Semi-Weekly Dispatch

Disguising their troubles as much as they do habitually, says the Phila. Inquirer, the Rebel journals have let us plainly see that the exultations over the battle of Bull Run have given place to a most uncomfortable feeling that they have won a victory at a very heavy sacrifice of life that could ill be spared, and yet have advanced themselves little or nothing. We see Washington more impregnable than ever; Northern troops hurrying in at a rate that far more than makes up for the expiration of the three month enlistments; and unconquerable General opposed to them; and they begin to ask themselves how many such fields must be fought and won before they establish their Secession. With ports blockaded, business stagnant, negroes preparing for insurrection, and paper trash circulating in place of specie, the prospect for them is indeed very dismal, and they begin to feel it so.

"The Dispatch wants party issues and is berating the Democracy for not making them in its late County meeting."--Spirit.

In representing us as desiring "party issues" in the approaching canvass, the Spirit wilfully misrepresents us. As our neighbor knows exactly what we did say, we leave it to his sense of honor to state our position correctly. With the intelligent reader, truth has more force than falsehood or misrepresentation.

Our position is the very reverse of what our neighbor says it is. We are for laying aside all "party issues" until the Rebellion is crushed out. We want Republicans, Democrats, American and Whigs all to forget, for the time being, their various political tenets in the greater question of Union or No Union--Government or No Government that is upon us. This is no time for "party issues," such as have heretofore engaged the attention of the several parties. The House is on fire, and it is too late to inquire how it was fired. Our duty it [sic] to extinguish the flames, and inquire into the cause of the fire afterwards. When we have re-established the Union, and again set the wheels of Government going as formerly, it will be an easy matter for us to resume our position as Republicans, and for Democrats to go back to the household of their political faith. Then, and not before, will we countenance or discuss "party issues," such as have heretofore engaged the attention of politicians--and he who pursues a different course--who discountenances the combination of all parties in a common brotherhood the better to enable them to repell [sic] the destroyer of the Government--in our opinion, lacks that holy, burning zeal of patriotism that warms the heart of every true friend of the Union.

The Democratic Press of Montgomery county, says the Harrisburg Telegraph, are boasting that the regiment which left that vicinity to serve for three months, did not contain more than forty Republicans. The Norristown Register is particularly jubilant over this fact, and becomes very sarcastic towards the Wide-Awakes who did not join that regiment composed entirely of Democrats. It is the best explanation we can possibly quote.--

"On the eve of the battle the fourth Pennsylvania regiment of volunteers and the battery of volunteer artillery of the New York Eighth militia, whose term of service expired, insisted on their discharge that night.--It was granted, and the next morning, when the army moved forward into battle, these troops moved to the rear to the sound of the enemy's cannon."

We do not now, nor did we ever indulge such a foolish idea that all the courage and bravery in the country was confined to the Republican party, as such. All Americans are brave, whether Democrats or Republicans, and are ready to offer up their lives for their country. But we have regarded it as in very bad taste for Democratic journals to be constantly impugnity [sic] the courage of Republicans, and asserting that in this war for the Republic the Democrats will wear "the knapsacks," while "the offices" will be bestowed upon the Republicans--or, in other words, that the Democrats will have to bear the brunt of this conflict. Whether this is so or not, one thing is certain, we would endeavor to keep the matter as a profound secret from our children if we had been a member of the Fourth regiment, which, according to the statement of Democratic journals, was so exclusively Democratic that not more than forth Republicans were attached to it, and which, in response to the urgent solicitations of the General and of the Secretary of War (according to the official statement,) who conjured it to co-operate with our brave little army, then in actual deadly conflict with the enemy, and in that trying hour this Democratic regiment peremtorily [sic] declined, and "marched to the rear, to the sound of the enemy's guns!"

We know these comparisons are detestible [sic], odious, but Democratic journals should not institute them. We dislike to refer to this matter, and do it only in self-defense.--But we must say, that if the permanency of the Union depends upon such Democratic Regiments as the Fourth Pennsylvania, the days of the Republic are numbered.

A Petition was circulated in our town on Friday last, for signatures, praying the Town Council of the Borough to appoint a Police force or Night Watch. This movement grew out of the mysterious affair of Thursday night last, at Shepler, Clark & Co.'s shop, an account of which we give in another place. The Petition was numerously signed.

In compliance with the prayer of the petitioners, the Council appointed some ten or eleven persons as a Police or Night Watch, at a compensation of $20 per month each.

We were among those who signed this petition, but regret now that we done so, and are sorry, for several reasons, that the Council granted the prayer:

I. The extra expense incurred by the Council in the employment of this Watch, will add much to the burden of the Tax-payers of the Borough, which is now no trifling matter, in view of the extreme stringency of the monetary affairs of the Country, and of the complete prostration of every business interest.

II. The number employed is not sufficient for the purpose designed, as the beat of each must necessarily be too extensive for any part of it to be efficiently protected.

III. We know of no reason why a sufficient number of our citizens could not be brought together and properly organized, to patrol the town for its protection at night, without any cost to the Borough. Surely a body of men possessing public spirit enough for such a purpose, can be found in Chambersburg, sufficiently numerous to throw out twenty or thirty individuals one night in each week as a patrol. It would be no great sacrifice or self-denial for a man to loose [sic] one night's rest out of seven for the good of this community: and if 140 men will combine for the purpose, appoint their officers, and thus reduce the thing to a system, 20 of this number could be detailed for each successive night of the week, and thus secure double the protection we have now, without any cost to the Borough--or from a body of 210 men, a patrol of 30 men could be detailed for each night. We suggest this plan for the consideration of the community, and by way of showing that we do not ask others to do what we would not do ourselves, our services are hereby tendered to take our turn, weekly, as long as it would be deemed necessary to maintain such a vigilance.

We propose that a meeting of citizens be called to ascertain whether such a force cannot be organized. Property holders are especially interested in this matter, not only because their property may be in peril, but they are interested also from their having to bear the principal burden of Taxation. Property-holders, should compose this Watch, and if any disliked to perform the duties required, they could easily employ substitutes.

The Police force now on duty will cost the Borough $240 a month or $2,400 per annum; and owing to the troubles of the country, our proximity to the enemy's lines, and the numerous bad men that will be constantly prowling through our community, there is no telling how long it may be necessary to maintain this Police force. It will scarcely do to dispense with it short of a year anyhow, and it would be well, therefore, for our taxpayers to think of this matter before much expense has been incurred.

About ten o'clock on Thursday night last, (as the story goes) a light was observed in the Planing, Sawing and Wood-Working Shop of Messrs. Shepler, Clarke, & Co., by Mr. Levi Lippy, who resides in the vicinity of the establishment. It was something altogether unusual, and Mr. L. proceeded immediately to investigate the cause. On arriving at the place, he discovered a man crawling into the window, while another was inside with a bunch of ignited matches in his hand. Mr. Lippy immediately accosted them as to their business, when they replied that they were hunting a place to sleep. After remonstrating with them, they left, when information of the occurrence was conveyed to one of the proprietors, who employed Lippy to watch the premises during the night.

About 1 o'clock of the same night as he was maintaining his vigils, he observed a man approaching. When the stranger had approached within a few steps of him, Lippy hailed him, and inquired his business there at such an hour. The stranger, undaunted, and still approaching nearer, replied, that he had "come to burn the establishment, and he was going to burn the whole town, as it was noting but a d-----d abolition hold anyhow." Lippy drew a pistol, but before he could discharge it, the ruffian knocked it out of his hand, seized him by the throat, drew a knife and made several thrust at him, which Lippy succeeded [sic] in avoiding, when he raised an alarm by crying "fire!" "murder," &c. As the ruffian released his hold, he dealt Lippy a blow in the face, and then run. Lippy states that he succeed [sic] in finding his pistol, fired after the man, but with what effect he could not say. Lippy's clothing is cut in several places, but he suffered no bodily injury.

The foregoing is the substance of Lippy's statement, made under oath before Justice Hammon on the morning after the occurrence.