Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1861-01-23

Schleiden, as to the liability of vessels owned
by subjects or citizens of the Governments
they represent, trading with Charleston, as
serts the broad principle that no clearances
issued by any other authorities than officers of
the United States viii be recognized, and that
any payment of duties on importations, except
to such officers, will be regarded as mispay
ments, for which the parties will be held res
ponsible TO our Government. The practical
effect of this doctrine will be to exclude the
foreign trade entirely, that had not already
been done by Governor Pckens in obstruct-
ing the main shis channel.
THE ABsrRAcTED BoNDs.-The select COM
miitee of the House, engaged in investigating
the enormous fraud committed by the abstrac-
ton, from the Interior Department, of the
bonds belonging TO the Indian trust fund, are
busily at work, and will probably be ready to
report during this week. The examination Of
William H. Russell, who has been before the
committee several times within the past week.
was concluded on Friday. This investigation
will develop chapter of crime in the history
of thisAdministration before which other start
ling frauds committed by 1t, and already made
public, will sink into utter insignifcance.
THE PRoGR AMnE ARRAxGED.-The program
me for the Louisiana secession has been
greed upon by the leading members of the
Convention. Arrangements are making with
the seeding States to hold General Conyen-
tion at Montg on the Goth OF February,
for the purpose of devising plan for the new
Confederacy, adopt the Federal Constitution,
claim the title of Republic, and ask recogni-
tion by the European Powers. The United
States forts at the mouth of the Mississippi
will be largely reinforced, and it is contem
plated to fit out privateers, if correction is at
tempted by the North.
WISCONSIN his message to the Legisla-
ture of Wisconsin, Governor Randall denies
the right of a State to Secede, declares that
under the Constitution, slavery cannot go into
free territory, and expresses the opinion that
personal liberty bills should be among the
statutes of every State. He adds, however.
that should the Legislature of Wisconsin think
that the personal liberty law conflicts with the
Constitution of the United States, it should be
made to conform Herewith but no fear or
hope OF reward should induce a free people TO
break down the walls OF their protection.
SEEING OF A MANOR WAR.-Florida may be
put down as the first seeding State to seize
man-o -of-war. The 9. S. steamer Fulton is in
her hands. The Crusader had left, and the
Wyandotte was also, it is said, out Of harms
way. 1t would take more time, and cost more
money, to reft the Fulton, whose miraculous
escape from destruction off the coast will be
remembered by all, than she would be worth.
The marines, sailors, and artillery soldiers,
at Pensacola, have telegraphed for instruc-
tlons, and it is supposed they will all go to
Washington.
PAY OF RUSSELL. MAJORS AND WADDELL.-It
is established before the Investigating Com
mittee that Messrs. Russell, Majors & Waddell
received their pay for transportation as the
service performed, and there was not a
dollar due them, authorizing the acceptances
which Mr.. Floyd issued, Their contract stp-
ulated the mode of payment, which was made
through the Quarter Master at st. Louis. The
pretense that these acceptances were to be
protected by unfulflled or future service, was
only part of the monstrous fraud.
EXPECTED PIRACY AT THE SoUrH.-Suspi-
cions have been excited, and inquiries address
sed to Washington, in regard to sending ships
to the ports of seeding States for cargoes.
Apprehensions are felt that those States will
attempt to extemporize some sort of provi-
sional naval force by sezing upon merchant
men found in their ports. Referring to the
lawlcss proceedings in that quarter, and the
action of South Carolina in the case of the
steamship Marion, the advice has been given
that ship owners cannot be too cautious.
MARYLASD.-Powerful efforts are making to
arrest the secession movement in Maryland,
and the prospect now looks encouraging. Sc
cession is ruin to Marylan and ruin to Balti-
more. The people of the State seem waken-
ing up to the momentous fact, and rousing
themselves to resist the Vaccinations of des-
perate politicians and madmen. Baltimore is
thoroughly reused and fierce in her determina-
ton to roll back the flood that threatens to
engulf all her interests and all her prosperity
in common destruction.
WHERE IS JOHN Brown, JR.?-A question
has arisen in Washington as to the whereabouts
of that schooner which left Boston some time
since, with party OF Redpaths and other John
Brown followers board, purporting to be
bound for some port in Hayti. One of John
Browns sons was on board. Surmises are en-
tertained that the vessel may be lurking about
some of the unprotected Southern inets or
harbors, awaiting favorable opportunity for
a descent upon the plantations and the liber-
alton of slaves. -
The CHARLESTON Custom HoUsE.-By the
statistics accompanying the last report of the