THE JOURNAL. HUNTINGDON, PA. Thursday Morning, Aug. 5, ISM BY STEW ART & MALL FOR PRESIDENT, WINFIELD SCOTT, OF NEW JERSEY. FOR VIDE PRESIDENT, WM. A. GRAHAM, OF NORTH CAROLINA WHIG ELECTORAL TICKET. OENERAL ELCTORS, A. E. BROWN, J. PoLLOcii, S. A. PI:RVIANC DISTRICTS. I.—Wm. F. Hughes, •.-James Traquair. 3.—John W. Stokes. 4.—John P. Vorree. 5.—S. Mr Ilvaino. 6.—Jas. W. Fuller. 7.—Jas. Penrose, B.—John Shaeffer. 9... Jacob Marshall. 10.—Chas. P. Waller. 11.—Davis Alton. 12.—M. C. Mercer. DISTRICTS. 13.—Nor Middlaswartl 14.—Jas. 11. Camphel. 15.—Jas. 1). Paxton. 16.—Jas. K. Davidson. 17.—Dr. J. MeCn 18.—Ralph Drake. 19.—John Linton. 2J.—Arch. Robertson. 21.—Thos. J. Bighorn, 22.—Lewis L. Lord. 23.—C. Meyers. 24.—D. Phelps. „„„„ FOR CANAL COMMISSIONER, JACOB HOFFMAN, OF BERKS COUNTY, SUPREME COURT, JOS. BUFFINGTON, OF ARMSTRONG Whig County Convention. The Whigs of the several townships and boroughs in the county of Huntingdon are requested to meet in the townships at four o'clock, and iu the boroughs atil t , at the place of holding delegate meetings on Sat urday the 7th day of August next, to elect two persons (in each township and bor ough) to serve as delegates in the Whig county Convention to be held in Hunting don on Tuesday the 10th of August next at 10 o'clock A. M. for the purpose of nominating a county ticket and doing such other business as the interest of the party may require._ _ - -J. S. STEWART, Chairman, July 15, 1852. U? The Rev. Mr. Billaby will have ser vice in the St. John's Episcopal Church on nest Sunday, August Bth. To Correspondents. "Elementary Sounds," by "B."; "Fe male Education," by "R. A. M."; and the esteemed favor of "T. 111.," will appear in due time, "Progress," we must decline. The "ar guments and facts" by which he attempts to establish the truth of the Spiritual Rap pings, would quite as conclusively prove the reality and truth of Witch-craft—a de lusion no more absurd in its day, and, in our opinion, infinitely less dangerous. If "Progress" will permit us to substitute witch-craft for rappings, we will publish his article as a specimen of harmless absur dity, such as it really would be, without alteration, ton years hence; when the rap ping, like witch-craft, shall 'have boasted its "thousands of firm believers, and its hosts of talented defenders;" aye, and its multitudes of deluded victims. The "Love Letter" sent us for publica tion has afforded us much amusement, and our first impulse was to excite with it the risibles of our readers. But we now for bear. A ''sober second thought" that brings to our recollection some verdant points in our boyish history, disposes us to sym pathise with, rather than ridicule the des perately smitten swain. Besides, his fair enslaver, the gay, angelic being that has so innocently robbed him of his reason, might possibly, hereafter, find cause to re lent, and think less lightly of his flame.— The enjoyment of an extra half dozen years of "single blessedness" has often worked wonderful changes in the taste, temper, sentiments and sympathies of these "cruel fair ones." What has happened in times past, may, in this changing world, happen again. Therefore we say, courage, young man. ~A faint heart never won a fair lady." [t We acknowledge with pleasure, the prompt attention of many of our subscri bers to our former business notice. Quito a number—perhaps most of those who have been in town since—have called and ad justed their old accounts; while we have, during the same brief period, much impro ved our list of advance paying subscribers; and been handsomely treated by our nu merous advertising friends. We hope now that hundreds of those who have not yet found it convenient to call with us, will avail themselves of the interesting season of court week, to do so. The Kneeling Calumny--ILetter from Captain Naylor. We observe that the locofocos are en deavoring to make an impression unfavor able to Gen. Scott by charging him with being a Catholic. They are industrious at this business in private conversation, when ever they can find a person assailable in that way. We do not propose to defend Gen. Scott specially on this charge,—for wo would as willingly support a good, hon est and upright man, who is a catholic, as we would a good, honest and upright man, who is a member of any of the protestant denominations. All religions, in this coun try stand on an equality before the law.— We will state however as a matter of gen eral information, that Gen. Scott is a mem ber of the Protestant Episcopal Church, and when in Washington, the place of his official residence, worships in St. John's Church belonging to that denomination.— Their intolerant charge is an improper one to make, and is not true in point of fact. They also charge him with ordering the American army to kneel to the host, as it was borne through the streets of Mexican cities, by C atholic processions. There is net a word of truth in this charge. Capt. Naylor's letter published below, nails this slander, and explains its erigin : • From the Pittsburg Corn. Journal. EDITOR OF THE JOURNAL:—My atten tion has been called to an editorial article in the Pittsburgh Dispatch of Friday, un der the caption of the "kneeling story," in which it is stated that the editor has been requested to ask, by one who was through the war, "if the Cameron Guards of Har risburg and Captain Naylor's company of Philadelphia, were not (while on main guard duty at Jalapa,) obliged to kneel to the "Host" carried in a Catholic proces sion and this, under a general order issued previous to general order No. 297." As the Capt. Naylor, named in this en quiry, I am asked what I have to say up on the subject, and whether General Scott ever issued an order such as above indi cated. My reply is, there never was such a general order. No such order was ever made known to the army. My company never was called upon to obey such order, or any command purporting to be founded on such order. My company never did kneel to the procession of ' the "Ilost," either by obligation or otherwise. Gen. Scott never issued an order imposing any such obligation nor one that would afford any pretext or excuse to any officer under him, for issuing such an order, or imposing such an obligation. The whole thing is a fabrication, and is at war with that large, intelligent spirit of charity, so broadly con siderate of the rights and sensibilities of all, so eminently distinguishing Gen. Scott. The foundation, upon which a spirit of detraction—insinuating what it dare not, for many reasons, declare openly—has at tempted to rear this fabrication is to be found, I presume, in the following occur rence, which 1 briefly relate, us it came to my knowledge, premising a tew particulars in order to be intelligible, and that justice may be done to all the officers connected with the transaction. Immediately after the victory of Cerro Gordo (on the 19th of April '47) our ar my advanced and took possession of the city of J alapa, and established there a de pot and hospitals. Soon after that, Gen. Worth with his division advancing towards the City of Mexico, occupied and garrisoned Perote, and, on the 15th of May, took possession of the City of Puebla. On the 31st of May, Gen. Scott left Ja lapa, taking up the same line, halted at Perote to establish matters there, and thence pushed on to the City of Puebla, which he entered on the morning of the 28th of May; and there fixed his Head Quarters, and remained until he moved on with his conquering column to the City of Mexico. The posts then occupied by Scott's ar my, were Vera Cruz on the coast; Jalapa sixty miles in the interior; Perote nearly forty miles farther - in th interior; and Puebla still farther in the interior, are nearly a hundred miles from Jalapa.— Thus was our little army posted. After the defeat of Santa Anna, at Cer ro Gordo, and his ineffectual effort to make a stand at Puebla to prevent its oc cupation by Worth, he set himself about organizing in the Tierra Caliente, and the country between Jalapa and Puebla, his forces of guerrillas; a work in which he was familiar, in which he had begun life, and at which he had earned for himself a position that had led to his after eleva tion. The result was, that in a very brief time, the whole population of an immense extent of country, with desperadoes from the whole Republic, was converted into organized armies of guerrillas—predatory,, cruel and murderous; a force peculiarly fitted to the weekness of the Mexican character, and one which could operate de structively in such a country. Our own small force, then greatly redu ced, by the discharge of all the twelve months' volunteers, by casualties and sick ness, in the heart of an enemy's country, was, under the circumstances, wholly in suffieient to preserve the connexions of a line so extensive as that from Vera Cruz to Puebla. Jalapa, at which the princi ple Hospital was established, then crow ded with the sick, the wounded, and the dying, was to be abandoned, and its garri son advanced to General Head Quarters, at Puebla, where all the invading troops, destined against the Mexican Capital, wore to be concenteited before the final move. It Was feared, as the period for abandon ing Jalapa approached, that there might • be among the sick and the dying, some , whose condition might forbid removal, and L who would have to be left behind in such 1 safe places in the religious sanctuaries of the city, as the good will of the Mexican ' clergy would concede to them, as security against the assassin bands I have referred , I to. It was therefore, probably, deemed proper, by those in command at J alapa, to conciliate the clergy, by such good offices and attentions as they could bestow. Jalapa was, at thtit time, garrisoned by the first Regiment of Artillery, Col. Childs; the 2d Regiment of Pennsylvania Volunteers, Col. Roberts; and a small number of other troops; the whole under command of Col. (now General; Childs; who was the Military Governor of the city —one of the best executive soldiers of the army, as wary and vigilant as he is brave, prompt, energetic and decided. _ . I was at that time, lying hopelessly ill, given over by all as beyond recovery, (in deed, announced ut home as dead,) in the house of a Spanish family, where I had been carried by order of Col. Childs, from the loft of a Dutch beer house, to be treat ed and eared for. Lying in this condition one morning in the early part of June, a number of officers of the regiment to whieh I belonged (2d Penn.) came to my chamber, in a state of much excitement, to consult and advise with ins on the subject of a wrong which they thought had been done them and their commands. From them I learned that Col. Roberts, commanding our regiment, was, upon the day before, officer of the day; that, during the course of the day, he informed them' that there was to be in the evening a pro cession of the "Host," and that Col. Childs had either requested or ordered that it should be so arranged, if possible, that the guard should be turned out and kneel as the "Host" passed by; and he (Col. Roberts) requested that the officers so instruct their men. This request, or command, whatever it may have been, giv en by Col. Roberts, (probably, in his own very quiet way,) seems to have excited little or no attention at the moment. But, in the evening, the procession came, the guard was turned out or attempted to be turned out. My - men were on guard— Coloned Roberts knelt and commanded or requested the men to kneel—but no other officer or man, lam told would kneel.— Col. Roberts, it was said, took hold of one of the guards standing by his aide, and attempted to induce him to kneel. Here the matter ended; but not with it the ex citement which it had occasioned. The next morning, as I have before said, a number of officers came to counsel of ume, what ought to be done; and from them I learned the facts I have related. They alleged that neither Col. Childs nor Col. Roberts had any right or author ity to make any such request, or give any such command; on the contrary, that it was in derogation both of right and auehoi ity. That it was derogatqry to them as men and soldiers to receive or submit to it; and they insisted that the complaint should be carried to Gen. Scott, and that they would prefer charge against and court martial both Colonels. In a word, the officers were greatly excited, incrimi nated both Colonels Childs and Roberts, and so far from connecting Gen. Scott with such orders or transaction, whatever it might have been, directly or indirectly, it was to Gen Scott they proposed to ap peal for redress. Neither Col. Childs nor Col. Roberts pretended to have founded their action, whatever it was, upon any order of Gen. Scott. No one in .Mexico or anywhere else till this time, ever presumed to con nect his name with it. He was then, and had been for weeks, a hundred miles distant, at his Head Quarters at Puebla, with an assassin population and thousands of murderous guerrillas between the two points, rendering communication impos sible except by forces as large as the whole garrison of Jalapa was at the 1 time. At the interview between myself and the officers, the whole subject was discussed; and so far as I was able in all its bearings, I addressed myself at once to quiet the% I assured them that they did great injus tice to the motives of Col. Childs, and ex horted them, by what I considered the true view of the whole case, and by all their own responsibilities, to dismiss the subject from their own minds, and to allay any excitement that might exist, in the minds of others with regard to it. In truth, and so I told the officers at the time, I have no doubt, that the whole thing was attributable to the goodness of the heart of Colonel Childs. Fearing that he would be obliged to leave behind him some of the sick, and the dying r and tax ing his brain for expedients to protect them (should such be the case) against the daggers of the assassin, he thought ho would, by a stoke of policy, conciliate the clergy so as to secure for them a religious protection, in some consecrated place. But the arts of policy were not the forte of Col. Childs. His end proposed was right. Conciliation was a true means, but his diplomacy was bad. Ho did not know how to be politic. As true a man and as Rod a soldier as ever drew a blade, or displayed a column; unerring and uncon querable in the bold, strait-forward and decided movements of the soldier, and abounding in the qualities that make a great executive soldier, I hope I do his gallant spirit no injustice, by saying, that his humanity in that case, ran away with his better judgment, and that he is a much better soldier than politician. I have been somewhat prolix in my narrative, but in stating the case, the names of Colonel Roberts and Childs had to be used, and it seemed to me unfair, not to glance at the circumstances under which they acted at the time. The former found a grave in Mexico, and I would do but little justice to my heart, did I not say that I esteemed him as a good, con scientious man, and a brave soldier; and I have no doubt that he was prompted in the affair alluded to, solely by motives of humanity, arising out of considerations such as I have mentioned. With respect to Col. Childs, let me say, in addition to what I have said, that but for his care and kindness at Jalapa exten ded to me, at the precise line where death and life meet, I, too, in all probability, would have found a Mexican grave; and that I write this with no purpose to criti cise or find fault with his conduct, and do not say that he may not have had ample reason to justify, in his own opinion, the course he pursued. Of the transaction itself, I know noth ing except from the relation of others at the time. All I know is, that Gen. Scott never issued an order authorizing it, and that he is in no wise more responsible for it whether right or wrong, meritorious or otherwise, than he is for the crimes coin mitted by the criminals and wrongdoers of his army. We marched under his general march ing orders, for glory, for our country, and for the great cause of the human family; and to attribute to him, because .we so marched, an not of infamy committed by any one of us, as the consequence of his order, for which he is to be held up to public reprobation, would be and is as wickedly unjust as to attribute to him the affair I have alluded to, as the conse quence of his order on the subject, when all his orders inculcate the largest exer cise of the rights of conscience, and de nounce punishment upon those, whether friends or foes, who would in any wise in terfere with them. Whilst ho caused all the rights, religious and civil, of the hum blest member of his army, to be respected, he, in ilk manner, caused all the rights, religious and civil, of tho Mexicans, to be respected. All were held mutually and reciprocally inviolate. _ The orders that Gen. Scott did issue on such subjects are before the country; and the principles contained in them, whilst they illustrate the annals of the war, will connuand the approbation of every right minded man of the country, be his creed (religious or political) what it may. - 6HARLES NA YLOR, PITTSBURGH, July 26, 1852. Delegate Elections. We again call the attention of our friends to the necessity and importance of those primary meetings. We desire, and the in terests of the people require that a good ticket should be presented to them for sup port—composed of men of integrity, intel ligence, firmness and capacity.' Let every whig turn out and do what he can to send such delegates to the county convention, as will most likely form a ticket, that will meet with popular approbation. Gen. Scott% Tolerance, To such as have doubts of Gen. Scott's religious principles, we commend the fol lowing extract of a letter addressed by him to G. W. Reed and others, of Philadelphia, in 1841 : ,4 I am happy to see by the Philadelphia National american that religion is to be excluded as a party element. STAUNCH PROTESTANT AS I AM, both by birth and conviction, I shall never consent to a par ty or State religion. Reli*ion is too sa cred to be mingled up with either. It should always be kept entirely between each individual and his God, except in the way of reason and gentle persuasion; as in families, churches, and other occasions of voluntary attendance (after years of discre tion) or reciprocal consent." This is true Christian candor, and ought surely to satisfy any man possessing the least claim to religion, republicanism, or common sense. 117" THE penitentiary is still staring Searight, the looofoco candidate for canal commissioner in the face. The letter pnb lished in our last issue is acknowledged to be in his hand writing. B - We feel inclined to make our best bow to the fair friend who some days since so liberally supplied our hulal. board with finely flavored sweet-meets and luscious wild fruits. Nay her pathway through life be strewn with roses from which every thorn has been Cull-ed—every hour of her being be radiant with the purest joys of existence—bright and propitious as the smile that ever wreathes with light and love, her charming countenance. (Cr The oountry people will-no doubt be pleased to hear that the "Circus is com ing. if the statements of our exchanges may be relied on, this is one of the most respectable affairs of the kind that has been exhibited in our rural towns for several years. Newfoundland Fisheries--Difficul ty with England. We are likely to get into some trouble with Great Britain in relation to the mack erel and cod fisheries on the coast of New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and other places along the shores of that part of North America in her possession? English war vessels have been sent to those coasts to seize American fishing craft which may be thought fishing in prohibited places. Our government has also sent a war steamer to the scene of dispute to prevent improper seizures of our telling vessels by the -Bri tish authorities, and in a short time will send others if the difficulty is not sooner adjusted. We will endeavor to give an outline of the question. Previous to the American revolution, the inhabitants of the United States, then sub jects of the British Crown, had an equal right with other British subjects to take fish in British waters; and a large number of our people were engaged in the business, and their right to do so, undisputed. In 1783, after hostilities had ceased and our independence recognized, a treaty of peace and commerce was entered into between the two nations, during the negotiation of which it was attempted by the British Commissioners to exclude our people from the right to fish along the coasts of the British American possessions. This was manfully and successfully resited by the Commissioners of the United States, of whom the elder Adams was one. The right was thus preserved at that time and its ex ercise continued. Near the close of the war of 1813, commissioners on the part of thetnited States and Great Britain met at Ghent to settle terms of peace, and the fishery question again came up—the Brit ish Commissioners insisting that our right to fish had been forfeited by the war and the American Commissioners resisting their assumptions. Nothing was done on the subject at this time, so that our previous rights were still continued. Finally, in 1818, the two nations came to an understanding and a treaty was en tered into, regulating and settling the fish ery question. The following is the agree ment of the high contracting parties "The inhabitants of the United States shall have forever, in common with the subjects of his Britannic majesty, the lib erty to take fish of every kind on that part of the southern coast of New Foundland which extends from Cape Ray to the Ra man Islands, on the west & north coast of said Newfoundland, from the said Cape Ray to the Quirpon Islands, on the shores of the Magdalen Islands; and also on the coasts, bays, harbors, and creeks from Mount Joly, on the southern coast of Lab rador, to and through the Straits of Belle isle, and thence northwardly indefinitely along the coast, without prejudice, howev er, to any of the exclusive ri g hts of the Hudson's Bay Company; and that the American fishermen shall also have liberty, forever, to dry and cure fish in any of the unsettled bays, harbors, and creeks of the southern part of the coast of Newfoundland, here above described, and of the coast of Labrador; but so soon as the same or any portion thereof shall be settled, it shall not be lawful for the said fishermen to dry or cure fish at such portion so settled, without previous agreement for such purpose, with the inhabitants, proprietors, or possessors of the ground. And the United States hereby renounce, forever, any liberty here. toforo enjoyed or claimed by the inhabi tants thereof, to take, dry, or cure fish on or within three marine miles of any of the coasts, bays, harbors, or creeks, of his Bri tannia majesty's dominions in merica, not included within the above mentioned limits. Provided, however, That the American fishermen shall be admitted to enter such bays or harbors for the purpose of shelter, and of repairing damages therein, of pur chasing wood and of obtaining water, and for no other purpose whatever. But they shall be under such restrictions as may be necessary to prevent their taking, drying, or ouring fish therein, or in any other scan ner whatever abusing the privileges here by reserved to them: It will be seen by the above that the people of the United States have an equal right with British subjects to take fish on the coast of Newfoundland from Cape Ray to the Raman islands and on the western coast from said Cape to the Quirpon islands —on shores of the Magdalen islands—and also along the shores of Labrador from Mount Joly through the Straits of Belle isle indefinitely northward. Along these shores our ancient rights remain except the one of curing and drying fish on the adjoin ing land. As to all other places on the coasts of British territory we can only fish outside of three marine miles from the coasts, bays, creeks, or harbors. Great Britain reserves the exclusive right to fish between that line and the shore. This brings us to the cause of the quarrel, which arises out of the word bays used in the treaty. • A Bay is an arm or recess of the sea, entering from the ocean, between capes or head-lands: and the term is applied equally too small and large tracts of water thus situ ated." A. tract of water thus situated, not more than five or six miles wide, is call ed a bay, as also one a hundred miles wide. The construction put upon the treaty by the British government is, in relation to bays.—that our citizens must fish three ma rine miles from a line drown from headland to headland across the mouth or front of the bay which throws us, at those places, out into the ocean, and excludes us from fishing within the bays, but three miles from their coasts. For example the Bay of Fundy is a hundred miles wide and' pro bably two or three hundred long. Their construction would exclude us entirely from fishing within the bay. We contend that we have the right to fish any place in it three marine miles from its shores, and so of any other bays more than six miles wide. We further contend that the word bays in the treaty was not intended to apply to any recesses of water more than six miles wide, from which we would of course be excluded as wo could not go within three miles of either shore. The ocean and all tracts of. water con nected with it, is the common high-way of nations and belongs to the maratiwe world; and the unappropriated treasures which it contains belongs to the first taker. Rus sia, some years ago, claimed the ownership of the Northern Pacific Ocean, probably because she owned both its shores, but this government promptly denied the claim, and it was abandoned. Every nation that owns a ship has an interest in the freedom of the seas, upon which all can travel without the payment of toll. Every coast nation is permitted to exercise territorial jurisdic tion three marine miles from the shore for its own protection, but beyond that, the ocean is free to all. It is said the move is made at the in stance of the British North American col onies, to force us to grant them free trade with us—but we doubt very much its suc cess. We are able to defend ourselves against imposition and will very likely do it. The government has taken the matter into consideration and will act promptly. Terrible Calaissity. - - On the afternoon of Wednesday the 28th instant, the steamboat, Henry Clay, on the Hudson river, took fire, and in a very few minutes, was almost entirely enveloped in the devouring element, and soon burnt to the waters edge. Of three or four hun dred passengers on board at the time, from sixty to eighty perished, either by fire or flood, being roasted in the flames, or drown ed in their efforts to escape to shore. We aro not disposed to harrow the feelings of our readers with the painful particulars of this appalling catastrophy; but we deem it our duty to say that it resulted from the recklessness of the officers of the vessel, who to gratify a vain ambition to excel in speed;and perhaps pocket a few addition al dollars of fare, wantonly provoked the danger which they could not afterwards control or avert. The facts which lead us to this conclusion, are gleaned from very lengthy reports in the daily papers, and are briefly these : It appears that the ill fated boat, Henry Clay, left Albany at 7 in the morning and was closely followed by the Armenia, a boat belonging to a rival line. Each strove to gain first the several land ings along the river in order to pick up the few passengers in waiting, and thus an ex- Citing race was kept up during the day.— So determined, indeed, was the strife for victory, and so furious the spirit of rivalry, that the centending boats were for some time in imminent danger of a collision, while terror and dismay pervaded the vast con course on board, and some of the ladies ac tually fainted from fear. But neither the remonstrances of the men, nor the entrea ties and tears of shrieking, fainting females, could make any impression on the callous feelings of the monsters who commanded the Henry Clay. Intent on achieving their own selfish purposes, they turned a deaf ear to every appeal, and the race went on. At length the intense heat of the machine ry ignited the contiguous wood work, al ready saturated with tar, oil, and other highly inflamable materials used for fuel, and apprehension became reality. The flames burst forth from the mid-ship with such fury as to forbid all hope of their suppression; and the wretches who would not feel for others could now feel for them selves, and the boat was run ashore. But instead of laying the vessel along side, as men qualified for their station and in their right mind, would have done, they struck the shore at right angles with the bow of the boat, leaving the stern some two hun dred and fifty feet from land in very deep water. A few persons on the fore deck easi ly escaped by leaping froth the burning wreck. But on the after deck stood thronging hundreds, surrounded by almost fathomless waters beneath, and resiotless