indifferent state of agriculture which the want of encouragement, by opening the necessary avenues and conveniences to market, will always produce, and a state of squallid poverty and wretchedness that would contrast badly with the richness of our soil, and the numerous advantages with which the God of nature has favored us, and which he designed we should improve with a view to an increase of our comforts and happi.

ness.

The northern and western regions of Pennsylvania present strong claims for legislative attention to their several interests, and their respective wants. Possess ing throughout a rich and exuberantly productive soil, a healthy climate and a capacity to admit of a numerous and dense population, and eminently calculated to confer on that population the blessings of health and abundance, which in connexion with the cheapness of the soil cannot fail to hold out strong inducements to the emigrant, and especially to the young, the industrious and the enterprising to seek for the comforts and advantages in those sections of the State which are denied to them elsewhere.

395

Spring and Fall than any of the New York canals would afford. Much of the produce of that great and produc tive State would find vent to the eastern and southern markets by the Pennsylvania canal, and the salt and plaister that would be brought into this State from the State of New York, and the coal and iron that would be taken from Pennsylvania into that State in return, would it is believed abundantly justify the enterprize.

The improvement of the navigation of the Monongahela by means of a slack water navigation from near Pittsburg to Brownsville in the county of Fayette, and the final extension of the canal from Easton to Carpenter's Point on the Delaware, are subjects, it is believed, too important to escape the attention of the legislature. Having pointed out the eminent advantages which would result from the improvements contemplated in the regions of the West and of the North, and suggested the propriety of improving the navigation of the Monongahela and of the extension of the canal from Easton along the line of the Delaware to Carpenter's Point, it remains for you, to whom the revenues of the commonwealth have been committed, and by whom they can alone be appropriated, to direct when, in what manner, and to what extent those works shall be commenced and prosecuted with a view to their final completion.

The rapid increase of population in that region of the west, which lies between Pittsburg and Lake Erie, and the spirit of enterprise and improvement which is every where visible, the active industry and intelligence of its population, its mineral productions and its entire The act of incorporation, long sought for by the citi adaptation to every species of production known to agri-zens of York county, granting them the privilege of culture, or to the most enlarged state of proficiency to constructing a rail road to the Maryland line, might, it which husban Iry has attained, give it strong claims to seems to me, be extended to that enterprizing people, a participation in the advantages of the public improve- without the danger of compromising the interests of ments now constructing by the State, by opening a line the State of Pennsylvania-when all are to bear their ef communication from Pittsburg to Erie Harbour by proportion of the public burdens, it is but reasonable such route as shall be deemed to possess the greatest that all should participate in the public benefits. possible advantages. The great superiority which a line of improvement, connecting the great eastern and western waters with Lake Erie, would have over the Erie canal, in the State of New York, by presenting an open and safe navigation from four to six weeks earlier in the Spring, and from two to four weeks later in the fall than that afforded by the great New York improvement, would not fail to draw into this State, a large proportion of the trade from the territory of Michigan, and also of that of the State of Ohio. The rapid settlement, and the immense advantages that would immediately result from such an improvement, would not only tend to increase the prosperity of an immense fertile territory, but would add largely to the general wealth, and eminently increase the power, the strength and resources of the State.

I have received, during the recess of the legislature, from the Governors of the States of Connecticut, New Hampshire, and Maine, communications enclosing Resolutions of their respective State Legislatures, copies of which will be laid before you.

All the duties enjoined upon the executive by the laws or by resolutions of the legislature, have been promptly discharged.

With the assurance of a most cordial co-operation with you in all such constitutional measures as you shall in your wisdom deem it expedient to adopt for the public good, I commend you to the direction and guidance of Him who alone can lead you in the course of your de liberations, to wise and happy results.

Harrisburg, December 7, 1831.

GEO. WOLF.

INDICTMENT FOR MURDER.

Commonwealth vs. John Pinchback. This case, which was attended with some circumstances, partaking sufficiently of the marvelous to ex. cite some little interest, came on to be tried at the late Court of Oyer and Terminer, held by Chief Justice Gibson and Judge Kennedy. A short account of it is as follows.

The same observations which have been made with regard to the great western region, will apply with all their force to that of the north, and to its valuable, enterprising and industrious population. The people on the North Branch of the Susquehanna, present, it is believed, as strong claims to legislative attention, with regard to a distribution of its scheme of improvements and an extension of them into that region from the end of the canal now constructing on the North Branch, to the line dividing this State from that of New York, as canjhe presented from any quarter. A canal or slack Some time in the month of March, 1827, a man by water navigation to the State line, would, by a canal for the name of Richard Barker, between fifty and sixty a distance of sixteen miles from thence to the town of years of age, was found at an early hour in the mornElmira, in the State of New York, give a connectioning, in an expiring state, on the payment in Shippen through the Chemung and Seneca canals, and the Seneca and Cayuga canal, with the great Hudson and Erie canal, and thus open a water communication with all the interior of the State of New York. An examination and survey of the route from the waters of the Susquehanna to the Seneca lake was deemed sufficiently important by the legislature to have authorized and caused it to be made during the administration of the late Governor Snyder. It is believed that the advantages resulting from such an improvement would be incalculable-it would possess all the advantages in common with a communication with lake Erie above referred to, in regard to a more early and late navigation in the

street, and near an Oyster Cellar kept by a man named Smith Crowel-was removed to the Hospital just in time to breathe his last. Deceased had been several days in that neighbourhood, where he had some acquaintances among a certain class, which he had made several years before, on a former visit to the city. With some of these, it seems he had the reputation of being acquainted with the black art-a conjuror, and was reported also to have large sums of money, which he carried secreted under the patches that covered parts of his dress. He was seen at an early hour in the evening previous to his decease, in a state approaching intoxica tion, and later at a dance house, which he left in com

pany with the prisoner, and one Davenport (against whom a Bill was also found,) and retired to the cellar of Smith Crowel, who has likewise been since indicted, Baker's sudden decease, and certain suspicious circumstances related by a woman, together with the departure from the city of the persons report seemed to implicate, induced the police immediately to set on foot inquiries. But the most strict search and examination could illicit no evidence sufficient to charge any person with the murder of Barker, and here the matter dropped, it being generally supposed he came to his death in the course of nature, precipitated, perhaps, by the debauch in which he had been engaged.

More than four years having elapsed, and when all surmises and suspicions that may have existed in the minds of some, had long since slept, and the individuals towards whom they were pointed, having returned to the city, and one of them at least, pursuing a prosperous course of life, the attention of the public was again roused to the subject in the following manner.

certain whether the deceased was in fact this woman's husband. An indenture was found in his possession, by which he had apprenticed a son, by the name of George Barker, to a man in Erie, Erie county, Pennsylvania, She said she had no son residing there. One of her sons was called George W. Barker, and was appren ticed in one of the western counties in the state of New York. The testimony made the age of the deceased if now living, to be sixty or upwards. Her husband, she said, would have been forty-seven. But this, as was admitted, had litte to do with the guilt or innocence of the prisoner.

Phebe Schull was called as a witness-she stated that about 12 o'clock at night, she went to Smith Crowel's cellar, where deceased, prisoner, Davenport and Crowel were; that they refused her admittance: her suspicions were roused, from this and some other circumstances that had occurred the early part of the evening, that they intended the old man injury. She remained outside of the door for about an hour.-DaA woman who might be 25 years of age, of respecta- venport came out, went up street, and returned in about ble appearance, dressed in deep mourning, calling her- fifteen minutes, with a tumbler two-thirds full of someself Lucinda Barker, and the wife of the deceased, thing she took to be laudanum. Witness looked through came to this city the forepart of last summer, from the a crack in the door, the tumbler passed round, Pinchwestern part of the state of New York, as she said, to back and Davenport pretended to drink but did not, search out the murderers of her husband, it having while deceased drank first time about half, and second been revealed to her they were here; and going among time nearly all the balance-they called it brandy. She those who knew some circumstances connected with remained near an hour longer and went home. They the affair at the time, succeeded in having the prisoner were then all talking and laughing. The witness was and Crowel arrested (Davenport being in prison at Auvery ignorant-frequently crossed herself on her crossburn,) and true bills were returned by the Grand Jury examination. It was proved, by two respectable wit against all three, for the murder of Richard Barker, by nesses, that she could not have seen through the crack administering laudanum. The account Lucinda Bar-in the door what passed in the third box in the cellar ker gave on her examination as a witness in the case, where the company were seated. Manderfield, one of and in which she was permitted at her own desire, by the police, proved she had given, on other occasions, all parties, to tell her story in her own way, was to the and particularly at that time, an account differing, in following effect. There was some evimany respects, from the above. 1dence that twelve and a half cents worth of laudanum had been sold at a drug shop in the neighbourhood, about twelve o'clock that night, but no evidence as to the identity of the person. One of the watch proved there was a light burning in the cellar till two or three o'clock in the morning-but this he also stated was not unusual. A Mrs. Wallace testified she saw deceased early in the morning before he expired-thought his breath smelt of laudanum-he was frothing at the mouth; she had been told before she saw him him that laudanum had been given him. There was no postmortem examination of the stomach. Other witnesses were called, one of whom testified to certain rash expressions of Davenport, relating to deceased, made forepart of the evening. This was about the substance of the evidence on the part of the Commonwealth. No witnesses were called in behalf of the prisoner. The case was then argued to the Jury by Ash, attorney-general, for the Commonwealth, and by Holcob and H. Hopkins, for the prisoner. The Jury, after receiving the charge of the Court, returned, without leaving their box, a verdict of Not Guilty.

"I am the widow of Richard Barker, deceased. married him in the state of New York; he would, if living, be about forty-seven years of age: we lived at one time opposite Hudson, then at Manlius Squarethen in the city of New York, and after on a farm in Anandagua county, which his father assisted him to. We had several children most of whom were put out. My husband, for some time previous to his last visit to this city, led a trading, roving kind of life-he would be away several months together; he had been gone a longer time than usual-I could hear nothing of him. It was reported that a man had died on the canal that might be him-I heard also some rumor about one of his name who died in Philadelphia; but I knew not whether he was living or dead. I was distressed in mind, and determined to visit his father, who lived several hundred miles off he could tell me nothing-he said he might be dead, he might be in England (his father was an Englishman.) I had travelled a long way, and had spent all my money, or should then have pur. sued further. I returned, being unhappy in mind prayed a great deal, and asked my friends to pray with me, that his fate might be revealed to me. 1 had prayed one night to a late hour, calling frequently on his name, when at last, a square figure-like, dressed in a white shroud entered the room-it stood before me, and pronounced my name three times-it said Lucinda, Lucinda, Lucinda, pursue my murderers, you will learn who they are from the police of New York and Philadelphia. I answered quickly and repeated it, I will, 1 will, while I have strength and life, and then it vanished.

Verdicts of Not Guilty were then taken, by consent, in the cases of Davenport and Crowel, the attorney. general stating he had no further testimony against them than had been exhibited against Pinchback ; that as to Crowel he had much less-nothing indeed that could in any way fairly implicate him.-U. S. Gaz.

Five miles west of this place, on the Newton and They have talked here of my dreams, and the pa-1 Berwick turnpike, uncleared land is selling for $2 50 pers have published about it-it was no dream; yes, I and $3 00 per acre. This land is not very hard to have had dreams too, but this was not a dream, I was clear, and if cultivated properly would bring excellent awake as I am now; I both saw and heard what I state crops of grain and grass. Persons desirous of emigrato you-am I not upon my oath? I can't be mistaken, I ting from the lower counties can purchase good land in can't have forgot-no, that's impossible." When asked this county at very reduced prices. The county is fast what kind of a voice it was, she said it was an "inner increasing in wealth and population, and in ten years voice." What's curious is, that from some facts that more will be second but to few in the state. The pop appeared in the course of the trial, it is altogether un-ulation is now upwards of 29,000.-Towanda Settler.

STATEMENT OF THE

FURNACES, FORGES, LABORERS EMPLOYED, &C.
IN BERKS COUNTY.

398 MILITARY STATE CONVENTION.—PROCEEDINGS OF THE LEGISLATURE.

From the American Sentinel.

STATE MILITARY CONVENTION.

for each Brigade, to nominate their respective delegates to the Military Convention, to be lield at Harris

Pursuant to public notice, the Field, Staff, aud Com-burg, on the first Monday of January next. missioned officers of the First Division, held a meeting at the Miliary Hall, on Friday evening, 4th inst. Col. Joseph S. Riley was called to the chair, and Col. Wm. P. Smith and Col. Henry Simpson, appointed secretaries.

The call of the meeting having been read, Colonel James Page offered the following preamble and resolutions, which were unanimously adopted.

Whereupon the committees were appointed, retired and in a short time reported the following names: For the First Brigade-Cols. Page, Riley, Cooper, Murray, Simpson, an i Lee, and Majors Frirz, Baker, and W. C. Browne.

For the Second Brigade-Cols. John Thompson, Wolf, Roumfort, Knapp, and Lient. Col. Paynter, Capts. Worrell, Nixon, A. T. Smith, Snyder, and Lieut. Joseph P. Mort.

Which nomination was approved of by the meeting.

Resolved, That the delegates have power to fill any Vacancy that may occur in their body.

Whereas, the acts of Assembly, now in force for the regulation of the Militia and Volunteers of this Com monwealth, are altogether ineffectua! as a means of sustaining the military arm of this state, and their execu. tion has become not only matter of ridicule in the eyes, but proves greatly offensive to the moral sense of the published in all the newspapers in the commonwealth, Resolved, That the proceedings of this meeting be community, and is fraught with consequences of a high-friendly to an alteration and improvement of the present ly injurious and degrading character.

Military System.
Adjourned.

WM. P. SMITH,
HENRY SIMPSON,

JOS. S. RILEY, Chairman.
Secretaries.

And whereas, the existence of a military force is not only enjoined by the Constitution, but is as much rerequired as any other branch of the national power, and it is the policy of every Government to prepare for war in time of peace, so as to put down domestic insurrection, and resent foreign insult and aggression, taking PROCEEDINGS OF THE LEGISLATURE. care not to make the performance of military duty too The Legislature has been principally occupied thus onerous to the citizen soldier; and it is the opinion of this meeting, that a proper organization of the Militia, far, with the presentation of petitions—and the election and suitable encouragement of the Volunteers, is im- of Officers; and Senator of the United States, in the peratively required, and would meet with the approba-room of J. D. Barnard, resigned.

tion of all classes of our fellow citizens,

And whereas, without a concentration of opinion and action, no hope can be entertained that the change so much desired can be effected.

Therefore be it resolved, That it is highly necessary that a Military Convention should be held in the course of the ensuing winter, for the purpose of taking into consideration the propriety of a full and complete revision of the Militia Laws of this Commonwealth, and adopting such measures as will have a tendency to res cue the military character of the state from the disgrace and decay into which it is rapidly falling, and placing the system upon a safe and respectable footing.

Resolved, That this meeting do earnestly and respectfully recommend to the several military divisions in the state, the election of delegates in proportion to their number of representatives, to attend said convention, and that the same be held at Harrisburg, on the first Monday of January, 1832.

On motion of Col. Robert M. Lee, Resolved, That the commanding officers of each regiment of the first division be requested to notify the officers of their regiments of the time to which this meeting may adjourn, and to request their special attendance.

At an adjourned meeting of the Field, Staff and Com missioned Officers of the First Division, P. M. held at the Military Hall, on Friday evening the 11th inst. Col. Joseph S. Riley, in the chair, Co's. Wm. P. Smith, and Henry Simpson, secretaries.

The proceedings of the last meeting were read and adopted.

On motion of Col. James Page, it was

IN SENATE.

WEDNESDAY, Dec. 7. The speaker announced the following standing committees.

Accounts-Messrs. Miller, Blythe, Mechling, Jackson, of Huntingdon, and Kern.

Claims-Messrs. Sullivan, Krepps, Smyser, Mathews, and Drumheller.

vingston, and Burden.
Judiciary System-Messrs. Kerlin, Packer, Miller, Li-

Militia System-Messrs. Ringland, Piper, Robinson,
Mathews and Cunningham.

Banks-Messrs. Boyd, Jackson of Huntingdon, Bertolet, Houston, and Taylor.

Education-Messrs. Hassinger, Jackson of Chester, Livingston, Fullerton, and Morris.

Roads, Bridges, and Inland Navigation-Messrs. Cunningham, Petriken, Hays, Drumbeiler and Hassin

Election Districts-Messrs. Kreps, Klingensmith, Piper, Blythe, and Fullerton.

Vice and Immorality-Messrs. Fullerton, Boyd, Drumheller, Robinson, and Mechling.

Compare Bills and present them to the Governor for his approbation-Messrs. Kreps, Piper, Bertolet, Miller,

and Kern.

Walter S. Franklin, unanimously, who nominated

Resolved, That a committee of three be appointed as his assistant L. L. Minor,