' ?gaflaan?patc?gmir^ rrm xa.fa.-r. n.i.? Congress. The U. S. Senate, on Thursday, 5th inst., took up the President's message, which was received on Tuesday, in compliance with a resolution of the 23d ult., requesting information in regard to the fisheries on the coasts of the British possessions in North America?transmitting a report from the Acting Secretary of State, and the documents by which it was accompanied. Mr. Hamlin of Maine, resumed and continued his speech on the subject. lie explained the * ?!"> !??avt.c*c /iiirrrinmrl in till* tlslif? importance in me ... ries, and was in favor of protecting them, and re-iterated his opinion that the interpretation put upon the treaty by the American government was right, and should be sustained at all hazards inasmuch as the conduct of England in this matter could never be submitted to without dishonor and disgrace. The further consideration of the subject was then postponed for a week. The Senate next resumed the discussion on the bill making appropriations for the current and contingent expenses of the Indian Department, for fultilling treaty stipulations with various Indian tribes for the year ending June 30, 1So3. The House of Representatives took up again the bill from the Committee on the Judiciary to regulate fees and costs to be allowed clerks, marshals, and attorneys of the Circuit and District Courts of the United States and for other purposes. The Hon. James X. McLanahan, of Pennsylvania, then explained its provisions, and stated that the subject was one of great importance, '' ? > --..I:?* ...? e i,.,^c and demanded trie earnest aiteuwuu vi Pending, however, the discussion the morning hour expired, and on motion the House went into Committee of the Whole on the state of tlie Union, and resumed the consideration of theBill making appropriations for the Civil and Diplomatic expenses of Government for the year ending the 30th of June, 1853, and for other purposes. An amendment was adopted appropriating : $18000 for the salary and outfit of the Commissioner to China. In the Senate, on Friday, the 0th instant, Mr. Felch, of Michigan, reported adversely upon the land distribution bill and the homestead bill to ! cede the public lands to the States in which they lie. Mr. Seward, of New York, submitted a resolution, which was agreed to, calling for information as to whether the Sovereign of the Sand-j wich Islands has not proposed to transfer the sovereignty of those Islands to the United States. ! Mr. Houston of Texas submitted a resolution ; to appoint a select committee of five to inquire into any fraud bribery, or abuses that may have J occurred in the prosecutions of claims, Ac., be fore Congress or the Departments, which w.is agreed to, and Messrs. Houston, Borland, Brooke, Merriweather and Underwood were appointed as tho rnmmittee. The Indian Appropriation bill was then taken up, and the Senate adjourned. The House of Representatives was again engaged during the morning hum l.? tha oon-?Jo. ration of the bill to regulate the fees and costs j to be allowed clerks, marshals, and attorneys of the Circuit and District Courts of the United States. The House then went into Committee of the whole on the State of the Union, and resumed the consideration of the general appropriation bill. ^ The Government of England will shortly be j placed in a more anomalous position than any in which it has yet been exhibited. The Derby ministry will have had a short lease of power. So soon as Parliament assembles the Tory rule ceases. Who will be their successors?what shape a new ministry will assume?whether Whig or semi-Radical?is the question. Conservative it cannot be. It is by semi-Radical influences the Derby ministry has been overthrown. The party that is to govern must he recruited measurably from the ranks of the Free Trade I leaders, whatever of the element of Whigism j may enter into the combination. Whether Lord j T PulmopcfAn hoc t V? l^rc- i UUIJU lWii.N>Cl Ul XJVi \X X 'llllJ^iovvu Mtw ^ | miership, it will be impossible in the new minis-1 terial organization to exclude Mr. Cobdeii or! some of his party. The signs of a new combination have been already apparent. Whatever changes take place in the character of the ministry that supersedes its predecessor, ihe fact is still broad and palpable, that the tendency is more and more to Democracy in England. This change which the people of the Continent could not effect violently, the people of England are bringing about gradually. We do not think that for some years yet annual Parliaments and universal suffrage are to be among the victories of radicalism. But an extension of the suffrage much beyond its present limits, if not triennial Parliaments, are in nearer perspective than many imagine. The march of public opinion is in that direction, most unequivocally. A wider constituency and a reformed Parliament, letting in more and more of the Democratic, spirit, are steps that mustconduct finally to universal suffrage and a shorter duration of the House of Commons. The effect ol a government like that of England reposing on a wider democratic basis must be to change its character organically. It must lose its presentoligarchicalelement. The House of Peers must become an assemblv with nnmi nal privilege*?men who sit in conclave with titles and ribbons, without real power. As hereditary legislator their patents of nobility will enable them to occupy a conspicuous place in a royal ceremonial. Such must be the destiny of an oligarchy whose authority, within thoirown sj?h<-re of legislation, in conflict with the power of the People's House, will be inevitably subverted. The House of Commons will absorb all the powers of legislation and become paramount. This will be followed by popular disrespect for hereditary rank. How far reverence for royalty will then consist with the los6 of prestige by the m>bility of England, is a question whose solution wo may leave to history. Charleston. Evening yews. The new Planet discovered by Mr. Hind, of f Bishop's Observatory, London, on the 24th of June last, was also observed at the Washington National Observatory on the night of the- 29th, by Mr. J. Fergison. Th? planet is stated t<> be of the 9-10 magnitude, and Lieut. Maury makes it the 18th :r. the family of Asteroids kno*rn *o " eris+ between Hcr3 snd Jupiter. HI1 "?r J.iiHI f I U. . m iB From the Lancaster Ledger. Rail Road Electing. A meeting was held at the Court house on the I first Monday in August, pursuant to a resolution i passed on sale day in July, j Hon. Wm. Reed bring called to the Chair, j the Preamble and Resolutions of last meeting ! were read. Cnpt. Gaston submitted the following Re I port from a meeting of the citizens of Chester I District: Rich Hill, Chester Dist., ) July 30, 1S32. f At a meeting of citizens of Chester District, ! favorable to the construction of a Rail R<>ad from Chester to Lancaster, lielil this day at Rich llill, } Dr. B. Gaston was called to the Chair, and Col. I L. A Beckliatn appointed to act as Secretary, j The object of the meeting being stated to be j tlie appointment of delegates to th* adjourned meeting to be held at Lancaster on Monday the ' 3d August next, on motion a committee of three I was appoint,d to nominate suitable persons to | attend said meeting. Upon the report of this ' committee twenty >ix gentlemen were appointed, of whom the following attended the meeting: | Tilman Ingram Daniel G. Stinson. .Tas. A. II. Gaston, W. A. White,.!. 13. Magill, Henry Moffatt, and Jesse Clifton Jr. A committee of twenty-one, consisting of the following gentlem"ti, Dixon Barnes, Col. Iluey, Capt. MeKenna, Daii'l W. Brown, Joseph Clinniiigham, Robert Mellwain, W. A. Moore, Jas. 1'. Crockett, W. E. Johnson,S. 1?. Emmons, J. ' Adams, John Williams, were appointed to prei pare business for the meeting. The following lesolntions were presented by them, which, after some debate, were unamiutisly adopted : Renalred., That we do most en most lv desire, ,n"-1 ti?!otilv niitirnve. of the eonstrilCtion of a Kail R<>;kI from Lancaster Court House to connect, either witli the Charlotte and South Carolina Kail Road at Clicstorviile, Ridgeway, or some other suitable point on said Road: and we hereby promise and agree that we will lib-rally subscribe to each one or all of the routes lending to the several points herein designated; and whichever route may he selected after the charter has been obtained and the sto.-k subscribed, wo, the citizens of Lancaster District, will cordially unite in support of it Resolved, That a committee of five be appointed by the Chairman of this meeting to memorialize the next L -gMatun- upon this *ubj"Ct, and to solicit material aid from the S; ,ta in the building of said Road. Rrsolred. That notice be imm-diatelv published in the Lancaster Ledger, for three months, that an application will be made to the next Legislature for a Charter said Road. Rrsolred, That the members of the next Legislature from Lancaster District are earnestly requested to ask from the next fb-neral Assent bly, a liberal subscription towards the construction of this Roa?l; and the various candidates who j are now competing for a seat in the next Legis| lature, ar-- likewise re pi -t'-d to bring this itnpori tuut v.! h^f.iiv the people for lln-ir consideration. | In accordance with the second resolution, the I following g'-ntleinan were appointed by the Chairman, viz: John Williams, M. P. Ciawford, M. Oalluchat, J. II. Withcrspoon, and P. T. Hami lilt iltil. | On motion of John Stewart, E-p, the meeting t lion adjourned. | \VM. I IKED, Chairman, M. P .Crawford, / 0 . T o r Secretaries. J. C. Secuest, ) ? Ton.vcco and Pickles in Amsterdam.?A lelj terfrom Amsterdam, in the Ponton Transcript, says: The consumption of lohaeco here is enormous. What King James would haw done had he been King of Holland is past imagining. Old and I young are alike addicted to the hahit. I have seen a knot of children pulling away as gravely as if they had been 1 orn with pipes in their mouths, and elderly citizens march along the streets sending fourth volumes of smoke like so many peripat?*ii< stove nipt s. Some of the Amsterdam dandies, the fast young men of the place, if the term is not an anomaly, seem to effect the cigar?hut lor the most part the merchaum, with its pipe as long as a walking stick, is the favorite vehicle for burning the weed. Many I smoke during their meals. Sipping tobacco smoke as nth- r people sip win?, and as it i> not considered indecorous to smoke where < thers are eating, I was regal-d while at the breakfast I table this morning in the principal hotel in the : - i ? i.~ r...I ! citv with sotnc very CIIOIC i 'lVinn mihw iium i twogetlenien opposite me. They breakfasted I upon I trend and lnitter, tobacco. eggs ntnl coflce '?nnd I do not doubt that a pipe often furnishes the lower classes a light and wholesome meal. Some of the Dutch delicacies mv certainly j very extraordinary. PeopI> cat pickles a- t'e* ' | French eat peppermints. All about the streets ; may be seen little stands upon which are tempt| ingly displayed pickled cucumbers, beets, onions | and other vegetables, soaking in vinegar, and cut up into little tit bits for the refreshmont of I the passer by, who,for a stiver, can set his teeth on edge most admirably. Dbiiinutive ecK sal: ted and steeped in vinegar, Ibrm an article of j traffic for divers old ladies at the street corners. I I do not know that children cry for them, but | probably the youthful Mynheer yearns |br pickj led eel as a young Yankee longs fur a stick ofoanI dv. A stranger might wonder at seeing such j gastronomic enormities hawked ahull* tie-streets : like lozenges, till lie heard the unspeakable dissonance of the, language; when be would perceive that a people who speak such a jargon need some such diet as soiirkiout and pickled eels to j keep their vocol organs in proper tone. Xew VocAnt la it v.? .1/nlarirolrJizinr/. (f>l tidying or uttering a vain thing.) and Inrorui/rstibulutinft, (troubled with an uiiea?ine-s of mind.) new words, indicative of the condition of mind | of persons wlio live in n state of constant and purposeless excitement. -? mm - ? ? United States Mint Opkhations.?During the month of July there wore coined :it the Phil adelph mint 400.838 pieces of cold, amounting in value to ?5,000.030; 082.400 pieces of silver, amounting to ?37.872; and 4(5(1,509 cents?making a total of 1.840 838 pieces, amounting in ir. value to ?5,042.567, THE SEMI-WEEKLY JOURNAL. TUESDAY EVENING AUGUST 10, 1852. THO. J. WARREN) Editor. CSpThe lines of It. B. C. will appear oa . riday. Acknowledgments. Wo arc under renewed obligations to the Hon. A. P. Butler, for his attention in forwarding us Public Documents, Ac. The Hon. J. L. Orr and Hon. D. Merriwethcr wil^ also accept our thanks for their favors. Roads, Bridges, &c. We have been handed tor publication the following extract from a letter received in this place from White's Store, X. C\, dated July 31, 1852: "I would just state there would be a great deal more trade from this portion of X. C. to your place if there was a good Bridge at Mrs. Blakeney's, on Lynches Creek, that Bridge being considered unsafe. I believe it is a Bridge that is built by Kershaw and Chesterfield together; it has ever been considered unsafe." Attention to our highways, bridges, ferries. Ac., is absolutely indispensable to the public good. Money is paid in the form of taxes for these purposes, labor is required for the same, and why is there such grounds of complaint? We hope those charged with the management and control of these important matters, will look well to the interest of the community, which involves so seriously life and property. Popular Elections. Wc are no factionist, vet. there are some things in OUT dlillO UOVlTllIIlt'Ill Wim-u wu anumu uav i\j ovw changed. For instance the present mode of electing Electors for President and Vice President, subjects the State to unnecessary expense, and inconvenience Every four ye rs an extra session of the Legislature must be held for this especial purpose, or the vote of the State is lost. This of course subjects us to a heavy expense, and there is no necessity for it. The Legislature must either alter the time of its sitting. call an extra session, lose the vote of the State, or give the election to the people, where of right it belongs. It may be urged in behalf ot the present mode, that all these difficulties may he removed by altering the time of the meeting of the Legislature. This would subject us to inconveniences also, and reasons may be shown whv this change should not be made. Wq do not however, upon the plea of inconvenience to the State, or from pecuniary considerations, urge a change; these are oulv collateral reasons, and do not involve in themselves any importance, or touch the principle. V"e are in favor of committing to the hands of the people the management of this business, from motives of a higher character than that of mere expediency, believing as we do that free suffrage is consonant with i rA* IM>.,rfi? on/1 flirt tlic true ami genuine pi iin-i|>n.-.-> ,.i h./uu, ,, ,,,v groundwork and very basis upon wliieli all republican institutions must rest. Let the people be educated! Call it by whatever you may; it is one of our texts, and one too, which we shall ever take pleasure in urging upon the minds of our readers. Call it a hobby?be it so. it is a good one. The people should read, think, and act lor themselves. IIow deplorable, and humiliating is tin- ignorance of the masses upon the most common and simple matters of our government The people seem contented to leave the decision of all these matters in the hands of others, who think and act without direct reference, in too many eases, to the good of those whom they represent. "A liberal and enlightened public opinion, whoso approbation is the result of mature wisdom, and whose just condemnation is tempered with generosity." This is the idea?a just sentiment, which can only result from the people being educated. We attribute much of the want of general intelligence among the people, to the fact that nearly all the important elections are taken from them, and given to the Legislature. It maybe urged that, by giving these elections to tho people, we open the door for demagogucism much wider?that intluences will la?a Imitted more injurious in their elTeets upon society. We think not; a word in reply will suffice tor this objection ? Those who arc disposed, may now act the part of demagogues to a much greater extent?they can deceive the people much moro effectually than tlicy could under the plan we propose. If if. is urged, that already too many elections are in the hands of the people, we ask where can this power moro properly rest? To deny it. is to stiike at once, a blow at the very foundation of all democratic principle, to say that tho people arc not capable of deciding for themselves. Who then can decide? If swell be the case, why let the people say who shall be their Clerks, SheritTs, Tax Collectors 4c? Let others more competent, be delegated with all authority to do all their thinking and acting for them. Let the people become as pliant clay in the bands ol skilllul pott rs, ."..nlil mill f-iJiinn ili.un mOup tlioir men no tions?mere figures, by which the sagacious political arithmetician may make his calculations. The people, il left to the bent of their own inclinations, will be disposed to do right. The masses of the people of our State, are wofully deficient in knowledge pertaining to our State affairs. They have never relied upon themselves, but have ta ken too much for orthodox, because leading men have taught thcin so. We know ol no reason why South Carolina should adhere with such remarkable pertinacity to certain aristocratic notions peculiar to herself which makes it almost a distinct and isolated State from others, which have the same community of interests, and arc identified by common ties of eoiisatignimity and destiny. We ask, what peculiar benefit have wc derived from our singular course? Are we in advance of our compeers in intelligence, happiness or wealth ? Until within a few years, we have been far behind others in every class of enterprise. It is possible that we may yelfeel a conscious pride in being Carolinians, . .1 I, Iukki M:mv of VCl UICIV- 13 (Mtavaa V. ..w J ^ .. our systems need remodeling, and a general modification might take place, which would result, we doubt not, in good. To make ourselves distinctly intelligible, we are in favor of giving the election ol'lJovernor and the electors of President and V ice President to the people. Sale or Slaves.?The following prices wero given for slaves sold at Lynchburg, Va.. on Saturday: Richard, wife and child, sold for $1,210; Sady, a small girl, $453 ; Tom, small hoy, $280; Matilda, a mulatto girl about 20 years old, $806. Total $2,710. Uue other small boy sold lor $375. Alabama against a State Convention.?Sufficient returns have now been received to indicate that t.,e people of Alabama have voted largely against u Convention being hold to revise tho Constitution ot that State. bb?mm ? ?i ? mam mm?bwc? ?i Nominations for Congress.?Hon. Joshua R. Giddings has been re-nominated for Congress by county free .soil meetings in Lake and Ashtabula, Ohio. Col. "Win. A. Richardson has been re nominated for Congress in the fifth district of Illinois A great mortality aming cattle prevails in theneigh- j borhoodof Memphis, Tenn. Some of the farmers have lost nearly all their stocks. For the Camden Journal A CHARADE. A poet who, our passions sways, By his moving, melting lays. A warrior renowned and bold, Whose deeds have been sung by poet.-, of old. A king whose young days were spent, In the wild woods, 'neath a rude shepherd's tent. A tyrant whose hands wore stained, With the blood of the innocent whom ho had slain. A philosopher who for his doctrines mild, Was cruelly treated, and rudely reviled. My whole a poet whose soul-stirring strain, The prince and the peasant alike entertain. K if. Answer to be given in the next paper. * i From Vie Lancaster Ledger. Prolific Grain. Mu. Editoii : In my crop of Wheat in 1850, I my Overseer, of my plantation in York District, | discovered, as he thought, a new kind of Wheat. j < )n boil in shown a head of it, 1 told turn it was I Da tie y ; how it came there we are at a loss to say. He takes this bunch, yielding about 400 plains, and drills in niy wheat ground which he manured witli Cotton seed. About one third j of it did not yield in proportion to the balance, I bring planted in rather wet ground?this crop I was a In tie short of three pocks, last fall the same was sowed in thin fresh land, some in the d;i!l, the balance broad cast, which has yielded thirty bushels and a half well cleaned Barley.? This crop exceeds vourtinc beets, turnips, or corn. T. K. CURETON. P. S. I have no desire that the Committee who are inspecting the Crops of the neighborhood should iook at mine. I will make my own Bread and Mi-at. I lyive no objection to giving j thorn and vourself. dinners of fine Main, Mutton | of the tine Bakowdl stock, and of fowl of the j large Shanghai breed. T. K. C. i Waxhaw Crook, August 2, 1852. Cotton Statement.?There have been receivj od in Charleston during the past week 3,269 bales, (corresponding week last year 1,552.) Exported in the same time to foreign ports 4,877 bales; coastwise 1,01)7 bales; making the total ' exports of the week 6.484 bales; and leaving oil hand a stock of 11.382 hales, inclusive of 11,bales on sbiitbonrd not cleared, against a ~ J ^ w . slock of 20.070 bales same time last year. Tile total receipts since our last report amount t , ciuud ui iiiiiL time) pci ii careiuuy; ana then if your judgement approve publish it but not before." Julius Caesar, like Watkins Macaw her, Ksq^wns so continually incurring pecuniary liabilities that he found it difficult to discharge. lie set a high value upon friendship, having purchased that of Lucius Pa I us for ?1,500,000, and that of i ! Curio for ?2.500.000. lie was a terrible spendthrift. Before lie succeeded in obtaining any office lie had amassed debts to the amount of ?14975,000. But office-huMors had good pickings in those days, as well as in our own: and as soon i as Julius got his hand into the Public Treasury, his debts began to diminish. He soon became rich. lie gave Servilln, the mother of Brutus, a pearl of the value of ?200,000. He would doubt- v less have been guilty of a great many other extravagancies, had not "the well beloved Brutus" given him that cruel stab under the fifth r'b.? On the day of the assassination, Caesar's friend, Marc Anthony, owed ?1,500,000, which was paid thirty days afterward. This same Anthony subsequently swallowed a pearl dissolved in vinegar (which Cleopatra administered to him,) worth ?400,000. Ho also squandered ?735,000.000 * 1 of the public treasure. He would have been a I splendid fellow to have held a fiscal agency u?- 1 der our Federal Government, J Tdx-ri is at his death left Si 18,125.000, which a Caligula spent in less than twelve months, lie J lived at the rate of ?350,000 a day; one sup:>er J cost him ?400,000. Esopus, the comedian even transcended Caligula in extravagance, having given ?400,000 for one single dish. He had one son, Clodiits, who wa? a chip <>f the old block. Among other costly feats, Clodius swallowed a pearl (a la An- V thony) valued at ?5,000. fl Appius another Roman millionaire, squander fl ed in debauchery some ?2.5000,000; after which 3 finding himself accidently sober one day he in- ^3 vestigated his pecuniary affairs, and finding that he had only half a million dollars left, he poison^ J^3 ed himself because he considered that sum insuf- ^K3 ficient f?r his maintenance. A Mr. Ileliogabalas, who lived in those times 1 ..fit. _ TT TV v ... ana was one 01 me upper ion, use