Valley Spirit

In the U.S. Senate on Monday Mr. Buckalew's amendment, striking out the third section of the enrollment law of last winter--which permits recruiting agents to visit Southern States to obtain recruits for State credit--was adopted by a vote of 28 yeas to 12 nays--9 of the nays being cast by New England Senators. Both Massachusetts Senators--Wilson and Sumner--opposed the amendment. The reason for this opposition, says the Patriot & Union, is not hard to understand by those who know that Massachusetts has, during the past year, been doing most of her fighting on a German and negro basis.

During the discussion it was stated, by Mr. Saulsbury, that immediately on the fall of Savannah, Massachusetts had her agents on hand, without authority, to fill her quotas; that after the slaves had been put on shipboard Gov. Andrew made application to the President for permission to enlist them and it had been granted. Mr. Wilson "did not know anything about it; Gov. Andrew was an earnest, determined man, and would enlist loyal black men; and that if Massachusetts agents got there first it showed that they traveled faster than other agents."

It will cost Massachusetts and her "hub" many a pang now that they will have to fall back upon their own raw material; but as they yet have the comforting assurance of a surplus credit of about 8,000 "black loyalists" fortunately secured on Sherman's raid before this embargo was laid. What the "hub" will do for the future emergencies, is hard to say. Perhaps it may determine to import a few cargoes of John Chinamen; or, better yet, to ship a few cargoes of the surplus old maids to California and Oregon, as recommended by the Governor, and, by a sharp arrangement of exchange, get able-bodied male recruits for them. This would be quite up to the usual style of Massachusetts financiering, and the world would not be in the least astonished to hear of its successful accomplishment. The wonder is that it has not already been attempted.

Let every Democrat in the land keep this fact steadily in view: That the Shoddy leaders care nothing for the abolition of slavery as a measure of philanthropy, but everything for it as a political measure. All their fine blather about "universal freedom," the "rights of man," the "barbarism of slavery," &c., is but the thin varnish over a magnificent political scheme by which they hope to destroy the Democratic party, and retain control of the reins and patronage of the Government. Now and then the confession slips out of one of their too-well greased organs. For instance: The shoddy postal organ of Thursday, in a howl about the failure of the ratification resolution in the State Senate, for want of a quorum, says:

"It only delays the triumph, which is to rid the land of slavery And Thus save the Government for all time, from the pollutions of modern Democracy."

Is anything more needed to convince any Democrat of the despicable designs of the shoddy politicians? Through this "triumph" (i.e. the abolition of slavery) "the Government for all time" is "thus" to be saved from the "pollutions" of "Democracy." The Negro is not to be benefitted--oh no! The "rights of man" are not to be thought of, if the man is a "Nigger." Only the "rights" of the Shoddy "man" to govern, speculate and plunder the Government are to be considered. The all important object in the destruction of slavery is, therefore, the destruction of the Democratic party and the elevation of Shoddy.

We long ago said, and repeatedly, that the crusade carried on against slavery was really to destroy democracy. The war has been conducted, for the past four years, not against the Southern people as rebels but as Democrats. The shoddy leaders feared to restore the Union until after they had destroyed slavery (which, they believed made Democrats of nearly all the Southern people.) After they have destroyed Democracy, then, and not till then, will a single shoddy leader consent to a re-union of the States. They are not patriots; they are not "loyalists;" they are demagogues and cormorants. They care nothing for the negro--nothing for their country. Self, self, self--is their stole animating principle. Time will most fully expose their schemes of ambition and cupidity.--Patriot & Union.

Resolution of Thanks to Governor Curtin--Discussion on the Constitutional Amendment--The River Bed Bill.

Correspondence of the Valley Spirit.

Harrisburg, Feb. 11, 1865.

Both Houses of the Legislature re-assembled on Monday evening at 7 1/2 o'clock. The session was consumed in going through with the regular order of business. Quite a number of bills were read in place, none of which, however, are of any general importance. A resolution was introduced and passed in the House, tendering the thanks of the House and the people of the State to Governor Curtin for his letter to President Lincoln, and for the correct position taken in that letter in defence of the citizens of Pennsylvania. This resolution was permitted by the Republican members to pass, not, however, without some very wry faces on their side of the House. When the vote was taken the Democrats unanimously voted "aye," whilst the Republicans, with the exception of a few faint "noes," refused to vote at all, thus showing that they were ready to "lick the hand that smites them," but lacked the moral courage to make an open issue with the Governor of their own choosing.

On Tuesday evening, the Senate resolutions ratifying the amendment to the Constitution abolishing slavery, came up in the House for final action. The discussion was opened on the Republican side by the reading of some three or four long and prosy essays on the evils of slavery, the last, and longest, and dullest of which was read by a youthful looking member from Crawford, whose appearance, manner, and matter indicated that he had but recently been discharged from the sophomore class of some western college. The young man had about two quires of closely written pages of foolscap before him, which he read to a wearied and "bored" audience in true sophomoric style, but evidently to his own infinite satisfaction. After the herculean task was ended, he wiped the profuse perspiration from his brow and smiled most graciously upon the audience, looking as well pleased with himself as a young bride during the first week of her honey-moon. The debate was continued on the Democratic side by Messrs. Hakes and Boyer in able and forcible speeches against the amendment. The resolutions were passed by a strict party vote. Mr. Sharpe was not present to participate in the discussion, (having been unavoidably detained on account of sickness in his family), but asked leave the next day to have his remarks published in the Legislative Record, which was granted.

The house on Thursday and Friday was mostly occupied in considering bills on the public calender [sic]. The bill which excited the most interest and elicited the most discussion was that in relation to the river beds in the oil region. The discussion on this bill was at times quite animated and exciting. It was defended by Messrs: Searight, McClure, McAfee, Pancoast and Allen, and opposed by Messrs. Burgwin, Sharpe, Cochran (Erie), Cochran (Phila.), Wells, Waddell, Satterthwait, Thonas [sic] and Markley, Mr. Cochran (Phila.) moved to refer the bill to the Committee on Ways and Means, which was carried by a vote of 47 yeas to 43 nays. It will probably pass eventually. Both Houses have adjourned over from Friday to Monday evening at the usual hour,--7 1/2 o'clock,--and most of the members have gone home.

The weather is very cold, snow a foot deep and sleighing excellent.

Brutus.