Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1857-05-16
Irrrrn rnom THE EDITOR DArrp
JONES' HoTEL, [
PHILADELPHIA. NAV IL, 1857. (

ally those who do Western business. Land
speculations there, have absorbed the means
Of Western merchants, many Of whom have
invested their money in land instead Of pay
ing of old scores and making new purchases
The continued cold weather too has had bad
effect upon the business Of many, who will be
compelled to carry over, for another season,
heavy unsold stock
The legislature will most probably adjourn
on Tuesday next The present session will
be o memorable one, in the annals of Penn
sylvania on account Of the law for the sale Of
the main line of the public works. There has
been great diversity Of opinion in regard TO
the policy Of selling the main line, viz: the
Columbia Railroad, Canal and Portage Rail-
road to Pittsburg, on the terms proposed by
the bill just passed. There were certainly
great objections to the bill, but the question
arises is it not the best that can be done
under the circumstancesf
When the sale of the public works was
first suggested many were opposed to the
project under the vain hope that they would
eventually pay, but this hope has proved de-
lusive, and it is questionable whether or not
the State had not better even given them for
half the amount proposed, than keep them
The bill in aid of the Sunbury and Erie Rail-
road, have no doubt, will also pass. 1t is,
in many respects, the more important bill of
the two. BY pledging three millions Of dol
L. ~ lie 80 ba ylx Dan
road, which have 80 years to run, as colute.
raj security, the completion Of this great en-
terprise will be secured.
This legislature will also be remembered
been chartered Many of these have been
and will be vetoed by the Governor. Yet,
probably, one half, or about twenty will re-
ceive his signature-whether for good or
evil, is question for the future. There is no
doubt that more banking capital was necessa-
ry at at many points. The Free Banking"
law proposed by Mr.. Ball was defeated by
those who were interested in special charters
1t is, perhaps, difficult to explain how demo-
Gratis who profess to be opposed TO the crea-
tion Of new banks, can oppose general
banking law, and yet vote for special charters
The Sunbury and Erie and the Philadelphia
and Sunbury Railroads, will be, hereafter,
under the management Of one superintendent.
Mr.. Merrick, brother of S. V. Merrick Esq.
President of the Sunbury and Erie road, has
been appointed, and will assume the duties
of the office. Mr.. Merrick is practical en-
gineer, of character and long experience. and
will, no doubt, prove worthy successor to
MIR. Fiske, the late able superintendent, of the
Philadelphia and Sunbury road
The trial of Mrs. Cunningham, for the
murder of Dr.. Burdell, has terminated, as oil
unprejudced persons expected, in her ac-
| quittal. There was scarcely circumstance
for the jury TO hang doubt upon, whilst the
| prejudices that at first were raised against
| her, now run in her favor. There was not
much legal acume1 or talent displayed by the
counsel. The charge of Judge Davis was,
however, clear, full, and to the point. The
murder still remains mystery, although
there is rumor that the police are on the
track of the real murderer. The release
of Eckel, on his own recognizance, is equiva.
lent to his discharge. The following remarks
from the New York Mirror, upon this sub
ject, are just and appropriate
"The prosecution has completely broken
down in its case; there being not particle
of direct evidence to fasten guilt upon the
accused and the circumstantial Testimony
being Of q remote and intangible character
and contradicted at that, in its most impor
tant points, by the witnesses for the defence
To say that Mrs. Cunningham had a proba
bic motive, an opportunity to commit and tC
conceal the murder, is all that the distrc,
attorney has been able to prove; on ever,
other point he has signally failed-and thl
without the evidence Of the witnesses in tn,
house, some of whom lad sworn positivel,
that the defendant had neither the opportu
nifty to commit nor to conceal the crime
Unless tho young people who were in DR.
Burdell's house on that fatal night have con
spired to invent a most awful and perjure,
tale, Mrs. Cunningham had no direct agenc
in the assassination.
"'The result Of this trial shows the foil
and wickedness Of premature!y condemnin
persons accused of crime. There has bee
an inhuman and cruel prejudice against Mr.
Cunningham and the other occupants Of tina
house, which, when We come TO look bacI
upon all the circumstances Of the case, is a.
most incredible: She and her daughters, an
poor little Snodgrass have been bated lik
wild beasts; the most absurd rumors hav
been caught up and believed only to Civ
place, day after day, to others more absur
!. aud cruel Even the district attorney seem
r to have fallen a victim 20 this thoug htles
fury Of public opinion, and in his openin;
address, INDUCED himself in a disrepu tabi
diatribe of coarse vituperation which we di
S not expect from gentleman of his taste all
I refinement. And bis utter failure to max
good his charges by proof has made tn
impropriety piece of barbarism which wi
heighten the public sympathy for its victim
"We have no disposition to make q marty
Of Mrs. Cunningham, nor to swell the return
II ing tide Of popular opinion. but we arraig
# aud denounce that furious camor which COZ
f demns without hearing and persecutes lrol
= mere capriciousuess. The other day a mo
i of citizens in Newburg was ready TO hang
: poor tailor for the murder Of a woman VIII
!. was alive and well. One week after III
death of DR.. Burdell, the women of Ne
: York would have mobbed Mrs. cunningham
if she had been set at liberty. The resul
: | we think will nrnva tho follv iniuStica an