The Pittsburgh Donations

Comribuliïfcë for the relief of the suEerers jy the great lire of Pitteburgh have been made in nll the principal cities of the country iy individual.--, hy collections in churdies, and y corporations?. Tlio sums ihus contributed are estimntPii at nbout $li!0,000. The corlorntion of Washington City voted $1,000 "rom the public funds. In sduijion to this nmount, the Leeislaturo of Pennsyvania, upon hearing of the caamity, appropriatod O50,000 from the public ireaeury for the aid of the sufferers, be-ides remití ing the taes assessed npon the property of the burnt district until 1818. A precti cel difficulty has been t-uggestcd as to tbè principie upon which this larg-e gratuity should be divi'ded. lt must be done by a genernl scrnmble at ihe discrelion of the city nuthorifies, or by some fixed rule. The difficulty lies in establishing' a ruin whicli fliall be nifonn, equitabfeond fatisfactory t all. Some have proposcd that ihe money shall be rettirned to the Siate treasury, with euitable thanks to fhe Logislature for their liberality. In support of this courne it has been urged, that the nppropriation, if accopted, would givo dissatisfaction to the pxireme portions of the State: that snch gratuities are eeldom of much real aenefit to those on whom they are bestowed, nasmtich ns they are ofren ill npplied, and their bestowment tends 1o slacken the eprings of innustry in those who receive tljenï: and ihat tlie State is unable to pay its own debts, which were long since due, and that. a)proprintions from the treasurv, under sucli circumstances, '.vutild be mcking a donntion, nol from tlie propeity of the people, but from the Tumis of the state creditora. In oiir judgment, the praclice of making (lonationa from the pnblic treasury for any purpose, is of qneetionuble otility. B donaiions, we mean a .pecial exemption of particular persons from public b'irdens, or tho grant of money or olhor property from the public funds to individuals who have no claims on the public for indebtedness or for servicee rendered. We will mention a few instances which now occur to us. The grant of the franking privilege for life to the Ex -Presidente and their widows: nppropriations from city treasnries to do honor to great men, as in the case of Gen. Jack?on, J. Q. Adam?, Li Fayettc. Sec: appropriations made for holiday oc ensions, as for the Fourth of Jtily, and for the funeral expenscri of members of the Legisla - ture, and otlier public officers. If we rememher rightly, $3,000 were phid from the national treasury for the funeral expenses of General Harrieon, and a largess of Y25,000 more was paid to his family. Congress also pai J out 82,500 lapt year to reimburse to Gen. Jack6on the anioimt of that fine wbich was imposed upon him for his conduct at New Orlea.ns .iov De ii unaersiooo mai we co noi oojeci to the worthiness of the persjns vo received these largesses: nor do we here question the propriety of the occasions on which they were mnde. Our objections ateto the principie upon ivhich they are mnde. It i a bestowment of' the cotnmon property, roised by taxation of laboring men, lor the cmolumenl of persons who have no claim upon the public funds. It isa taxation erf ihn many for the enriching or honoring of n few - the very principie that we eo much condemn in mnnarchical governtnents. So far as it goe?, it is one elcp lovvanls eslnblishing au order ofno bility. It opens the door to every kind of abuse. Jf Ex Presidenta nnd their widows may hnve a special privilege for life, tvhy may not this be extended also to Vice Presi - dents and their widows, and to the members of llie Cabinet? If fines may be paid for Gen. Jackson.it might beeasy to find other Generáis to whom a similar aid would be highly opportune. If the citizens of New York may bc taxed L2,000 to do honor to one President, ii will require no stretch of principie tax tliem five, ten, or fifty thnusand dollars to d honor ío anot-her. A much better way is let those who are interested in such occasior? make out the requieite Eums by private contributions, nnd expend tbe funds of the poople only for paying their pecunisry indebtedness, or for Biistaining plans of general amelioralion and benefit. OCp We find In the Indiana Freeman the following extract from a letter of a highly intelligent Presbyterian minister near Lexington, Kenfjcky. It is an answer to those who aiïïrm that agitation at ihe North puts back the cause of freedom at the South. "I hope tbe friends of humanity at the North will continue to speak on. They are exerting an influence here. Their action elicits talk, discussion, and enquiry. It is because they speak and icrite that the subject is kept awake al the South. Was it not for what the North is now doing and publishing the interest or supposed interest of the South would hush every inqtiiry or thought that might dislurb their conscience and supposed peace. and they would glide in silence down the declivity of ruin. For the history of slavery is the history of ruin, and dcsolntion the world over. If ever the South ssaved from the advancing ruin of slnvery, the Norlh will be, in one sense, her salvalion. This she will accomplish by holding before Ihe South her interest and conscience, otherwise she would sleep amidst imperceptible ruin and crime." u 'Tis true, southern men must do the work, but the North must wake up, edúcate and prepare those who shall do the work. This she never will if he keeps Btill. Speak on then, brethren; let your liglit shine. Ilold conventions - pass resolutions - scatter light." 05 The N. Y. Ilerald has news from Texas, that the President has issuod a cali for the meeting of Congress on the 16th f June. Also, that the U. S. Government has selected Browns bill as the basis of Anaexation. 0553 The Free Press gives notice that 3ov. Barry will not be a candidato for e-election.