Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1862-02-05
CORRESPONDENTS OF THE sJoURNAL.'
From the State Capital.
HARR1spURG. PA. January q. 1862.


business OF general interest has been trans
acted. The Senate, under the Speakership Of
your young and able Senator, has got along
smoothly enough, but in the House, where
there is multitude OF aspiring rulers, there
has been dissentons and discussions without
number.
Contested seats and investigations have
been the main subjects under discussion. OF
the former there have been no less than seven
brought before the House. One has been dis
posed of, JOHN Cessna, of Beaford, has un-
seated George W. Householder, on (alleged) }
Constitutional grounds. The other cas- will
amount 10 nothng-saye costs to the counties
where the contestants come from. Two are
from Luzerne, three from Philad elpha, and
one from Adams.
The Investigation Committees proposed are
two, and the subjects to be investigated are
the eerruplions alleged to have been used last
session to carry two important bills, and the
frauds aledged TO have been perpetrated in
the purchase of clothing and supplies for the
three months volunteers.
OF the former, have but a few words TO
say, and they shall be to the purpose. Your
readers will understand that they have refer
ence to the bills for the relief of the Sunbury
and Erie Railroad, and the commutation OF the
tonnage tax These measures were for the re-
lief OF corporations now engaged in the lauda-
bia enterprise of developing the resources of
were eminently proper, and whatever the State
may lose by the Transaction, it is mole hill
by the side OF a mountain, when compared to
the yearly swind!e practiced upon the State
when the Public w orks were under control of
a set of leechers who frem year to year bled
the Treasury without stint or mercy. The in
yestigation will end in nothing. If corruption
was used ,;t is rather to be supposed that those
who were corrupted were shrewd enough to
cover up their tracks.
The Committee to investigate the Army
frauds can do more than what Committee
of honorable and honest men, headed by Jacob
Fry, Jr., has already done. They went over
the whole ground, and they trIumphantly ac-
quilted the Governor of any completely in the
frauds although this resolution seems to drive
directly at his Impeachment. One of your
members declared that the committee ap-
pointed by the Governor had s'white- washed"
him. Now the fact is there were frauds com
mitted upon the Treasury. The hasta in which
articles had to he secured for the use of the
three months soldiers, opened the door to I'M
ScrupuouS spectators, but let it be under
stood that many of those who thus took ad-
vantage of existing circumstances were not
the political friends Of Governor Curtin, and
to-day he is just as anxious that all should be
punished or made to disgorge, as any man up
on the floor of the House.
These resolutions are still under discussion,
and both will pass. They are urged on by
men--some of whom are the vcrest dema-
| gogues that ever lived-fol the purpose Of
making political capital among their constit-
uens-and something probably of more solid
and lasting nature-but they are doomed to
! be disappointed.
! The reorganization of the militia system of
| the State, as well as the establishment of a
| military school will probably engage the at
| tention of the Legislature either this or the
coming week. Several bills have already been
| submitted for the establishment of the school,
and [ already foresee an effort tG turn the
whole affair into a profitable speculation for
! the benefit of somebody. There will naturally
| enough be competition for the location, but |
! do not think that better place could be found
| in the State than PhillipSburg, in Centre
county.
The next question of Importance will be to
devise suitable means to raise tho War tax.
| Numerous cXpedients Will be resorted to, but
when all is said and done, we will have to come
| right down TO the dots and submit to having
every species of income taxed-and pay it
! cheerfuly, if we have any desire to preserve
the Union. The Revenue Commissioners are
now at work, and the bill to raise revenue will
! be based upon their report.
Mr.. Hall, the Speaker, presides with great
dignity over the Senrte, and his constituents
have reason to feel proud of him. He is the
youngest Senator who ever filled the Chair,
and all his acts so far have been as courteous
and kind, yet as firm and dignifed as those OF
any officer who has ever presided over the de-
| liberations of Pennsylvania Senate.
Youls, SPECS.
HARRISBURG, February 3, 1862.
Mr.. EDITOR Matters Legislative are be-