The mountain sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1844-1853, 1850-03-21
Correspondence of the Mountain Sentinel.
STATE CAPITOL.
HARRISBURG, March l3, 1850.
Dear Gire7:

HARRISBURG, March l3, 1850.
| Dear Giren:
Every body about the
capitol appears to be as busy as nailers.
| As the session draws to close the mem
bers are bestirring themselves in all quar-
tiers, each one anxions to get some favor
ite measure carried thro' the Legislature.
An immense number of private bills have
passed since my last, which are only
interesting TO the persons for whose use
they are gotten up and passed.
1t is strange, passing strange, how much
time is taken up every winter in the con-
sideration and discussion of bills, which
are brought forward by companies of men
who band together for purposes of private
| speculation, and in order to aid them in
their holy enterprises, it is always found
necessary to get an act Of the Legislature
passed to give them name, style, and
title, &C., &C., or in other words 'sa local
habtation and name" The most SUI
pendous piece of Legislation which has
been matured this winter, was the act
passed in the early part Of the session, TO
enable the Reading Rail Road Company
to postpone the payment of their bonds to
the amount of three millions of dollars.
which became due in January, 1850, for
the period of twenty years. 1t is lament
ably too true, that corporation can come
to the Legislature of Pennsylvania, and
ask for privileges, and have them granted
too, which if the same privileges or immu-
mites were asked for by an individual, he
would be set down as insane, and treated
as madman, or laughed at by those sage
Legislators who think nothing of passing
law to enable rotten and corrupt corpo-
ration TO repudiate the payment of their
debts. | am told by good authority, that
the Reading Rail Road company owe
about twelve millions of dollars, sum
which that company never think of pay
| ing.
But this system of Legislating for cor
porations is not the only evil Of which
would complain. Another is, the awful
Indifference with which the members gen.
orally speaking, look upon that most sa-
cred of all contracts, mean the marriage
contract. 1t is fact, that almost any one
can come 10 the Legislature of Pennsyl-
MIA, procure divorce from the bands Of
matrimony in the short space of few
days, and that too, on ex-parte testimony.
There are number of cases now pending
before the Legi stature, among which is
that of DIR. William Wetheral of Mont
gomery county, in this state; who asks for
divorce from his wife, on the ground Of
wilful and malicious deser:ion.
The truth of the case is, that the con-
duct ofDr. Wetheral was such as to drive
his wife, who is the mother of fourteen
children, from his house, or submit to the
degradation of seeing those attentions.
which of right should be bestowed upon
none but herself by her husband, lavished
upon another, in her own house, and be-
fore her eyes. In a word, Misconduct for
years has been so brutal, and so outrage
Gus, that Mrs. Wetheral could not live
with him; and yet he has the unblushing
effrontery to ask the Legislature for di-
vorce from the very woman he has SO
grievously injured, and what is worse,
alleges his own shame as the grounds of
his application. This case am happy
to add, was defeated in the Senate the 9TH
er day, but notwithstanding all that, un-
derstand that the DIR. intends to push it
through the Legislature by the irresistible
power of his pile, he is said to be rich
worth over two hundred thousand dollars.
The next case is that of Edwin Forrest,
the American tragedian, who is citizen
of New York, who asks the Legislature
| to break the silken cord which has bound
him to his wife Catharine. Her nader n
name was Catharine St. Clair, she is a
native of England. Mr.. Forrest alleges
The most terrible charges against his wife
N his application, and Mrs. Forrest as
stoutly denies those charges.
| But Mr.. Forrest is here with two hired
attorneys from Philadelphia, who are mo-
wing Heaven and earth to procure the pas
| -