The Torch Light And Public Advertiser from Hagerstown, Maryland • Page 2

say, IA' none such approach; they have not tlieir untlciilhtls. But, sir, there arc pledges on both sides of this question if we ha DO such credentials as above described, to authorise us to protest against the passage of this bill, we have no option we stand pledged to our constitution to ratify it. The people huve been silent; their opposing voice is not distinctly heard in ibis House: and such silence we are bound to regard as an assent. Array then the for- --Let those thus authorised to oppose this bill secede from those not thus authorised, and it will Iu found that the opposition has dwindled to a speck. Ytft the friends of ibis bill cannot wish or ask, that the mouth should be closed or the exercise of the judgment occluded as to its merits.

This view has not been taken for that purpose. It has only been taken for the purpose of removing those vague notions as to podges, which, if indulged, portend de- IVat lo this bill. It is that the members of this House may -lot bow down to the Moloch of this day, that ephemeral, butterfly popularity, which is ever whispering in their curs, whui-icill your cons I ilu- cnlsfaif! and which makes them start back cvcniVoin the briuL. of a good action, us from the brink of aprc- co is that (hoy may go out with (he answer in (licit 1 liiondis (o all the invectives of those constituents. You hue Delegates had expressed your sen- tinicn's upon this bill, and I am bound lo receive it as evidence of them, i some deliberate opinion lo (he rosili'ary had been expressed by you and com- ininiioaieu lo'mo.

Our hioiiths then are not sealed upon this subject, anil we may approach another of the objections Avltioh shut us out IVoin the consideration of the main Question--It lias been objected to the repeal proposed by this act, iu common with all other repealing acts of the same description, that alterations of constitution have oo frequent in laiter davs--that this frequency and tide facility of a- iniMtduiem of it have given rise to a spirit of innovation throughout community which has too often rectly to the other extreme, condemned indiscrimi-1 the individual inconreatatyMt it nately because of antiquity, and adjnued au indiscri-l would work, nil the oppressive con oui 1 cilixcns lose sight of the sanctity of (b provisions that hence the latter have ceased lo be regarded, as entitled to any higher respect than the most ordinary enactments, and that it is now proper to repress this innovating spirit, to stay in progress, ere it tramples under foot our jnost precious political institutions and maxims. It is said that every such alteration, unless it be made foi- the removal of some gross and crying inconvenience or injustice, actual and practical injury, should he pertinaciously resisted; and that they ought not to be listened to, who would have us to work such alteration mei'dy for the purpose of giving imaginary beamy or theoretical consistence to our constitution. This if applied to the bill before us, supposes two tilings Ir regards the provisions of our i i which this bill designs to (ake away, as conclusive evidence "That in the opinion oi' (lie frame vs of that constitution Religious Tests es'o ami -ought to be adopted in order to adini islosi to civil oil ices that men ought lo be excluded from civil rights, because of their adherence Id particular religious opinions that the Christian religion ought only to be established, but that chivsiiuiis alone ought to be placed iu the seals of civil power and that the present test is an effectual mode of ascertaining the existence of Christian principles and e-harac(ers. It supposes yet further, That although it may not a comport, with those liberal and expanded political principles which regard religion as a r.iiii'nM- between man and his God. as indeed better yet in the present depraved slate of human riiit.u re, uol to be regarded as absolutely necessary (o the enjoyment of mere civil rights; still this provision of i i works no aclual wrong or and that therefore it ought not to be re- iiioved merely the purpose of giving a greater degree of theoretical beauty lo our These arc ail premises wliich.it is thought, no friend to ihis bill and no dispassionate man can admit.

Sir, the friends of i bill approach with sis much reverence Ihe ark of the constitution as its enemies. Equally strong is their desire, that many of its provisions, as enbalming the most precious political doctrines, adapted to all ages and to all climes, shoiiid always be regarded with the utmost reverence. JJut they cannot believe that their sanctity will be heightened, or that they will be more effectually shielded from the attack of innovation, by throwing their mauile over our institutions and doctrines, less worthy of regard, and which of themselves furnish cause of exception. They would rather look upon such exceptionable doctrines and institutions as weeds "whii'li i the fair garden of the constitution, and which do but cloud tiie beauty of the brightest ilow- ers it bears. The plucking up of the former they would regard as having a tendency to enhance the bean ty and brightness of the latter.

They regard, mioately because of novelty. Sueh is the conduct of these sects in regard to our constitution. The one looks upon that constitution as a perfect grey beard, and its followers would treat it as the Thibetians are said to act in relation to their Grand Lama they would take it, although a mere work of mortality, hang it up as an object of adoration, cast a veil over it to shut an all its imperfections from their view, pronounce it spotless, and fall down before it and worship it as faultless and perfect. The followers of the other maintain, that for ages past mankind has been continually on the advance in all respects; and that the science of human government and the ledge of the principles of civil and political liberty, have been progressing in common with all things else; they contend that at the time of the formation of our present constitution, the world was some respects, a novice in relation to the proper construction of republican governments--that our ancestors had not the benefit of those lights of experience which we of this day enjoy, from having witnessed the operation of our government and the merits of the sister states around us fur nearly half a century past; and that although this constitution, which they have framed, is the best which the wisdom and experience of their days could furnish, it still lags far behind the more improved and more accurate notions of modern times. They allege (bat it was adapted to a state of things which no longer exists; that the original equality or proportions of population in the several counties have not been preserved--that population has changed its residence, and that it is now lull time that we should tear this constitution to pieces, leave not one stone upon another, and build up a new one, upon more enlarged principles and adapted to ihc existing state of things.

In relation to these adverse sects, the old maxim happily illustrated and enforced by the fables of antiquity, prescribes the course proper to be pursued-keep the middle should imitate in re- jfm. sequences whleh would flow from its operation, and that with all these, things fully before their eyes, they yet deemed it proper to incorporate the provision in question with our constitution. These, sir, are all doctrines to which the mind of every man must yield assent. If we apply them to the case before us, what then becomes of the constitutional objection? TUESDAY, JULY 20, 1824. gardto them the conduct of a celebrated philosopher of antiquity, who, finding many ethical sects around him maintaining doctrines directly opposed to each other in relation to morals, each holding much that was good, blended with much that was exceptionable, undertook to select from each what he deemed worthy of approbation, classified them, and made them the doctrines of a sect at the head of which he placed himself as the founder, and which he styled the eclectic sccl," because its tenets were selected from those of all other seets.

So, sir, would I number myself amongst the followers of the eclectic constitutional sect;" and I must be indulged this day in promulging a lew of the doctrines which might reasonably be ascribed to such a sect in regard to amendments of the constitution, that I may apply them to the bill before us. They teach us, that our constitution is not only entitled to a peculiar degree of regard as such, and because placed beyond the reach of ordinary legislation, but they also point us to the exigencies of the, times in which, and the peculiar circumstances under which it was framed, as all tending to enhance that regard. They shew us that it was a We thii week commence the publication or (he Speech of Mr. M'Alahon on the Jew Bill, delivered in the House of Delegates o- Maryland i the last session. Thii Speech, at the time of its delivery, excited much interest and speculation and considerable anxiety was manifested to see it in pi int.

We are glad that we have ii now in our power to meet, and gratify this anxiety- The Speech, though long, is well vvoilti a -cartful perusal. Front tfic Baltimore Patriot if Tuesday but, SATISFIED AT LAST. Tlie opinioni of Mr. Adams on internal improvement, we presume mujt have been known Ly bis public acts for UIMV than twenty years, by every one wlrahus paid ordiini- ry attention to tlie subject. But all that lias btxai mid, which Iia been so "fbricible, clear and conclusive" tu our minds mid to tens of thousands of others, secminottoliave ntitfivd the obtuse and doubling editor of uielYwA Light.

at Hirers-town. But thtf'inatter is now niosi happily at ryst, tut the suhkcl-M 'bruught to him-- it hits been literally CrfOhed dawn his men throat; (or iu his last paper, as we predicted, he has furnished light from liis own torch. sir, present ago as a proud age- as the age of eonstiiufiousin which man, in imitation of the Author of hi.s biiiug, who is seen daily working around him according to rules prescribed to himself, is also seen laying rules and maxims for bis own government in the political world and as laying aside some of these, as in a sanctuary into which the, feet of ordinary legislation never can intrude, and which none can approach but those specially delegated. They admit it right and proper, that there should be sonic parts of every system of human government, some rules of governing, which having been established by (he people, after the and most cautious deliberation, should not be liable to change, except after a call of like attention and reflection on i part on (he change proposed; otherwise thej would be (lie sport and play thing of every succession of delegates. Sir, if we look throughout our state and through this House, we Mill find (hat there have sprung up amongst us sects, holding directly opposite opinions in relation to the propriety of amending our constitution.

In- regarding it, one cannot but be re- jnirtdcd of (ho controversies which have so often agitated (ho world in relation to the rela tive merits of and modern writers, in which the one party denned every thing, hallowed that came from the pen of antiquity, and all else undeserving; of applause: whilst the other, running di- moment when all our citizens, who were not loyal a cast, bad but one mind and one soul tindw a sense of the common danger which pressed iipon them; at a moment when all private and selfish considerations were in a great degree swallowed up in zeal and energy in the public cause; at a moment when by the collisions of the times, more vigor and activity of mind was called forth, and a higher degree of political wisdom evinced, than has since been displayed in our legislative halls or elsewhere in our state, in the long, and for the most part, the sleepy interval which has since elapsed. They teach us that a constitution thus framed must be taken to be the result of more wisdom and of a higher regard for the public welfare, apart from sectional jealousies, than we could expect to call into exercise in these less trying, less dangerous days--these days of internal dissention and causeless local teacli us yet further, that every year and every day's successful operation of this constitution, without working inconvenience or injustice, should but the more hallow it in our affections. On the other hand, they would teacli us, that this constitution, although framed under all these advantageous circumstances, is yet the mere work of mortality; and that as all human productions, it must have as its inseparable incidents, imperfection and would remind those who cry out against amendment of it, that they aim at being wiser than that instrument itself which prc-supposes error or imperfection as residing in it, and provides for its removal. They would deride those who express a wish that we bad an unchangeable constitution, until they can point out some mode by which man, for whose government it is intended, can also be rendered an unchangeable being--They would regard the antiquity of all provisions of an arbitrary or indifferent character, found in that instrument, and involving only questions of expediency and not of right or justice, as furnishing in most cases a conclusive reason for the continuance of them but tltey would remind us at the same time that aiitiquityac- ver sanctifies error or throws the cloak of protection and immunity over wrong and injustice; and lhat which was wrong unjust in its inception will nwer become right and proper by lapse of time, although mortals had daily practised it and had interwoxin it with their every institution. But the most important truth which they would inculcate is, that when it is objected to a proposed alteration of the constitution, that it is to be made in the face of calin and deliberate opinions to the contrary, expressed by its enlightened and revered framcrs, they do something more than adduce the mere instrument itself; that instrument, to say the most of it, evidences nothing more than the existence of such an opinion under the then circumstances, and they must go yet further and show that no change of circumstances has occurred to justify a correspondent change of opinion and that in fact at the very time of enactment of the clause in question they had fully in view the incompatibility of if, with their declarations elsewhere contained in the same instrument, and with the enlightened principles whiel they themselves have promulgcd, and saw clearly at us, to use his own words, and more "conclusive" "information, our own coluium of to-day testify." Jt will be seen by the above, a friend, of the Patriot, has given us another rap over the knuckles, but has not yet met our' ques tion or furnished the information called for We must again beg leave to remind him that we did not pretend to say that ft! Adams had never expressed an opinion on the subject of internal improvement, a never would express such opinion.

To assume sue!) premises is "travelling out of record All we asked, and all we wished to know from the Pat liot, was, when and on what occasion Mr. A dams uttered the opinion, which he (Mr. JMoii roe) undertook lo pronounce a "forcible, clear and conclusive" answerto thequestions put to Col David Schnebly. Until he furnish us with the specific information called for, or acknowledge that he cannot do so, we must insist that the question is not met, and that he still hangs on the horns of a dilemma, with which we very much question whether he will be "satisfied at last." Mr. Editor I discover that Mr, Christian Fcchtig, the overseer of the poor house, has thrust himself before the public, in the capa city of advocate of Mr.

Gtieves, one of the trustees, and apologist for his errors. How he has acquitted himself and his friend, I leave to others to determine; whilst proceed to be stow a little attention upon his justificatory statement. He admits the existence of the of fenias knputed to the trustee, and attempts to justify iheui. This is his language: poor ftottsc hurse and tut and paupers, are effort not engaged, and when daenguired. Mr "prieres has employed some of them occasio.

nalltfrflnd fins always U6eraUy compensated item for the.tr services." Does Mr. Fechtig "mean to say that Mr. Grieves has always libei ally compensated" the paupers of thepoor house horse and cart, for which the county a be compensated? If he does, he certainly has involved his friend in a difficulty from which it will be no easy matter to extricate him Or does he i th.it his justification shall be received as a half-way or partial one That is, one frhicb goes as far as circumstances will apparently justify, leaving what he onsidets the inexcusable parts of the case If so, he had better have left the question where he found it. And, it Mr. Fechtig will reflect for a moment, 1 am sure he will be convinced that it was not only undignified, but wrong in Mr.

Grieves, the tiustee thepoor, to tamper with, to employ in his own service, or to compensate the county paupers for services which belong to the county for which the county atoneshould receive cotnpen and as to the use of the hor.se and cart, with out compensation, there can be no pretended justification for it for, if they are unemployed about the poor house, and are permitted to be engaged about tuvrn, there are many persons who would gladly employ them, and "liberal ly compensate" the county "for their services." The overseer will probably find il as difficult a task to prove that the trustee's com. his potatoes, and all his other garden and lot vegetables, bis lumber, his stone, his brick his sand, adapt their growth and operations to the disengagement of the poor house paupers and property as he will to prove, i the a of things, that he knows that the liberally compensated them for their services," without proving himself a spy over their little out door pecuniary operations. Mr. Fechtig fancies that he sees something of "a malignant nature" in my queues. I can assure him that they were not induced by feel ings of malignity either towards Mr.

G'ieves or himself. They were entirely the result of virtuous indignation, prompted by a sense of public duty, and based upon what was conceived to be a culpable dereliction in a public officer. They afforded that officer an opportunity of exculpating himself, if innocent and if guilty, they were intended to fix the attcn lion of the proper tribunal upon his guilt. -With view, 1 nowasstne Mr. Fech tig, and I call the attention of the trustees to the fact, that it is reported that his conduct as overseer, has not been Altogether blameless-that he has been in the habit of paying more for articles, for the use of the poor house, at one place, than such articles might have been obtained for at other places.

If this report be not well founded, justice to Mr, Fechtig requires that the fact should be known-- and if it be, justice to the county tequirei that the evii should be corrected. A A A I A I A Candidates for Assembly. JOSEPH I. MERRICK, GEORGE TILGIIMAN, HENRY FOUKE, JAMES H. BOWLES, MARMADUKE W.

MOYD, GEO. F. KREPS, THOMAS KENNEDY, THOMAS FARMERS Aim MECHANICS' TICKET, James If. Soicles, Col. Henry Vonkt, Joseph I.

Merricit, Marmaduke W. Jfoytf. Caspar W. IKerer, Esq. will be supported, at the ensuing election of Delegates to the Legislature of this state, by MANY VOTERS.

Mr. Peter Bench will be supported, at the ensuing election of Delegates to the Legislature of this state, ky MANY VOTEBS. Otho H. W. Stall, Esq.

is proposed to the people of Washington county, as a fit person to represent them in the next Legislature of Ma- rylaml. MR. BELL-- At the instance (as it would seem) of "many voters," my name has been announced in the last Torch Light, as a candidate for the Assembly of that notice I was entirely unappriscd. and regret the occurrence for although the proffered favor is duly appreciated, its pursuit is respectfully declined, by your very humble servant, THOMAS B. HALL.

July 19, 1824. Candidate! for Electors of President, rt ForJ-Q. DAVID SCHNKBLT, cr jCKK.Y. For H-nrv rior RINGC3OLD, tor Henry Clay, WJLLIAM zoLLlKOFFEIl. Candidates for Congress--4ili Congressional District, THOMAS C.

WORTHING i'ON, JOHN LKK, UPTON BHUCE, of Alkgany county. BEDFORD SPRINGS. We have the pleasure to say, that our Springs are increasing in celebrity, and, notwithstanding the unusually late season, are more frequented in this, than any preceding year. The improvements have been greatly extended--the accommodations are of a superior order, Ac greatly increased by the present proprietor. Amongst the numerous visitors, now attending the Springs, we are gratified to see Mrs.

Q. Adams and family the Hon. Mr. Williams, Senator in Congress from Mississippi the Hon. Mr.

Rankin, member of Congress from the same state Gen. Strieker and family and many other ladies and gentlemen of distinction from various parts of the U. States. True American. The Commencement of Dickinson College was held on the SOU) It is stated in the Carlisle Miscellany, that the assembly was large, and evinced gratification in the exercises of the day.

Governor Shulze and G. Hiester, Esq. the Surveyor General, were present. Eleven young gentlemen were selected as speakers, who acquitted themselves much to the satisfaction of the audience. Twenty-four wer6 admitted to the degree of A.

B. and the degree of A. M. was conferred on six venerable Principal, though indisposed, presided on this occasion. Professor M'Clelland has declined the ofl'er of the Presidency, preferring his present situation.

The price of boarding is reduced to Si a week. The necessary a a expenditure of a student is 50. Georgetown, D. C. July 16.

Major Lawrence Tallbferro arrived at Tennison's Hotel in Washington, with a deputation of Indians of various tribes. Sioux, Chippeways and others. They are said to be a fine and hardy race of men, extremely affable and apparently very anxious to cultivate intercourse friendship with the whites. On their way a chief named Marcpee of the Sioux destroyed himself--the circumstance is thus mentioned in the Louisville Public Advertiser received at this Office yesterday morning. Indian Agent for the Upper Mississippi, arrived at this place yesterday morning, in the Pittsburgh and St.

Louis Packet, from St. Louis. Mr. T. is accompanied by several Indian Chiefs, who are on their way to Washington, to visit the President of Ihe U.

States. On the passage of the Packet, up the Ohio, on 2 about 2 o'clock, A. M. between this place and the mouth of Salt River, a Chief named Marcpee, of the Sioux tribe, called the Wahpacootas disappeared from on board the steam boat. It ia apprehended that, in consequence of his dreaming, the preceding he had seen a letter from a white man, written in characters of blood, which bespoke but seldom,) Marcpee formed the resolution, of terminating his existence, by throwing himself into the river; A few momenta before his absence was discovered, he was heard by his comrades, to sing the death song.

Marcpee wore a Monroe Medal of the second size, and is said to hiive been highly respected and, indeed, worthy of the respect of his people. If the above mentioned Chief be alive, Mr. Tallitferro will pay a re- Yard of fifty dollars to any person who may find and bring him to the town of Louisville, and lew him in etre of Mr. Edmondton, who wilt pay tbc reward, and retain him until the returu of Mr. T.from Washington.

If dead, and tbo body should be found, the sum of twenty dollars will be paid to any person, who will inter it decently, nt some conspicuous point on the Ohio, and give satisfactory evidence of the fact to Dr. Tompkins of Louisville. BALTIMORE, July 15. MELANCHOLY ACCIDENT. The New York papers received this morning, furnish an account of another unfortunate accident occasioned by the explosion of a steam boiler--The Editor of the Commercial Advertiser says, that on Monday evening he went to Jersey city and saw the wreck of the ferry boat and learnt the following particulars: About one o'clock, the boat arrived at the cily of Jersey, from Courtland-street dock, the passengers landed, and the tuen were employed in getting in wood, the steam at (he moment discharging through the safety pipe, When the boiler, burst with an explosion which was heard in this city, and at Bergen and Hoboken.

The boiler was seen to rise forty feet from the deck when it exploded, and the fragments flew from 10 to 30 feet from the boat, destroying all the wood work with which they came in contact. Miss Charlotte Nelson, about 19 years old, an adopted daughter of Mr. Peter V. Ledyard, of iliis city, was driven against the bulkhead, and was instantly killed--her brains having been forced out. The engineer was not on board when the accident occurred.

The pilot, Mr. William West, was just stepping from the buat to the wharf, but had not got far enough to escape the boiling water, with which he, together i a colored boy, was W. severely. No pet son cam account for the accident, unless the boiler and pipes were choakcd with salt. The boiler was nearly new, on the low pressure principle; and the furnaceofS-S copper, was supposed to be one of the best in Mie Port of New-York.

Fed. Gua. OFFICE, Jlnnupotis, July 12fA, The late supplement to the Militia Law nf Maryland requires the Adjutant-General to forward.to the Colonels of Reg'ts, and Majors commanding Extra Battalions, blanks necessary to enable to make their returns to his department. It also requires those officers to report themselves to his department before the gGtb of August, As the adjutant is anxious that a complete of the Militia should be. obtained, he requests all those officers who have not already done so, to report themselves, that he may know to whom he may send Blanks as according to the law, no officer wilt be considered in commission who does not report, himself.

Printers might do a service who can conveniently give this notice an insertion. R1CJJARD HOWARD, of Thos. Adjt. Gen. M.

M. ALABAMA. Exirad of a letter dated Tuscaloosa, June 12. Murphy was waylaid and shot near Sugsville the day before wo passed through that place. Col.

M. was at the head of the Pickena (Adams) party, and a candidate for e- leclor of president, and would, no doubt, have been elected the next governor of this state. His recovery is possible but not probable. The murderer was a private enemy of Cul.M. and is in custody." 'Bait.

Fat. Here is another account of the affair a quarrel which lately took place at Claibornc, lohn Murphy, Esq. and Dr. Mason li. Rivers, the former struck the latter, when Rivers, in a rage, ran to the distance of a mile, returned witli a double barrelled gun, discharged it at Mr.M.

by which twelve buckshot were lodged in various parts of hia body. Dr. Rivers was at large on bail, himself in and two securities in each. Tunnel under the Thames. The approaches of this stupendous work on the Surrey side, will be near Swan lane, Rothcrhitc, and about 400 feet from the Thames, whilst that on the Wapping side will come out near King Edward- street, and at a distance of only 200 feet from the river, tancc under water will The dis- be about 1100 yards, and, including the extent of ground from the respective approaches, the entire distance will not exceed one mile.

The body of the tunnel is to be formed of a double archway or gallery. Each gallery is to be 13 feet tf'inchcs wide, and 15 feet high in the clear. The structure is to be entirely of brick and Uomau cement (ho external dimensions arc 05 feet in width and 20 feet liight. London paper..