The Arkansas banner., 1844-06-19

 or interest among the States, Mir. Dallas ap- pears uniformly to have leaned to that course which he deemed most calculated, even at some sacrifice, to preserve the harmony of the whole.
 On the Sd of March, 1883, the term ex- ! pired for which he had been elected to the Senate. At his own request, his name was withheld from the Legislature as candidate for reelection He was desirous to return to the bar, from which such an occupation necessarily withdrew him; and his doing so was speedily followed by hls appointment to an office, whose duties, while not unconnec- ted with politics, were far more in accordance with his professional pursuits. He was se- lected by Gov. Wolf as the Attorney Gene ral of his native State, and he continued to hold 1t with increasing reputation, and with a degree of appreciation and confidence on the part of the whole community, never ex- ceeded, nor often equalled, until the change in the executive administration of the State, by the election of Gov Ritner, of course in- duced him to withdraw.
 Mir. Dallas had scarcely retired to private life, when he was made the object of one of the most remarkable proceedings that have ever characterized the political course of the party opposed to Democratic principles during any of the intervals of their temporary as tendency. Under the pretext of inquiring into the character and acts of secret associa- tions, several of the leading members of the Republican party were summoned to Harris burg in the middle of the winter, and, in de- fance of the positive provisions of the con stitution of the State, right was assumed by a committee. of the Legislature to investigate their private and social conduct as members of Masonic societies. Of the persons sub jected to this strange inqulsition, Mir. Dallas was one, He obeyed the summons issued under the apparent sanction of the House of Representatives, and appeared before the com mittee; but when asked to take the oath by which he was required virtually to acknow- ledge the right of institutng an iuquisition so unheard of, into the private and harmless con duct of himself and his associates, he refused, i'll a short but most impressive address, and displayed, in terms that led to the abortive termination of the disreputable affair, it's in- justice, illegality, and folly. He perceived, on this occasion, the secret operations that
  the Bank of the United States was imposed, by corrupt and dishonest means, on the peo- pie of the United States, and especially of Pennsylvania, as a State institution. lie lent the aid of his influence and talents to resist 1t while he remained at Harrisburg, and on his return to Philadelphia, awakened his Demo- cratic brethren, in public discussion, to full sense of the danger whose neara approach had been carefully concealed. The history of that disastrous measure, and the means by which its success was achieved, if not yet developed in all their details, and yet gene- rally known. In consequence oft, the State was plunged into the long train of disasters from which its citizens have not yet been able to extricate themselves, and of which the ef- feets, extending far beyond their immediate objects, have produced the most deplorable results on the business, prosperity, and even character of the American people. Even after the shackles had been fixed, Mr. Dallas was among those who sought to relieve the con- munity from so fatal thraldom. Taking advantage of the approaching convention, when the people ofthe State were to meet with every attribute of original sovereignty not restrained by the Constitution of the United States, and of which the assemblage was pro- mulgated by the vote of the people before the act in question was passed, he called to the consideration of the State, ill an able and elo- quent letter, the propriety of examining into the frauds that had been perpetuated, and re- lieving the commonwealth, by all edict of that body, from all fraudulent invasions of its rights, due care being taken to protect and indemnify individuals concerned in the insti- tuition from any pecunary loss.
 The political history of the following win ter was marked by the election of Mir. Van Buren to the Presidency; and one of the ear Hest of his acts was to offer to Mir. Dallas the post of Envoy Extraordinary and Minis ter Plenipotentiary to Russia. In that coun- try he remained till October, 1889. The only portion of his official correspondence, while there, that has been made public, is his dis cussion with Count Nesselrode, relative to the territories and commercial intercourse of the two nations on the coast of the Pacific ocean. It developes several points connec- ted with the rights of the respective govern ments on those shores, presented with great clearness and interest, and destined, no doubt, at a day not very distant, to become subjects of still more general and minute examina- ton. The claims and rights of the Ameri- cans are sustained with great ability and spirit. To those objects of inquiry which, in such a country as Russia, would naturally attract an intelligent mind, Mir. Dallas devoted great attention. Into its history, and a study of the habits, manners, and character of it's peo- pie, he plunged with natural enthusiasm, and collected variety of facts tending to elucidate all these subjects. In public ad- dress, delivered not long after his return to the United States, he sketched with vivid and brilliant pen several of these topics; but it is to be hoped that, from the materials he has collected, work of more extensive kind may be hereafter given to the public It is one which is rendered peculiarly inte- resting, from the nature of the friendly rela- tons that have existed, and that circum- stances will probably long preserve. He re- marked with great truth, in the address refer