which
Mexico has been too often subjected was
going on, and from some cause, the Min
ister's residence was upon the point of
being attacked. Mr. Poinsett with re
markable presence of mind unfurled the
banner of his country. The incense,
populace was instantly calmed, and the
stars and stripes was hailed as the flag
of a sister Republic.
In another column will be found, too,
a letter from Hon. John McLean, at pres
ent a member of the Supreme Court of
the U. S., and at one time a member of
Gen. Jackson's cabinet, relative to the
war, and against the views of the Ad
ministration. All the great and patri
otic minds of the country are opposed to
Mr. Polk's wicked and dangerous
schemes of conquest and plunder. And
the cry of treason, set tip by the Exec
utive whelps all over the country, does
not appear to deter them in the least
from speaking out.
The Presidency.
We observe that some of our Whig
friends at Harrisburg have constituted
themselvds a "Taylor Central Commit
tee," and have recently issued an ad
dress to the friends of the old Hero
throughout the State. It would appear
from the address that the authors believe
the enthusiasm for Taylor in Pennsylva
nia still in a " raw" state—needing con
siderable " working up," to render it ef
fective. We do not pretend to know how
this is generally, but believe that if the
people are left to act for themselves, they
will do "all things well." We believe
with a cotemporary, that if anything can
destroy the almost assured success of
the N\ hig party in the approaching Pres
idential campaign, it must be an uneasy
and impatient spirit, which will not bide
the progress of time and events. Against
finch a spirit we desire to raise a warn
will present a name which we shall all
be proud to honor with our suffrages, and
the present weak and misguided admin
istration will be hurled from power.—
, Till then, fellow %V higs, let us be patient.
And when our banner is flung to the
breeze, we shall rally beneath it with no
' discordant feelings, but with a cordial,
unanimous determination, the sure pre
, cursor of victory.
FATAL ACCIDENT.--FralleiS Carroll, a
laborer engaged at the Huntingdon Dam,
was so severely injured by a land-slide
on the 2d inst. that he died on the day
following. The deceased was a native
of Ireland, supposed to be about 35 years
of age, and has, we understand, a brother
residing in Boston by the name of James
Carroll, and a sister. We understand
that medical aid was procured and every
attention possible paid the deceased
from the time of his injury until his
death, by his fellow countrymen employ
ed at the same work. His remains were
decently interred on Friday the 4th in
stant, in the Trinity Church (Catholic)
burying ground, in this borough.
ED- Hon. James A. Pearce was re
elected by the Legislature of Maryland
on Thursday last, a Senator of the U.
S. from that State for six years from the
4th of March next, by a vote of 49 to
28. Thus has the course of this talent
ed Senator on the subject of the Mexican
war been triumphantly sustained, and
thus too, has the truckling course of his
colleague, Hon. R. Johnston, on the
same subject, been emphatically con
demned.
State Convention.
The Whig State Committee have is
sued a call fixing the 15th of March
next as the time for the meeting of the
Whig State Convention.
Er y. Hon. P. Soule, (Loco) has been
elected to the U. S. Senate from Louis
iana. Mr. S. received the votes of four
or five Whigs, and one it is alleged was
bribed to be absent. A statement was
made to the Houk by Mr. Jones that
the absent member, Mr. Myles, in a con
versation with him, stated that "four
negroes had been offered him not to vote
for a Whig United States Senator."—
V% hereupon a resolution was aduptod to
inquire into the facts and report to the
House.
VIRTU LAWS.
A bill has been introduced into the
State Legislature to abolish the laws
which prohibit the reciept of more than
six per cent. per annum for money. It
was reported by a Philadelphia County
member and appears to have many ad
vocates in that quarter. We agree
with a contempory that such a system
may be popular in the city ; but in the
country among the farmers, we believe
the time has not yet come for its adop
tion. The man of capital here who
should make a business of selling his
money at whatever price the necessities
of his purchasers might induce them to
submit to, would be an object of gene
ral execration. The general complaint
among farmers especially, is that mo
ney is now too high; and if additional
facilities were offered for its abstraction
from the country, for the use of dealers
and speculators in the cities, the price
would rise and the supply be greatly di
, minished in the country.
Centre County.
The Whigs of Centre county held a
County meeting on the 26th ult. and ap
pointed Wm. Allison and J. K. Shoema
ker, Esqr's, representative delegates to
the State Convention ; Wm. C. Welch,
Richard Miles and Wm. J. Parsons,
Esqr's, Congressional Conferees, and J.
T. Hale and A. G. Curtin, Esqr's, Sena
torial Conferees.
The following resolutions among oth
ers were adopted :
Resolved, That we have entire confidence in the
ability, integrity, and sound republican virtues of
the Hon. Honor CLAY, and should he be the nom
inee of the National Convention, we pledge him
our warm, cordial. and active support.
Resolved, That in the character of Gen. Win
sr ELD SCOTT, the gallant Comniander-in-Chief of
the American Army who has won for himself im
perishable laurels in many brilliant and victorious
battles, we find those characteristics requisite in the
candidate for our suffrages in this Campaign.
Resolved, That we have the fullest confidence
in the political principle's of Gen. ZAcitsnx TAT-
Lon. and that while we admire his military talents
and glory in his military fame, we believe that in
the highest civil office in the gift of the people, he
would be found true to the honor and interest of
his country.
Resolved, That we hail with pleasure the in
creasing and justly merited popular ity of that un
compromising advocate of the principles of Pro
tection to American Labor, ANDREW STEW•IIT,
of Pennsylvania, and that we respectfully recom
mend him to the consideration of the National Con
vention as a candidate for the Vice Presidency, be
lieving that he possesses the qualifications requisite
for that exalted station.
Resolved, That our confidence in the integrity
and ability of our fellow-citizen, Gen. JAM CV farm,
is undiminished.
Resolved, That the measure recommended by
-r....—:. ..—.....1,11 . e, ..hilo
lion, meets with our entire condemnation, and
shows the littlb regard they have for the interests
of the laboring classes.
The meeting was ably addressed by
John G. Miles, Esq., of this place, and
Bond Valentine, Esq.
GEN. IRVIN.
In reply to the resolution complimen
tary to himself, Gen. Irvin, says the
Whig, came forward and made a few re-.
marks:
He thanked his friends for the cordi
ality with which they had received the
resolution, and the Whig's of the county
and District for the zealous and unwa
vering support which they had so fre
quently given him ; nor was he less
thankful to the Whigs of the State at
large for the zeal with which he bad
been supported both for the nomination
for Governor and in the contest for the
popular suffrage for that office. Now
that the contest is over, he had few re
grets at the result, other than for the
Whig party and his friends throughout
the State, who had interested themselves
in his behalf. For himself, personally,
he was largely the gainer in a pecuniary
point of view, by defeat. He had given
the Whig party of the State to under
stand that he was a one-term candidate
for Governor, and he wished his friends
here and elsewhere to know that he had
been the candidate of a one-term nomi
nation. To be thought worthy of that
nomination by the representatives of the
Whig party of Pennsylvania, ho consicl z ,
ered a high honor, and he would neve,
cease to feel grateful for it. When that
nomination was made he considered suc
cess extremely doubtful, and if at times
the prospect was more flattering, he had
I not at any time been led into confidence
of success. In conclusion, he stated
that he had not thus defined his position
through a belief that the Whig party
would not yet succeed in Pennsylvania.
That was not his motive, for he believed
that experience would yet show that the
prosperity of Pennsylvania absolutely
required their adoption.
AN IMPROVEMENT.—BiddIe, of the Pius
burg American, says that Philadelphia
politicians imagine all wisdom and even
the power of carrying an election, to
rest on that side of the Schuylkill and
the same side of the Delaware. Horace
Greely, by way of improving upon this,
thinks such things to lie very much with
himself."
THE JOHN DONKEY, continues to be as
funny as ever. The last numbers abound
in the richest and rarest kind of wit and
humor. It will doubtless receive an im
mense patronage.
GEN. SCOTT.—The Locofoco papers
are beginning to hint to their readers—
they are afraid to speak out boldly—that
the administration have good reasons
for proscribing Gen. Scott. In reply to
these hints, the Washington correspon
dent of the North American says:
"It is basely false that the adminis
tration is justified in its proscription of
Scott. I claim to know the nature and
the character of the correspondence up
on which the President rests his defence,
and I now say, without the fear of suc
cessful contradiction, that whenever the
whole truth is given to the world, his
vile accusers will be sunk deep in deg
radation and dishonor."
SPECIE.—The shipments of specie
from the port of New York last week
amounted to $354,096, making the total
amount shipped from that port since the
Ist of January $1,723,427. The exports
of specie from the U. States to foreign
parts since the 30th of June last are esti
mated at ten millions of dollars.
TILE NEWS AND THE MARKETS.—The
news by the Acadia says the Baltimore
Sun, has had a most depresssing effect
on breadstufrs, and we learn by telegraph
from New York that cotton yesterday
declined cent per lb. The decline in
flour in the Baltimore market has been
full 25 cents per barrel, and corn and
wheat have also declined in the same ra
tio. At New York the private advices
were considered still more unfavorable
than the newspaper reports.
THE SUSQUEHANNA COUNTY BANK.-
The Susquehanna Register of the 20th
January, published at the place where
the bank is located, speaks as follows of
its condition :
"We notice that some of the papers
received at this office, have reported, and
still report the bills of the bank at this
place, as worthless. Notwithstanding
all that, however, the Susquehanna coun
ty Bank has all along redeemed, and
still continues to redeem its bills, and
altho', like the Broadway Theatre, it has
a "pretty good run," we believe it was
never in a more prosperous condition."
ID— A resolution has passed both
Houses of Congress unanimously, gran
ting a site on the public grounds in
Washington for the erection of the
National Washington Monument. The
corner stone will be laid, if possible, on
the 22d instant—if not, on the 4th of
July next.
DEATH OF EX-SPEAKER JONES.—The
Speaker of the 28th Congress, John
Winston Jones, died at his residence in
Goon.—A waggish editor down enst,
on hearing of the intended expedition
to be sent by our government to the
Dead Sea—remarked that he did not
know what object was in view, unless
to fish up Sodom and Gomorrah, and an
nex them to the United States.
Why did the Administration permit
Santa Anna to "pass freely" into Mex
ico 1 That FACT is now of record. What
was the motive 1 Was it that he had
agreed to sell his country for " pieces
of silver'?" If so, " who's the dupe V'
If Mr. Polk bargained with Santa Anna
to play the traitor, can he blame him for
playing the cheat 1 Was it less or more
"perfidious" in Santa Anna to cheat this
country than to betray his own 1
Absorption of the Whole of Mexico,
The Philadelphia news says: At the
late war meeting in New York, Senator
Houston gave us an insight into progres
sive Democracy, "as he understood it."
His views of "the manifest destiti,y of
this country to swallow up the whole
continent as a birthright" are startling
indeed. He openly scouts at national
morals, and defends national immorality.
After charging it upon the Pilgrim Fa
thers that from their landing they went on
"cheating the Indians out of their land,
he came to this conclusion—" Now the
,Mexicans are no better than the Indians,
and I sop no reason why we should not
go into the same course now and take
their •land." A sentiment which we
fear many`of their party entertain though
they are not shameless enough to avow
it. Mr. Houston, however, having bro
ken ground, did not stop at this point,
but declared that "a mandate from God
guided the American people to this war."
Indeed the whole tenor of his speech was
to teach the most glaring national profli
gacy—declaring that Americans con
sidered this whole continent their birth
right, and would have it right or wrong.
[ri-The Locofoco County Convention
of Cumberland county, unanimously in
structed their delegates in favor of Mr.
Buchanan.
ay -The Supreme Court of the U.
States gave their decision, on Tues
day week, against Mrs. Connor, who
claimed to be the widow, and legal heir
of the immense estate, of the late Gen.
Van Ness, of Washington City.
0j A Scott meeting has been called
in Pittsburg for the 22d inst.
FROM HARRISBURG
The Legislation of last week does not
possess much general interest. The nom
ination of James Nill, as Pesident Judge
of Chester district was rejected.
The following bill has been introduced
into the Senate by Mr. Johnston, of Erie.
AN ACT
To exempt property to the value of three
hundred dollars, from levy and sale
on execution and distress for rent.
SECTION 1. Be it enacted, ere., That in
lieu of the specific property now exempt
by law, from levy and sale on execution,
and distress for rent, property to the
value of three hundred dollars, and no
more, owned by, or in possession of any
debtor, shall be exempt from levy and
sale on execution, or by distress for
rent.
SECTION 2. That the Sheriff, Consta
ble or other officer, charged with the
execution of any warrant, issued by com
petent authority, for the levying upon
and selling the property, either real or
personal, of any debtor, shall, if request
ed by the debtor, summon three disin
terested and competent persons to ap•
praise the property which the said deb
tor may elect to retain under the provi
sions of this act; for which service the
said appraisers shall be„ . entitled to re
ceive fifty cents each, to be charged as
part of the costs of the proceedings; and
property thus chosen and appraised, to
the value of three hundred dollars, shall
be exempted from levy and sale, on the
said execution or warrant.
SECTION 3. That the twenty-sixth sec
tion of the act entitled "an set relating
to executions," pasved IGth June, 1836,
and the seventh and eighth sections of
an act entitled "an act in regard to cer
tain entries in ledgers in the city of Pitts
burg, and relating to the publishing of
Sheriff's sales and for other purposes,"
passed 22d April 1846, and all other acts
inconsistent with this act, be and the
same are hereby repealed.
SECTION 4. That this act shall take ef
fect, on and after the 4th day of July
next.
The Senate have passed the supple- I
ment to the Act incorporating the Cen
tral rail-road company, after a discus
sion of some three or four days. This
supplement authorizes the cities of Pitts
burg and Philadelphia to subscribe to
the stock of that company.
The citizens of York and Adams coun
ties seem to be determined to get rid of
the President Judge of that district.
More than two dozen petitionn have been
presented to the House praying for his
removal by address.
The committee on banks in the House
have reported a general banking law.
Says
.e b i l aveAßTinglV 'non ilYt i a t its fat '
The House passed a bill appropriating
$lOO,OOO for extraordinary repairs on
the main line.
The bill relative to last wills and tes
taments has finally passed and has been
signed by the Governor. By this act
men who are unable to write their names,
can execute a will by making a mark
provided all the other requisites of the
existing laws are complied with.
A joint resolution has also been pas
sed authorizing the Adjutant General to
place the two cannon taken at Cerro
Gordo, and presented to the State of
PetinsYlvania . by Gen. Cadwallader, in
the rotunda of the capitol
The Committee on Ways and . Means
in the House of Representatives have re
ported a bill repealing so much of the ex
isting laws as authorizes the taxing of
money at interest for county purposes.
The Committee on Banks in the House,
on Wednesday, reported the bills for the
charter of the 'Fayette, Mechanics, Mi
nersville, Allentown, Lehigh county, and
Mechanics Bank of Erie, with the recom
mendation that all be negatived.
Mr. Overfield offered a joint resolution
that the Legislature adjourn sine die on
Tuesday the 4th day of April next, at
1 o'clock P. M.
BROAD TOP RAIL-ROAD.—Numerous
petitions have been presented during the
week, iu favor of a railroad from Hun
tingdon to Broad Top, and also from
brake's Ferry to Broad Top.—But on
Wednesday last, we find that Mr. Fer
non, from the Committee an Corpora
tions, reported "adversely to the petition
for a rail road from Huntingdon to Broad
Top coal region."
Locofocomm will prevent all enterpriz
es of this kind so long as it retains the
power.
Mr. Allison, of Beaver has presented
a petition for limiting the amount of
lands to be held by any one person, and
exempting the homestead from sale and
execution ; which was read and refer
red to a Special Committee of five mem
bers.
Mr. King has reported to the Senate
the House bill, to authorize Robert Stew
art of Huntingdon county, to purchase
certain real estate.
Mr. Blair ha ' s reported an act for re
lief of John Criswell an others.
The following petitions were present
bd by Mr. Blair on Monday last : one
for change of plan of holding elections
in Greenfield township, Blajr county.
Also, one for a rail road from Hunting
don county, to Broadtop mountain coal
region. One relating to holding certain
courts in Huntingdon county. One for
the incorporation .of the Blair County
Mutual Insurance Company, to be loos,
ted in Holidaysburg. One from 'Dry
Gap relative to place of holding elections
One from a school district in Brady
township, relative to the location of a
School House. .
The nomination of Davis Brooke, as
Associate Judge of Blair county, was
unanimously confirmed by the Senate on
the 28th ult.
FROM W.ASZINGTON.
The debate on the Ten Regiment Bill
is still going on in the Senate. It is un
derstood that Mr. Webster will make a
speech on this bill before the debate clo
ses.
DIRECT TAX.—A direct tax of five mil
lions annually, to be raised during the
continuance of the war, or until the pay
ment of the national debt, on stock, per
sonal property and money at interest,
was proposed in Congress, on Wednes
day, in the shape of instructions to the
Committee of Ways and Means. It was
proposed by Mr. Wilmot, and adopted
by a vote of 93 to 23. According to
Judge McLean's opinion, such a tax
would bring the war to a close in sixty
days.. The appropriations for the Army
and Volunteers during the coming fiscal
year, reported by the Committee on Sa
turday, amount to THIRTY-THREE MIL
LIONS. They also ask $495,500 for for
tifications.
Mr. Wilmot's Tax proposition after
being amended, has been voted down in
the House—yeas, 44.: nays, 143.
A strong effort was made by the Lo
cofocos to instruct the Committee to
bring in a bill to tax tea and coffee, as re
commended by the President, but the
Whigs voted all such propositions down.
Mr. Wrist.
A Washington correspondent of the
Baltimore Sun says:—"l understand,
from a reliable source, that a special
messenger has already been dispatched
to him to bring him home by force, or, at
any rate, to expel him from Mexico, city
and country."
There is still a great deal of talk about
a treaty of peace having been agreed to.
A message was received from the
President on Wednesday last, transmit
ting the correspodence between Mr.
Trist and the Mexican authorities, in
reply to a resolution of the Senate.
POLK A S PASS TO SANTA ANNA.—The fol
lowing is the official pass of Santa Anna,
as communicated to Congress by Mr.
...Ai.. te,Lhe " Whig lief"
U. S. NAVY DEPARTMENT,
May 13, 1846.
_
COMMODORE : If Santa Anna endeavors
to enter the Mexican ports, you will al
low him to pass freely. Respectfully
yours, GEORGE BANCROFT.
Commodore DAVID CON ER,
Commanding Home Squadron.
ARNOLD'S PASS TO MAJOR ANDRE.
HEADQUARTERS, ROBISON HOUSE,
September 22d, 1780.
Permit Mr. John Anderson to pass the
G'iards to the White Plains, or below if
he choses. He being on public besiness
by my direction.
B. ARNOLD, Major-General.
EDITORIAL MEETING IN OHIO.— At a
meeting of the Whig Editors assembled
at Columbus, on the oacasion of the
Ohio Whig State Convention, held on
Wednesday evening, January 15, 1848,
Hon. JAs. WILSON, of Jefferson county,
was appointed President, and Sen. W.
ELY, of Ross county, Secretary ; when
the following resolutions were adopted :
Resolved, That to secure the support
and co-operation of the Whig Press of
Ohio, the man whose name shall be pre
sented for the next Presidency must be
a Whig, a whole Whig, and nothing bat
a Whig.
Resciived, That w 8 regard the holding
of a Whig National Convention for the
nomination of candidates for President
and Vice President as indispensibly ne
cessary, and recommend that such a
Convention be held at Pittsburg, in the
State of Pennsylvania, or Cincinnatti,
in the State of Ohio, on the 4th day of
July, 1848.
()Prentice, of the Louisville Journal,
says pointedly :—" A little over forty
years ago,Aaron Burr was brought to tri
al on a charge of treason for undertaking
to raise within the limits of the United
States the means of wresting ' Mexico
from the dominion of Spain. It was
treason then to dream of the conquest of
Mexico, but it is now the height of pa
triotism to undertake it !"
LUCKY MAN !—The Washington cor
respondent of the Evening Bulletin, says
that Senator Cameron, of this State, has
realized some $300,000 by the sale of
his lands in Virginia to some English
company.
SOMEBODY thinks that the "Sons of
Temperance" should try and reform the
money market, because it has such a
habit of getting tight.
The New Yorkers are getting up a
grand reception for General Ssott, to
conclude with an illumination, dinner,
and ball at the Astor House.