Monongalia mirror. [volume], May 29, 1852, Image 2

About Monongalia mirror. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1855

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ileliglits tu render the obscure still
more obscure; to increase the wretch
eduess of the wrutcbeil; to quicken
the anguish of distress: tori,titip y
(tie mum- ofthe poor. An.! since tin
day when Alexander tlio (li*at (!X|ur
mi in a fit of drunken delta nc.hery,tnr
liisiiing by an inglorious death, a lile
jnosliiiusirioos ftiftl brilliant, until'';i'
present hour, this destructive agcuey
has delighted to striko (!ov?n ihatnign
t v. Were we in fl forbidden by a sense
of delicacy Slid propriety, how ninny
ol'Vir-'iniii's illustrious men might we
name "ai the victiuis of this lei! ilea
trow!
tier sons ri'f elo<|iicnce_, anil song.
?r-?. if aiul al t, have sickened, anil
<viihriud ami die'! bensath tlio nox
ious Much of its lepTntis hand.. T.ike
ilie arnnv"Hercules, dipped inthe
,,.,11 of the hydra, its wounds are in
t-urilblti.
?? vll beanly it turns to corruption, ^
/sii.l con.piers the might of the brave.
How often has it successfully as
sailed the very ministers ol'Ood! How
often have these, under its deadly in
fluence. been Imrlod'Iike F.uciler.boin
liicir high estate! Ifow oltcn have j
thev who faithfully oric-l aloud as the
messengers of Hvaveif, that . o.
i!ru;il:ard shall inherit the kingdom o. j
1 }i?, " been precipitated iroir. the tow-;
ors r,f 2.io:i into 'he very perdition j
lied against! At this mo-;
mei' :riie and anarchy, produced by .
the .tiroads of this monster, are dis-1
"aclin" the peace, and destroying the
,' Uowsliip, of one of the most popu- j
!on-- smi'influential dioceses of a lead-1
inv christian frateruily. \\'10rQ i!lis i
it not produetnl disorder ?.Where has
i; not crtaicd strife ! Where hasi it
failed lo carry rtsiii anil death ! Un ,
;i ,? u(.^. and on the dry laud ; m u|(| |
c'Vfull, and on the desert waste' ? |
it-church and iii state, it has spread |,
Ught and mildew. Its presence is
invariably distinguiscd'by the destruc
tion of whatsoever is pure, whatso
??vor i* true, whatsoever is just, \Vnat
Rjovcr is lo\fly ami of good report.
]'n the language of the accomplish
ed William Wirt:'"It parages the
mm, the brain, the heart. All the
?test a flections, till the energies oftlie
mind wither under its influence. The
man becomes a maniac, anil is locked
?to in a hospital, or imbrues liis hands
it' the" Wood of his wife and children,
?<nd is sent trt the gallows, or doomed
to the penitentiary; or if lie escapes
these consequences he becomes a
?.'.?'tilling pestilence on'earth, misera
ble 111 himself, and loathsome tor all
who behold him/'
III. The third proposition is:?
That ?htcansKKtflior.'of spirituous li
iiuvrs fis leeeragcs product* a wist (t
mounl uf indigence,* alsolHte.pauper
?m, and perianal suffering; and is,
?norcoecrt eminently disiixtrons to a
:c'cU regulated and protptruici political
economy.
Tholnief manner iti which we have
discussed the physical and moral evils
of tlio t>Se of spirituous liquors, did
_jiiM^ii'i<n from any paucity of urgu
iieiits or pertinent facts, connected
with that aspect of the subject; biit
,?,,111 the consideration that these evils
iiuvti long boon prominent topics ol
discussion,'ami wore, therefore, more
familiar lo the'public mind.
In the investigatibH ofthe branch of j
tlio 'subject now presented; we beg
leave to bo more particular; and more
especial!', si., since it is unfortunately
tlio case that our public men have too
generally discarded till' idea, that civil
laws litfl any tiling to do with the mo
rals of-the community, or that the
moral1 itfRiicnecs of their legislation
?voru'imittcrs ol legitimate considera
tion ill their legal enactments. Hence
It ;?? bit the inti'oduclion ol prohib
itory iav. s against the liquor traffic lifer
been resisted, upon the plea that the
evils to'be remedied were properly
lui'U.'is of conscience, and that a com-1
nance with such requisitions wdiild
fie yielding lo the spirit of priestcraft
mid over-rigid righteousness. I3ehev
i:i" us we lit., that the health, the lives
?flrtii'tlie morals of tiro community are
ma ters demanding tlio first and high
est ensid,'ration of every enlightenod
rtalesmin, and justly claiming a par
amount influenco in the structure and
principle* cf'erery statute,?remem
l?'i i:"r, espofialty, tlmt'purity of pab
i;,. morals lios at' tlio foundation of ev
ery well ri'gulateil and enduring" sys
;om of republican government,?that
nil essential element in all true nation
al'l,|,,ry is purity of public morals,?
-.vfc'liy no means nubsiribe to the dog
ma tiia! would drive all moral .wnsnl'l
..fiitioi i'rom (ho'bosom of the legis
I .tor or that would release lnrn from
t'l.t. ol,ligation of pvevontinS vice and
etime by any ainounr of legislativt
tiroliibitioti necessary to accomplish it.
Waiving, however, this vio" ?f
subieCt 1'or tlib present, wo chlih the
J,!poression of all traffic in cphatuous
lion ,rs, upon grounds purely of poll
tit'ul cent '"inv. We address ourselves
tirtw,-not to the pi"
' ?'tlt.iniiitv, nor t!,e consctnnce, of li e
vines,nan, bill his desires to Pr"m"'?
, v ? ?.t, 0r ?).??? Srtito." And Ave
think we shall bo aide to shew htm'
that ll,ere is nothing so disastrous to
tliu neeufiiarv wrlfaro of the coufttty
as'tho'liiitior tmflicv
The wealth <>!" ?? comir.ohwcaTtli is
'p.ujrrgafd' ?f ?he wealth ol the
i tlixi iiial citizens thereof, cm-.&c
:,i !ly Whatsoever afleets mjuriously
. ivjalth of each individual, alletL
iike in,inner, ami I? the same cx
tin, wealth of tlio ?'l....n c.mmu
; V I'lio ttom cos ?'f we,till, are salt)
? i . ? ?,d labor. To theso some |
We shall not answer this 111
| tcrrngation by a metaphysical discus
sion of tho abstract pnnc.pl.-" of po
liti. al cccmomy; l.m willu'iswcr it by
a practical illustration.
tf oppose, that A lias a capital in cash
?|-dollars; but instead oUpeml
i,,. it in till- improvident prills farm,
|ie\va?t<?< it> likolbe prodigal sou, in
riotous living St ibe Invenl. Areia.it
5000 dollars lotally lost, not only .
l.ut to tlit! Statu also 'I I<et ?? ?
It is ti'fin itiat the very &000 dollais
lost hv A, linvn been gained l,>- '"i
tavern-keeper! . *" llli"1 ,j1M"
ilnllars are mill iii the ? t'i''*
where are tho v.hiskcy, the l-ni- I ,
the wines, Wliiol. A rect.vcJ io' los
money ! Where are they. 0?rc.
utterly gone, leaving no benefit be
INow if A tol ex|.ftr.le.}tfiissu)m
ill improvements oil bis l.r??, ll? *
laborers emplny.'d .n ? ','S '1;^
imnrovcinciits would have lei ? ?
the mouev insteaJ of the wvurii-keep
? thu"ritait.i?g ? still in the State,
r,r'eommnnitv; whilst A would have ,
received, an'd would still retain, the
full coiiivalctit thereof, iu tho lncreas
vul'ue of hi. land Thus the ag
gtegatp wealth would also be increas
ed 5000 dollars. .
But this is tint all. By spending his
money for spirituous liquors, A lo es ,
his time, injures his health, disable* ,
himself more or less for labor, and (
exerts a demoralizing influence upon ,
the community. So of all who act
like him. For tine it is, m the Inn- I
cuage of Judge Crunch, that _ altho ,
L farmer is paid for his gram, and,
the distiller for His liquor, yet the poor (
who buys it gets no returnbutj
poverty, disease and misery. To him ,
ami to "the country it is 'i'orse than a
total loss."
Bearing in mind, therefore, the fact
hns established, that every cent ex
tended in the consumption ofspintu
1US liquors as beverages is absolutely
?st to the State, let us inquire into
he extent of the evil. Tbe result of
his enquiry will be startling.
We re?ret that we have not had ac
:ess to the statistics furnished by the
?ensus of 1S50. Tlie census ol 1840, j
lowevcr, will furnish a criterion by J
vliich we may nearly arrive at Uie
jresent condition of the liquor trafbe.
\ccording-to tho censiis ot 1540, the
unouiit of distilled spirits manufac-,
iire.l in the U. States, irt a'year, was |
is follows:
In Maine, ' " g""9"i
In Now Hampshire,. ? ??51,000
In Massachusetts, ? ? ? ? 0,177,714 ?
In Rhode Island, 8M.000
In Connecticut, ? ?'?X'A
In Vermont, V'v-no!r
ti. New York,
[ft New Jersey,- >
In Pennsylvania', ??? ? 6,2401193
Delaware, no report, ,
In Marj;^,--????'?-3?0,21o
Ih-Virgimti, "8^725,
In N. CaYolinS, ? ? ? ? -? lt?ol,979^
1 n South Carolini,' - - ? I
In Georgia, ????:::
In Mississippi,' -3."
in I.ouiiSana, -2So,-00.
In Tennessee, H,., ro',
1" Kentucky, 1$^
ln Ohio,--: ,''h-,ns
In Indiana, V'sri'rSJ1
In Illinois, ?
In Missouri, ??>8
In Arkansas, -
In Michigan," 337.761
Honda Territory,'? ? ? - no report,
Iowa Territory,'? ? ? M'"
Wisconsin I ernlory, J.JUU.
Dis. Columbia,? ? ? ?S.OOJ
Mbki.iE a total of 41,102,827 galls.,
of distilled spirits of domestic rannu-|
faclurc. :
SbcrcraVv Meredith's report for the
veai c'mi'i'oi'ci.ig 1st July! 1848, and
ending 1st July, 1819. makes the fob
u'wing exhibit of foreign in:porta
lior.a, wit: ,
Wines, 5,316,532 galls.
Importations, duVing .
same time, ?1^01'
Nett balance,' 5,151,518
Bodies im^:3,229;882
Ne'tt biilttnc#, .????. 2,993,830
Total net I foreign impor
tation*, S,151;354
Td whicll add' dombstic
rnabufacture, ? ? -i f',102,227
making' a total, for con
snmption of ? ? 49,/353,5Sl
gatiotis. Considering"the large quan
tity of cosily wines and brandies in
cluded in this immense aggregate, and
the fact that the principal part'of the
whole was paid for by the 'consumer,
by -the "glass-full, it will be quite rea
sonable to suppose thht the avci'ogd
price' paid" per/ 'gallon 'v/as, at'lenst,
one dollar: thus' making the price of
one year's consumption, nearly filly'
millions of dollars?a sum more than
equal to the entire revcnucs'of tli3
federal government. Tilt? e\il is a'j-5
gra voted; too, by the fact, that n'pV/ariYs
of 8 millions of the costly wiurs and
'brandies entering* into this estimate
were Of'foreign importation ; so thai
the price'paid therefor was so much
of the capif/iT (if Oi?r 'countryentirely
abstracted from rhe 'eomn'mnlty, to
benefit foreign nations."
It mrly lie considered "scarcely .ne
cessary ro'refcr' to breweri liquors.?
The sumo census shows the quality
of thfcsc mdnufuStiircd in the United
Slates to be 23,2(37,830 gallons. The
same report of .Secretary Meredith
shews the .importations for the jca'r
specified to be 205,191?exportation*
10,00'i gallons; leaving 23,*lt33,01S
gallons for home consumption.
If ha been estimated by nble Hudj
I judicious statisticians that the annual
cost of prosecuting criminals and per
!sons guilty of misdemennors in tlio U.
States, is at least 8 millions of dnllnrs.
lit in.unqiiwtfoHnUjr true ilmt iiotless
than thrce-foutths of all Crimea anil
misdemeanors are the consequences of
[ |i,c use of spirituotui liquors.^ So that
wo may add to the. annual loss of nil-,
lioiialcupitul ami the law,three-fourths
of S millions, or C millions of dollars.
This sntn would he gtbntly augmei.t
:ed, if the expenditures made in curing
diseases produced by drinking these
liquors could ho ascertained.
Hut what of tlio pauperism of the
Country ? Extensive investigation and
well authenticated facts have, (lemon-j
'st rated lieyoud controversy tiiut unite
three-lbuiths of the pauperism, and,
consequently three-fourths of the cost
'of pauperism, in the U. States, are}
directly the results of the use of spir
ituous liquors. Allow me, in this con
nection, to introduce a few fact ? by.
way of specimens.
In Baltimore county, Maryland, of
1134 paupers admitted to the alms
honso in one year, 1009 wero reduced
to poverty and brought there through ,
intemperate drinking.
In Washington county, New York,
the snperintendant of the poor-house
reported thut of 322 paupers sent j
there, 290 were the victims of their j
own intemperance or of that of others.\
The supcrinlendunl of the Albany !
almshouse, Xew York, staled that in
a year he had received G31 paupers.
Of these 1 was not intemperate; 1?
doubtful; intemperate CIO.
The snperintendant of the 1'hiladcl- i
phia almshouse reports thut the ex
pense of supporting paupers there for
one year had been $130,000and
that 90 per cent of the amount was oc- j
casioncil bv intemperance."
A snperintendant of the almshouse;
at Boston for 8 years, Mr. Stone, sta- j
ted: " 1 ain of opinion that seven- j
eighths of the pauperism ill this house1
is to ho attributed to intemperance."
S. Chipman, Esq. some yenrs since
visited all the almshouses and jails in
the State of New York. He sums up
the result as follows:?" I have shewn
beyond the power of contradiction
that more than three-fourths ofllie or
dinary tax is absorbed in the support
of the poor, and the administration of)
criminal justice?that more than three i
fourths of the pauperism are occa- j
sioiieil by intemperance, and more j
tKan five-sixths of those committed on
criminal charges were intemperate." j
Judge Cranch, of the District of
tiolumbia, so long ago as 1S32 or 1S33
I made a careful and maturely consid
ered estimate, based on facts which
lie ascertained in the city of Washing
ton, and on 33 other average estimates
math: at different places. Aflcroxam
ining the facts in detail, the Judgo
suys :?Let us now put theso items
I together, and count the'coat of the coil
jaumption of ardent spirits in the L
| lifted States:
1st. 72,000,odd gals, ardent spirits at
6G? cents. SiS.OboMO.
juo uaystuoor6r31o,
000 drunkards lost,
at 10 Cents ? 15,000,000
Sd. lOyears labor of 37,
500'mi'n killed by . ,, .
ardent spirits, ???? _? 18,750,000
?llVi. 3 of the c&stof crime
in the U. States;-?? -6,525,000
5th. ? of the cost of pau- ..
pcrism in the U. S.- -2,S50,000
Cih.' J of the amount of
private charities,;? ? -2,850,000
7til. ij of 1 year's labor of
1200 prisoners lost, ??? 450,000
The annual loss to the
country by the use of ar
delit spirits, $94,425,000
Do not the plainest principles of
political economy forbid the traffic in
'spirituousliquors 1 What intelligent
statesman can be credited, when he
Buys he loves his country, and desires
its prosperity, whilst he permits this
traffic, with all these fasts in view?
We cannot forbear, here, some re
ference to another subject, which we
believe our statesmen do not altogeth
er exclude from their councils, and
' baud over to the " priests" and "rig
idly righteous." The exhibition which
the late census has made, of the enor
mous number of adults in Virginia,
who cannot read or write, is a sourcc
of poignant regret and mortification
to every true-hearted citizen. It is
moreover ju'st cause of serious alarm
for the harmony and perpetuity of our
popular institutions. Liberty, law,
?social order, cannot long dwell with
ignorance. To,say nothing of public
j mural rectitude, all history attests the
[..impossibility of maintaining popular
[government1 without general intolU
i goiico. Would it not, therefore, bs a
I pertinent enquiry to propound to our
j Legislators, when they are so earnest
ly discussing' the b^st mdans of wip
ing1 off this dark stain of ignorance
from our State, and of establishing an
efficient'system of general education :
. What produced all this Ignorance, so
loudly demanding legislative remedy ?
Aiid as they would cast their eyes over
the Statistics which we have furnished,
of the physical' and "moral effects of
intemperance, and sum up (he loss to
??the common capital and wealth of the
commonwealth, occasioned by the con
sumption of intoxicating drinks ; as
they would count the constant throngfc
of idle vagabontlS; forever clanforing
around the distillery and the tavqfn,
and behold the wretchedness and beg
gary of the drunkard's fnmity', and
trued the history of the tcnarit'of'tfro
.almshouse, End the objects of private
charity,' woulil they liot bo'constrain;
od to admit that no agency has had so
much to do, in multiplying ignorance
in Virginia, as tho use of spirituous
liquors ? If so, it occurs to us, that the
wisest policy wuuld bo to prevent the
rv'ri altogether by destroying the cause
of it, rather than allowing this propa
gation of ignorance to exist, and then
tax tho people to enlighten it.
We arc perfectly awaro of the off
get \vhi.ch tho apologists of. licensing
this traffic oiler against the pecuniary
injuries it inflicts upon the communi
ty. They point to the addition whicli
the tax on licenses ntykq to tho reve
nues of the State. What a miserable
npology ! Even If tho revenue de
rived from this spurcfc amounted to
millions, how would it compensate for !
the suffering and desolation and death !
and guilt and crime which, follow as |
consequences of this traffic 1 This |
license is nothing more nor less than '
a premium on vice?the sale of iudul-'
genee in vice and crime ! And what'
does it amount to { Let tis-oxamitiu. i
In 1S50 the toftal revenues of Vif-1
giniti from all sources, amounted to;
8714,319 .14.
In 1840 the number of gallons of|
distilled lienors made in the State was,
SG5,7Hi"), w lint the amount of iin-1
portations was, we have no moans of!
ascertaining, nt hand. But Virginia '
is not a manufacturing state. Her j
importations, therefore, would hear a .
huge proportion to her manufacture,!
whilst her exportation would he small,
li may lie said, we think, that her im
portations would exceed her exports,
l?y at least 131,275 gallons: thus ma-1
king her consumption 1,000,000 of
gallons,* equal,at retail price, to the
consumers, to SI,000,000. So that
the price paid by our citizens for that,
which left them nothing in its place, I
exceeded all the taxes thus paid by |
the sum of ?255,680 50. Now the !
entire amount of revenue in 1S50, de- j
rived from tho license of ordinaries,;
&c., was $23,320 40; so that the case :
stands thus:?
Loss to the State by spir
ituous liquors, 61,000,000 00 j
Gain to tho revenues by
licenses, 23,320 41) ;
Final loss, S97G,G79 51
(Remainder next week.)
Richmond Friday evening, )
May 21st, 1852. J
To the Publisher of the Dispatch :
I road litis eveniuu, for the first lime,
ih a lender in your paper of Thursday (yester
day) morn iotr, headed " A Momentous ques
tion Setlleil.fi Such un article might be
permitted to pass unnoticed if published
in a petty parly newspaper; but when such
Tfmurksaic repeated in a newspaper, alto
gether. as 1 understand yours to be, inde
pendent of parties, it seem* due loan in
jured and most estimable gentleman to
ask a small space in your columns.
The writer of this has known Mr. Mc- j
Donald, of the House of Delegates, from
his boyhood lo the present time. He re-1
ceired a very liberal education, about all, I
of "worldly gear,,; that he did recoive
from a worthy widowed mother and his
guardain. By his own exertions alone, j
first endeavoring to ascertain what was.
right and then going ahead,' ho has atfain-1
ed the position he now occupies.?With
due allowance for others, I know} there is
not a member in the Legislature posseting
finer feeling than lip docs. Why then i
"continue sucn-sltfn^ as hirs been m jour
columns for the last week? Articles cal
ciliated lo lessen that usefulness and influ
ence to which on unobtru.-ive and worthy
member of the legislature, is always enti
tled.?What has been'said injurious lo
Mr. McDonald,s feelings and those of his
friends, can hute no influence upon those
who kno'v hirn best?upon his neighbors
iu "Oid Monongalia;'1 it is only for this
community aruT those unacquainted with'
his high standing at home, that these lines
hare been written in his behalf.
]'shall not attempt to argue the impro
priety of newspapers attacking individuals
without first '?knowing their man'1?-know,
ing really where the lash may fall. This
is a gravo question for editorB themselves I
to consider and shape their actions from. ,
This humble communication has been
prepared \yithout Mr. McD'n knowledge
or consent, by a friend to
? JUSTICE.
I Internal Improvement Liabilities oj Vir
| ginia.?The liabilities of the State of Vir
I ginia, for works of internal improvement,
j now in progress, aro as follows:?Manas
sas Gap Railroad, ?205,400; Richmond
, & Danville road, 81,200,000; South Side
i road; 8723,200; Virginia Central road,
1992,200; Virginia and Tennessee road,
; 2,000,000; Orange and Alexandria road,
I $600,000; Blue Ridge tunnel and road,
8900,000; James river and Kanawha Canal,
S7,560,12660. Total,S14,l80,9p660cents.
The animal interest is $751,059 79.
:
Resignation oj the Second Assistant
| Postmaster General.?The Baltimore Sun
J learns from Washington that Col. Fitz
j. Henry Warren, Second Assistant Postmac
i ter Genera!, and chief of tho contract-of.
I (ice. has reoign&l hie post1 to take place on
I the 25th instuu t. Col. Wairen has made a
I most efficient officer; is universally respec
: ted by all having business with the de
partment, and beloved by all employed
therein. He hrts ever cheerfully labored
j to facilitate the important branch of public
service to which ho was attached.
/f D^alh ofiMrs. Jolm Q. Adams.
The venerable lady of the Jate Hon.
John Quincy Adams, formerly. President
! of the United States, died at Washington
1 on Saturday last, about noon. She was
over 77 years of age. Mrs. Adams was a!
grand daughter of the laic Governor John-1
, 6on, of Maryland. Her father was Consul,
; in London at the time. Mr. Adams mar- j
i ried her there during his first missian to
England.
1 Hon. It. J. y/fiLxrlf.?'This distinguish
j ml Statesman is still at Brighton, Kngland.
i in a precarious state of health. Geii. W..
| Gibba McFair is his constant attendant, j
| Swan, who shot Sprig last winter, in(
Cumberland, has bct-u admitted to bail in.
S?0,000.
TM MIRROR |
" Praise where we can., and ccnsurc
where wc must."
M O It G \ N T O W N j V a,
SATUBPAY.,,.,ilAV 29, 185*2.
HF* THE ELECTION, held in,
this county and throughout the Stoto j
on Thursday last, was conducted with (
a decorum highly crcditablc to the 1
citizens of the "Old Dominion.'1?j
Men seemed to ieel and act as though
they were discharging not only a po
litical but a religious duty?and act
ing at once for themsolves and for pos
terity. Wo saw not a solitary case of
intemperance, and very little excite
mailt among the voters. As far as
our observation extended, there was
more respect paid to the character and
qualifications of candidate;) than to
jmrty miuics and influences. We, of
course, refer to the stute of things
here at home, and shall bo truly glad :?
to find the same honorable and inde
pendent course pursued throughout
the State.
Wo give, in another column, the
returns so far as received at the time
of putting the paper to press.
The Parkcrsburg News,
Is the title of a weekly paper, ofj
respectable size and appearance, just
commenced at Parkcrsburg, A a., by
Messrs. McCormick llhouds. It is
Democratic in politics; but we have
reason to believe it will be conducted
with dccorum and prudence, so as to
be useful as a vehicle of news, as well
as an organ of party prodilcctious.
Hfur H?rt
The Southern Literary Messenger j
for May, 1S52, contains: Notes ami j
Commentaries on a Voyage to Chiiinj.
chap. 4 ; History of Richmond, chap-,
11: a Day or Two in Irelaud; Scenes j
and Incidents of the Old Dominion ;
the Storming of the Arsenal at \ ien- j
im; reony, a Talo for tlio Times, on ,
the subject of frco schools j Michael J
Jionham, or the 1 all oi Bexar; a tale j
of Texas; Early History of Louisiana;
Scenes beyond the Westcrr> Border;
besides seven articles of original poet
ry, Notices of New Works, &iv An
interesting number of a popular work.
Ijf Graham for June, oil tlio evo
of a r.VSw volume, is out on new type
and finer paper, with a now cover, and
the publisher adds, "fresh impudence,
"great llopcs," atnTmarvclous good hu
mor." Don't you think ho iB bound
to succeed? The .fune No. contains
112 pages of sprightly and instructive ?
matter. Graham will be furnish-1
ed, in connection with our Mirror, for ^
$3.50 a year. This is wondrous cheap!
E3PA Washington lotler says, "A
company is forming in Ohio to esta- J
blish a line of post coaches, to carry
mails and passengers across the Con
tinent, to California and Oregon; and
Mr. O'ltoilly's plan for a mail and t?l
egrnph route has been repnrted in the
Senate,' and meets with favor.
huge tunnel through the hill,
north of Cincinnati is talked of. It
will he one mile and two,hundred fool
in length, 26 feet high, and 21 foot
wide, with four railroad tracks run
ning through it. It will be accom
plished at4no distant day.
E^Governor Biglorhns appointed
George IV. TVtiudiiuril to the seat on
tho Supreme Boucli of Pennsylvania,
mado vacant by tho death of Judge"
Coulter. Judge Coulter, it will bo
re'collefctcd, drew the 15 year term*.
15?" A sensible cotemporary says,:
" Tho women ought to make a pledge
not to kiss a man who uses tobacco,
and it would soon break up thV prac
tice. A fViend of ours says they "ought
also- to pledge themselves to kiss ov
ery inati that don't use it; and wo go
fur that too.
IdFMrs. Amelia B. \Velb>i, tho "A
media" of song, is dead. Shu died at
the residence of her husband in Lou
isville, on the,3d inst. She was tho
sweetest and most touching poet our
counii'y could boast cf. t
J3P" The Massachusetts Legislature
has passed an act providing that crim
inals under scntenco of death, shall
bo imprisoned at hard labor in the
State Prison eno year bofore execu
tion.
ESP" An advortisemont in a news
paper, ljko a handsomo womaii, draws
the attention of every body.
A Pnpcr Balloon,
Was ccnt up 'by some of the b'hoys
on Thursday, evening last, soon after
the close of the Election. There was
a gepi'tal " looking up" ol candidates
and other persons, lo see the Balloon,
which went up beautifully until it dis
appeared in a cloud. Sano,
From our Washington Correspondent.;
Washington, May 15, IS52.
Dear Sir: . , '
Ono who had never hoiml ol;
the approaching .olcctions in Virginia,!
or could ?>aye been placed,i" ,thu con
dition in which the renowned Rip
Van Winkle is represented, would j
suppose, from reading tlio last "Mir
ror " ,l,ut truly Uio day ,of judgment ,
was at hand, and the resurrection wus
about to take,place. It ?? WW a j
surrcctipn i^ahout U, t?k,M; ace n . !
of ilio body,. !.'?<? '.'"n of nl iv'
mania which lias gone" I'"1'1 ol ",J"> .
i? the Old Dominion for olhce, umltit ,
the provisions of the uew Constitution ,
has brought forth some r.are genu^f, j
who are fit subjects for public target
It is somewhat, amusing Jo read the ;
evidence in behalf of some, who, had
the now constitution not been adopt
ed, would have been perfectly content
to have laid under the imputations with
which they aro now charged, and on- j
joyed, in sweet reUracy. the winnings
of former days. But the new c0,,?t,:.
tutinn has opened a now field. , the
course is free for "horse, maro.and
gelding," and those who enter upon
this course must of necessity subject
themselves to the lynx-eyed .scrutiny j
of public investigation, and when they
are "weighed in the balance and found
wanting," tliey must expect the fate
and reeoivo the sontonce of " Mono,
mono, tokcl," &c.
A inovo has been lately made in
the Virginia House of Delegates to
remove the Seat of Government from
Richmond, on account of tho indigni
ties offered Gov. Johnson for his inter
position ill tho case of a negro who
was sontonced"to.death for the mur
der of a white man. The Richmond
papers, you will observe, haye bocu j
filled with the proceedings of public j
meetings, expressive of considerable
feeling upon the subject, and soino of
the Wostofh members of the Legisla
ture liaVe strongly advocated tho re
moval of the Capitol ill order to get
rid of a repetition <jf such lawless
acts. There are other,, reasons ns
strong as the one mentioned, which
could be urged for the adoption , of
such a measuro. Why the Capitol ol
Virginia should bo continued upon the
edgo of tho Stale, to the inconveni
onco of a large .majority of its Repre
sentatives as far as travelling and the
preservation of moral character is con
cerned, I have never learned.
It is a well known and an incontro
veriiblo facttiiit the city of Richmond
has done more to demoralize and de
grade the clrai actors oflhose who are
sent there as Representatives of tho
people, than an/ other portion of tho
State. From time immemorial up to
tho present, with the fewest excep
tions, lhat to olect a yor.hg mail to the
Virginia Legislature is to consign him
to the habit of a 'grog-bruiser, a
,ami a gambler. I contend that it
is caused more from the location of
the Capitol of tho State than from any
other cause. The facilities for tho
centering of profligacy is much great
er than thoy would he in an interior
or inland-town, where the inducements
arc less. Whore is there a county
in tho State that cannot produce fear
ful evidence of tho downfall of sc'mo
of its most prominent sons, caused by
habits contracted while members of
tho Legislature? Not one, except
those recently formed^ and some may
count their fcow; The character of
the people of tho two extremes of the
State are exceedingly uncongeuial.?
Their interests and habits are equally
so; and for the good of both.it were
better that a fence were bfiift <>" tho
top of the Blue Ridge, so high thc;l a
crpw.cpuid'not fly over it from dune
to January.
Conghess luib not been in session
sinco Thursday, haviiig adjouriieil un
til Monday to have tho Halls put <u
their Summer garb. You will por
coivo that tho Homestead Bill has
passed the House, and it is,confident
ly expected wilf pass, tho Senate.?
Tho ofleet or this Bill, if passed, upon
land warrants will be very considera
ble, and will go fur to rob the war
worn soldier of that remuneration for
which he perilled his life, in defence
?f 'his country. I think Congress
should have an oyc to tho interests of
tho soldier iu withholding such a law,
at loast until ho can realize something
like ft fair equivalent for tho bounty
grantod for tiissen-icoa, for God lufows
if any set of men dosorvo pay for their
sorvices, it is tho soldier.
Tiie heiiltii of Mr. Clay still contin
ues very fooblo indeed, and should Ins
death occur at any moment it would
creaip no astoiiisjiment. , .
The political cauldron is boiling at
a frightful rate. The contesting fac
tion, in each party are up and doing
to tho fullest extent of then ability.
Tho Fillmore 141011 ute making a death
struggle. The Democrats aio vtry
much interested, they arc, for IumwrI
fare. They say ho is tho only matr
the Whijrs ??ii^ht to run,?:mr! why J
ThU uctaid n?? answer. The rpicstiou j
answer., itself, being on thesUf.sharp-'
tying principle. Gen. Scott tells his ;
friends that lie is entirely in favor of j
the Compromise; but will not writo
any letter upon tho subject, unless ho i
iq tho rtominoc. The prospects of tho
liqricrul nro growing hrightor daily,
notwithstanding the gross niwropre
icnta(ions of ".H," of tho Baltimore
' Sun/' \yho .appears to grow nioru
reckless in his assertions evory tfav.
Tho pror,j:?cta of Gun. Cass appoar
:n he rather on the wane, and the idea
that tho ftaltimoro Democratic Con
tention will nominate sumo " un
known," begins to wear <fiiittrtf plau
sibJo aspect. ELI)OR.\DO.
Washington, May 22, jaw.
Dear Sir?The spirit of moboeracy ap- j
pears btill to be hovering over the metrop-.
alia ofjhe Old Dominion. The Richmond
Republican, a spirited Fillmore sheet, '
seems to think that the threats of remov- I
ing the capitol from Richmond is all gam
mon; and if ever it was done it would be
a goil-eend rather .than,an.injur);. T.hjs
win do to tell the Marines, fur^ovurybocfy;
knows that..to remp,vo,.tfy> Capiio],.would;
boa death blow to Richmond, from which,
all negroriom could not deliver it. Its
condition is precisely that of Washington.,
To change the seat of Government from.
Washington would be tike, severing tho
jugular in a nian's neck. Almost instant
death would lie the inevitable conse
quence. To say that the people of Rich
mond do not cafe a " continental d?ime"
whether the seat of government is romov
ed or not, therefore, is saying what thf?
habits, disposition and inclination of its
population plainly contradict. .
The legislature has agreed to adjourn
on the 7th Juue, next, to the 4th Monday
in November. Perhaps by that time the
fever for a removal of the Capitol nlay be
abated to some extent',
I think it a pity that the editor of the.
Richmond Republican could not have tho
benefit of a .whisper iii the ear by soma
friend, Bay John M. Bolts, not to show so
strong a preference for Mr. Fillmore, and ?
strive to detract so much from the charac
ter of Gen. Scott, for fear that the Balti
more Convention might, by some unfor
ceen event, happen to nominate the latter
gentleman. I think should surh a thing
take place, .it would place this Editor in
rather a delicate position unless he intends
to go upon the,sink or swim principle.
As to the Democratic Convention nom
inating any particular individual, there
seems to bo no cortainty at this time.?
Every speculation upon the subjcct ap
pears to have fallen to the ground. The
leaders and knowing ones in the party
here appear to be all out at jea without
rudder*or compass. Geri. Cass's broken
sword appears to be working, against him,
and some whispers are afloat that GAi.
Butler has more gun-powder about him
than any other champion that can be
brought upon the track. Certain it is that
if Gen. Cass does not get tho nomination
upon the first ballot by a plurality vote.
he is a goner. If the two-thirds rule is a
dopted, Borne poison not yet much spoken.
of will be successful. Y/lio that man will"
be it will tako a Philadelphia lawyer al
this time to tell. I would as leave lake
chances with Gen. Butler as any ycf
named. .
It is not so with the Whigs. There aro
but two candidates sp6!'.en of. The Fill
more demonstrations appear to be quite
formidable lately, in the South, and there
appears to be 6omc doubl at prew?nt
whether he or Gen. Scott will bo the nom
inee. . I think it would be well for thn
friends of these two gentlemen not to sep
arate, themselves too far in discussing the
merits of their respective favorites, so that
they will be enabled to conic together a
gam arid center their strength upon the
choice of the Convention.
I he health of Mr. Clay appears to have
slightly improved within a few days, and
faint hop'es are entertained of his recove
ry-Jo such an extent as may enable hun to
reach Ashland once more. May the Giver
of all good grant this,
Mr. Webster has not yet returned fronj
the North; but is expected in'a few da}/
The proceedings of Congress appear tl
be of such an uninteresting character tl j
it is scarcely worth the paper and ink I
takes to record them. The best interetf
of the country, I would say, domuudsj
adjournment, at least, by the 1st of Ju
By the time this reaches you, the a
reigns of the Old Dominion will ha^
gain exercised the Nearest rights off
men. Many a bftck eye and bloody I
will bo the result, to say nothing ol
consumption of "Old King," usualif
numinutod Well, tho I
King has done a great deal in bis lif
assisting, men 'into oflice in Viiginif t/
it is to be'hope d that in these days of J I*
ingtonianism anil'SonCof-Tempcrancfi^
such practices will bo frowned out ofl 1.1
and tho will of the peoplo be suflere# Ml
prevail'in soberness. ' Kldoky ^ /J
The passoge of horses anil call if
lliu Wheeling Biidgefliiring ilia laf
tor fias bsen immense. Since ill cf
December the number ha* proba
not lets than' 70,000; about ?loii
number 'passed* tlimiig the sairid
last jcur. Wero the bridge not
imtnoneo amount of Western prod
not, for a large purl of Ihe time, p>|
rivor at all, lint muat Imve reii
the West. i
I