The New York Herald Newspaper, June 27, 1851, Page 5

. THE WHIG CONVENTION IN PENNSYLVANIA. THE NOMINATION OF MAJOR GEN. SCOTT. THE SPIRIT OF THE MEETING. BY MAIL. Our Lancaster Correspondence. Lancasrer, Pa, Juno 24, 1851. ‘Whe Whig State Convention—The Resolutions—The Ditate on the Fugitive Slave Law—The Nomina- tions—The Unities and Divisions of the Party— ‘The Prospect, §c. ‘The Whig State Convention, for the nomination “Of candidates for Governor, Cazal Commissioner, -and five Judges for the Supreme Court, assombled here to-day. All the counties were represented ac- ‘cording totheir strength in the Legislature of the State, with the ‘exception of one or two absentee dclegates. The importance of the eonvention is not “confined to the State. From the vory generally an- ticipated fact of the formal or substantial nomina- tion of General Scott for the Presidency, this as- ‘Semblage has very naturally attracted the attention -of the whole Union, of all parties, in all the States; and from another fact anticipated, that the conven- tion would evade the endorsement of the Fugitive iter law, in order to harmonize with General ton and the position of General Scott on tho slavery question, bei importance of the roceedings ‘in th Court House, to- ry, can ly exagge- big thy cdr to satire political peas: mornings wet come to the haaitense aren AFTERNOON SESSION. ‘Convention re-assembled at 3 0’clock. Tho Gommitteo on Organization reported the of- ‘ficers fer the government of the convention, and the report was ado} |. Mr. Ewina, on taking the chair, deliverod him self of a good whig speech on the State licy of ‘Governor Johnston, extolling it ver highly, and condemning the free trade policy of the national go- yeroment, as exemplified in the tariff act of 1816, a3 ‘the most disastrous policy to Penneylvania—stop- ping her manufactories, and filling ths streets of -her cities with British railroad iron, while her iron ‘forges and were lying idle. This is the ‘act of 46. It drives the workmen from their ~ forges, furnaces and foundries, and brings tho sheriff, only, abundant employment. Free trade, vwith the sheriff at the back door, was not the policy -of Pennsylvania. The chairman spoke of the im- ‘portance of the nominations to bo made, and of the necessity of putting forward such men as would command the at and confidence of the people. On motion of Hon. Cornetius Darragu, a com- <mittee of thirty-three was appointed to draft reso- Jutions for the consideration of tho Convention, from which, after the lapse of an hour or so, a , Mr. of resolutions were bn tala In the inti Johnston was re-nom by acclamation, aad @ committee was appointed to wait on him, and ii» him up to the Convention. ‘ oe resolutions adopted will have been published in . For the Bipone of illuminating the debate on the fugitive que ion, re we give the resolu- tions again, which relate to the compromises :— 1 5. Resolved. That the government and people of Penn- sylvania are loyal to the national constitution, ant are Teady at all hazards to carry its provisions into effect; to assert otherwise is a libel upon the fair fame of the citi- zens of the commonwealth. 6, Resolved. That the adjustment measures of the last ly observed and respected by the whigs. 7. Resolved, That an unalterable determination to maintain the supremacy of the constitution and laws, has Deen, and is now, one of our cardinal doctrines; and that, while others have faltered, the history of the whig party demonet rates i fas in the storms of Adversity, or in the sunshine of t! ing st our country’s hope has never boom alma by its eetica or council,” esolved. That. the opinions of our worthy State Executive on this subject, as expressed in his last annual merrage. meet the cordial approval #f this Convention, und express the views of our constituents. Upon their face these resolutions seem plausible enough ; but while the general declaration of ree- pect for the adjustment measures has met with a ‘very earnest opposition, the endorsement of tho views of Governor Johnston, as expressed in his mes- — is about equal to the adoption of the frees oil tform . Mr. J. M. Scort, of Philadelphia, a conservative, was not satisfied with these vague avowals of adhe- son to the compromises. He wished to see if the con- vention were in favor of or opposed to the Fugitive law; and, accordingly, Mr. Scott asked for the read- ing of the eighth resolution, as it appeared in the original draft, but which was stricken out by the cominittee. The Crairm—Will the gentleman write it out, so that we may hi it in a definite shave ? M merely with a view to save time that I to read the resolution from the re- port ofthe commistee. It is still upon the paper, though rejected by the majority of the committee The resolution was copied off by the Secretary, for the gentleman submi:ting it. Mr. Scorr then offered it, as an addition to the catalogue of the committee, to come in as the eighth resosolution, to wit :— FResolved, That the provision of the constitution for the rendition of itives held to service or la- bor, demands, and shail receive from our party, a taithful, unequivocal, and support. (Cheers and hisses mingled together. Several persoas, in various quarters of the house, jumped up and seconded the motion for the adoption of the resolu- tion.) After several other motions simultaneously to lay it on the table, Mr. Darraon suggested that it would expedite business to withdraw the resolution till the report of the committee was adopted. Mr. Scorr declined to act on the suggestion. Mr. Oare—I have been out on a committee. I did not hear the resolutions reported from the com- iittee on that subject. I expect to swear by their resolutions, but I should like to hear them read be- fore 1 take the oath ; don’t know what are. I sy they go for the constitution—that’s calling for the Unio nd, perhaps, for the uppose we all go for ; compromises. At allevents, the American eagle. (Laughter.) cs The resolutions were again read, and again hissed and applauded. Mr. Bex, of Berks, called for the reading of the resolution d to be added to the list, to wit: ‘hat relating to the Fugitive Slave law, offered by Mr. Scott. The resolution was again read, amidst mingled hiaees and applause. Motion to fay on the table. Mr. Scorr rose to a question of order. He had not surrendered the floor when the gentleman from rks (Mr ilarper,) moved to lay his resolution on able. @ question was debated; but at length all mo- tions interfering with Mr. Scots were with and his right to the floor conceded by the Chi . Scorr then said he had a few words to sub- mit upon his motion. When the committee were np stairs, a series of resolutions were offered. (Or- der, order.) He should try to preserve order. The resolutions offered were not his ; nor was the resolu- tion stricken out. Ile could, therefore, urge it the more freely w the convention, coinciding, as it did, with his sentiments ; and it would be the more strongly recommended if its author's name wore known, or could be made Mr. Seott read the resolution. explicit than the filth, sixth and seventh resolu tions; it declares our full, frank, and manly sup port to the law cf the land. It does not assert that his law, or any law, shall not or cannot be im- proved, but that, when we find a law on the sta- tute book we shall yield to it not @ dilatory obe- cience, not a reluctant or equivocal support, but a full, fr nd taanly obedience, according to this resolution. Whoever is the suthor, I thank him for it. It will give at satisfaction to my section of the State; but, if not adopted, we shall miss it very much. Pass’ it, and we shall enter heartily into the October canvass. Ile knew that this reso- lution would carry the whole ticket, from first to Ifit last. defeated, it will be, to many good and true whigs, a source of grief and mortification. I; might lead to disaffection, or at least ty apath: the whig ranks; and apathy was often moro disas- nD open pam 8 lle willing, how- 10 abide by a vote of the od Mr. Prnviance, of Butler, had an amendment to offer, whish he had drawn ap on his knees while the gentleman from Philadelphia was speaking. lle thought it would harmonise the convention, and be ble to the feelings of a large ay cof the of Pennsylvania. He asked the read- ing of the resolution of Mr. Scott; after which he moved to amend it by adding to it the But that we will avail ourselves of the earliest oppor. tunity for the amendment of that law (the fugitive law) in such way that, while it shall secure the rights of operty of the South, it shall be also extended to em- Bene in ite provisions the creat intercats of the North. (Mr. Parviance briefly proposed to declare obe “dience to the Fugitive law, pro tempore; but also to declare that the law shall be amended, and that this feature of the constitution shall only be ob served by the Pennsylvania whig party perma- an act of reciprocity tor protection to nm. in other words, Mr. Purviance ell the allegiance of the whig party Fugitive law for a little nore bounty upon Pennsylvania still harping 1 het share of the compromise. } Scort observed that his vothing about any law. It simply deel: ly ebedience to a certain provision of the tollowing:— ion. viaxct—The resolution has reference to verbal altera- tion of bis am: acco! ly. Mr. C. Dannagu suggested that the fifth, sixth, and seventh resolutions covered the whole consti- tutional ground. There was no necessity for this resolution of the gentleman from Paifadeiphe ‘We can be obedient to the constitution without base subserviency to the South. This act for the restoration of fugitive slaves is a law of the land; but it is not a perfect law. The bankrupt lay, at one time, demanded our respectful obedience; but that did net prevent its early repeal. It was per- fectly immaterial, in point of fact, however, Whether this resolution were passed, or not; but it was not necessary to strengthen the other resolutions of loyalty, and obedience to the laws. _ Mr. C. C. SuLiivan was BY 1d to the resolu- tion and the amendment. ns amendment made the resolution a little better; but he was opposed to both. Are not the resolutions of loyalty to the con- stitution and the laws enough ? or what has coms over us that we shall now begin to basely truskle to the South, and to bow down to the pee of slavery? (Cheers, hisses and applause.) hat have been the principles of the wal ny. of Pennsylvania heretofore! Always freedom—always the greatest liberty to the greatest number—always sympathiz- ing with those natural desires and feelings of the human heart for liberty, the world over. But what is it we have here from Philadelphi sep of feelings Iphia, the Brotherly Love? We know whet are the of the State; they are in favor of the emancipation of every human being who is a slave. Ani yet the gentleman from Phitade Iphia proposes a bold, frank and manly obedience to this ast of Congress for the resteration of fugitive slaves—an act unparalleled in its hardihood and cruelty. (Hisses and applause.) It picks up the fugitive on a certificate; it saddles the treasury with the expense of sendin; him away, where he may or may nor get a trial of his right to eka 1 should like to see my friend from Phila- delphia called uy, by the slave hunter to help him in catching his fugitive from labor, and then to hear him declare his respect and obedience to this law. On this subject there might be somo ce tg hensions for the satety of the Union in Phi ladelphia; but no such apprehensions had eve stirred the broad bosom of the State. We might patch sp a string of Southern rosolutions that would help some in the city and county of Phila- delphia; but what will the whigs of the State sa: if we adopt substantively the platform of the lead. ing Convention? This resolution amounts to the same thing, only it is alittle more artful. Adopt it, and you lose the counties of Montgomery and Lawrence bj fifteen hundred yotes. short time ago, at every meeting ofjboth parties, declamations were made against the extensionof slavery. What now are we to gain by bowing in the same manner that our paceman are bowing down to the base spirit of slavery? President Fillmore, in signing this law, did the best he could under the circum- stances, perhaps ; but for all that, the law is ob- noxious to the people of Pennsylvania—it is dis- tasteful, and they will not swallow it. When we pass a apes compliment upon the President, that ought to suffice. But to come down to this eighth resolution, is adopting the Reading platform. He hoped it would be stricken out, and the sixth resolution algo; because he believed that by the adoption of such a course the election of Johaston would be secured. Mr. Loomis, of Alleghany, contended that there was no necessity for this cig) pl 4 sa resolution. The fifth and sixth comprehended every obligation to the constitution and the laws. Tho proposed resolution embraces nothing more, only it is not quite so strong. There was no necessity whatever tor it. But he was entirely indifferent whether this additional resolution were passed or not; but he thought it entirely useless. THE SPEECH OF THE DAY. Hon. A.J, Ocrz—Mr. President, what brought us here? Who are wet We are, I take it, the picked men—the king bees, of Pennsylvania. (Laughter.) The Whig State Convention of Penn- lvania has called us here, at on this ith of June, to nominate a candidate for Gover- nor. Well, we have done that. And to nominate a candi for Canal Commissioner. Well, we ex- pect todo that. And five able men, learned and competent in the law, just and upright, as candi- dates fur Supreme Judges. ell, that’s our busi- ness. And what are we doing now! Ruoning adrift on the nigger question, as sure as you’ro Mr. Purviance then endment born. (Laughter.) What is Pennsylvania’ She is the fp mane of ne Union. And what this Union? tis the roudest republic that ever the sun shone upon—the very proudest. And shall we light a faggot to destroy this Union? No, sir; never with the consent of the people that I represent. I am a whig—a democratic whig—so democratic that I am sometimes mistaken for a locofoco; some men really seriously think that I am a locofoco. I am a whig, and | go for the constitution as it is, and the Union as it is, all the time. Gentlemen, what is slavery? My constituents, without any merit of wy own, sent me to Congress. Well, I to keep my word particularly, as the Dutchman said, whea 1 give it in writin’. (Langhter.), 1 did give my word. I did give it in writin’—and it was against the extension of slavery. And, what's more, I did vote against the exvension of slavery. Bat I tell you how | felt—it was like the man in Ohio who was riding through the woods one night. He got , and he thought he would lay down awhile; @ first sec his horse by hitching him to When the man began to snore, horse alarmed, and spi off through the woods, ing our friend by the leg. * And,” said he, “the critter didn’t make two jamps before I found 1 was wrong hitched.” (Immense laugh- ter.) Mr. President, so it was with mo. I was wrong hitched. Now,sir,I go for the laws of the land, and for the American eagle. And will you hore ere & est fabric ever raised by mortal hands? Will you sell out your interest for al the value ofthree thousand abolition votes? (A, 2) Pass this resolution, endorsing the Fugitive law, and you can elect Johnston by a larger majecity than we have ever had in the State—that is, perha) (Laughter.) But what is the whig doctrine, or whig platform? Gen. Harrison, on his deathbe: endeavored to impress it upon John Tyler, th: prince of hypocrites. Just stick up to the “true rinciples of the government,” and you will secure ill Johnston a mighty big vote in our county, for one. Let us do this, and never mind the under- ground current. is an under-ground current @ running pretty strong, in all this business. lam a subterranean myself. But what do | care for your Philadelphia collector, or the Custom House, or any body else, so that = principles are sus- tained by the great whig party? “And who’safraid,” said the fellow at the time of Noah’ » “1 be- lieve we shan’t havo much of a sho (Laughter.) And what have we to Gettysburg tapeworm, the buck-shot man! questions been adjusted? (Great laugh- i, they have—(laughter)—“principles and he trne motto. One man is as good as another, and a damned sight better. (General laughter.) Then, gentlemen, let us stand by the Union, the constitution, and the American eagl and the whig party may defy the world. Let sustain the proud febric of our forefathors, disre- garding the few fanatics here in Lancaster, or els where in the State; and when Gabriel blows trumpet, we, who have been faithfal to the shel ing — of the great American eagle, will be pro: but his leg. became nounced the soundest men. Mr. President, | am done. (General applause.) Mr. M’Comns, of Lawrence, was opposed to this additional resolution, or to any trac! ling to the South. The very moment we step beyond the fifth resolution, we confess our sycophancy to the South. After the course which the whig party of the State bas pureued on this question, shall we now, like the locofocos, backwater! ‘The whigs of the west- ern or submit to ve traded awa: county of Lawrence will reet, upon a regular and ) pleaded the policy of mutual RVIANCE protection between the North and South, con- tending that if the North gave ten dollars a head f+ every slave recaptured for the South, they ought to be willing to allow ten dollars a ton on pig metal. He proceeded to enlarge ings of Pennsylvania from the tariff of 45, and the duty of the whig party to protect her great interests, while they are protecting the negro pro- per.y of th uth. Ifsome men were to talk less of ‘dwanten, nd come more to practical issues, it would be more to the interests of the people. Mr. Boyer, of Montgomery, thought the amend- ment of the delegate from Philadelphia ill-ad rised. The people of Moatgomery county were a law-abid- ing, Union loving people, but they ad freedom, and hated slavery., He wished to av I appear- ance, then, of subservience or truckling to the South. But he was opposed to the protection of Southern property in exchange fur protection of Northern interests, as prop by the gentloman fiom Butler. He was not willing to barter flesh aud blood for dollars and cents Mr. Bet. called for the previous question on the resolutions. That will not help you. The vote will come upon the amendment. ‘The Cuain.—It requires twelve men to second the call for the previous question. 4 Voices. Hope the debate will go on. Don't gag us. This ie no gag, by G—d, for you have had talk enough. * ‘The twelve mon stood up, and the ayos and noes were called. would occur on the amendments, or on the resolu- tions. The Cain decided, that if the previous question | .Genstitation. was adopted, the main question would be oa the re- solutions reported by the committee, aad that all amondgpents would bp gut off bint of order was raised whether the question | from the decision of the the question for some time, the appeal was withdrawn. After further @onversation, The Cuain announced the vote to bo upon the previous question. Mr. Sanpexson hoped the Chair would explain the effect of this vote. The Cuair said that the effect of the vote would be to cut off all debate, and to bring the convention directly to a vote upon the resolutions offered by the committee, to the exclusion of all amendm ants. Mr. Sanverson called for the ayes and noes, and the result was, 71 to 48 in favor of the previous question. {lt seems that a mere majority is sufficiont for the previous question, in Pennsylvania } | Toe Cuan stated the question to be on the reso- | lutions. | A Voicr—Well, I call the ayes and noes. I | oes vote for such a compromise with free soil as that. ‘The aueatinn was taken, and the resolutions were passed, Y2 to 27. Mr. Looms, of the committee, annoureed that the Governor would wait upon the convention at Mr. Sanverson chair; but after de! eight o'clock. ‘he convention then procceded to receivo nomi- nations for Canal Commissioner, and five Supreme udges. moar MEETING—SPEECH OF GOV. JOUNSTON. At eight o’clock, the convention adjourned to a meeting out of doors, in front of the Court House, with the Governor. He was mounted upon a plat- form, and at once Jroste ted to speak to the people, there being some three or four thousand of then in the street. The Governor is consistent. It was the exact substance of most of his speeches for the last three years. He aed the importance of good men for Canal Commissioner and Judges; he de- fended his own State policy, came down particularly heavy upon the ruinous andeppreesive tariff act of 1846; and on the Compromise measures, he admit- ted his objections to Fugitive Slave law; and while he should respect it as the law, he looked for- ward with confidence to its modification. It was not, of necessity, a fect law; but, like many other laws, it was subject to amendment. There is a law of Pennsylvania to prevent kidnapping. which operated, of course, to the advantage of runaway faves. This law the Legislature at the last session repealed ; but the Governor failed to sign the bill. He said it was because it was not presented to him until the last hour of the session; but he did not say whether he had time enough or not,in that last hour, to sign it. Tho failure has, no doubt, been to his advantage with the free soil people; and, in fact, it was a clever thing, because the election will have to occur before he can be called upen again to sign it. Upon the whole, the position of Governor Johnston is about the same, or not much better, than that of Seward; for if the former is not so ultra against slavery, he is far more im; ticable on the tariff question, being just about 20 years behind the time. Mr. Oatx, after the Governor, made another very happy speech, and was followed by Mr. kil- linger, in a very shrewd earnest exhortation. He declared that Scott was nominated by the whigs to counteract the influence of Mr. Buchanan in this State election, in behalfof the democrats. He (Mr. Buchanan) was at the bottom of all tho domecratic nominatiuns; he is understood to have cast his for- tunes into the issue of this Stat i We have determined to meet him; only involves our State tick for the Presidency. We bi y Scott, and that Scott cancarry us. Such, substan- tially, were the remarks of Mr. Killinger. LAST Day. June 25, 1851. The convention to-day were occupied almost ox- clusively inthe selection of candidates for Canal Commissioner and the five Judges. John Strehm, of Lancaster, for the Canal Commissioner, defeated the original caucus candidate of the Scott majority, Mr. saweunees and “ peat against band West isi fon torious upon the Judges, ially upon the contest Nein fs Ey voy 1 erm and Buffington, in which, after a very tight fit, the Western man, Buffington, was defeated. A motion to strike out the sixth resolution—that is, general acquiescence in the measures of t! adjustment—was made, but not agreed to. S free svilish whig delegates defined their opposition tothe resolution, expressing the greatest confi lence, at the same time, in Scott and Johnston, and the other nominations; and that was the end of the business onthe slavery and Presidential question. ‘The administration is complimented over the left— Webster Cm the go-by—Scott is nominated on non-committal principles, to help Johnston out in his election—tho Fugitive Slave law is substantially repudiated—and the President and his cabinet, in the South, may make the most of it. Thegreat ob- ject here is to save Pennsylvania. That's all. Lancaster, June 24, 1851, The Whig Convention and its Doings—Administra- tion Politedy Tylerized—Re establishment of Gen. Taylor's Platform on the Slavery Question - En- thusiasm for Scott, &c. $c. The proceedings of the Whig Convention to-day, will, doubtless, cause a very considerable fluttering at Washington. The whig party of Pennsylvania have virtually, under cover of a back-handed com- pliment, Tylerized the administration, dicarded the Fugitive Slave law, and nominated Gon. Scott upon the noncommittal platform ef Gen. Taylor. But, in every other respest, and particularly upon the tariff question, the new declaration of whig princi- ples, State and national, is fully up to the standard of Henry Clay. It isa stiff, rigid, whig platform, upon the old model of that of 1844, with the ad- dition of a free soil application of the Fugitive Slave law. ‘The nomination of Gov. Johnson for re-election, to day, was truly enthusiastic and unanimous; there is no question of his being, by all odds, the most available man for the whigs. ‘The reception of the name of Gen. Scott w Iso, considerably uproar- ious, nor can there be any mistake about his being the man fer a above all other men, for the id set-to of the presidential canvass. ‘The resolutions from the committeo on the sub- ject, were, of course, cut and dried; but, when re- ported, it appeared that the most important one at this crisis, endorsing and fully pledging the w rty to the faithful support of the Fugitive Slave w, had been suffocated in committee. It was not digestible; it was teo much—entirely too muoh for the convention to swallow, especially when it placed Gen. Seott and Gov. Johnson both in a ver: ke ward predicament. Mr. Scott, of Philadelphia, in convention, made avery bold attempt to restore the revolution tothe catalogue; he pleaded hard for standing up to the constitution, explicitly and frankly, and without equivocation; but it was no go. It was not the thing. Mr. Scott, Mr. Sander- fon, and their Philadelphia detachment of Custom- llouse conservatives, were put to silence by the argu- ment of Loomis, Darragh and others, showing that he resolutions of the committee covered everything, d that to descend to the particular specification | ee to the Fugitive Slave law, would be ckling to the South. ‘The Fugitive Slave ore, ruled out by the previous 71 to 48, and the committee's resolutions were adopted, 92 to 27, about the roportion be- tween the friends of Scott, and of Fillmore and Webster. The whig platform of Pennsylvania, cludes Gen. Scott, a high protective tari! 952, in- | and hos- | ‘The three or four State had to be ap- | ittal policy on slavery worked | 8 did also the high protective | Why not again, particu- t large selling out the iron undries and forges all over the State, on the deluge of lritish iron poured into ry under the act of 1846, and sold underthe | of the Pennsylvania manufactories, at prices which break them down t From the resolutions and in the rpeeches of the day, it is very evident, unavailing as it must be, that a protective tariff will be made a leading object in the ensuing can- vars by the whi; It may be preposterously ab- surd to expect a better tariff thad that of 1816, while it works so well for the treasury; but there is a very a proportion of the working classes of this State who are dependent onthe iron or coal bu- siness, and he who most boldly advocates their in- terests is the man for them. The rie candidate for Governor, the whig no minee for the Presidency, and the whig platform, as Inid down by this convention; are, no doubt, the most available for Pennsylvania that could have been selected. If Johnston can be re-elected, it is upon his schedule of 1843. Ifthe whigs can carry Tennsylvania at all, it is only with a military hero of such grand ements as shall be sufficient to eclipse the somewhat rusty glory of democratic principles; and this military hero's popularity will Le wanted to help out the Governor as in 18%, A very prominent object of the nomination of Seott, is to give Gov. Johnston the benefit of his name in the State elections this fall. Mr. Kellin- ger, in his out-of-doors +peech at the Court House, to-night, declared that as the Reading Convention bad made all their nominations for the benefit of Jomes Bucharan for the Presidency; and that os he in this can tthem. T tility to the Fugiti ¢ thousand abolitioni: be she e#, the whigs were compelled to then, of Seett’s nomination, is to off larity may attach to the democrat by Uh 1 nomination of Buch © y of Je . s pretty certain that th: Gov nistration would aot have been Tylerized ia tummary style and the re-clcetion of Johaston is thus made noees- | ach a Seott was necessary to Johaston, sary to Sogtt, How it is to work, i¢ yet to be illustrated. It is hardly to be expected that the administration, or its recipients of patronage, will enter very cheor- fully into the fight for the Govornor; nor do the abolitionists appeaf to be conciliated with the equi- vocal resolutions on the constitution and t! 5 It would seem to be inevitable, that tho do this convention must work to distract the whigs i this State, and to destroy the party in every South- ern State in the Union. , Gen. Seott, it is distinetly foreshadowed, will be the whig candidate for 52; that he will be non- committal on slavery and the Fugitive ¢ law; and that if he is nominated, it will bo by against the South, and the whigs of the % is also probable that this may lead to the putting up, in the Seath, of a Union candidate by ths whigs aud Union democrats, and t! Webster or Fill- more may be the man. At all events, this Whig State Convention has largely increased the chances for a scrub race in 1852. The whigs here seem to be confident of sucess; with here and there @ man who says that Fillmore and Webster have been d—d badly treated; but, upon the whole, they seem to believe that Fillmore is a good soul, and will submit; and, as for Web- ster, he never would answer for Pennsylvania—be- ing not only no soldier, but opposed always to the war. More to-morrow. WwW. BY TELEGRAPH. Lancaster, Pa., Jume 26; 1851. ‘The Convention dispersed with a distinct presentiment of defeat in October, The bringing of General Scott into the contest, to help Governor Johnston, is a bad sign—indelicate t+ the administration, and impolitic ; but with the defeat of Governor Johnston, it is expected by a few silly people that General Scott will decline. Mr. Webster is out of the question in Pennsylvania. ‘The Mormon Murder at Beaver Island. EXAMINATION OF TWO OF THE MURDERERS. (From the Detroit (Mich ) Advertiser, June 21.] Tux Peorre vs. H. D. McCuLtoen anv Samcer. Gxauam —The defendants in Court, June 10, 1351, in charge of Lyman Granger, deputy sheriff. The defendants, by their counsel, pleaded not guilty. Samuel Bennet, sworn:—Says he knows fendants; they, at the head of about sixty Mor- mons, surrounded our house, on the 7th instant, on Beaver Island, (Bennet’s house;) told us they came to arrest us, and if we did not surrender ourselves, bong’ would take us, dead or alive; we shut the door, and told them we would not obey Mormon law, King Strang’s law, or any other law, but the laws of our country; I caught uy) my shot gun, which was loaded with shot; my wife, who was very much alarmed and excited, took hold of it to wrest it from. me, and in this struggle the gun was accidental: discharged; the Mormons then commenced to breal in our house, and fired in at the window and door several shots; we managed to keep out of the way of the balls, until they at last broke in the door, and several of them came into the house and drag- = my brother out doors, and then commenced to ire at him; he received five balls before he fell; during the time that they were firing at him, he raized up his hands and implored them, in thename of the Almighty God, to spare his life; the defendants were giving orders to fire; they fired several shots at — f, and one nearly cut my hand off; my wife ran off towards her brother's house, nearly frantic, when they followed her and dragged her back to the house, and kicked and bruised her ; they draggea my dead brother .o the beach, and threw him into his own boat, and compelled me to go into it too; they then put sail toit, and conveyed us to the Harbor, before the Mormon Justice, who issued the warrants for us; my hand was bleeding during that time, and the most of the following night, dur- ing which time | was a prisoner ; I fainted several times that night from foss of blood ; that night I overheard Win. McLeod say to McCullogh, (one of the defendants,) ‘you did one thing wrong, that you did not kill the other fellow, (meaning myself,) you ought to kill six others, and I will guaranty you against all Jaw ;” he said McCullogh cut out my brother's heart in my presence, and McLeod washed his hands in the blood ; they heldan inquest on the body; the most of the jurors had beea engaged in murdering my brother; three men, who were not ORIGINAL ARTICLES. Colonel Collier, late Collector of San Francls- co, and the Government at Washington. Colonel Collier, late Collector of San Francisco, California, called upon us a day or two since, for the purpose of getting us to correct # mis-statement which has been extensively circulated in the news- papers, to the effect that he isa defaulter to the government in @ large amount. Colonel Collier denies the imputation in fofo, and says that the only foundation for the misstatement is the fact that, in his accounts with the government, several items, amounting to @ considerable sum in the ag- gregate, have not, as yet, been allowed by the government—that their allowance has been sus- pended; but he has no doabt that im dae time, when the Secretary of the Treasury shall be informed of all the cireamstances connected with the adminis- tration of the Collectorship of San Franeisco, all of these suspended items, as he termed thom, will be allowed. Colonel Collier was appointed Collector of Cali- fornia, at a salary of fifteen hundred dollars a year. As soon as he received his com: ion he proceeded to San Francisco, and on his arrival there he found three hundred and twelve vessels in port, on board of which were goods toa very large amount. His predecessor, who acted under military authority, having left no books or records of his doings, Colo- nel Collier could not ascertain what cargoes had paid duties, and what had not. In this dilemma he exercised his best judgment, and the government accuses him of having collected twenty-seven thou- sand dollars too much. This was an error which was inseparable from the situation in which he was placed, having no books, having no assistance of any kind, and, consequently, having to act, not only as Collector, but as Marshal, Judge, Examiner, Ap” praiser, and in almost every other capacity. Much blame is attached to Col.Collier, for having forfeited a quantity of brandy which had been taken to San Francisco. The following are the circumstances under which tho forfeiture was made: When he left Washington for San Francisco, a copy of the treaty of commerce between France and the United States was put into his hands. By that treaty, French merchants were not allowed to carry on any indirect trade with the United States, or to import into the United States the produsts of any country but their own. Soon after his arrival in San Francisco, - several French vessels reached there with goods and produce from Brazil, Chili, and other places. He inquired of his predecessor if he had heard of any change having been made in the treaty of commerce between the two countries and was answered in the negative. With the treaty before him—with a number of letters addressed to him by the American merchants, calling upon him to enforce the law, and with copies of protests issued by American Consuls at the places from which these goods were shipped, Col. Collier seized a large quantity of these goods, which he declared forfeited to the United States, but allowed the vessels to escape. In November of the same year, he wrote tothe Secretary of the Treasury on the subject, and in the following April he received a reply to the effect that, inthe month of July, an arrange- ment had been entered into with France, whizh allowed of the importation of goods in the manner in which they had been imported. Of course, Col. Collier could not have known of this modification of the treaty between the two countries. Tho re- sign the verdict; the Mor- mons brought in a verdict to clear themselves; I heard the defendants say, in January last, that they would kill me and my brother; they (the Mor- mons) are in the habit of annoying us with law suits before their Mormon justicgg; they had us arrested twice, last winter, and ma y seven- ty dollars and some cents; they bi our two houses, last winter, and agang of them came after- wards, in broad day light, armed, to our house, and took our provisions before our eyes, and we not dar- ing to them; Strang threatened our lives fre- quently; in uence of being so annoyed, we sent to Strang, and told him if he would give us what we paid the government for our farm,he could sponsibility of the proceeding, therefore, rests on the government, for not making him acquainted with the altered state of things at the earliest mo- ment possible. Col. Collier is also accused of not literally follow- ing the rules of the department in certain respects. He did not insist that cargoes should be landed within fifteen days after their arrival, as the law requires. Under the state of things which then ox- isted in San Francisco, Col. Collier says he did not hesitate to say to the merchants that they might have it; “If your land,” said he, ‘+ was not deeded, I would rather have it; Ide not allow the saints to buy any land of this despicable government; be. sides, for ihe raped land bon . no taxes to ; L would not pay you anything for Ear cata he, “yon toast coueply Gib of the kingdom—you must pay me tithes.” will not, saidmy brother, pay anything but what we are required to Re, according to the laws of our coun- try. Well, bennett,” said Strang, “if you do not pay me tithe, mark my words, that you will be id; Pra lan sorry.” We then left him. Cross-examined.—We only fired one gun, and that was accidentally discharged by my » when she tried to get it me; we had another in the house, but the lock was out of order, no one could get it off; I could have shot some of the Mormons with my double-barrelled gun, if | had tried to; but ] knew it would be of no use, as there were too many of them; [ do not know whether any of the Mormons were wounded or not; think from the direction of the gun at the time, it could not wound any of them; we did not fire any other ‘un; my brother did not fire; the defendants wore there; intention was to kill us; the reason that they got out the warrant for us is, because we told the Mormon constable, threo days before, that it would be no use for them to try to execute Mor- mon laws up there; that the people were bound not to obey them; we did not offer them any resist ance; the man whom they were going to st then was about three miles from our house; we have not lived on our farm since last fall, for fear of being murdered by them. i do hereby certify, that the above isa correct statement of the evidence of Samucl Bennet, in the case of the People vs. MeCullogh and Graham, for the murder of Thomas Bennet. Cuas. M. O’Mattey, Justice of the Peace. (From the Detroit (Mich ) hte | There were ten more persons arres and brought down from Beaver Island, yesterday, on the United States steamer Michigan, charged with an attempted robbery of the mail, armed with deadly weapons. There were fourteen witnesses brought down, at the expense of the United States, every one of whom is a witness for the defence—not one was brought down for the prosecution. ‘The defendant Strang, and his counsel were carried up and brought back free of expense on board the Michigan. The depositions of about forty wit- nerves were taken on the island, some thirty of which were for the defence, free of expense ty them ‘The Commissioner's Court eat twelve hours one day and ninetes hours the second—Commissioacr Wilkins holding the Court, Mr. Bates appearin, for the United States, and Col. Meleynolds and Mr. Strang for the defendants. As there has been an attempt to prejudge the action of the District Att y, and get up sympathy for the defendants, and give these arrests a party character, we deem it pioper to state: the complaints made to the District Attorney all came from Mormons or State officers who are democrats. rand jury that found the indictments were a majority of them democrats, and only made presentmenta, after a most patient examination. Without speaking of | the evidence, we think the trial will show that the cvernment officers would have been recreant to uty to have overlooked the complaints; and no prorecution was ever carried on with more courtesy or kindness toward the accused. [From the Detroit Advertiser, June On Sunday last, the United Stat reached Detroit, having in his eustody, ler, Post, Brown, William Town Field, Seymour Page and Finley I under indictment with Strang, for maki | pas- sing counterfeit coin of the United States, and ob- structing United States mails, and for stripping a overnment land of timber. The steamer also Eroaght down, at the expense of the governm thirteen witnesses for the prisoners. ‘The parties arrested are, or elaim to be, im- portant and influential men in the Mormon organi- zation, holding various offices therein, suc apostles, high priests and ellers. (nthe exa tion, it was sworn to, ee witnesses, that he isa prophet, gifted by divine inspiration and clothed with miraculous powers, among whieh is the gift of prophee: One of the witnesses, who calls himself a High Priest, being under examination upon cath, in answer to Strang's interrogatories, swore before the Commissioner that “he knew Strang to bea prophet of the earth, gifted, by divine ij ‘ation, with miraculous powers, and endowed divine grace;” that be (witness), as High Priest, had taken the covenant from laying hands on the croas, at owed ed the witness identified che “ coverant” referred to by him to be the bdssphemous doou- ment heretofore published by us, in the testimony of Acams. ‘This witness went on to say—“I believe t. James (Strang), by and by signing it. Aad Strang to be a prophet, whore inspiration comes from God, like that of Ieainh and the other pro- phets of old; and that he ean foretell things of the future; and that, *shen thepired, he can speak from and tr ate unknown tongucs.” The witness bond their goods on board of their own ships, so that they might not incur the expanse of six dollars «ton for landing them, and fifteen dollars per month for each ton, for storage. Undor this state of things he did not hesitate to disobey the practice in ordi- nary cases. Among the suspended items of his account, is one for a large sum which was expended for rent. Col. Collier was authorized by the Sesretary of the Treasury to rent a building for a custom house, giving preference to one that was fire-proof. He solicited proposals for such a building as was re- quired. He was offered one at $7,000 a month, and another at $10,000 per month. He leased the $7,000 one for one year, subject to the approval of the Secretary of the Treasury. The Secretary disapproved of it at the end of four months, and he left it. A building which was offered to him at $100,000 a year was then finished, and he leased it at $3,000 a month, subject to the Secretary's ap- proval. Of the ront for this building, $25,000 is among the suspended items. Another suspended item is for money expended in building a wharf. Col. Collier, as Collector, re- fused to receive a large quantity of unclaimed lum- ber; but Mr. Rodman, who was sent out as a spe- cial agent of the government, insisted that the merchants of San Francisco ought to have the same facilities extended to them as were enjoyed by mer- chants in other parts of the United States. He was obliged, therefore, to assume the keeping of this lumber, and having no place to store it, he was obliged to build a wharf for the purpose. By some means or other the wharf sank into the bay, and with it six or seven hundred tons weight of lumber. What was he to do under these ciroumstances! Ilo | could not awaitinstructions from Washingto Ile | accordingly built another wharf, as rapidly as pos- sible, and had the lumber taken out of the water, and piled up safely. The cost of this second wharf is not allowed Another charge against Col. Collier is, that he did not make quarterly returns of the expenses of hie offi nd submit them to the Secretary of the Treasury. Under the circumstances which existed at the time in California, it was impossible to com- | ply with this rule of the department. He paid his officers at the end of every month, and wrote to the Secretary of the Treasury that he would be obliged to continue to do eo, or he would not be able to keep men in his office, as they were obliged, at that time, to pay their board morey in advance ‘These are the circumstances under which Col Collier diecharged his duties as Collector, and the above are some of the charges thathave boen made | against him. Col. Collier went to California with a salary of fifteen hundred dollars a year, and had mo assist- antsatall. As Collector, be had to collect the revenues. As Appraiser, he had to value goods. When he seized goods, he had to assume the reapoa- sibility of Admiralty Judge in deciding upon for- feitures, and he was actually obliged to act as Mar- thal @nd carry his own judgments into effect. How different is the situation of things in California now! T. Butler King has a salary of $10,000 a year; he has an assistant with a salary of $6,000 or $7,000; a Surveyor with a salary of $6,000; two Appraisers at $6,000 each; two Assistant Appraisers at $4,000 each, and a District Judge, District Attorney, Mar- shal, and other officers oated there for the pur- pose of carrying the laws into effect. Col. Collier, Kom the necessity of the case, was obliged to as sume every kind of reeponsibility. Indeed, we think be has been treated in a very shabby manner by the government. If he had insisted that the merchants should have unloaded their vessels when be went there, and Janded their goods, an immense amount of property would have been destroyed by the first great fire. The ships in the bay, however, Chants to store afloat. on shi; almost en exempt from fire risks. saw fit to red Caren top here = agent who a al 4s inany other eppointees sent here upom missions for which neither education, taste, nor the gods fitted them. This agent. a Mr. Rodman, came, pre- tended to see and examine into the custom house ar- Fangements, and report upon the warehousing facilities of this port, jamped at an opinion, and made his against the evidence of his eyesight that fun Franc abounded in safe, fire-proof buildings, suitable for public stores, which merchants and shippers could use for bonded goods, In ence of this report, Colonel Collier received an unmerited amount of reprimand. and finally was rejected by the Senate for an offtee which he had #0 faithfully and effectually filled, and in which, by & wise and liberal policy, he had saved millions of dcllare to the citizens, without a dollar's loss to the government. Another evidence of the petty manner im which it_was expected Colonel Collier should conduet his office ax Collector, is the fact that he was limited to on expenditure of $150 for a safe, in which to keep the public moneys. He endeavored to par- chase one at that rate, but without success. was offered one for $1,700, which at public auction realized $900. Leing’ restricted, he was oblij therefore, to get on as well as he could, and the public moneys in his room, without a vs and without a safe, having upwards of a million of dollars in it at a time, an afraid to leave his over- sight of it for a moment, lest it might be stolen. This was the condition of things when the first ag fire broke out in San Francisco, and but for Colonel Collier's resolution, the flames would in all probability have consumed the Colloctor’s of- fice, and the government funds would have been stolen. As it was, it was with great difficulty he saved both. Three or four heuices men cengre- gated round the building, and demanded com tion for assisting him in saving the office. le was attacked by these men, and was obliged to call upon the officer of the revenue cutter in the harbor for protection, which was rompey rendered. In conclusion, from what we have heard, we think that Colonel Collier was perfectly justified in all he did. He did not hesitate to assume responsibility, when it was necessary for him to do so, for the in- terest of the government and the mercantile com- munity. If he bad been timid, or if he had de- clined to disregard, for the time being, the striet letter of the law, chaos would have reigned su- preme ; the revenue would have been lost; the go- vernment would have lost everything ; and Property to the value of several millions of dollars wo have been destroyed by fire. Changes in the Vatue of Real Estate in the Lower Wards of the City of New York. It is curious to notice the changes which have oc- ocurred in the value of: real estate in the commer- cial part of this city, during the last thirty year; and to observe that, notwithstanding the constant increase of the city in wealth and population, such are the whims and fancies of men of business, some jocations in the lower wards, where the trade and commerce of this emporium are carried on, are actually valued at less than they were twenty or thirty years since. This is shown by the rate at which such property is constantly sold, or it valued by the assessors for taxes, or the compara- tive rents paid thereon. We propose to give & few instances, as the result of our inquiries and observations—first remarking that the in. crease of the value of real estate in the lower part of the city has been great in the aggregate, as might be supposed, from the general removal of families up town, and the conversion of dwelling houses in the lower wards into stores, hotels and boarding houses. The following is the comparative valuation of real estate, as assessed, in the four lower wards, in 1882 and 1849:— F rd 19 312,000 Pent 100 First wal $19,311 O11, Second do. 10,514,500 11,831,250 Third do "897;900 12,627,750 Fourth do. 6,731,700 8,030,170 {$63,550,270 Increace value of real estate in these four wards, $17,093,970. A large portion of this increase of value in build- ings, however, may be attributed to the cost of the expensive banking houses, warehouses, and other edifices, which have Leen erected since the great fire of 1835, and cther improvements which have taken place down town—for it is a fact that there has been a great decline in rents in such streets as Pearl street, Greenwich street, and other sectiona of the lower wards, within the last twenty years. In Pearl street, for instance, if we compare the renta paid at present, with those obtained for the same warehouses in 1832 and 1834, taking the whole range from l’eck slip to Broad street, we find the decline from fifty to seventy per cent. We may name one etore in that street, which formerly rent- ed for three thousand dollars, and which now rents for nine hundred dollars only. Pearl street, it is well known, has been for many years the great mart of the dry goods trade, andit is mainly in that business that most of these great changes have taken place; and this decline in renta in Pearl street has been going on, while the trade in dry goods has increased in common with other branches of commerce. If we inquire into the cause of this apparent anomaly, we believe it will be found mainly in the propensity to change—whioh iscommon to all human affairs—which causes the influcnce of fashion to operate as woll in trade, ag in the social concerns of life. The first great change in the course of the city business, which withdrew much of the dry goods and other trade from Peart “treet, occurred after the improvements which took place after the great fire of December, 1835, a large number of extensive warchouses having been ereot- edin other streets in the First ward, after that event. In consequence, many merchants removed from Pearl street to those locations, some of which, again, in turn, aro losing their share of popularity as favorite stands; and at the prosent time, Hroadway, which, a fow years ago, was prin- cipally confined to the retail business, is tho most fashionable street for the wholesale faney and staple dry goods trade, and the highost rents in the city are paid for the new aad costly warehouses in that quarter. Fulton, John, Nassau and William streets, may aleo be said to have improved as business streets, within a few ears. Courtlandt street has materially ol its charaoter, and property for business pui a that street, has greatly increased in value. Dey street is, at present, undergoing great alterationa, by widening the street, and the erection of many spacious warchcuses, calculated for the wholesale trade in various branches. The lower part of Greenwich street was formerly proapies as residences by some of the most fashiona- ble families in tho city. It is now principally tenant- ed by boarding house keepers, particularly by those who accommodate German and other emigrant:, which has the effect, generally, to drive out the American population. In that part of the city, rents are lower than they wore thiny years site; and pag honses which then rented $900, may now be had for twenty-five per cent less—say a. The following shows the low valuation placed by the Assessors upen some of the dovellings in Green- wich street :— No, Iding, formerly the residence of the W. Woolsey, $11,000 No. d to Dr. Bibby, . 5,500 . Morris, 5,500 3 Storm, 5,500 The elegant row of dwelling houses fronting the Bowling Green and State street, are now valued at considerably less than they would probably have brought thirty years since, or soon after they wore erected. They are estimated by the assessors at from 06 000 each; and it appears from the bh — were built, made by order of the corporation in ISL5, that they were pur- chased by the persons named at the following prices :— John Hone,... . Peter Remsen,. James Byers, . Elbert Anderson, . Abijah Weston, Dominick L, i * . i. Whitney, A. Weston,........... Thos. R. Mercein, . . Robert Lenox, . . Jos. Blackwell,. . John ‘ Most of there houses are still occupied by old New Yorkers, and are considered fashionable resi- dences ; but it ix not probable that they can with- kept this property safe. Mr. Rodman, his succes- sor, saw fit to enforce the Custom Howe regula- tions in this reepect, and the consequence te, that by the last great fire, property to the ®alue of sev millions of dollars was destroyed, which would b been savedif Col Collier's plat had been continued, of allowing the merchants to store their goods afloat subject, saye:— added—“ He reveals himself sometimes in the pre- f othyrs; | have witnessed communications inspiration between God and others, and would <ych communications as law. After the arrival here of Colonel Collier, he became perfectly aware of the rick and danger which we-gia Pare if the urval meds of eastom Rouse business Cnoald be strictly enforced. Its, therefore. permitted ine mer: The Alta Colifornia, in speaking on this | stand the progress of improvement and the desire for change, many years oages. It ix cortain that | the lower part of Broadway, Bowling (ireen, State street, and vicinity, must soon be occupied only for | warchouses, hotels and boarding hoses | The Taots we ange etated clearly show Sanne esta, even in the most prosperous co! | ‘aes, is eubject to Restestioes in value, from causes ot ensilyto be foreseen by the most shrewd and careful observers, but often governed by the whime and fancies of individuals engaged in trade, or hav- ing an influence ou the fashion: and tastes of a Weis day and generation