Franklin Repository

The fear of the Spirit that the present Republican Legislature will attempt to elect a U. S. Senator this winter are groundless. Such a thing, we are assured has never been contemplated by the Republicans. We are authorized by Senator McClure to say that he has never heard the matter urged by a single member of the legislature, and that under no circumstances would he support or sanction such a measure. It is enough for the Locofocos of Indiana to nullify the laws to force a bogus representation in the U.S. Senate, and the Republicans will never stain their hands with such a record. The Republicans have no need to anticipate the regular time for electing a U.S. Senator, for they will be quite able to elect one of the right stamp in 1861.

--The Rev. Samuel Philips, pastor of the German Reformed Church, of this place, preached a powerful sermon, in his own church, on Sabbath evening last, the 12th inst. After the sermon a collection was taken up for the benefit of the poor of Chambersburg.

Wm. Heyser, Sr., Esq., the President of the Bank of Chambersburg, an Elder in Mr. Philip's church, was to have delivered an address upon the same occasion; but having been confined to his room for three or four days before, and still being unable to go out, he was not present -greatly to the disappointment of the audience. All of the congregation sympathize with him in his affliction and hope that he will soon be able to be about again.

The sermon delivered by Mr. Philips was an able effort. The incidents of genuine benevolence which he cited were well worthy the imitation of all good, pious zealous christians. The rule of conduct in the life of the founder of Methodism -John Wesley- we think can scarcely be equalled. It appears that Mr. Wesley started out in his ministerial life with the firm determination to do good to the poor. Accordingly he gave, the first year of his ministerial labors, out of a salary of thirty pounds sterling, two pounds to the poor -living on twenty-eight. His second year he got sixty pounds sterling for his services, and, continuing to live upon twenty-eight, he gave thirty-two to the poor. The third year his salary was one hundred and twenty pounds. He made out to live, as formerly, on twenty-eight pounds, and gave to the poor the enormous sum of ninety two pounds sterling -about four hundred and sixty dollars in one year.

We never heard of this trait in the character of Wesley till Mr. Philips related it; but such being part of Wesley's life, we have no difficulty in accounting for the cause of his wonderful success in preaching the everlasting word to famishing mortals.

Would it not be well enough for other ministers to continue this good work which Mr. Philips has started -giving the proceeds of a collection taken up every such an occasion to the poor of the town?

--At length this highway is opened up for the accommodation of the travelling public. After being cursed for nearly seventeen years with horse cars and a worn out Railroad, we were not surprised to find that the good people of our native town, Greencastle, were highly pleased to see the regular passenger train of cars entering their beautiful, thriving Borough, on last Monday, the 6th day of February, 1860.

On Wednesday, the last day of May, 1843, the last train of cars, propelled by steam, passed over the old road. On Thursday, June 1st, 1843, the first horse-car traveled over that old flat-bar, no-rail, rickety concern.

A few years since the people in the Southern part of this county, petitioned the Legislature for, and obtained, the passage of an act authorizing the sale of the dilapidated old road, the jest and by-work of the whole country, for the purpose of having it reconstructed. It was sold, but not re-laid. Within a year or two, in pursuance of further legislation, it was again sold. This time it fell into the hands of A.J. Jones, Esq., of Harrisburg, and others who have rebuilt it -substancially. To the indomitable perseverance of Mr. Jones are the people of this Valley indebted for the present substancial thoroughfare -full blasted, heavy railed, it is one of the best roads in the United States.

The Road is not yet completed to its terminus -Hagerstown, Md. The arrangement, therefore, for running to Greencastle is not of that permanent and satisfactory character which will be made as soon as the Road is finished throughout. There is but one train per day, leaving Chambersburg at 11.25 A.M., and, returning, leaves Greencastle at 1.40 P.M., remaining an hour and a half at the latter place.

Col. Lull, the polite superintendent of the Cumberland Valley Road, desirous of affording facilities for the transportation of freight, and for passengers to travel with comfort to and from Greencastle, made the above described arrangement -the only one that could be made for the present.

The gentlemanly conductor on the C.V. R.R., Levy McCormack, Esq., who served an apprenticeship on that same route, under the horse car arrangement; George B. Ayres, Esq., the polite, efficient general Agent for the Company, and Geo. W. Simmons, Esq., the unequalled Agent for the Adams Express Co., constitute a trio of good fellows, noble and true, all of them, upon whom devolve the duty of serving the public on the highway -The Franklin Rail Road. The more intercourse the people along the line of the road have with these gentlemen the better they will like them.

The first Train which passed over the road to Greencastle, consisted of nine heavily laden freight, and two passenger cars. The firm of C.W.Eyster, &Co., forwarding merchants of this place, have the credit of bringing down from Greencastle, the first loaded car -which was done by Monday's return trip.