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HNtiit of the American Tract Society* The Now York p?p<trs are filled with accounts of the proceedings of the annual Meeting of the American Tract Society, which met In that ciiy on Wednesday, in the Reformed Dulh Church, Lifayette Place. About two thousand persona, from various sections of the Uuion, were ad mitted by ticket, showing the great in* tsrest taken in the question at issue? whether or not the executive committee were justified in suppressing or auspen ding, the publication of the tract "The Duties of Maateri," alleged to have been offensive to the people of tbe South, es> pecially slave-holders. The publication of thia tract wa< commenoed under a res olntion adopted at'the last annual meeting leaking to the discussion of the moral as pact ol slavery. Soon after the opening of the meeting?over which Chiet J.isiice Williams, of Conn., presided. Rev Dr. Adams made a report justifying the ex ecutive committee. The Rev. Dr. Alagee made a few re marks: Two tiutha were plain to tbe Committee, and these considerations had governed them. Had they published the tract to which reference lias been made, they would h:?ve dismembered the socie ty. That was one conclusion ?i which they had arrived, and the evidence upon which it was based was not, nnd could not be, so well appreciated by those who had not their opportunity of judging it.? They did folly believe it. Another was, that a large majority of the friends of the society were not prepared to adopt a course whioh should tbu? tesuil. A lurther and equally plain consideration was that it was useless to publish a tract addressed to master* whioh would have but a small cir eolation in the South among those to whom it was addressed, and which in the North was nat needed. They had deci lied not to mix the American Tract Sooie ty with the great exciting question. This was their pimple decision. The matter was now before them, and ia judging it he hoped they bad sought tbe grace ot God. and would act under bis guidance. Great interests were at stake. Should they adopt a course ? hich would separate them from fifteen States anh ten millions of people, a field wheie their labois were most called for? Such were the views of the committee. [His ses and applause ] The presdent hoped there would be no demonstrations of approval or dissent, as Ihtt.w&H not a political meeting. Bishop Mclllvaine moved that the ac tios of the committee be sustained, and made a long speech. Prof. Crosby read from a tract, entitled ?Sombo and Toby,' in which slaves are sooaseled not to go from plautation to plantation, and to obey their masters, and asked if the society published it. Amid much coufusion and cries of'ors derj' Dr. Wm. Adams said the tract was published twen'y years ago. Dr. Tyng attempted to get the floor, amid cries of ?order!' 'Dr. Tyng,' 'Let 'em answer tbe .question!' dsc. Order being restored, Dr. Tyng spoke io favor-.- of the resolution of the society which admitted the discussion of the mor al sspecs of slavery to be a legitiina e subject for the society to discuss, and mo ved 10 Bishop Mclllvatne's motion on the table, in order that a resolution re-af firm Og that position be affirmed. Dr. Tyng's motion was voted upon vi va voce and the chairman said it was lost. A division was called for, rnd the affirm ative was oounted; but when the negative arose it so largely preponderated that a count was deemed unnecessary. Mooh excitement prevailed. - Some cal led for a count; others declared thsl the motion was lost ten to one, and the mem burs of the committee displayed many symptoms of delight. . -There was a long delay and great con fasion. A partial count was made; but ortfer was finally so far restored that Jessup attempted to move an Amendment to Bit>hop Mclllvaine* motion. bu.' was interrupted by loud calls for the preview question in all parts of the bouse, and another scene i f tumult followed.? 8everal of the mujoritv declared that it waf not fair to choke off discussion. Judge Jessup read his amendment, re affirming the resolution of last year, which was declared to be unanimous. Dr. Beihune proteased that 'll was not onanim 'US. He was reqattsted to say for Dr Spring that he did not vote for it. and he (Bxthune) did not. Doctor Thompson?Did either of you vote against it? Hethune?No. [Laughter] Thompson.?Then thwre whs no vote against it and it was unanimous. Dr. Betbune said that, at the mertini; last year, he was ask>-d by Dr. Thompson to second the resulution, but refused to i'* He thought that anything coming from the chief editor of the Independent was to be regarded with suspicion, and * flQt likely to meet his approval. Laughter, hisses, cries of 'Order!' and general confusion followed. Judge Jessup at last got the floor, and said it was vain for gentlemen to say that the actijn of the society last year was not unanimous.? The fact that one. two or fifty might not have concurred, did not change the fact that there was no dissenting voice, and that the resolution meant but as the unan imous sentiment of this society. He went on to argue the reasonableness of that resolution, and depiecated the idea of receding from it, as a measure which woold^ open the flood-gates of agitation ?od disturb again the peace of the socie ty Dr. Bethune got the floor at the close of Judge Jessup's remarks. A scene of eonfusion followed, and there were, for several minutes, mingled cries of 'Beth one.' 'Question,' and -Order.' Re*. Dr. Bacon then got-the floor, and made a warm anti slavery speech, and was followed by ihe Rev. Dr. Betbune, on the oppot-ite Bide, in a powerful and affecting speech. He deprecated the idea of no fellowship with slaveholders; for (hat was excommunicating them from the Church of God, and thus the unhappy South were prevented from having lliu gospel. He thought the devil never in stituted a scheme so truly malignant as this lo prevent the spread of the gospel. The worst canibala in Africa, the natives of Congo, all would have the gospel preached to them, but the extreme men ol the North would first deny them the goapel-and then deny them 'he tract? What then-was to become of these mill ions ?wsrs lb?y to fct permitted to go* d<mi) to hell because tbsse extreme pie willed it? God foibid. "iV-? l^r.?Thojppson (editor of th^Z^ dependent) offered an amendment accep ting the statements of the publishing com mittee, but ordering a tract to be publish ed on the duties of masters. After Dr. Thompson's speech the society agreed to lake a vote at 3 p. m. Five minute speeh es occupied the hour from S till 3. Prof. Howard Crosby offered a resolu tion thai 'no tract bearing on the slavery question be published, and that the tract called Sambo and Toby be suppressed * Rev. Dr. Johns, of Baltimore, then spoke five minute*, saying that he should return home assuring his Iriends that l' e hearts of the members of the society at the North beat in unison with theirs at the South. He and the Maryland dele gation came here not to discuss the slave ry question, but to vote fur sustaining ihe action of the committee. lie thought the North could best understand and cor rect evils at the North. The South could not intelligently do it, and just so it is im poscible for the North to interfere with the eviU relating peculiarly to the South. Dr. J?hns further stated that he bad come to the meeting to pay a legacy of ?10,000 from a slaveholder. Ri-v. Mr. Williams, of Baltimore, had the concluding five min ttes. He would ?t?nd by the constitution of the society. If that is infringed, the J-outh will with draw entirely, leaving it to be the Nor thern, and not the American Trect Socie ty. He contended for the light of the South to take care of its own children without interference. When the hour for taking the question arrived, the amendment of Prof. Howard Crosby was first almost unanimously re jected. The amendment of Rev. Dr. Thompson (Independent) was lost by a large major tty. The resolution of Bp Mclllvaine was carried as follows by a large majority:? Resolved; That the action of the execu tive committee be approved. Deatu, Insanity, and the Dcnoeon ? The sad consequences of vice were never more strikingly exhibited than in the fol lowing paragraph, which we copy from a late New Orleans letter. It is truly a melancholy case, and it should prove a solemn warning to persons tempted to de part from the path of virtue: "The grand jury of iliis parish has fouDd a bill of indictment against George W. Hurby. who, several weeks ago, shot II. C. H. Slone, whom he charyed with seducing hi* daughter. The bill was found on Saturday last. The trial will probably take place in the course of a month or six weeks. Public opinion now seems to be that the homicide was total ly inexcusable, and that young Stone has met an unmerited fate. This is a truly melancholy case. The father is compar atively an old man, and heretofore stood well in tht community as a teacher of youth; now he is immersed in a dungeon and charged with murder. Slone was just enteiing life with peculiar advantages, was prosperous in business, and surround ed by a host of confiding friend-1; now a cold grave enwraps him." Southern Commercial Convention.? The telegraph has given all the action of any importance taken by this convention. The mails bring Us the details. The foMowinj is an extract from the speech c f Hon. Wm. L. Yancey, of Alabama, in opening the convention: *'l welcome you. as the foreshadowing of that other more important convention which, if injustice and wrong continue to rule the hour and councils of the domi nant section of our divided and estrang ed land, must, ere long, assemble for the noble purpose of putting the political and industrial relation* of the South upon the safe basis of an indendent sovereignty; whose climate and soil, productii n and social in*iiiutions, will have that unity which experience seems to have demon strated to be the only permanent basis of succesful government." Another State Admitted ?Tho House of Representatives yes eriiay finally pass od the bill, which had previously gone through the S-uate, for the admission of Minnesota into the Union as a State, and we thus have now a gaUxy of ihirtv-two stirs to emhlHZ'in upon the national ulan dard. Should K msaa elect to come in undrr the recent act of Congress, there will be si ill another State sovereignty to add to the list. Minnesota bad already ma e choice of her Senators and Repre sentatives. in anticipation of her admiss ion. and th?y will most likely take iheir seats in Congress to day. Gen. Shields and Mr. Rice are the Senators. The bill, we believe, allows the State two Repre sentatives. though Minnesota had claimed three. Western Virginia. Conference. ? This body which lately met at Chaleston. Vs., waspresided over during the first two days by Bishop Ames, and afterwards by Rev. G. Batiello. The next annual session will be held at Parkersburg in April, 1859. The question of publishing a paper within the bonds of the Southern States, as an organ of the Church on the Slavery question, wa3 considered. Rev. Mr. Phelps, of the Baltimore Conference, pressed the importance of endorsing a paper about to be published at Baltimore. After some discussion, a resolution was adopted leaving the members free to sup port any of their papers without partic ularly endorsing any. Pat of Armt Officers.?The follow ing sums are given as the amount receiv ed per y tar by the eevernl nrniy officers named: Gen. Scott ?18,292; General Wool. ?8 851; Gen. Persiler F. Smith ?8.189; Adjutant Gen. Cooper. $6-093; M*j. McDowell, $4,020; Col. Totten. ?4, 6 18; Gen. Harney. $5 031; Col. May, $3,519; and the general arerage receipts is colonels $4 800; lieut. colonels. $4 - 000; mnjora. ?3,000; captains, $2,500; lieutenants, $2,000 Wheat Crop ih Virginia.?A letter from Spoltsy 1 vanin county, Va., gays: The growing wheat crop is a tight at once cheering to the eye and heart. We have never ceen a belter stand, nor a more healthy shade of green. We have yet to meet with the first complaining farmer this tprini;, on account of his wheat. Ot" a verity, the miUenium mint be coming when farmer* pease grnmblmg. Coopet'0 ClartaburgJUgistrr I " Equal Uwi and Equal HlghU !" Ct.ABH8BCnU. FRII>AY, MAY 31. I8i?. FOB LIEUTENANT GOVEKNOB, WILLIAM L. JACKSON, OF WOOD COUNTY. DEMOCRATIC COUNTY NOMINA TIONS. FOR CLERK OF THE CIRCUIT COURT, C. W. SMITH. FOR CLERK OF THE COUNTT COURT, W. P. COOPER. FOR 8HEK1FF, CHARLES HOLDEN. FOR COMMISSIONER OF THE REVENUK TH03. HICKMAN, for Upper District. F. M. BROOKS, for the Lower District. For the Remitter. Messrs. Editors : In the last Register I find a card ?ign ed by W. \V. McCann, which I dislike 10 notice, but since he has taken the liberty to mention my nArae in connection with his political troubles, because I d:d that which I knew 10 be honorable and just. I therefore consider it a privilege of right to cl' ar up a false impression which it seems be wishes to make. He says that I "sold myself, soul and body, to Mr. Holden." And why does he say so ? Mertly because when called upon. I made an impartial statement of facts in my pos session, in regard to the proceedings at Shinnston at the primary election?nor did 1 expect in so doing to receive his malignity and displeasure. Now. as far as "selling" is concerned, I will say frankly that I have never "sold"' myself, or promised to support Mr. Holden.in any way. Then, the only wrong I committed was, when I was asked for the truth 1 gave it. " The head and front of my offending, Hath this extent?no more." For Mr. McCann I entertain the kindest feelings?lie is a young man fired with an honorable ambition, whicb is credita ble to him. and should not be overlooked ; yet not withstanding this, he has other traits of character not so enviable or de sirable? he is loo haaty to accuse?too suspicious of his friends ; too malicious and unforgiving; and last, not least, too supercilious and threatening. He assur ed me on last Court-day, that if I went to Shinnaton on election day I would gel "whipped," or in oiher words, that ow ing to the inclemency of the times, I would find it detrimental to my heulth. Now 1 flatter myself in the belief that I have kind and clever friends there, Hnd I would have no fears of their bouncing upon me without warning me of their approach 1 know the ch?racter of the people of this county pretty well, and have never yet regarded them as ruffians, and hope 1 may never find ihem such. And with ti.is confidence in their manhood, 1 would feel safe in going to Shinnslon, or to any other precinct, on election day, or at any oilier time. An impetuous man, in moments of ex citement, will make assertions ra6h aud wrongful against otherc, which after calm and deliberate reflection, will cause him shame. 1 hope it will be so with my friend. In respect to the Sheriffalty, I have my own views, and they have been, and shall be consistent. I am not a Demo crat one day, and a Know.Nothing the next ; and in this, a? in everything else I undertake. 1 am determined to be con sistent "without fear, favor or affection." 1( is my desire to have nothing to do with politics, but let the candidates fight it through for themselves, and let victory perch where merit is triumphant ; but when I see the parly that I have so long cheiished. abused, debased and scandal ized. and the leaders who have built it up in t> is country, and fastened it logeih er. during the Presidential campaign, mi-represented, maligned and anathema "Zed; when 1 see these wrongs, I feel like taking a part against the abusers h-u seek to disorganize and destroy it. There is no occasion to disorganize the party?if we had incompetent men in ihe field there might be some cause of pallia tion in pariy zeal; but as our can didates ate reliable and competent men. it is our duty to defend ihem, it is an in herent right, it is sell-defense. Bui again : Mr. McCunn will tell thti people that he got Know Nothing rotes, and that be expects more of them, but il 1 mention the fact he gets angry. Now, I suppose he thioks he can tell il belter than 1 can. I have known men so self-con ceittd that if they had a story or an anec dote to relate, they would not for the world have any one else to relate it, for fear of depriving ihem of the chance of their cuteness, as they thought they could tell it with such grace and elegance themselves. Now. it may be that my lri>nd is that kind of a man ! I have Kaid that I believed my friend to be am bilious.?so was Brutus ambitious ! 1 but how often "Vaulting ambition overleaps itself," and leaves a man desolate, disappointed, and uncured for. Therefore a man should try and conceal some of the valiant promptings of the heart : lake things cool and bear the spurns of political op ponents. then patiently wait ihe decision of the people. It is whispered around that a distin guished lawyer is the author of Mr. Mc Canu's sharp, pointed and well consider ed cards. 1 don't know whether this is a fact or not, nor do I care ; but I will say with the poet, "Oh! what authority and rhow oftrnth, Can a cwmmjuo writer cover himself withal." Respectfullv, MARIS TAYLOR. The Moukt Vkrnoh Fund.?Mrs. Ex President Tylet, during a recent visit to Eltohmond. paid into the Mount Vernon reasury $400, which she had collected by exertion* in Obarlee City county. For the Regi .ter. Onr Nomination*. .Notwithstanding the violent opposition manifested in certain quarters to Demo* cratie organization, the party did or ganize, and primary elections were held in ?slt the magisterial districts' thfpnglf? out this county, and the result has been the selection of gentlemen, who are not only true Democrats, but are also quali* fitd to discharge the duties of the re spective offices to which they aspire, with honor to themselves, and to the satisfac tion of their e msiiiuents. The argument so much harped upon by 'the d isorgariizers^flfat-andtninatio'ti>~ generally result in the choice of disquali tied men, to the exclusion of those who are better qualified, is certainly not true in the present instance ; for our nominees will compare favorably with the other candidates in the field, and there is no good reason on (hat score why even no party men should not vote for them, and certainly no Democrot should be so tec leant to his parly, as to cast his vote againt>t them. There are however those who call themselves Democrats, and yet are taking an active part against the De mocratic nominations. It is obvious that those fishy Democrats are actuated by selfish motives, and it is to be fenred they have a "hankering after the flesh pots of Egypt," and hence their "wan derings after strange Gods." But the great mass of the Democratic party are sound on this question and will cast their votes and will exert their influence in fa vor of the Demuoratic nominees. The Democracy of old Harrison has never been beaten when properly organized, and while Democrats will continue to ad here to their old muxim, "united we stand, but divided we fall," which has led them to victory, in many a hard-fought battle in bygone days, (here is nothing to fear ?let every Democrat go to the polls on the fourth Thursday, and vote the De mocratic ticket, and victory is ours. ELKONIAN. (communicated.) messrs. Editors : I see a card of Mr. C. Holden in a for mer issue of your paper, a portion o( which was intended as a reply to a states ment made by mo through the Register ?'lo the public," of which perhaps I ought to take some notice. Mr. Holden does not deny any charge therein brought against him, but he gets Mr. Kniseley to say (whose card I see in your last issue.) that he thinks that he (Holden) was perfectly justifiable in the course he pur sued, and says that ray statement ought to be sufficient proof. What I first say, I last say. I stated that Mr. Holden repudiated in advance the action of the Democratic party, unless certain things were complied with, which, I can assure you, was not. The objec tion urged waa that Know Nothings had voted in the primary election at Lumber port and Shinnston. Where was his proof of that? He had not seen the poll> books, neither did be know a man that had voted at either of these nrecincts. Mr. Kniseley and 1 cannot agree. I think it released the party from any or all obligations which they might other wise have been under to him, and ren* ders him unworthy the support of the Democratic party. I think the most that was hurting him, was that he thought he was defeated in the primary election, and wanted an ex cuse to remain a candidate?and declar ed his intention so to do "An heart that deviseth wicked imagi nations, feet that be ewitt in running to mischief, and he that soweth discord among brethren," asks, why all this dodging with the poll-books? The first roan who declared his intention to dodge is the first to censure. 1 think he ought to have been the last man to publish a thing of the kind. He says that he un derstood that the election in the Lower District was carried on almost entirely bv Know-Nothings. I 'say that it is palpahle, downright no-aueh thing, and whoe'ver gave circulation to such report knows nothing about it. Respectfully vours. SAMUEL ROBINSON. For the Rajitter. Messrs. Editors: One of the county Offices to be filled on the 27th of M*y is that of Surveyor. Allow me to suggest, through the col umns of your paper, for the consideration of the people, the importance of selecting a mnn to fill that office who is not only well qualified and worthy, but one who will keep the Office in its proper place. 'I here is almost as much necessity for this office being kept at the county seat, as there is for either of the other County Offices. Ever since the foimation of the county of Harrison, the office has been in the upper part of the county, some six miles Irom the county seat. Ool. John R. Boggesti, who is an nounced as a candidate, if elected, will keep the office at Clarksburg, where it should always have-been. His qualifica tions and merits, I presume, are well known to many throughout the county, having acted for a long time as Deputy Surveyor, and for several years past done a greater part of the official surveying of the county. Mr. Cyrus Haymond, the present in cumbent, though a man worthy the title of a gentleman, is too old to do the sur veying, and keeps the office so far from the Court-house that the |-eople are sub ject to great inconveniences in trans acting their business and in examining the books and papers of the office. R. May 18, 1858. Tux Prick ot the Coming Wool Clip. ?The Ohio Cultivator for May 1 thus speaks of the prices of the coming wool clip: ?The wool buyers approach their work very cautiously, and we presume prices will open eight or ten cents lower than the ruling rates of last year. Many of the manufacturers need to buy on time, on account of the difficulty of negotiating their paper in banks for cash, as former 'y-' Z^rThe Medical Times and Gazette states that tbe efficiency of tbe valerian ate of ammonia as a remedy in the cure of neuralgia has been frequently proved in a number of patiea iued to tbe Royal Free Hospital, k \e care of Dr. O'Connor. ?"w-low Citizens: Having been nominated by the Demo rntic Convention of your couHty, which ras held at Harrisville. on the 2d of March a?t, for tbe office of Clerk of the Circuit 3ourt; I am before you &? a candidate or that office. The opposition candidate* against me re Mr. McGee and Mr. Culp, tbe latter ;entl*man protesting to be a Democratic andida'e independent of the Convention eferred to?the former a Know-Nothing. My friend, Mr. Culp, has written a cir utar to the voters of Ritchie, in which le attempt* to explain to tbe people hi* >osition a* a candidate for their suffrages; tut I am sorry to say that, about the on y truth* contaiajB4>io^it..are that, ha was 'easily persuaofti" .W.be a candidate and! hat he "want* the office." The charge* rbicb he makes agaicat me and friend*, tnd the charge of corruption in the Con* 'ention, are altogether false and unfound id. The firat objection which Mr. Culp nakes to the Convention, and which he ilairns as ona of the reasons why he did lot go before tbe Convention as a candi* late for the nomination, is, that when the neeting was held in the first District for he purpose of appointing delegates to at end the County Convention, that I was n said meeting whispering in the ear of k certain man evidently telling him whom o appoint as delegates to the County Convention, and that gentleman appoint id six delegates. In reply to this grave sharge of brother Culp, 1 will say that it s utterly fulse. I will give the truth of his matter, as certified to by the gentle nan himttlf, who is implicated ni.h ma n this fraud. Mr. Hiram S. Wilkinson, who is the gentleman that Mr. Culp says ie refer* to in his circular, mat, at the ;ime the meeting was held in the first district, long before and up to the time the Convention was held, a friend to Mr. Culp, and against me, and had promised Mr. Culp, to vote for him in convention, tod would have done bo, bad Mr. Culp been before the convention as a candi date. Mr. Wilkinson informs me that he has been credibly informed that a majority of ihe delegates appointed on his suggestion would have voted for Mr. Culp, had he offered himself as a candidate in the Convention. Would it not, therefore, seem that 1 would be the proper person, if nny, to object to the appointment of the delegates in the first district. But 1 never should have made any objection o( this kind against Mr. Culp, as the sugges ting of the names of suitable per?ons as delegates to the convention, by any per son attending the meeting, was not the appointing of them?the meeting voted on the suggestion, and elected delegates. And, moreover, the delegates who were appointed upon Mr. Wilkinson's sugges tion, were among the bes>t men ot the Democratic party in the district. 1 think that Messrs. Timothy Tharp, Marshal Neal and James Webb, were among the names suggested by Mr. Wilkinson as suitable person for delegates to the con vention. Considering this fact, I could not object to them, had every one of them been against me. Certainly then. Fellow Citizens, Mr. Culp has attemp ted to show fraud in the gelling- up of the Convention when there was none, unless he and his friend* were guilty of it. The second charge which Mr. Culp makes against me is, that 1 bad friends in the Smithville District meeting, who did not reside in that District, making motions &c., for my benefit. In reply to this charge, I will eicn ply Bay lh?t like the first, it does not contain one word of truth, and I challange Mr. Culp to prove it. Another charge which he makes against the Convention is, that some of the delegates from the Bond's Creek district changed their intentions in re lation to how they would vote in the convention, and as ho verily 'believes "through the influence, persuation, and bargain and sale of aspirants in that convention." Now, here is a serious charge against three or four of our honorable and re spectable men of the Bond's Creek dis trict, of "bargain and sale," when there is not the least evidence to substantiate one word of it. Mr. Culp only believes so from the simple fact that they would not have voted for him in tbe convention. But suppose these gentlemen did change their intentions with reference to whom they would vote in the convention, is that any evidence that they did so through the influence of " bargain and sale ?" And must men be charged with corrupt lion for chaning iheir.opiuions? If we lake Mr. Culp's view of the matter, we will in future charge corruption on every indi vidual who dares to change his opinion with reference to any matter whatever. This charge, as well as others equally absurd, 1 shall give no further notice, ex cepting fte one in which he attempts to make the impression on the minds of the people that 1 was a Know-Nothing. The Secretary of the Know-Nothing Council at this place, if called on, will tell the people that I was not regarded as a mem ber of tbe order at any time?although I had the secrets of the order, and no one is better acquainted with the services I rendered the Democratic party in the ex citing political campaign of 1855, than Mr. Culp. He well knjws that I canvass ed this county on a hired horse during the campaign for the Democratic party, and that tbe secrets of the Know Noth ing order which were divulged to me I used in breaking it down. Truly Mr. Culp is badly off for charges against me, when he would condescend to make this one. But, Fellow Citizens, how stands Mr. Culp before the people at this time ? Is he devoted to the Democratic party and irs usages? No indeed ; but on the con trary, be is before you now, doubtless thinking himself tbe candidate of the Know Nothing party for the office of Clerk of the Circuit Court, and the bar gains between himself and that party so well understood that several of its adhe rents are still ioelined to support him not withstanding tbey have a candidate of their own in tbe field. I will now lake leave of Mr. Culp and bis Circular, and in conclusion, say to the people of Ritchie county tbat, should i t be their pleasure to elect me Clerk of this county, 1 will be faithfnl and prompt in discharging the duties of the office. As to my qualification to do the business de volving OB the Clerk, I believe there is do doubt in the minds of the people, u they are aware that more than four years ago I did the business of the office with out any assistance whatever ; and should I be elected, 1 now promise that I will do the business ot the office myself?I will not brra?Q$^oUpciiicomb from Parkers burg, to do the business for me, as my friend Mr. Culp has done at every term of the Circuit Court since he has had the office which he now holds. Most Respectfully, ice., SMITH O. Hall. Certificate of Hiram S. WUkinton. tify that at the time the meeting was held in the first'Dist rffstto appoint dele gates'to' the'Detatmrilic County Conven tion. which was held at Harrisvilleon the second of March last, I have no reeollae tion of Mr. Halt's whispering in my ear for any purpose ; but if he did, he did not suggest the names of any person for me to appoint as Delegates to the Con vention, or say anything on that subject ?I further certify that at the time the meeting was held in the firstdistrict I was a friend to Mr. Culp, and intended to vote for bim against Mr. Hall in the conven tion, if I was a delegate, and had long before that time told Mr. Culp so, and would have done so on the day of the Convention had he been before the con vention for the nomination. HIRAM 8. WILKINSON. [From the Richmond Examiner.] The Late Charles Fenton Mercer. Charles Fenton Mercer belonged to a family distinguished in the hialory of our Revolution. We will pais over hi* fami ly history, however, not being very fa miliar with it, and confine our remarks to his public life and charaoter. Mr. Mercer was first eleoted to the Legislature of Virginia, from Loudoun county, in 1810, and continued in that position till 1817, when be was eleoted to Congress. lie took an active part in the debates of the'Legislature during the period of his service, and was justly class ed amongst its most talented members, tie distinguished himself particularly in his advocacy of a call of a Convention for amending the old Constitution of the State. Upon that question he came in contact, on one occasion, with Littleton Waller Tazewell, the most powerful champion of the old Constitution, and ac quitted himself to the entire satisfaction of the advoca'es of a change in our or ganic law. On the subject of internal improvement, he was considerably in ad vance of his day; his fellow-members calling him an enthusiast in the cause, and one of them telling him, in a speech, that he was born just one hundred years too soon to fulfil bis mission in behalf of roads and canals. . In 1817. Mr. Mercer became a candi date for Congress in the Loudoun dis trict, to Bucceed Joseph Lewis, who de clined a re-election. Mr. Mercer ran as the Federal candidate, and General Arm-! istead T. Mason, a distinguished and popular Republican, took the field against him. The district had been Fed eral from the first division of parties; John Adams having carriod it against Thomas Jefferson in the first race between them, when the electoral vote was by districts. The canvass between Messrs. Mercer and Mason was active and acrimonious, and resalted in the choice of the former by less than one hundred votes. Out of this canvass, if we mistake not, grew the serious difficulty between General Mason and Col. McCarty, which ended in a duel with a fatal result to the former. Mr. Mercer was re elected to each suc ceeding Congress, if our memory is not at fault, till 1839, when he voluntarily retired to private life. Upon the national theatre to which he was called, Mr. Mercer took his position among the "star actors," and maintained it creditably for more than twenty years. During that period he participated with the master-spirits of the Hou?e of Rep resentatives in discussing the important questions that came before it for consid eration and action. His name appears on the record as a speaker as well as a voter upon almost every proposition of general interest. He grappled in debate with many of the first mind* of his day, and always sustained his character wll as a man of mark. In his political sentiments, Mr. Mercer was a Federalist of the old school, and his votes on parly questions were conse quently with the minority of the Virgi nia delegation, with rare exceptions. He supported the election of Wm. H. Craw ford for President in 1824; but, with that exception, he never voted with bis State in a Presidential election when there was a contest. He supported Mr- Monroe, as did nearly every body else, of every par ty. in Virginia and elsewhere. In consequence of bis zeal and enthu siasm in the cause of internal improve ment, some of his friends denominated hicn^ "the De Win Clinton of Virginia." He was called, by general consent and de sire, to the presidency of the Chesapeake and Ohio canal; and it was then (more than 30 years ago) confidently believed that his conspicuous connection with that work would materially strengthen his claim to the title with which be was hon ored. But their bright anticipation in that respect was not realized; owing bow ever, to causes which neither Mr. Mercer nor any other men could control. Mr. Mercer was a conspicuous mem ber of the Slate Convention of 1829 30. As the call of that Convention had bet-n secured as much through instrumentality ?'? "/ercer as that of any other man, bis election was a matter of form and not of contest in a district in whieh tbere waa an almost undivided sentiment against the old Constitution. In the Convention, be was among'the most un compromising and efficient champions of Western interests. With Doddtidge, Cooke, Powell, Summers and others, be gamed eelat in the West in "measor >ng arms ' with Eastern men of world wide fame as debaters and orators. Not withstanding his Federalism as a nation al politician, Mr. Mercer was, in the Vir ginia Convention, a radical Democrat of the firat water; one not surpassed in in tensity by Andrew Johnson, the present worthy represenatives of Tennessee in the United 8utes Senate, who ia aaid by his enemies to define admirably the char acter of a Red Republican. In discus Representation and the Right of Suffrage, Mr. Mercer took ex treme gronnd in favor of popalar rights. His speech on the Basis el Represents lion ?M extensively circulated u tv# time, particularly in Western Virginia and certain passages from it hate been frequently quoted since. Among others the following extract has been published in a book as a specimen of "pure fr?? thought" and beautiful composition: ??The natural equality of man is writ ten on hia heart, and stamped upon hit visage by the being, sft.r whose 'express image,' he was made.? While other animals look to the esrth VUltUS, liis rig^ Sp^ing from his affecd^SW^P" bis wants, and these he derived from ' God, the author of his nature. He can not exist OQt of JMtW^ynlwc&use society is essential to bis existence. Hie fjrt! , resolutions are tho^pThJisbanJ and tub er. That period whTbh,*in> othe r ??H male, is short of dependence oa*tij it's care, is in man protrMtedfbr"pfajr+ poses the most beneficent. The infant gathers his' first instruction in kh mother's lap. His best virtues he isa* bibes from a father's oare, a mother'* tenderness. When age overtakes the parent, the son repays with kindness the kindness be has recieved. If the crnteh drops from the feeble grasp of his sire, be picks it up and restores it to his trembling band. Patriotism is but fiUal love enlarged. When we think of out' country, we dwell on the memory of our early days, on the forms of those thai gave us our being and watehed over ite imbecility. When they are gone, we visit their remains and from the the un conscious urn imbibe anew the inspiration of their virtues. Does not the savage cherish these affections? The Tartar wanders over the interminable plaiae of Asia, from climate to climate, eccompn* nied by his flocks and beards; the IgdlMi of Ametica roams through forests yel more wild; but they revisit the tombe ef their progenitors, and recount to their children the story of their deeds. "Are not these natural affeotiona at the foundation of all the moral rights oni duties of a man? "Sympathy, is it not as natural to man as to the gregarii m animals whom he gathers around him? Out of these fseU ings spring the.elements of society. "Is there no property known to ea??ge life? Even the biids defends his nest, as the lion does bis den; the former with leee rigor but with equal seal. The banter decorates his cave with the fur of the an imals he has killed, and alorea away fo time of of elenty the provisions whish a season of want may require. He has his bow and arrow for the moun tain deer, and, when be approaehes the water side, his canoe and spear for the finny tribe. In comtfmpt' of danger, armed with rude instruments, he traver ses the land and the water under the in fluence of the same feelings wicb prompt the civilized man to build habitations, to till the land, and to lay up the fruits of autumn for the necessities of winter.-* How can labor and property be sepere* ted? Property is at once the fruit and the spring of labor. The author of the Essay on the Human Understanding, in his treaties on civil government, tells M emphatically that he means by property; to denote the life, liberty, and nil the possessions of man." After bis retirement from Congress, Mr. Mercer left the Skate of Virginia.? The newspapers reported hi$. at on* time a resident of Florida, and at another took a somewhat aotive part in the Pre** idential election of 1852, for the nmn" perhaps that Gen. Scott was his warm personal as well as politioal friend.' W? heard one of his speeohes in the canvass, and, as we said at the lime, with a sin gle exception, we look upon it ae such a speech as might have been expceted from one of his years and oharacter. The ex ception to which we bad reference, was the want of respect shown by the vearai* able speaker, in bis commente upon Pres ident Polk, to the time-honored senti ment, dt mortu.it nil nisi bonum. Hie re marks in relation to Polk were dseidsly personal and aorimonious. In every oth er respect his speech waa an interesting one, and well calculated to oonoiliats po litical opponents. Mr. Mercer spent several of tho lael years of bis life in foriegn travel. W# saw it staled some two or three yaai* ago, that he had made remarkable pro gress in the study of some of the modern language during hie sojourn in Ita ly. He waa then about 77 years of age. At the age of eighty, "full of yeare and full of bonore," Charles FsatO* Mercer returnek from foreign lands is "die at home at last." He breathed hie last among the people who had eo re peatedly honred him with their sosfi dence, and to whom he must bat* Ml particularly gratefal. We should have applied the militafV title of General to tbe eubjeot of ? this sketch, as we find it perfixed to hie aaast n all the newspapers, past and prsssat, and no doubt properly so prefixed, from the circumstaneea of hie having bald the commission of Brigadier General in Ik* military services ol the Stats. ?7"He that fears not an oath vOl Ml tremble at a lie. ' PRICES CURRENT AT THIS DAY'S MARKET, REPORTED BY Randolph & Latimer, 66 South Str*t. BALTIMORE, MATH 1838. Bitter, Western, bbls. A. kegs, 10 II (Jhides, le". J Roll, good to prime. Is w Cora, White, SB Yello*, JBl. U Cattle, On the Hoof, ?4.M i* Nett, 8,00 9 0o Clorerseed, 4JOO 4,ll Dried Fruit, Appl-e, poroi, Flour. Cly Ohio, ' 4#*# Howard Street, Flaxseed, ?.?? Ginseng, J? * Si Slaujtiterd, 7''~. TJ Timothy Seed, Wo?'* ra? i * Wfc.nl. Red, geed up,...