Page images
PDF
EPUB

others are falling into the "sere and yellow leaf." measure, correspondence of political sentiment. Then Eighteen years of peace have glided by on the noiseless came the framing and modelling of the great republic and polished wheels of time-have calmed the tumul--the putting together disjointed parts-the attempt to tuous feelings of war, and given us leisure to look inward upon ourselves. We no longer need to be reminded of former trophies as preparatory excitements to future achievements,our country stands in its relations to foreign nations proudly eminent,"-in the calm dignity of conscious strength-desiring peace, ready for war: receiving atonement for former aggressions; protected from new, by the disseminated knowledge of her power. The character of our national celebration partakes of this attitude of our national concerns. It presents less of military display-more of political and philosophical discussion. The public addresses, in themselves ema. nations from our political institutions, indicate and reflect the popular feeling. Like a series of ancient medals, exhibiting brief allusions to leading events a series of our national orations would instruct the historian in the progressive state of our national sentiment, and the varying fortunes of the republic: redolent of war when foreign relations are uncertain: proclaiming the blessing of peace when the political atmosphere is serene-discussing state rights when the confederacy clashes with some favorite theory-lauding the Union when ambition threatens to dissolve its ties. Even from the assembling of this Association; from the simple fact of an address delivered to young Americans without distinction of party; may be deduced the conclusion of a new era in this our noble state. Would that the example might extend throughout the Union: that the young men of our nation, with all the pure feelings and uncorrupted sentiments of early life, with hearts unembittered by party contests, with tongues undefiled by party slanders, with minds unimpaired by party prejudices, would every where band themselves into proud fraternities, sworn to elevate the American name, to emblazon the glories of the American nation: our country their only watchword-right or wrong-still our country, our country.

form one great whole: And state jealousies, uncertain boundaries, and unequal portions of debt contracted by the individual colonies in the general struggle, formed copious sources of hostile discussion under the first confederacy, and kept the edges of controversy sharp and keen. That confederacy soon, very soon, exhibited symptoms of inefficiency to which the patriot could not be blind: and then arose the question of a new organi zation; the shape which it should assume; the quantum of power which should be given to the general government; and taken from the individual states: the character and authority of the chief magistrate-the tenure of his office-the power of the national judiciary-the basis of representation in the national chambers--all of them subjects of deep and lasting interest, upon which the views of the leading men of that day differed widely, as early education or sectional partialities might direct. Under these exciting discussions, lines of demarcation began to be shadowed forth, and similarity of opinions to form the boundaries of political association. The constitution was at last adopted; that under which we have seen almost half a century of unexampled prosperity. But under that constitution were to be settled the questions of army, and of navy-of our relations with foreign powers-of neutrality; while Europe was agitated by the whirlwind of revolution-or of obedience to sympathy with ancient allies, and the resumption of arms with them. Commerce too, its intricacies and its liabilities to aggression, lent its aid to extend the field of embarrassment; and universal excitement, fervid passion, ardent controversy, seized the public mind. Great leaders arose-choice spirits-to guide the intel. lectual warfare. Around them the people rallied, as passion, interest, or conviction, might determine their choice. The controversy raged—even the fair sex lent their aid to the general uproar, and with their delicate fingers framed the emblems of contending party-men and boys wore them; and many a sturdy battle was fought by the little urchins in defence of their respecties disregarded-and society was split into great adtive colors. Private friendships were broken-family regarding all beyond, as strangers or as enemies. Graverse factions, each confined within his own pale, and dually, however, this storm subsided; our own domestic nations assumed that character of equal justice to all, policy became settled; and our relations with foreign of entangling alliances with none, from which the republic has never since departed. Our country 'prospersprang up-the wilderness was subdued-new states ed beyond all example-commerce flourished-cities In truth, I ask of you to do little more than tread the the public debt was reduced-our flag was seen in eve were organized as if by magic-population trebledpath which the progress of events has already made ry bay, and harbour, and inlet, and ocean-the powers obvious. Party spirit, such as it once existed in these of Barbary were humbled-the infant began to assume United States, is no longer known. Personal predilec-gigantic dimensions-foreign jealousies were excited— tions and partialities we have; a warm canvass for opposing candidates will excite our interest, and rouse us to adverse exertions-but with the contest the excitement ends, and the billows raised in momentary tumult subside to the gentle undulations of a calm.

To you, my young friends, it belongs to you, who, in a few years, must rule the destinies of this people, belongs the glorious privilege of infusing this new spirit into the bosom of America-of framing a new declaration of independence; independence of the shackles of party, of the slavery of names. That the madness of party is inseparable from republican government is the doctrine of despots, the very essence of their argument -and if it were true, should be denied by republicans as they would deny a blot in their own domestic circle. Let it be our pride to disabuse the human intellect of this deceitful proposition-to display a republican people united in feeling and sentiment as well as in arms.

It has required the amalgamating influence of fifty years, thus to attune the public mind to harmony. The foundation of party feeling was laid in the early history of our republic-and bitterness was borrowed from the recollections of civil war. Men became separated before the war of independence by contrariety of sentiment in relation to the aggressions of Great Britain: they fought and bled under opposing banners-received and inflicted mutual injuries: and although the triumph of liberty swept away this ground of controversy, and drove from the soil those who had opposed its regeneration, it left nevertheless, among the early fathers of the republic, a hostile and uncompromising spirit-prone to denounce differ nce of political views, and to exalt beyond due

and at last, as if to effect one general and grand reunion of American freemen, came that second war: And then, upon the altar of our common country was offered up all that remained of passion, prejudice, and. party feeling. The sacrifice was accepted--and the next oblation was made by an united people rendering thanks for their second great triumph. From that period we have had our contests-but they have been for men, rather than for measures: conducted with all the pomp and circumstance, but with little of the real acrimony of party. Its bitterness is no longer infused into the cup of private and social life; friendships remain unbroken-family ties undissolved. Upon the great topics which formerly threw us into a foam of agitation, we have united in sentiment, and the modern duty and aim has been, to see that principles which all approve shall be faithfully administered and carried into effect.

Let it not be supposed that I mean to inculcate upon

ent. The

at repet altempl S, URCE

ntracted gle, fore!

Fre first col sharp! eabbey) t coul

[ocr errors][ocr errors][ocr errors][ocr errors][ocr errors][ocr errors][merged small][merged small]

of the American Ambassador was then, as it ought ever to be, the refuge of the distressed and persecuted. It was pointed out to the infuriated soldiery as a place filled with their enemies. They rushed to the attackmy only defence was the flag of my country, and it was flung out at the instant that hundreds of muskets were levelled at us. We placed ourselves beneath its waving folds, and the attack was suspended. We did not blench, for we felt strong in the protecting arm of this mighty republic. We told them that the flag that waved over us, was the banner of that nation, to whose example they owed their liberties, and to whose protection they were indebted for their safety. The scene changed as by enchantment-and these men who were on the point of attacking my house and massacreing the inhabitants, cheered the flag of our country, and placed sentinels to protect it from outrage. Fellow citizens, in such a moment as that, would it have been any protection for me or mine, to have proclaimed myself a Carolinian? Should I be here to tell you this tale, if I had hung out the palmetto and the single star? Be assured that to be respected abroad we must maintain our place in the union."

the young men of our native land, indifference to the
political aspect of their country, or inattention to the
conduct of their public men. On the contrary; there
never was a moment in our political history which de-
manded greater watchfulness-more entire devotion to
the public weal. It is in vain to deny that we were
lately upon the eve of a great convulsion-tottering on
the brink of a precipice-over which the leap, or the
fall, would have inflicted fearful, if not fatal, injury.
Already were the powers of Europe gloating upon the
prospect of our disunion-of the breaking up, and scat-
tering abroad upon the winds of discord, of all that
proud fabric of freedom, which had been to them a
standing monument of reproach, "with fear of change
perplexing monarchs."
Sarcasms, sneers and jibes at
the government of the people by the people-prophe-
cies of dissolution-kind intimations that the maternal
arms of the mother country would be open to her re-
pentant offspring-that the fatted calf would be killed
to welcome the wanderer back, infused joy into the
bosoms of transatlantic politicians-and brought burning
blushes into the cheek of every native of the soil. Oh!
my country!-yet "darkened so you shone above them
all!"

Aye, young men-young men of this great and cen-
tral State-you were threatened with disunion! In the
south and in the north, the value of union became a
subject of calculation-or arithmetical estimate of trial
in the scales of expediency. Father of nations-can it
be? Does there exist an American, who would raise a
parricidal arm against his country's glory-who would
give up one jot or tittle of his share in the splendid
heritage of republican fame? Let us not believe it.
Temporary hallucination may have misled-but the
weed grew but upon the surface-to the heart its roots
cannot have penetrated-and with the abatement of the
sudden heat which gave it unnatural growth, will with-
er, die, disappear.

Yet, it will not do to rest our fate upon the anticipations of sanguine hope. The startling phantom, the hideous spectre of disunion, has been offered to our gaze-has already "seared our eyeballs:" we must examine it closely-become familiar with its hideous and disgusting features-and from the very accumulation of abhorrence, "put on manly resolution" to banish the unreal mockery from the land.

Disunion of this our beloved country! Let us, calmly if we can, look at the picture and calculate-aye, that is the word-calculate its results-and where shall we begin the withering catalogue of ills?-what gloomy Cassandra shall we invoke to denounce the gathering Wo?

Our name-yes, our name! let us begin there-an American citizen-a citizen of the United States. Who is not proud of that title? In what land of civilized man is it not a passport to regard? Where do we not with pride announce our country-and claim our birth right? And for what title shall we exchange it? From what diminished portion of our mighty empire shall we hereafter hail? A Pennsylvanian-a New Yorker-a Carolinian-a Virginian? Shall these be our titles? How small, how insignificant, in contrast with the simple and dignified answer: I am a citizen of the United States.

Of this honored name-of this proud flag, disunion will deprive us; they will be lost to us forever-not to us alone, but to the world. The name may remain, claimed by some fragment of this once great people; the flag may be retained by the same inglorious fraction; but their meaning and their spirit will be gone-the name will no longer indicate that you are members of that splendid republic which broke through the trammels of despotism-the flag will no longer assert participation in the glories of unnumbered victories-the name and the flag united, will cease to prove your claim to kindred with Washington: of that heritage you will be despoiled. Better, far better, if we must part, that the name be abandoned for ever, and the flag be furled for ever-precious, yet sacred relics, over whose immaculate purity history may bend with reverence, and weep for their early departure-than that they be retained, shorn of their honour, robbed of their brightness. Let them go out like those fixed stars, which having shone for ages upon the world, suddenly disappear from the magnificent canopy of heaven, and are seen no more amidst its awful hosts.

What more! How long will freedom stand the shock how long will republican government survive? It is a momentous and a doubtful question, which in its full extent time alone can solve--but upon which it well becomes us to pause and deliberate. Let us waive the influence upon foreign nations-there, the blow would be fatal, and the translantic despot would bless the western republican for the gift of chains and manacles more infrangible than the work-shop of his own legitimate brain could devise--what among ourselves, to our own children, would be the result? Even here, I say, the question is full of uncertainty. "Clouds and darkness hang upon it." It is true, that the people of the eastern and middle States are thoroughly and practically versed in the doctrines of equality of rights-that they understand and are attached to these political institutions which are founded upon, and, in their turn, uphold these doctrines-that under ordinary circumstances, the universal existence of these opinions, and the absence of all laws of primogeniture, would guard them efficiently against the sudden usurpation of an in dividual, or the insidious approaches of an aristocracy. In the southern States a different temper may possibly prevail-a population, on their eastern board, comparatively sparse-property in the shape of landed estate, cultivated by slaves, and giving to the possessor a species of seignoral dignity-a less extended elective franchise-comparative seclusion from the world, and from the assimilating process of constant intercourse with men, have given in those States a tone to society less favourable to republican doctrines, as we under stand them here-more allied to the sentiments belong

Under what flag shall we sail? To what waving em. blem of our country's glory shall we look, and claim the safeguard of its ample folds? What shall become of the stars and stripes-the banner of freedom! Allow me to quote the words of the accomplished and gentlemanly Poinsett, than whom his country does not possess a nobler or a better man.

"Wherever I have been, (says this true patriot,) I have felt proud of being a citizen of this great republic, and in the remotest corners of the earth have walked erect and secure under the banner which our opponents would tear down and trample under foot. I was in Mexico when that town was taken by assault-the house

ing to the aristocratic form. Should a separate confederacy be formed there, it would not create surprise, to behold in a few years power centering in the hands of a few ambitious and leading men-preserved in the same families by the influence of wealth and talent, and finally perpetuated in hereditary form. In the eastern and middle States, and in the western States, at least in those in which slavery is not tolerated, such a change is not perhaps to be feared Predominating wealth is among them only to be found in the commercial capitals-where the possesor is, as to personal influence, lost amid the crowd of free and aspiring men who elbow him on every side, and meet and thwart him at every turn. It gives no political influence. That depends upon popular talent-and popular talent is always to be found in the grasp of men coming from among the people in numbers sufficient to prevent the overween-imagine the spirits of the departed, to look down with ing rise of any individual beyond a just and proper point.

splendour of arms dazzle and delude their daughtersperchance even among ourselves the successful soldier be looked to as the proper and permanent head of the state, and our liberties expire in a blaze of martial glory. The future historian in narrating the fortunes of this land will tell over the stories of Venice and Genoa-of Milan and Florence and Pisa. He may have to speak of cities sacked-of people carried into captivity-of modern Dorias and Dandolos crimsoning the waters of our fine bays and inland seas with mutual slaughter-of the whoop of the savage intermingled with Christian arms, and avenging the wrongs of their ancestors, upon the descendants of their oppressorsperhaps of a sable banner rising victorious over the flag of the white man! All these things may be-and should they, or a tithe part of them, come to pass-and could we interest upon the scenes of this world, well might we fancy that of the third George, gazing with stern composure upon our discord, and viewing it as just retribu tion--while thine, thou other George, our own revered Washington, even in the mansions of the blessed, would lose its sense of happiness, while gazing on the ruin inflicted by the madness of ambition, upon that fair and perfect edifice, erected by thy hands, and intended by thee for the eternal dwelling place of freedom!

Cities and boroughs have ever been the strong holds of freedom; congregated in masses, conscious of strength, watchful, jealous, well informed, their inhabitants are by force of position sturdy republicans: and in this section of our country, cities and boroughs are thickly planted, and daily increasing in numbers and in growth. But there are dangers common to us all. Let the fatal example of disunion be set: and where-where, And if the curse of disunion must fall upon us, are would it end? Into how many, or into how few con- these ills inevitable? Must the madness, and unholy federacies our country would be split, what human eye violence of one portion of the confederacy involve the can foresee? Should we have a Southern and an Eastern rest in misery? Is there no escape from such accumuconfederacy-or a Southern, a Middle, an Eastern and lation of wo? Far be it from us to despair of the rea Western confederacy-and form them as you will, public; that the evils depicted are those which, guided how long would it be before supposed discrepancies of by past experience, we have reason to dread, is all that interest, or the ambition of men grasping at high offices is asserted. To admit them inevitable would be to intoo few to satisfy their desires, would again and again vite their approach. And it may well happen that prosubdivide, and tear to pieces the miserable remnants, vidence by a just retribution may cause the sword to until wide spread havoc, confusion, and ruin, should fall upon the imprudent men who have been so ready extend the pall of desolation over its whole face? Then to draw it from the scabbard; and that guided by pa might war in its bitterest and most aggravated form gluttriotism-impelled by the native energies of her hardy. its sanguinary appetite in the blood of Americans, by sons-driven forward by the expanding force of univer Americans shed. Commercial rivalry, the interference sal freedom--the untainted portion of our country may of foreign nations, the desire of supremacy--nay, the reach that pinnacle of greatness, towards which their Just of conquset would, some or other of them, soon, ascent has hitherto been uninterrupted. Let us turn very soon, cast abroad the brand of inextinguishable then from the gloomy picture, and hail this more cheerhate: there are no quarrels so bitter as those of a ful prospect. Suppose that our discontented sister family no wars so ferocious as those of a divided peo- State should proceed in her unhallowed views, and ple. Ancient Greece, modern Italy, present Southdraw into the vortex of her ambitious projects, other America, all present beacons shedding broad lights up. States supposed to have with her a community of interon that which might become our miserable fate. To est and of feeling. The republic would remain, shorn doubt that such might be the result of disunion, would of its beams, it is true, but still great and powerful be wilfully to shut our eyes to all the admonitions of And if the poison of the example did not spread might history, nay it would be to doubt the awful warnings rise more resplendent from the dim eclipse. There of our own feelings, to deny belief to the rapid current would remain a people in numbers at this moment upof our own bloods. Let us but recollect the mingled wards of nine millions-possessed of an immense exsentiments of indignation and fiery passion which have tent of territory-of a hardy, laborious, intelligent poswollen our own veins within a twelve month, and re-pulation, devoted to agriculture, to commerce, and to call the taunts, the bitter defiance thrown back upon us from our brothers of the South, and we may faintly figure forth the ferocity which would mark an actual contest. Alas, alas, that this should be so! Yet why should we refuse to hear the truth? rather let us listen to its warning voice, and strive to avert such most unnatural scenes from our beloved country.

We boast now, and justly too, of our domestic security—our undisturbed fireside enjoyments; our sons and daughters grow up around us in peace and safety-the fruits of industry are our own; separate the Union, and before, another half a century shall elapse, perhaps before a tithe of that time, and we shall be a nation of fortified camps, and of armed men. Splended deeds of arms will be done -the exploits of the warrior will fill the song of the poet: the navies of the north; the yeoman infantry of the middle States; the careering cavalry of the broad plains of the west; the chivalry of the south, will win their victories, and gain immortal honor. But alas for the people; them will the tax-gatherer oppress-the conscription carry away their sons-the

manufactures; unfettered by a hostile race existing among themselves; accustomed to command the ocean; full of enterprise; and having abundant capital to give it impulse; with all the necessaries of life producible within their own borders-and with no counterpoise in the scale, but the moral influence of the pestiferous ex ample of disunion. Why should not such a people continue its onward flight to greatness? Why should the removal of a weight from their wings lessen the height to which they might soar? Is it not probable, that relieved from the pressure of conflicting interests, with the spring of their exertions untrammelled, their own views of policy unconfined, their speed in the race of prosperity would be redoubled-and that, in time, the force of contrast and the lessons of experience, might lure back to their arms, an erring and repentant sister? What is to prevent such a consummation, if we are true to ourselves? From foreign hostility we have nothing to fear. As to that, our country is almost intangible. Contests with our former brethren might be rife and bitter-but they would be border wars, dis

[merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][ocr errors][ocr errors][ocr errors]

tressing to the immediate locality, elsewhere unimpres- self. It becomes us as Pennsylvanians to bend our ef-
sive, having perhaps no other effect than that of pre-forts to her advancement-to extend and enlarge her
venting the extinction of martial spirit. Indeed, it prosperity-to elevate her character--and to demand
seems inevitable, unless man shall most perseveringly for her the rank and consideration to which she is justly
strive to mar the designs of his Creator, that this con- entitled. And while she is cultivating and bringing in-
tinent shall be the seat of great and powerful nations. to active operation all her resources, let not Pennsylva-
The knowledge of its existence seems to have been nia forget or neglect her men, her able and intelligent,
withheld from civilized man, until the period was ap- men. It is through them her sister States must be
proaching when convulsed and overpeopled Europe made to feel and acknowledge her weight, her real im-
should require a new world to receive her surplus po-portance. Their voices should be heard-their coun-
pulation, and a new soil in which to plant her arts and sels should be listened to. Their services should be
sciences, her literature and philosophy-where they continued, from year to year, and from term to term, that
might flourish and expand under the influence of a vir- to the weight derived from talent they might add the
gin mould. Here then, man, renovated man, must in- confidence of experience. All the high places of Penn
crease till millions upon millions shall fill the space be-sylvania should be filled with her most distinguished
tween the Atlantic and the Rocky mountains-and sons, no matter what their party-no matter what the
thence pour down fresh myriads till they reach and name which others may have chosen to attribute or
subdue the eastern shores of the great Pacific. But they themselves have been willing to adopt.
whether these unnumbered hosts are to exist under the
blessings of free institutions, or to gasp under the pres-
sure of despotism, is the problem which man himself
must solve. If our Union lasts there is no dream of
the philanthropist too brilliant to be realized. If that
union be frittered away by the most unholy ambition of
her own parricidal sons, and the minerals of our moun-
tains be converted into instruments of mutual destruc-
tion and fraternal discord, we shall but repeat among
ourselves the melancholy and desolating story of all the
past nations of the earth.

In this particular we may well be tutored by the
south. Those men who for thirty years have upheld
her pretentions in the public councils of the country and
in their own domestic arenas have all grown up and
grown old in the same service. They are trained in
early life, while the blood still courses madly through
their veins under the guidance of some veteran leader,
who calms their onset without extinguishing their ardour.
They gain experience by perseverance in the course:
they become in their turn leaders, following up the
pursuits, adopting the doctrines, carrying out the policy
The uncertainties which now hang over the general of their predecessors-at home they are rewarded by
prosperity make it the duty and the interest of every the public praise and approbation--and thus supported,
individual State to be doubly watchful of her own they are elsewhere respected. The intercourse between
course-doubly attentive to her own prosperity. Such them and the people is alike honorable to both,--frank,
is the machinery of our institutions, that each State is open, and confiding; and this confidence, thus given, is
capable of exercising an influence which will be felt to not hastily withdrawn, or suffered to be the sport of
the extremities of our country. Arranged and organiz. every idle whim of party. The result has been such
ed as a nation, with all the attributes of a distinct power,
as we have witnessed. The destinies of the Republic
they are at all moments ready to spring forward upon have been heretofore almost exclusively held in the
the path of national weal-or if misdirected, of national hands of the south. They are in truth a generous and
wo. The facility with which our warm-blooded sister a gallant people, and it is to their honour that they have
of the south assumed the attitude of prepared resist- grasped and held the ensign of republican power. Yes,
ance, is a startling evidence of the power of each indi- my fellow citizens, they are a generous and a gallant peo-
vidual member of the general family; and when we re-ple--without fear their men--their women without re-
collect that a few stirring, perhaps disappointed spirits, proach. May the Almighty, in his temple I say it with re-
fanned that flame, which might almost have consumed verence may the Almighty, of his infinite mercy, avert
a continent, it leads us to the further conclusion that from us the grief of beholding them separated from the
the course of every individual citizen should be watched great American family! Let Pennsylvania imitate them in
and guarded-that the first aspirations of ambition the particular to which I have been alluding; let her,dis-
should be checked-and love of country be inculcated dining the trammels of party, draw forth her ablest and
and insisted upon as the first great recommendation to her best; assume her station upon a pinnacle suited to her
that country's favour.
real greatness; and Pennsylvania may do much to avoid
the threatened storm. From firmness, temperance,
mutual concession, from recurrence to revolutionary
lore, from recollection of past sufferings jointly borne,
and past blessings jointly bestowed, the spirit of peace
and harmony and brotherly love may be revived from
its temporary sleep--and our star-spangled banner once
more float in wild careering youthful joy over a happy
and united people.

Young men without distinction of party!-heloved sons of our beloved country-she cries to you for union, union, union; listen to her with the willing ear of young affection, and respond to her call with the ready hearts and hands of vigorous manhood.

Certainly not the least powerful of the confederacy is our own Pennsylvania. She has been called the key stone of the arch of the Union-a flattering designation undoubtedly and which we have accepted with sufficient complacency-though it may be somewhat difficult to point out precisely where the analogy lies-or why Pennsylvania is peculiarly entitled to the epithet. This state undoubtedly ought to possess great influence in the councils of the Nation, and with her sister States. She is happily situated for a mediatrix between the south and the north; and is in close affinity and connexion with the growing west. Her population is already in number nearly a million and a half-second only to that of New York-half as great as that of the whole Union when we became independent; her soil excellent her water courses magnificent-her mineral productions far exceeding those yet developed in any other part of the Union-her public improvements, roads, canals, and bridges, worthy of all praise-her system of laws enlightened her wealth abundant-her chief city, of great extent, surpassing beauty, and correspondent celebrity at home and abroad; she is entitled to great weight in the nation-and whether a single or a divided people, her power ought to be known, felt, and acknowledged. Perhaps she has been too modest-a virtue more becoming to her fair daughters than to her

Let union be henceforward the banner of your party, the goal of your ambition, the reward of your exertions.

SALT SPRING.

A valuable Salt spring has been discovered by boring, near Pittsburg, on the opposite side of the Monongahela river. The depth reached by this process was 627 feet, and the stream of salt water rises to a height of thirty feet above the level of the earth, and at the rate of seven thousand gallons in 24 hours, of strength sufficient to make 12 or 15 barrels of salt. The following is the account given in the Pittsburgh Ga

zette, of the progress of boring through the various strata of coal, clay, slate, sandstone, &c.

"In boring, they struck the first rock, a kind of slate, at the depth of 33 feet, which continued for 88 feet, variegated in color, some red, like red chalk; some perfectly white; all pretty much alike in substance. They then came upon sandstone, of a grayish red co lor, which continued, with occasional interruptions for 90 feet. They next came upon another vein of slate, very like the first, and variegated in the same way, and immediately below this they found a stratum of limestone seven feet thick, the only limestone discovered. From this down to about 590 feet they passed, generally, through a kind of rotten, dark gray sandstone, with occasional shells of harder sandstone, with portions of iron. The next thirty feet was very hard boring, the first 10 of these was through a gray sandstone, almost as hard as granite, the other 25 through a perfectly white and very hard sandstone. Struck salt water at 625 feet, but not enough; went two feet deeper, where they got the vein now relied upon. When the chisel struck this last vein, it fell about 24 inches, thus indicating the depth of water.

In their progress they passed through the following strata of coal

At 133 feet struck a vein 10 inches thick.

[blocks in formation]

$4124 03 11,658 14

700 00 $16,482 17

ed up Tumbling run, on which creek a house and barn were unroofed, and a mill dam rased to its foundation. It is stated that part of the roof of the store house above mentioned, was carried to a distance of three miles from Mount Carbon. The above particulars, which have been communicated to us, we believe to be substantially correct —Miners' Journal.

A STORM.-On Sunday the 14th of July, a storm passed over many parts of our state that did considerable damage. In Columbia county, the rain raised the creeks and runs until they overflowed their banks, and did much injury to the meadow grass. A post was struck by lightning and split at the corner of two of the most public streets in Danville. The barn of Mr. John Kelchner, of Briar creek township, was struck and entirely consumed.

In Berks county, Maj. Bitting, who resides near Reading, was prostrated by the shock of lightning which killed a cow within 20 yards of where he stood, but was not seriously injured. In Maiden creek township, the barn of a Mr. Morris was struck and consumed with its contents. And in Douglas township, the barn of a Mr. Henry Baum shared the same fate.

In Montgomery county, the barn of Mr. Bradfield of Springfield township was struck and consumed together with its contents, estimated in value at $1000.

In Lancaster county, a Mrs. Hummer, of Rapho township, was killed whilst resting with an arm on the shoulder of her husband, who was leaning against the Mr. Hummer was stunned so as casing of a window.

to be insensible for some time. Three horses, belonging to J. Lightner, Esq. were killed in a pasture field. In Northampton county, the lightning struck the barn and stable of Mr. Spenzler of Hecktown, and consumed both.

In Northumberland county, the house of Mr. Leig how, near the town of Northumberland, was unroofed by the wind, and the upper story much injured. Trees were torn up and grain fields very much damaged. Muncy Telegraph.

BINGHAMPTON AND OWEGO RAIL ROAD. The books for Stock in this work were opened at Binghampton, on the 4th inst. and upon closing them, nearly twice the capital [150,000,] were subscribed, and a gentleman, of that village, has already been requested to forward to Buffalo 5000 tons of coal for the state of Ohio. This is taking things by the forelock, as the coal is to be brought from Pennsylvania, 52 miles from Binghampton, and sent either by the Chenango canal, when completed, or by the Ithaca and Owego Rail Road, in order to get it to the Erie canal.-Elmira, N. Y. Republican.

A company is forming, and stock subscribing for the purpose of constructing steamboats to ply between Owego and the Lackawanna Coal Beds, near Wilkesbarre, in order to introduce that valuable fossil into Western New York.-Ib.

MINERAL WATER.-Within the limits of the borough of Columbia is a mineral spring, the water of which has been analyzed by an eminent physician of Philadel POTTSVILLE, June 15. phia, and thought to be highly medicinal. The muriWHIRLWIND.-On Tuesday night last, a violent gust, ate of iron predominates largely, rendering it actively which may be called a whirlwind, from its effects, pass-tonic. Sulphir and magnesia also, are contained in it, ed over the Mount Carbon landing, partially unroofing in sufficient quantities to render it slightly aperient. a large stone store house, formerly occupied by Messrs. | Only a few improvements around the spring, and some Moore & Graham, carrying a large stone across the one to call public attention to the subject, are required Schuylkill, and a horse to a considerable distance from to make Columbia one of the most beneficial and fash the spot where he was fastened. The Tornado extend- ionable watering places in the country.-Spy.

« PreviousContinue »