Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1861-01-30


would be caused by this step, and would thus
be brought about by convening theLegslature.
Duty ON SUaAR.-There is, under the exist
ing tariff, duty of "a per centum on foreign
sugar. This makes the Northern consumer
apparently pay two cents pound more for
sugar than If the duty was removed. For ten
years past this duty has amounted to over S5.-
OO0,O 900 per annum on the average. In 1857 7,
it amounted to $12,000,000. If Louisiana
follows the lead of her Senators, and declares
herself out of the Union, it is probable that
Congress will Immediately pass an act repeal-
ing all duties on imported sugars. These du-
ties, levied for the protection Of that State,
are very Onerous, and their repeal would be
hailed with joy by the great body of the Free
States and especially by the Northwest.
THE MILITARY Force OF PENNsYLvANIA-is
about three hundred and fifty-fve thousand
men, of which nineteen thousand are uniform
ed volunteers. The arms of the State are all
in the possession of volunteer companies, and
comrpise q, ,050 muskets, &C., 4106 rifles. &c. !,
2sO9 cavalry swords and sabres, 3147 pistols,
&c., 50 pieces of ordnance, being six pound
bronze cannon. There are only about forty
two hundred of these small arms Of the i'm
proved pattern, the others are old flint locks,
good for nothing now. This does not present
very f1atterfng picture of the efficiency of
the militia, ifsnddenly called upon for service.
A Boat FIRED INTo.-The battery on the
beach at Sullivan's Island fired into a boat
from Fort Sumter on Monday night, January
21st. Three men were in it and as it approach
ed the beach with muffled oars the sentry hail
ed them and warned them off. Failing to
obey, the sentry fired his musket into the beat
when it turned round and went away. Soon
after the sentry heard noise like the hauling
up of boat at Sumter. One man is said to be
wounded badly. The object was supposed to
be desertion, but some say that it was despe-
rate effort to run the gauntlet Of the sentrics
and spike the guns of the battery.
THE SPECIAL COMMITTEES REPoRr.-The
House Special Committee on the Presidents
Message will report two bills at the first oppor-
tunity. one to authorize the President to en-
ploy the whole naval aud military power of the
Government including volunteers and militia,
to protect the public property, and the other
authorizing him to suspend ports of entry at
hisdiscretion. This latter measure would have
the effect of compelling the South to procure
their supplies Of foreign merchandise in cities
where the Customs regulations and Revenue
laws are properly enforced. Itwould not inter-
fere with the domestic trade.
Fort PIoKENs.-It is apprehended in Wash
ington that if Fort Pickens, at Pensacola, be
taken by the Rebels, privateers will be imme-
diately fitted out to prey upon the commerce
of the North. Mr.. Buchanan instead OF send
ing reinforccmenis to the Commander of the
small force there has sent instructions substan-
TALLY directing him to surrender in case of an
attack. If Pensacola should fall completely
into the hands of the Rebels it will become a
most convenient place of refuge for pirates,
and no American merchant vessel will be safe
in the Gulf without the convoy of a man of-war.
New YoRK.-Gov. Morgan, in transmitting
to the Legislature the resolutions OF Virginia,
relative to Conference of all the States by
Commissioners at Washington, on the 4th of
February, recommends that four Commission
ers should be appointed by the Legislature to
meet and confer with the Commissioners of
Virginia and all other States, whether slave
holding or non-slavaholding, who have been
invited By the General Assembly OF the Old
Dominion to join in final effort to avert so
dire calamity as the permanent dissolution
Of the American Union.
OaIo.-The Senate has passed the bill intro
duced by Mr.. Schleich Ga Democracy to arm
the State efficiently. 1t authorizes the organ
ization OF fifteen regiments of troops in the
State, not to exceed six thousand men; and
after prescribing that they shall be sober, and
aniorm according to regulations, they shall
be entitled 70 Ave dollars each per annum for
armory expenses. An appropriation of thirty
thousand dollars annually at the outside would
be required to carry out the law. 1t will prob
ably pass the House.
THE NEw-ORLEANs PosT 0FfIcE.-Six or
seven hundred bags of newspapers were accu-
muated at the New-Orlcans Post Office on the
18th, which had been lying there for several
weeks, under the pretext that there was not
sufficient c!era.cai force to assort and forward
them. An order has been issued directing
their immediate distribution, and demanding
an explanation of this shameful detention.
MIR. Slidell's men are too much engaged with
secession to regard their public duties.
Mr.. SLIDELL on THE PREsIDENT.-In the
course of the recent ebate on Mr.. Holt's nom-
inatIon, Mr.. Slidell charged the President with
deliberate deception aud perfdy in the gross
est and most offensive terms, and alleged that
six Senators stood ready to prove that they
conferred with him personally, before his mes
sage, concerning the South Carolina Commits
sioners, and the ALLEGATIONS it contained were
sbamefully false He said other things equally
hard to bear.
PREPAYMENT OF PosTAGE.-The Post office
Department Announces that postage must be
fully prepaid by stamps on ali letters or pack
ages addressed to Governors, Heads of Depart
ment, and Members of the Legislature of this
and other States. in default of which they will
be sent to the Dead Letter office, Washington,
DC. Persons will save themselves and the
some annoyance by conforming to
this order. al
MAIL Cur OFP.-The mail between Charles
ton aud Fernandina, Florida, has been cut off,
because the steamers on that route were with
drawn and appropriated to purposes hostile to
the Government Florida is beginning to feel
the benefits of secession, which her leaders
promised would follow SO rapidly.
RHODE IsLAND.-The Legislature of Rhode
Island has repealed the Personal Liberty Bill
of that State. The vote in the Senate, on the
motion to repeal, was yeas 2l, nays 9; in the
House, yeas 40. nays Is.
Mr. EDITOR In the Revised Penal Code Chan