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| New York Governor John Young. |
McGrawville Express, Thursday, November 2, 1848.
NEWS OF THE DAY.
Proclamation by JOHN YOUNG, Governor of the State of New York.
The year which will soon be added to the past, has been to the people of this State, eminently [auspicious]. Plenty has crowned our harvests. Labor has been justly rewarded, and everything around us evidences a healthy and enduring prosperity. War, with all its attendant evils, has passed away, and Peace, as honorable as welcome, has been restored. The means of intellectual progression have been enjoyed by us in an eminent degree; and the future is full of hope and promise.
As a Christian people, we are admonished that these blessings are the gifts of a beneficent God, and while we thus rejoice in His bounty, we should not forget the homage due from grateful hearts:
I, therefore, respectfully recommend to the people of this State, to set apart THURSDAY, THE TWENTY-THIRD DAY OF NOVEMBER next, to be observed as a day of Public Thanksgiving to ALMIGHTY GOD; and that with such Thanksgiving, be mingled Prayer to Him who holds in his hands the destinies of nations, for the continuance of those blessings, which have been and still are so abundantly showered upon us.
In testimony whereof, I have caused the privy seal of the State to be hereunto affixed. Witness my hand, at the city of Albany, this twenty-eighth day of October, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and forty-eight.
JOHN YOUNG.
By the Governor, HENRY V. COLT, Private Sec'y.
Ups and Downs of Ballooning.
Dr. Morrill ascended from New York last week in fine style, and for a time enjoyed a magnificent view of the city, and country, and sea. But in his ambitious desires, he formed the project of crossing to Sandy Hook, 5 miles off. The New York Commercial Advertiser gives a further account of the termination of his trip:
Calculating the time necessary to reach the earth from his then great height, he discharged sufficient gas to descend about half a mile, when he discovered himself rapidly borne to the southeast—towards the open ocean. Hastily throwing overboard some ballast he rose again, but the upper current had also changed. Feeling the danger of his situation and knowing that his best chance of safety was to drop immediately into the water and take his chance of being picked up, he let off his gas, and making a rapid descent, struck the water about five miles from the light ship.
Night was closing around him. He could see no movement for his rescue, nor did he know that his position had been observed. Immersed in the water up to his arms, and running great risk from the flaps of wind, which dragged his balloon and himself with violence, he remained more than an hour and a half. Finally a boat which had been dispatched from the light ship came up, and chilled through with cold, and nearly perished from exhaustion he was conveyed to the light ship soon after nine o'clock, and returned to the city on Thursday evening.
For the Express.
FREWSBURG, N. Y., Oct 16, 1848.
MR. EDITOR:—
I had the pleasure of listening to a very able address by your fellow townsman, Dr. S. H. Potter, on the proposed plan of the above named College. He, with a master hand, sketched in true and vivid colors the deplorable condition of the present system of Education throughout the world. It was a law of Physiology, that good health depends upon full, free, and regular exercise; such as will bring every muscle of the body into action. It was also a Physiological fact, that a great mind and intellectual acquirements depend upon a strong, healthy constitution; and it was a lamentable fact, which he had ascertained by traveling in different parts of the country, visiting many of the important schools, Academies and Colleges in New York and the New England States, that in general the health of students was impaired just in proportion to the time they had been in school. Not only this, but there were other objections to the present system of education. During the hours of intermission a thousand temptations present themselves to students; and but few are possessed of sufficient moral courage to withstand them—whereas, according to the plan of your Institution, the hours which would otherwise be devoted to idleness or the acquiring of vicious habits, would be spent in useful employment, earning means to educate themselves, and making themselves healthy, practical and virtuous men and women; for, as Dr. Rush says, "labor promotes virtue." It was destined for our own good, and a duty enjoined upon all, the rich as well as the poor, that in order to enjoy health, or to become great men, we must labor. It would place all classes on a level, and while the student was acquiring his education, he would be learning to work, earning his means, and establishing a healthy constitution—the greatest of earthly blessings. It would have the tendency to make all kinds of labor fashionable, and fill all departments of life with virtuous, healthy, and practical men and women.
The opinions of the most eminent men of the age were in favor of the manual labor system. Dr. Potter's appeal to the church was most pathetic and touching. He portrayed, in language full of eloquence, the deplorable condition of three fourths of the human race now in heathen ignorance, and the great necessity of healthy, robust constitutions, to withstand the vicissitudes of climate, and laborious duties incident to the missionaries' life. A mighty revolution in the system of education is demanded, the health and prosperity of the human race demand it—the prosperity of our Republican Institutions demands it; and God, who has given us the means for the promotion of health of body, and strength of mind demands, that we should aid in this great cause of benevolence and humanity.
He anticipated the feelings of every parent—he was a parent himself—a proper education—physical as well as mental for his children was the great burden of his anxieties. And after depicting the countless millions of blessings which must inevitably result to the rising generation from the universal adoption of the system of education proposed in the McGrawville school, he declared, if he could witness the consummation of this desirable purpose of his life, he would be prepared to adopt the feelings and language of one of old who, after having finished the duties of a well spent life said in a tone of complacent resignation, "Now Lord lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, for mine eyes have seen thy salvation." Who so poor as not to aid in this noble enterprise? Who so destitute of benevolence as not to contribute for the advancement of this great moral reformation? As the republicanism we now enjoy devolved upon our patriotic revolutionary fathers, so does the high and glorious duty of bringing about this great revolution devolve upon you. You are called upon to aid in the promotion of its interests, and of handing down its unnumbered blessings to future ages. Your efforts to this end will no doubt be crowned with abundant success, and the memory of your noble deeds will be cherished in lively recollections by an admiring and grateful posterity. The effect of Dr. P.'s speech was indicated in a short time after it was delivered, by the subscription of between two and three hundred dollars. The Dr. is doing wonders in western N. Y., in awakening the people to a sense of the importance of the manual labor system.
Yours, etc.,
S. B. HEATH, M. D.
The Sabbath.
DEAR BROTHER:—
Some time since, I asked, (for information) for the scriptural authority for keeping the first day of the week, as the Sabbath. The Express of this week contains what is called a "reply," to my question upon which I am not inclined to remark, further than to say that the Sabbath question is a grave one, and deserving of due attention. It is at this time undergoing a thorough investigation. Public opinion is changing, some in one direction, and some in another; and a great diversity of opinion prevails; some talk of scripture obligation to keep one day, others another; and others that either of the days of the week may with propriety, and in conformity to scriptural authority be kept; and others still, that the sabbatic law has been entirely done away. In some of our neighborhoods two days are kept; the quietude of society is disturbed. Some of our fellow citizens are now being fined and imprisoned for not conforming to the law of the land, to which they conscientiously object. Their only crime is for working on the "six days" of the week that God commanded them to work; this too, at quite a distance from any that practiced differently. It is well known that there have been repeated efforts made by organized associations to get more stringent laws passed in this State to enforce the "observance of the sabbath" upon the community, declaring in their public assemblies that they will "ask for a little at a time, and keep drawing the string TIGHTER and TIGHTER."
Under such a state of things I think the scriptural claims of Sunday, as well as the whole Sabbath question should be fully and fairly presented to the public, and they be thus prepared to act for themselves; and not led by religious bigots who would lord it over God's heritage, and by coercive measures compel the minority to worship according to their notion of christian faith. One thing at a time, Br. "Back-woodsman,"—if you have got the authority, say so; if not, say so, then we understand you.
Respectfully yours, in Christian bonds,
V. HULL.
Scott, Oct. 15, 1848.
EDITOR'S TABLE.
Matters and Things in General.
It affords us satisfaction, after an absence of several days, to resume the duties of our calling. There is just enough of pleasurable excitement connected with the conducting of a public journal to render the employment agreeable to us. Indeed, we pity the "poor unfortunate" who is obliged to carry the editorial budget when the business is uncongenial to his feelings. For our own part we are never better pleased than when sitting down to communicate with our readers.
We are human—and liable to commit a thousand errors, yet it is a source of gratification to us that subscribers are so indulgent—that, not withstanding all our bluntness and moroseness—our carelessness and severity—our caprice and vanity—there are a goodly number who welcome our humble sheet to their homes; and that our circulation is increasing.
It gave us pleasure during our recent tour, to receive encouragement and approval from those with whom we have long been acquainted. The only censure passed upon us by any of our Cayuga subscribers came from a much esteemed citizen who has been quite an active politician in his day. And what think you was the ground of his objection to our course?— He thought "we went too far in condemning political men(!)" Now, while we entertain a high opinion of his judgment in other matters we claim that our position of political independence gives us great advantage over him in determining as to the extent to which political juggling has been carried in our country. We do not believe, that with his present political predilections, our friend is in any degree prepared to fathom the depths of the corruption that has been entailed upon us by office seekers and office holders. As an evidence of the baseness that may characterize individuals high in office and respected by their countrymen, we will adduce a single instance; the facts in relation to which, we are prepared to substantiate; and this too, by evidence which our friend will feel no disposition to question. A noted personage—one who has figured conspicuously in the councils of our nation and who, we know, has been a political favorite of the individual who takes exceptions to our course—had a friend in the city, whose financial affairs had become considerably deranged by a reverse of fortune, and who applied to him for pecuniary aid The person thus applied to had been an intimate friend of the petitioner, and had been frequently and cordially entertained at his board and, it might have been supposed, would have accommodated his upon reasonable and honorable terms; but alas!—he was so depraved as to make the most infamous proposal in his power, viz: that his friend should allow his beautiful and accomplished daughter to accompany him to his home as a mistress! and he would advance the funds to save his falling fortune. Like any father the other rejected the proposal with scorn and indignation.
No we claim that an individual, so corrupt in regard to his private morals as to be prompted to make such an offer, is unfit for any office—for corruption in one respect begets corruption; in another and in councils of vicious office holders there is no safety. We know that the doctrine has been promulgated that the duties of civil office may be confided with safety to men of exceptionable private character—and wickedness in high places has been winked at by too many of our well meaning citizens—but we despise such sentiments. We as much need men of moral purity to make and administer our laws, as we do to inculcate the doctrines of the. Gospel; and when we are daily put in possession of facts that indicate a prevalence of the grossest immorality among our public functionaries—when we see how blinded the multitude are, and how much of principle they are willing to sacrifice to availability—and more than all, when a Christian brother, in commenting upon our poor, ill-timed, tame remarks upon the subject, alleges that we go too far, it is indeed time for us to speak out!—it is indeed time for us to show him that he treads a dangerous path, and that even while he is lauding his favorite candidates, he may be ''leaning upon broken reeds, on whose sharp points, Hope bleeds and Expectation dies.''
But we had no intention of pursuing this train of thought when we commenced this article. Though a volume might—nay should be written, upon the political abuses of the day, it may not be proper to treat of them further in this connection.
While at Union Springs we dropped into the Telegraph Office and enjoyed a brief interview with friend Clark. As is our wont we scrutinized his physiognomy critically—enough so to satisfy us that he is no miser, no extortioner, but that the heart that throbs beneath his bosom is eminently becoming in a printer. He has the frank, honest, goodnatured face that we love to look into.
We rejoiced to see in this thriving village indication of progress. By a hasty look through Anthony & Co.'s hardware establishment, and from observations made by citizens, we were satisfied that the proprietors were competing successfully with the Auburn dealers. The merchants all seemed to be doing a brisk business. The political waters we found to be unusually calm—almost rivaling, in this respect, those of the placid [Lake] Cayuga.
We arrived in Spring Port almost too late to be recognized by our beloved and dying veteran grandshire. His locks, whitened with the frosts of 86 winters, his deeply furrowed brow, his lusterless eye and palsied hand presented a spectacle which will ever live in our recollection. It is gratifying to feel a consciousness that our aged relative goes to his resting place with a firm reliance upon the arm of his Maker—he dies a believer in the doctrines of the Christian religion. Within the past year he had read his bible through by course. It was interesting to us to turn over the worn leaves of this volume, while we reflected upon the consolations he must have derived from the perusal. If we mistake not, he was the only surviving soldier of the Revolution in his town.
A Brace of 'em.
The Syracuse Daily Star, in alluding to our statement concerning our famous scientific McGrawville ink-squirter, understands us that the syringe was thrust through the key-hole instead of through the window(!) This mistake has a parallel in one of this week's numbers of the same print, in which the Governor is made to say: ''The year has been eminently SUSPICIOUS.''
We have received No. 4 of ''The Students' Casket,'' a literary paper published in Homer, N. Y., and edited by Messrs. CURTIS, LEWIS & ONDERDONK—students of the Academy.
The matter is original and is of a character that indicates no mean ability for literary pursuits. The poetry is fine. We are charmed with ''Calypso and Melida.'' Though Outis' ''Pegasus'' limps somewhat, we must rank him among the Classics(!!)
We prize this sheet the more highly perhaps because it emanates from the school of which we were long a member, and for which we have ever felt a good degree of partiality. Success to the Institution and its ''Casket.''
◘ The Youth's Department will be found this week on the fourth page.
The Profit of a Monopoly.
In an article a few days since, we stated that the owners of the principal lines of Telegraph now in operation in different parts of the country, were reaping immense profits from them. We mentioned the fact simply to show that competition in Telegraphing was not only demanded by the public interest, inasmuch as a competition would reduce the present enormous rates charged, but that it might be allowed, without reducing the profits of the old lines beyond what capital invested in other public enterprises—Railroads, Steamboats, &c., &c., now pay to the stockholders.
To show that they did not speak at random in regard to telegraph profits, we desire to call attention to a few well authenticated facts, stated below. They came out on the great law suit between Mr. Henry O'Reilley and Morse's patentees at a recent trial in Lexington. Mr. Amos Kendall's evidence established the following points :—
1. That the line from New York to Buffalo has produced to Morse, Vail, Smith and Gale, for the use of the patent only, (without any expenditure on their part in building it,) $90,000 in the stock of a company which divided seven per cent of clear gains last year, and much of the stock of which has sold for cash at, or near to, par.
2. That the New York and Washington Line has brought the patentees upward of $80,000 in stock, the rate of net income on which is ten per cent per annum.
3. That the Washington and New Orleans Line, of only one wire, will give the patentees upward of $200,000 in stock, with an income thereon likely to exceed largely six per cent per annum. From Washington to Petersburg, Va., has already yielded eight per cent.
4. That in his (Kendall's) opinion the New York and Boston Line, for its length, is the most valuable in the Union, next to the New York and Washington, which yields ten per cent; or, say twenty on the actual outlay.
5. That the patentees have sold for $25,000 in cash, the privilege of working a telegraph on 550 miles of line; have got $3,000 in cash for liberty to use the "Invention" on another 200 miles; and that 300 miles more of liberty to build are about to. be sold— more than half of it at $50 a mile.
Mr. KENDALL is the most bitter opponent of the competition in telegraphing, and deeply interested in the Morse monopoly.—Therefore he had no interest in overrating the amount of profits. What is stated is no doubt true to the letter, and fully establishes both the necessity and justice of encouragement being granted to new Lines of Telegraph wherever public or private enterprise chooses to protect them. It is not that the old companies are making money from their lines, that competition is invoked. That is all right and proper. But the enormous profits come from the people who are obliged to resort to their lines, and who are charged exorbitantly and unreasonably,
Competition would obviate this and the public be better served. Two lines would be well supported, and community better accommodated at less expense than it now is. Monopolies are always grasping and avaricious and always will be. The people have no interest in maintaining them. When under control of the government, they are partially in subjection, because the people can reach them; but in the hands of a few individuals they are inexorably oppressive and exacting.—Syracuse Star.
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