The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-01-16


OUR HARRISBURG coRR1sf0NDENCS.
HAxmssuR0, Jan. IL, 1856.
State Teasxrer-American Candidate-INcsdend o. me
Cducus-Cose Of Dr.. BeaIe Of PhiladdpAia-fhe At
torney GeneaIship Of ne Sate-Bribery Investigations
Monday next the 15th the day fixed by law for the
election of State Treasurer to serve for one year from
the first Of May As many Of the members are in the
habit Of going to their homes on Saturday after adjourn
ment and returning Monday before the hour OF meet
ing deemed best to settle to-day the person to re-
ceive the votes Of the members Of the American party
for that Office Acaucus was accordingly held this after
noon which did not terminate its session until almost
seven O'Clock. number Of preliminary questions were
raised which led to considerable debate and 1t not
until late in the afternoon that the ballotting
menced. One Of these preliminary questions was the
right Of certain members to vote for candidates. who
were BIASED and friends OF the administration, but
not members of the order These gentlemen had been
invited to the meeting, but invited out after dis
cussion of the question. controlling reason in the
was that these gentlemen would not have felt them
selves bound support the nominee Of the caucus with
out regard to person. and they therefore not
sidered ut to assist In the selection Of candidate
Four ballots had the fourth ballot resulting in
the choice of Eli Sfer, Esq, Of Union county. Mr..
Shfer's previous relatios have been with the wing
party having represented the district Of Union and Ju
niata in the Legislature in 1850 and 1861 and the Mf
fin Union and Juniata district the State Senate in
1852 49, and "a. His Legislative career was highly
honorable one developing the possession Of many ster
ling qualities. He has well balanced mind, sound
judgment, and good business habits, and is a Of
stern integrity He is ttingiy to be placed in charge
Of the public funds and will doubtless discharge the
duties of the Office faithfully and satisfactorily. His
principal competitors Iwere Joseph Bailey, the for
mer State Treasurer and Thomas j. Power, Of Beaver
county-both late democrats On ballot had the for
than twenty votes of the seventy nine in at
tendance-on the last ballot he had seven Mr. Power
had twenty. eight, and Mr.. Slifer forty seven Mr..
Bailey has thus earned little by his pilgrimage to Lam
caster and forcing himself intohe ORDER except the
tempt of honorable in and out of the organization
As predicted he has been been beaten-hs meanness
despised by those it intended to concliate Mr..
Power was supported by a number of Americans who
recently wings, because of his location. but Mr..
sfers superior claims felt and recognized by the
large majority Of the convention.
number of gentlemen have been in town during the
last ten days, pressing upon Governor Bger the pro-
prety OF pardoning Dr. Beae the Philadelphia dentist,
who recently convicted Of outrage upon female,
and sentenced to four years and six months imprson-
ment You will recollect the peculiar features of the
case, and need not recapitulate them. They
peculiar as to attract attention to the nature of
the testimony, and ELECTED large amount of proof that
the evidence, which he convicted was of most
unsatisfactory character. The female under the nau-
Of ether is said to have anced what she swore she
felt and as an effect Of the drug to have been unable
to testify reliably of what passed while she under its
operation Three Of the Judges of Supreme Court on
examination of the testimony have declared it ut
terly inconcusve and have advised pronpt uncondi-
tonal pardon, as measure Of justice to improperly
convicted man. Numbers Of the clergy have become in
erested in the case and large amount of influence of
the most unquesonabe character has been brought
bear but thus far Hrday evening" without avail The
most likely, ungenerously leave the application as a
legacy to his successor although be has had abundant
leisure to have thoroughly investigated and positively
who are here here representing Dr. Beae satisfied of
his innocence and consider him deeply wronged
Gov. Pollock is said to have offered the office OF At
torney General to Thomas L. Franklin of Lancaster,
and the latter said to have accepted the Offer There
is reasonable doubt Of the truth Of this report
though there great doubts to the excellence Of
the selection Many OF Gov Pollock's friends fear he
has committed blunder, but it is not very serious
one as the Office has but few duties attached TO H. and
is one Of more honor than profit number of other
names were before Gov Pollock the selection OF either
OF whom would have given more general satisfaction
than Mr. Franklin The reasons for the dissat sfacton
which prevails are these, so far as learn them
Mr.. Franklin is od-line silver gray whig aud ex
tremey conservative in his views
He lawyer Of fair attainments, though not at the
ability to the post He held the sams Office for year
or more while Governor Johnston the executive He
Is an oa Iogy in principle and finds the Young Anne;
with his promotion. He add strength the ad-
mnstration, as his popularity very limited and Au-
very small and will derive more from the Office
than he viii give to those who gave IT, On the whole
the Governor may be said to have exhibited less than
ms usual tact in this appointment of Attorney Gene
raj.
A step has been taken in the Senate which looks az
though there might be investigation into the truth
of certain allegations Of bribery, which were freely
made rnny members Of t,e last Iegisaturc
That body in said to have been unusually corrupt and
the members but little cautious in conceang the evil
dcnces OF their shame Hence some cases in which
money was used, became known to a number OF persons
by whom the facts divulged By these revelations
several and some prominent parties seriously COM
promised, the result of which was that number who
reasonably expected return by their constituents
either defeated in their application for nom nation
defeated before the people The subject of legislative
bribery thus acquired considerable prominence the
political MOVEMENTS OF the year, which has result.
prolific source of wrong. There is law upon sta
tute books which passed in lS47 prohibiting the offering
either oencs Of hsayv ro ana ;nrs or
law has been repeatedly violated and step had
been taken with an apparent view to execute its penal
ties until Mr. Price Of Philadelphia city introduced his
bill. This requires all persons who have knowledge Of
any facts tending to prove violation Of this law, to
testify their knowledge before jaryn Of a trial
in court; committee of inquiry in case Of egis.
lave Investigations releases them from all the ps.
nalies imposed by the act In the nature Of things
those who baye given and those who have received
are generally the only actually cognzant Of the
and would be the only witnesses capable Of
frequently corrobarative facts known by Others
But both those who give and those who receive brides
-. of1ey suhy ~ she yves " Tue hW anu some sucn
act as Ia proposed is necessary before much progress
could be made in an investigation II 1t should be pur-
sued, am assured that Senator's members and
others in high places, win be found crushed under
mass Of Testimony which will astound the common
wealth. Great efforts will of course be ma lie TO slide
investigation since the risks attending II are SO great
but they viii be courageous who will volunteer to stop
the inquiry But, whether made not II Is hoped the
possibility OF may have good effect upon the present
legislature, who are to elect Senator and some Of
whom may have their virtue sorely tried by the
airy brides which certain candidate Is alleged to be
York. and all OF the States of the Union well rs in
Congress- this system of Legislative corruption is pur
sued to an alarming extent II has been the growth
years. and has almost always been the bane Of
bies IL appeals TO Of the strongest passions of the
soul-the love OF money-before whose intensity the
breach OF trust the violation of oath and the per-
version Of justice involved in the deed recede into