Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1855-03-22
From Philadelphia.
Correspondence Of t-ae Democrat & !Se'atineu.

PHILADELPHIA, March Is, 1855.
The extensive library of Edward ID. Ingraham,
ESQ., who died a few months since, is advertised
for sale on the 20th inst. 1t forms the largest
p.ivate library in Philadelphia, and contains 49,
600 volumes. Mr.. Ingraham was quito a bibo-
maniac, and the great passion of his life was the
accumulation of rare books, eIgravings, auto
gfaphs, and other literary curiosties. His collec
ton embraces works on all subjects, and contains
many rare editions of standard works. Such, TO:
instance, as copy of the original edition of Shaks-
peare's works, printed ip the 18th century Some
idea may be formed of its extent, by the fact that
the printed catalogue and supplement of works
on sale, contains $50 large pages. Mr.. Ingra
ham was a member of our bar Of some eminenee,
and was almost as much noted for his brilliancy
of wit and readiness at repartee, for his love Of
books.
Many anecdotes are told of his powers of sar-
casm. On the occasion of his last appearance in
Court, lie had rs antagonist one of our most
learned lawyers, and the case being sharply con-
tested, there some display of feeling. Mr..
Ingrahan reserved his fire until his closing speech
In the course of he had occasion to aude to the
value which labor bestows upcr raw material,
paper-a piece of raw material, whose value is at
most. say one cent. But, sir, let legal gentle
man like my learned antagonist, Mr.. -, write
an elaborate and careful legal opinion upon it and
how immensely it rises in value! Why, sir,
from being worth one penny it would increase
one hundred per cent. and be worth at least tro
cents -
The police made descent the otLer night upon
one Of our fashionable gambling houses, in conse
quence of stranger having made oath before an
Alderman that he had been feeced out of s7ee at
the establishment thepight before. They found a
faro bank in full operation, with some twenty-five
or thirty visitors. who were nearly all gentlemen
who occupy respecranIe POSITIONS IN the city Ine
place was very fashionably fitted up, and is loca
ted in Chestnut street, few doors east Of Tenth
At eleven O'Clock every night excellent supper
was served up, with the choicest viands of the
season. 1t has been in operation for some years.,
and there are others here of similar character.
which any stranger can find access to in twenty
four hours, but which, of course. cur "vigiant
policemen" are supposed to know nothing about.
Our politicians are busy making nominations.
for the local offices, TO be voted for at tie coming
Spring election. In the choice Of Aldermen con-
siderable interest is felt, the station is quite u
crative in some localities. 1t is amusing to Wit
ness the efforts of of the aspirants for this
station who are totally untitled for it in every par
ticuar, and whose .s claims" conld only be estab
lished by constituting the popular belief that Alder
men have large stomachs, into argument that
because man has large abdomen he should be
an Alderman.
IL l.
the distinguished honor of exercising the prvi-
Iege of freemen," we have aspirant of this
character, but as some Of us foolish enough to
require some slight mental qualifications in pre-
ference to mere rotundty Of body, we shall proba-
bly, have sharp contest and march our opposing
forces to the ballot boxes with the stirring inscrp
tons of s.brain'' upon the and s.beIly upon
the other banner. While we hope s.brain' may
triumph, it is perhaps of but little consequence,
for practically, our Aldermen have so simplifed
the legal code that little or no skill whatever is
quired to administer it.
The grand new principle which. so far as their
jurisdiction extends, does away with all uncertain
ty of the law, and thus accomplishes what refor-
mers have vainly endeavored for centuries to
compIish in higher spheres of Judicial action, is
" UtNNys ytto Jh~Js"csH .fv Ssc fet<s.U-
1t matters not whit which party is right or
wrong, what is the nature of the transaction or
the merits of the case, there is an argument that
far more deeply impresses their minds than any
mere quibbles of right or wrong which might be
mooted pro con in the case at ISSUE in the fact
that by giving judgment fo~ the plaintiff they are
sure Of their costs, and if they do not they may
not receive them. The only consolation which
| unfortunate defendants who are continually being
unjustly mnlcted by this system have, is the fact
that they too can become plaintiffs on another oc-
casion or before another Alderman with precisely
similar results.
late Pittsburg paper states that secret or
ganization exists among the blacks of that city,
having for its object the abduction of the slaves or
servants of Southern gentlemen travelling through
that city. and pledged to adhere to each other by
oaths OF the most sacred choracter. Associations
oi somewhat similar character have been in OPP
Grafton among some of the negroes of this city for
some years past The leading man of the organi-
zatlon, colored man who had accumulated a
handsome little fortune, died last summer. In his
house he had several false partitions for the con-
cealment of fugitives
By the arrival of the Pacific, wo have ten days
later news from Europe. A battle had occurred
at Eupatoria, between 40 900 Russians under com
nand of Gen. Liprandi, and the Turks under COM