The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1850-07-11
Correspondence Of the Star.
MuNcY, July 1, 1850.

MuNcY, July l, 1850.
Messrs. Wedver & Gilmore
Genilemen--As locker on in Vienna |
am disposed 10 note some of the matters and
things which passed at Harrisburg during the
last session of the Legislature, and do sim.
pie justice 10 some of the actors in that lra-
ma. In the first place allow me 10 say that
Legislation is not now conducted according TO
the moral and spirit that characterized ii some
thirty years ago. o no! Money, il is very
much feared, has something 10 do with its
deliberations Don't start at such suaees.
tion. Yes, gentlemen, tho writer verify be-
lieves, that money and extraneous applian-
ces haze more 10 do with MANY of ,ne most
important measures of legislation than in,rn.
sic merit, Witness the completion of the N.
Branch Caral-a measure called for and de-
married. ~ the vital interests of the people
of the North and in strict harmony with the
financial interests of the Sta!e--as calculated
to secure more revenae 10 our treasury than
any other link in the chain of our public i'm
provemeuts, which came near failing, by the
intrigues of the Whig party 10 defeat it, in
order TO manufacture false political capital TO
use in the ensuing fall election; whhe branch
Railroads, calcu ated to divert tonnage from
our State works, and consequently dry up
the sources of revenue Banks of doubtful
character, and with all the vices of the old
corrupt system embraced in their new char.
ters together with most unequal, unfair,
and gerrymandering apportionmena bill, which
in its provisions, in many instances, gave al
most double representation to particular &
favored districts, while it disfranchsed whole
communities in others, which were suspected
of sound radical democracy found ready
tdror and vigorous support. An honest pur.
pose, it would seem, did not possess the at.
tributes of attraction, especially with the
wings and some eight or len professed dem
ocrats OF rather easy virtue. had almost
forgot the striking instance of the Montour
county bill--a bill which before an impair
tial and enlightened body of men, would not
have been sustained moment, found shelter
and countenance and a most disreputable
support when backed up by the agents and
officers of the D. B.
There were nevertheless most rcspecta
BILE minority of ireproachable and unap-
proachable democrats in that strange, COM
pound-body. But they were unfortunately
in a minority. 1t is, know, invidious 10
parlicularize where so many deserve com.
menda!ion and who could not be approached
with the lately developed appliances but
there is one individual whose course under
all the circumstances, was so commeLdabe
that, the writer believes, all who knew him
in his legislative capacity, will join in their
appreciation Of it The writer means Jere.
mioh Black, of Tioga Mr. Black has no
professions to literature, which in man of
shallow capacity, too often sets iof feeble
thought iIE false glitter, Like lin that
throws false and offensive ray a, a distarae
conveying vastly creator conception of
It's Importance than wh.cn traced lis source.
i: will bear, But he possessed attributes of
v stly more value in the character of man.
He possessed heart and honor and a dis
elimination vastly superior 10 others (who
could faunt little book knowledge in many
! cases grossly misapplied,) and which ena-
bled him TO pursue through the mazes of le-
gislative operations sound and consistent
course. He read the constitution with an in.
teerity of purpose that enabled him 10 draw
just conclusions and arrive at Just interpre.
taton so seldom met with among the legal
frat rnity-who, usually instructed by the
old veterans of English la Y, as derived TO
them through the commentaries of the great
pet of the English arisiocracy, seek first how
the safe and healthy PRINCIPLES laid down in
our Republican constitution, can be efFectu-
ally eluded or perverted by false interprea-
| tions. II is this rotten part Of lawyers ed
ucation, in this country, that so peculiarly
units that class for impartial and healthy le-
gislalion. Blacks purpose sosmed TO be in
all cases, 10 arrive at justice and fair conclu-
sions. The lawyers in too many cases act
as retained counsel for particular interests a
gainst the common welfare. Few men can
~ VIII tiiC lOutiile vi d
ton and come out unbiased by its anti-re-
publican and arstocratic tendencies-for the
legal course in this country, TO our s;'ame, is
through the rubbish of British barbarism-
Gothic feudalism and all the jesuitical subtle
ties of ecclesiastical arrogance and pious
fraud which distinguishes the ecclesiastical
history Of England, True, there are some
admirable traces of the ancient Roman juris-
prudence discerpable through vouminous &
barbarous abshrdties-b1t not enough to
compensate for the labor and hazards OF the
undertaking. A man of strong discrimina-
ting intellect would make much more safe
and mere consisten constitutional American
lawyer, who had never read Blackstone's
commentaries, or tho barbarous tones of
Coke, Bracton Lit;eton, or Sleirnhook, but
merely by taking the American constitution
and common sense as his guides and impair
tial and philosophical thought as his inter-
pretor. PLEBS.
Ttfr WpRsrrn CAsr-Tha confession of