those of the last, vet Ihoy will undoubtedly ex- I
ceed the amount of expenditures by at least tit
teen millions of dollars. I shall, therefore, con
tinue to direct that th- surplus revenue he ap
plied, so far as it can be judiciously and eco- j
nomicaliy done, to the reduction of the public j
debt, the ampunt of which, at the commence- \
merit of the last fiscal year, was 67,340,828
dollars; of which there, had been pakJ>ou the
20th day of November, 1804, the stun ot 22,-
365,172 dollars j leaving a balance of outstand
ing debt of only 44,975,456 dollars, redeema
ble at different periods within fourteen years.
There are also remnants of other government
stocks, most of which are already due, and on
which the interest has ceased, but whtch have
not yet been presented tor payment, amount
ing to 238,170 dollars.
This statement exhibits the fart, that the an
nual income of the government greatly exceeds
the amount of its public debt, which latter re
mains unpaid, only because the time of pay
ment has nut yet matured, and it cannot I e dis
charged at once, except at the option ol public
creditors, who prefer to retain the securities o;
the United States: and the other fact, net less
striking, Hint the annual revenue from all sour-
res-exceeds, bv many millions of dollars, the
amount needed for a prudent and economical
administration of the government.
Tin* estimates presented to Congress from the
different executive departments, at tie- last ses
sion, amounted to S3S,UM>,:>BI ; and t.c>* ap
propriations made, to the Mini of $58,1 Hi,358.
Of this excess of appropriat ions over estimates,
however, more than $'20,000,00'.) was applica
ble to extraordinary objects, having no refer
ence to the usual expenditures. Among ttsese
objects was embraced $10,000,000 to meet the
third article of the treaty between the United
States and Mexico : so that, in fact, for objects
of ordinary expenditure, the appropriations were
limited to considerably less than $ P\o U), X) 0.
J therefore renew mv recommendation for re
duction of the duties on imporls.
The report of the Secretary of the Treasury
presents a series of tables, showing the opera
tion of the revenue system for severai succes
sive years, and as the geiur ii principle of re
duction of duties with a view to revenue and
not protection, may now he regarded as the set
tled policy of the country, I trust that little dif
ficult v will be encountered in settling tue de
fails of a measure to that effect.
In connection with this subject, i commend
a change in the laws, which i**cent experience
lias shown to be essential to the protection oi
the government. There i.- *no express provi
sion of law, requiring the records and papeis of
a public character, ot the several oflicers of the
government, hi be left in their offices foi the
use of their successors, nor any provision de
claring it felony on their part to make false en
tries in the books, or return false accounts. Jn
the absence of sucfi express provision by law,
the outgoing ollicers, in many instances, have
claimed and ever r-ed the right to take into
theif own possession important books and pa
pers, on the ground that these were their pri
vate property : and have placed them beyond
the reach of the government. Conduct of this
character, brought in several instances to the
notice of the present secretarythe treasury,
naturally awakened his suspicion and resulted
in the disclosure that at four jwrts, namely Os
wego, Toledo, Sandusky, a -d Milwaukee, the
treasury had, by false entries, been delrauded
withia'the four year:, next preceding March,
1833, of the sum of o.;ie hundred and ninety
eight thousand dollars. The great difficulty
with which the detection of these frauds has
been attended, in consequence of the abstrac
tion of books and papers by the retiring officers,
and the ficilitv with which similar frauds in
the public service may be perpetrated, render
the nt C"s>;ty of new legal enactments, in the
respects above refered to, quite obvious.
For other material modifications of the reve
nue 1 aws which seem to me desirable, Ir* f ,j r
yoti to the report of the secretary of the trea
sury. That rep it, and the tables which ac
company it, furnish ample proofs of the solid
foundation on which the financial security oi
the country rests, and of the salutary influence
of the independent treasury system upon com
merce and a!! monetary operations.
The experience of the last year furnishes ad
ditional reasons, 1 regret to say, of a painful
character, for the recommendation heretofore
made, to provide for increasing the military
force employed in the territory inhabited h\
tiie Indians. The settlers on the frontier have
suffered much from th incursions of predatory
bands, and large parties of emigrants to our Pa
cific possessions have been massacred with :m
--punitVj The recurrence of such seems can
onlv be prevented hv teaching these wild tribes
the power of, and their resjxinsibility to, the
United Slates.
From the garrisons of our frontier posts, it is
only possible"to detach troops in small bodies:
and though these have on all occasions display
ed a gallantry and a stern devotion to duty,
which on a larger fi> id would have commanded
universal admiration, they have usually suffer
ed severely in these conflicts with superior num
bers, and have sometimes been entirely sacri
ficed. All the disposable force of tb.p army is
already employed on this service, and is known
to be wholly inadequate to the protection which
should be afforded.
The public mind of the country has been re
centlv shocked bv savage atrocities committed
upon defenceless emigrants and border settle
ments:, and hardly less by the unnecessary de
struction of valuable lives, where inadequate
detachments of troops have undertaken to fur
nish the needed aid.
Without increase < f the military force, these
scenes will b" repeated, it :s to be feared, on a
larger scalp, and with more disastrmis conse
quences. Congress, I am surf, will perceive
that the plainest duties and responsibilities of
government are involved in this question, and
J doubt not that prompt action may be confi
dently anticipated when delay must be attended
by such fearful hazards.
"The bill of the last session, providing for an
increase ol the pay of the rank and file of the
army has had beneficial results, not only in fa
cilitating enlistments, but in obvious improve
ment of the class of men who enter the service.
I regret that corresponding consideration was
not bestowed on the officers, .who, in view of
their character and services, ami the expenses
to which they are necessarily subject, receive
at present what is, in my judgment, inadequate
compensation.
The valuable services constantly rendered by
the arinv, and its inestimable importance as the
nucleus around which the volunteer forces of
the Nation can promptly gather in the hour of
danger, sufficiently attest the wisdom of main
taining a military peace establishment ; but the
theory of system ant! the wise practice under it,
require that anv proposed augmentation, in time
of p> are, only commensurate with our ex-
t*n(!td limits and frontier relations
While scrupulously adhering to this princi
ple, I find, in existing circumstances, a necessi
ty for increase of our military force, and it is
believed that lour new regiments, two of infan
try ami two of mounted men, will be sufficient
to meet the present exigency. If it were ne
cessary carefully to weigh the cost in a case of
such urgency, it would be shown that the addi
tional expense would he comparatively light.
With the increase of the numerical force of the
army should, 1 think, be combined certain measures
of reform in its organic arrangement and administra
tion. The present organization is the result ot par
tial legislation often directed to special objects and
interests; and the laws regulating rank and com
mand, having been adopted many yeats a C° ' ronl me
British code, are not always applicable to our service.
It is not surprising, therefore, that the system should
he deficient in the symmetry and simplicity essenti
al to the harmonious working ot its several parts,
and require a curelul revision.
The present organization, by maintaining lage stall
corps or departments, separates many officers from
that close connection with troops, and those active
duties in the field, which are deemed requisite to
tmulify them for the vaned responsibilities ot high
command. Were the duties of the army staff main
ly discharged by officers detached from their regi
ments, it is believed that the rpecial service would
be equally well performed, and the discipline and in
struction of the army be improved. While due re
gard to the security of the rights of officers, and to
ihe sense of honor which should be cultivated among
them, would seem to exact compliance with the es
tablished rule of promotion in ordinary cases, still it
can hardly lie doubted that the range of promotion by
selection, which is now practically confined to the
grade of general officers, might be somewhat extenu
eii with benefit to ihe public service.
Observance of the rule o! seiiinnt y sometimes leans,
especially in time of peace, to the promotion of offi
cers who, after meritorious and even distinguished
service, may have rendered by age or infirmity in
capable of perlorming active duty, anil whose ad
vancement. therefore, would tend to impair the
ficiency ol the army. Suitable provision for this
class of officers, by ihe creation of a retireil list,
would remedy the evil, without wounding the ju-t
pride of the men who, by past services, have estab
lished a claim to high consideration. In again com
mending this measure to the favorable consideration
of Congress, 1 would suggest that the power of plac
ing officers on the retired list be limited to one year.
The practical operation of the measure would thu
be tested, and if, after the lapse of years, there should
be occasion to renew the provision, it can be repro
duced with any improvements which experience
may indicate. The present organization of the artil
lery into regiments is liable to obvious objections
The service of artillery is that of batteries, and an
organization of batteries into a corps ol artillery
would be more consistent with the nature of their
duties. A large part of the troops now called artil
lery are, and have been, on duty as infantry ; the
di-tincrion between the two arms being nearly nomi
nal. This nominal artillery in our service is entire
ly disproportionate to the whole force, anu gie...-!
;pan the country demand. ! therefore commend the
discontinuance of a distinction, which has no founda
tion in either the arms ti-ed or the character ol the
,-ervire to bt* ptM !omt)'(1.
In connection with the proposition lor increa-e ol
the army, ! have presented these suggestion with
regard to ceriain measures of reform, as the comple
ment of a system, which would produce the happiest
re-ults from a given expenditure, and which 1 hope
may attract the attention, and be deemed worthy of
the approval, of congress.
The recommendation of the secretary of the navy,
having tcferer.ee to more ample provisions for the
discipline and general improvement in the character
of seamen, and for the re-organization ami gradual
increa-e of the navy. 1 deem eminently worthy ot
your favorable consideration, 'l ire principles, which
have controlled our policy in relation to the perman
ent military force, by sea and land, are found, con
sistent with the theory of our sy.-tem, and should by
no means be disregarded.
But limiting the force to the objects particularly
set forth in the preceding part of this message, we
should not overlook the present magnitude and pros
pective extension ot our commercial marine, nor tail
to give due weight to the fact that, besides the two
thousand mites ot Atlantic seaboard, we have now a
Pacific coast, stretching from Mexico to the British
possessions in the north, teenring with wealth and
enterprise, and demanding the constant presence ol
ships-of-war.
The augmentation of the navy has not kept pace
with the duties properly and profitably assigned to it
in time of peace, and it is inadequate for the large
field of its operations, not merely in the present but
still more in thp progressively increasing exigenceies
of the wealth anil commerce of the Tinted State-.
I cordially approve of the proposed apprentice system
I for our national vessels, recommended by the secre
i tary of the navy.
The occurrence, during the last few months, oi
marine disasters of the most tragic nature, involv
ing great 10-s of human life, has produced intense
emotion-of -vmpalriv anil sorrow throughout the
country. It may well be doubted whether all these
calamitous events are wholly attributable to the
necessary and inevitable dangers ot the sea. Ihe
merchants, mariners, and ship-builders of the Tinted
States are, it is true, unsurpassed in tar-reaching en
terprise, skill, intelligence ami courage, by any oth
ers in the world. But, with the increasing amount
of our commercial tonnage in trie aggregate, arid the
larger size and improved equipment ot the ships now
constructed, a deficiency in the supply ol reliable
seamen begins to be very seriou-ly telt.
The inconvenience may, perhaps, be mM, in part,
by due regulation for ihe introduction, into our mer
chant ships, of indentured apprentices; which while
it would afford useful and eligible occupation to nrnii
erous young men, would have a tendency To raise the i
rharacier ol seamen as a class. And it is deserving
of serious reflection, whether it may not he desirable
to revise the existing laws lor the maintenance of
I discipline at sea, upon which the security of lite and \
, property on the ocean ir:n-t to so great an extent de
pend. Although much attention has already been ;
given by Congress to the proper consti uction and ar
rangement ot steam vessels and all pa-smger ship-,
still it i- believed that the achievements of science
: and mechanical -kill in this direction have not been
I exhausted. No good reason exits for the marked
: distinction, which appears upon our statutes between
| Ihe laws for protecting life and propeity at sea, and
those for protecting them on land. 11l most o! the
' States severe penalties provided to puni-h conductors
■ of trains, engineer-, and others employed in the trail
i portation of persons by railway, or by steamboats on
! rivers.
Why should not the same principle be applied to
acts of insubordination, cowardice, or other miscon
duct on the part of master and mariners, producing
injury or death to passengers on the high sea-, be
yond the jurisdiction of any of the States, anil where
Mich delinquencies can be reached only by the power
ot Coitgess .' The whole subject is earnestly recom
mended lo your consideration.
The report of the Postmaster General, to which
you are reierred for many interesting details in re
lation to this important and rapidly extending branch
ot the public service, shows that the expenditure of
the year ending June 30, 18-31, including $]J.3.48-5 ol
balance due to foreign offices amounted to §8,710,-
f>o7. The gross receipts during the same period a
monnted to $0,900,380: exhibiting an expenditure
pver income ol $1,73*>,3'3 1, and a diminution of de
ficiency, a-compared with the last year, ol $3Ol-,
730.
The increase of the revenue of ttie department, for
the year ending June 30, IS3J, over the preceding
year, was nine hundred and seventy thousand and
three hundred and ninety-nine dollars. No propor
tionate increase, however, van he anticipated lor the
current year, in consequence of the act of Congress
of June 2.3, IS-54, providing for increased compensa
tion to all postmasters. From these statements it is
apparent that the post office department, instead ol
defraying its expenses, according to the design at
the time of its creation, is now, and under existing
laws must continue to be, to no small extent, a
charge upon the treasury.
The cost of mad transportation, during the year
ending .lime 30, ISSJ. exceeds the cost ot the preced
ing year by four hundred and ninety-five thousand
and seventy-four dollars. 1 again call your attention
to the subject of mail transportation by ocean stea
mer-, and commend the suggestion ot the postmaster
general to \our early attention.
During the last fiscal year eleven million seventy
thousand nine hundred and thirty-five aeres ot the
pubhe lands have been surveyed, and eight million
OIK- hundred and ninety thousand and seventeen aeres
brought into market. The number of acres sold is
seven million th'aty-live thousand seven hundred and
thirty-five, and the amount received therefor nini
million two hundred ami eighty-five thousand fivi
hundred and thirty-three dollars. The aggregate a
n:onnt of lands sold, located under military scrip
and land warAints, selected as -wanip lands bj
States, and by locating under grants to s roads, is up
wards ot twenty-three millions ol acres.
The increase ot lands sold, over the previous year
is about six millions of arres ; and the sales duruu
the two first quarters ol' the current year present tin
extraordinary re-ult office and n half million sold, ex
ceeding by nearly four millions of acres the sales ol
the corresponding quarters of the lust year, thus in
creasing to an extent 'unparalleled during any like
period in our past history Ihe amount ol" revenue pro
vided from this source for the federal treasury.
The commendable policy of the government, ir
relation to setting apart public domain for those whi
have served their country MI time ot war, is illus
trated by the fact, that -ince 1790, no less than thir
ty millions of acres have been applied to this object.
The suggestions, which 1 submitted in my annual
message ol last year, in reference to grants of lane
in aid ol the construction of lailways, were less tul!
an<l explicit than the magnitude ot the subject ami
subsequent developemerits would seem to render prt>-
per arid desirable. Of the soundness of the principle
tliPii asserted with regard to the limitation of the
power of Congress, I entertain no doubt; but in its
application it is not enough that the value ot lands ir
a particular locality may be enhanced ; that, in tact
a larger amount ol money may probably be received
in a given time, for alternate sections, tban conic
have been realized for all the sections, without ttu
impulse and influence ol the proposed improvements.
A prudent proprietor looks beyond limited sec
tions of his domain, beyond present results, to tin
ultimate effect which a particular line ot policy i:
likely lo produce upon all hi, possessions and inter
ests. The government, which is trustee in thU
matter for the people ol Ihe Slates, is bound to takt
the same wise and comprehensive view. Prior tc
and during the last session of Congress, upwards o
thirty millions of acres ol land were withdrawn trotr
; public sale with a view to applications for grants o
! this character pending belore Congre-s.
A careful review of the whole subject led tne tc
| diiect that all such orders be abrogated, and the
' lands restored to market ; and instructions were im
i rnediatelv given to that effort. Ihe application!
at the ia-t session contemplaled the con-truction o
j more than five thou-and miles ot road, and giants tc
i the amount of nearly twenty millions ot acres ot the
public domain.
J Even admitting the right on the part of Congress
to be unquestionable; is it quite clear that the pro
, po-ed giants would be productive o! good, and not
eviCf The different piojects aie confined, foi the
' present, to eleven Slates of this Union, and one Ter
ritory. The reasons assigned tor the grants, show
that it is pioposed to put the works -peedily in pro
cess ol crmstiuetion. When we reflect, that since
Ihe commencement of the construction of railways in
the United States, stimulated as they have been by
i the large dividends realized I'ioni the earlier works
j over the great thoroughfares, and between the most
irr.poifaiit points of commerce and population, en
couraged by State legislation, and pressed forward
by The amazing enprgy of private enterprise, onl\
seventeen thousand nnles have been completed in all
the States in a quarter ola century : —when we see
theciippled condition of many works commenced
and prosecuted upon what were deemed to be sound
1 principles, and safe calculations when we contem
plate the enormous absorption ol capital withdrawn
Irom the ordinary channel- of business, the extrava
gant rates of intere-t at this moment paid to contin
ue opeiations, the bankruptcies not merely in money,
hut in character, and the inevitable oliect upon fi
nances generally ; —fan it be doubted that the ten
dency i- to run to excess in this matter f Is it wi-e
to augment this excess hv encouraging hope- of sud
den wealth expected to flow !rom magnificent schemes
dependent upon the action ol t crtigress i
lines the spirit, which has produced such result-,
need to he stimulated or cheeked ? Is it not the bet.
ter rule to leave all these works to private enter;
prise, regulated, and, when expedient, aided, by
the co-operation ol Slates/ it constructed by prii
vate capital, tiie stimulant ar.d the check go together
and furnish a salutary restraint against speculative
schemes and extravagance. lint it is manifest tha|
with the mo-t effective guards, there is danger oi gd
nig too last and too far.
We may well pause before a proposition contf
plating a simultaneous movement lor the con-lr
tion of railroads, which, in extcr.t, will equal, exr
sive of the great Pacific road and all its branch
nearly one-third ol the entire length of -uch wor
no'.v completed, in the United Stales, and which c
not co-t, with equipments, les- than one hundred i
fifty millions of dollars. The dangers likely To
suit from combinations of interests ol this charac
can hardly be over-estimated.
But independently ol these considerations, wI
is the accurate knowledge, ihe comprehensive
telligenee, which shall discriminate between the
lative claim- of the-e twenty-eight proposed ioai
eleven States and one Territory I Where will
begin, and where end I It to enable these coi
mes to execute their proposed works, it i- neces
that the aid of the general government be prittu
given, the policy will pre-ent a problem so con
hen-ive in its hearings, and important to our pi
cal and social well-being, as to claim, in anti
t;on, the severest analysis. Entertaining tbe.-e vi
I recur with satisfaction to Ihe experience and
tion of the la-t session of congress, as furnishing
siirance that the subject w ill not tail to elicit a
ful re-exaoiinatiou and rigid scrutiny.
It wa- my intention to present, on this occa
some suggestions regarding internal improveu
by the general government, which want ol Tin
the clo-e of the last s.-ssi, prevented my submi
: on the return to the House of Representatives, I
i objections, of the lull entitled, "An act making?
propriiitions for the repair, preservation and com
'ion of certain works heretofore commenced i|
; authority of law* ; " hut the space in this
cat-on already occupied with other matter of itf
diate public exigency, constrains me to reserve,
; subject for a special message, which will hi* t|
rnitted to the two houses of Congress at an ear!\|
The judteial establishment of the Coifed fj
i requires modification, and certain reforms id
manner of conducting the legal business "I th|
verntnent are also much needed ; but as I have
dressed you upon both of these subjects at leiigg
fore, 1 have only to call your attention to the!
gestions then made.
My former recommendations, in relation to jt
j ble provision for various objects of deep interf
the inhabitants of the District of Columbia, at
newed. Many of these objects partake largely
I national character, and are important indepenl
of their relation to the prosperity of the only iK
i eialile organized community ii; the Union, eiy
j unrepresented in Congress.
1 have thus presented suggestions on such sil
as appear to me to be of particular interest 0
! portance, and, therefore, mo-t worthy of cori|
1 tion during the short remaining period allot!-
i the labors of the present congre.-s.
Our forefathers of the thirteen United ( <*,
j in acquiring their independence, and in loundiy
' Repuldic of the United States of America,
1 volved upon us, their descendants, the greatef!
| the most noble tiust ever committed to ihe tiai
man, imposing upon all, and especially such V
' public will may l.ave invested, for the times,
i with political functions, the most sacred oblif-
We have to maintain inviolate the great <fi*
j of the inherent right of popular sell'-gnveif;
| to reconcile the largest liberty of the individtg
: zen, with complete security of the public oi(l>
, 1 render cheerful obedience to laws of tfs,
I to unite in enforcing their execution, and tra
• | indignantly upon all combinations to re-ist tp"
; i harmonize a smeere and ardent devotion to 4-
I | stitution* of religious laith with the mo-t f
• ! sal religious toleration ; to preserve the rightfl
' j by causing each to re-pcrt those ol the othcri
ry forward eveiy social improvement to thß
- | most limit of perfectibility, by the free a£>l
• mind iqton mind, not by the obtrusive intern
l | of misapplied force ; to uphold the integftl
t guard the limitations of onr organic law ;tof! ■
: sacred from all touch of usiirpa'.ion, as the vß
i ladium nf our political salvation, the reserv^-
ers ol the several Slates and of the people; Jj--
r ih, with loyal fealty and devoted affection,g
nion, as the only sure foundation on which tijs
t of eivil liberty rest; to administer governmfh
i vigilant integrity and rigid economy ; to lie
- | peace and l'riend.-hip with foreign nations, aß*-
r n anil and exact equal justice from ail, l>|lo
wrong to none ; to eschew intermeddling We
r national ptdicy and the domestic repose of §>-
c vernmeiitsfaiid to repel it from our own ; to
i shrink from war when the rights and the Bf
s the country call its to arms, but to cultivatß"-
s j ference Ihe arts of peace, -eek enlargemeate
I 1 rights of neutrality, and elevate and lsbee
intercourse of nations ; and'by surli just and honora
ble means, and such only, whilst exalting the condi
tion of the Hepnblic, to as-nre to it the legitimate
influence and the benign authority of u ureal exam
ple amongst all the powers of Christendom.
Under the solemnity of these convictions, the bless
ing Almighty God is earnestly invoked to al tend
upon your delibeiations, and ujnin all the counsels
and acts of the government, to the end that, with
common zeal and common efforts, we may, in hum
ble submission to the Divine will, co-opeiate lor the
nmuiotiou of the supreme good ot these United States.
P [■ RAN KLIN riEKCK.
Washington, Dec. 4th, IS.<4.
THE BEDFORD GAZETTE.
Bedford, Dec. !* 1854.
a, W. Bowman, Editor and Proprietor-
We invite the especial attention of our readers
t: the following ''Card" from the Ladies connected
• ith the Lutheran Church of lied ford, and would
4 Ivise all who can do so, to give them a call and
Mnder them all the encouragement in their power.
' hat this Fair will be conducted in a becoming and
■editable manner, the well known taste of the La
be s concerned in its management, gives full assur
uce. We wish them a profitable return for the ex
rtnse and trouble to which they have subjected
tfcmselves.
ffjASiIKSS FAIR!
|V Fair will be held at the Court House cnmmenc
, irf CHKISTMAS MOIIMNCI, and continue Till Tuesday
leaning. Useful and Fancy articles, together with
mSffreshments of every description, will be on band.
The prolita are to be applied to a benevolent pur
j'pse. LADU-.S.
I Dec. 10, 18". V
THE POOR.
GT^-Under the present high prices of evety
it cr eatable, connected with their scnrcity,
. it not possible that a number of persons in
jir community are in a slate of want ? A
j-eat many are unable to buy flour in any other
lav than bv the few pounds, and yet there
.>es not seem to be a pound of flour in town to
■la,l!
This matter should bp examined into, and
me means adopted to help the helpless. Will
>t some of our citizens who are abundantly
Me join in raising a fund to secure a supply of
.or to be furnished to those whose necessities
-ay require il—and to others in better ciicuw
tnces at its original cost. We will cheerful
| become a member of such an ASSOCIA
TION. Let us do sorr.ethinsr.
PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE.
ii We publish to-day, at full length, the annual
i- essage of President PIKKCE, satisfied that it will
• read with deep interest by all into hands it may
■ j 11. It is written in a spirit of candor, and will
i-hmpare favorably with any other message evpr
elsued from the same quarter. The President ex
plains every thing so futly, and so plainly, that the
'host ordinary mind cannot fail to understand the
of the machinery of our great government,
tj'rue To the Constitution and the principles of the
r f)emocratic Party, FRANKLIN PIF.RCK has proven
himself well worthy the distinguished Tru-t conferred
pon him by the Freemen of this Republic, a fact
fvhich will be admitted by all candid men who care
fully read his message.
1
DC7" JOHN P. KEED, F.SQ., of this Porougli, has
.been appointed agent for this county by the .Mer
chants' insurance Company of Philadelphia, so that
all persons wishing to insure in this Institution can
do so by calling on hirn, who is fully prepared fogive
all necessary information on the subject. The Com
pany is said to be a good and reliable one.
POLITICAL PREACHERS!
ITT" During the pa-t year, a number of Ministers
of the Cospel turned their attention almost exclusive
ly to politics, prostituting their sacred desks to poh
iica! harangues that would have disgraced the veriest
grog-shop. Where tliey did not venture to discourse
thus from the pulpit, they travelled around the coun
try secretly sowing the seeds of discord, hot red, and
revenge, to a dreadful extent some even heading or
ganizations banded together by an OATH revolting
to every principle of Iree government, to say nothing
ol their corrupt and demoralizing effect upon the
young and inexperienced. Some "Ministers" who
had not the hardihood to acknowledge themselves
MEMBERS of these organizations, advocated their
doctiineas worthy of "enconragemenC —uch, for
instance, was the ca-e in the Methodist Advocate and
Lutheran Olservrr, conducted by men who •preach
love and good will to ALL ! But, to show that we
are not merely expressing the opinion of politicians
on this subject, we call the e.-pecial attention of the
people to the following extract from a discouise re
cently delivered by the Rev. Dr. WADSWOUTII, and
published in the Prrshyterioi ol the 2d in-?., which
sustains, in a ten-fold degree, ail we have said on
this subject. Whilst many ministers, in every Btate
in the Union, l.ave engaged in this infamous business,
thur- depriving themselves of the respect and confi
dence of the people, and bringing reproach upon the
Church, it is truly gratifying to know that our glori
ous country is not deficient in Preachers who are al
ways ready to promulgate i% thc promises of the Gos
pel issued in the death cry Jiom Calvary ," AMI NO'J'U-
I.NU CT.SE ! IS'o man ever was, or ever can he hap
py , who is destitute of GENUINE UELlCllO.V—re
ligion which commences at, and dwells in, THE
llEAß'i'—and which directs the thoughts as well as
the arts of a man in the right channel. Let not,
therefore, the apostacy of ceitain TEACIISIIS, lead
any to believe that there is no reality in Religion,
but rather let all seek to drink at the fountain of
eternal truth, and, by an upright walk and Godly
conversation, exhibit the power of the Gospel in
their own persons. We are digressing, however,
having smply intended to call the attention of our
readers to the following pointed and eloquent extract:
From the Presbyterian, Dec. 2.
Kcv. Mr. Hadsworth's Thanksgiving Ser
mon.
The Rev. Mr. YVadsworth's discourse on
Thanksgiving day, on Politics in Religion,
which was received with much favour, has
been published. The following extract, on
topics of the times, will be read with inter
est.
"There is a common, and indeed a popular
s*nse in which to carry politics inlo relispon,
is a curse and a sore wickedness. Take the
word politics in its vulvar and most perverted
meaning, as denoting the paltry chicanery of
placeman for power—the lop- artifices of pros
titute and false statesmanship for office and
spoils—and the man who would seek its coali
tion with any great moral and religious inter
ests deserves at our hands an indignant lebnke,
and will, at Cod's hand, suiely meet a most
sore retribution. And vet, alas torus! just
sin h coalifidn is frequently sought by good men
in the midst oi us. Yea, mure emphatically
alas! even in the sacred desk it finch; advocates
and patrons.
"1 freed licit tell you (hat it has come t" pass
in these latter days, that these standing; places
of (toil's niesseneer# to a ruined world, become
oft-timeg the mere platforms for political har
angues. These altars of our God, where the
broken heart is demanded as a sacrifice to Je
hova, become oft-times only' 'seats of custom,'
were the worldly tribute j s rendered to Ctcsar.
The precepts of the divine law, thundered from
Sinai; the promises of the gospel issued in the
"death-cry from Calvary : alas ! th*v are all set
aside and forgotten, that ttuse embassadors of
God may discourse political declamation upon
moot-points that divide our political parties.—
| Either because these men find Hie duties ol their
sacred profession so light, and their consequent
| leisure -so abunl aiit ; or because thev regard the
; care of souls so trivial a concern in compaiison
; with the general etilighf meiit of society on tliese
political questions; or, it may be, because they
regard themselves as men of such prodigious
; powers and special inspiration, as to make it
their extraordinary call to leave to their hum
bler and l.ss gilted brethren the care of the ark
in the fields of Beth-shernish, while they strive
about the golden mice with the lords of the
Philistines.
"Certain wo arc tEat fir some mason, into
their religion, such as it is, they carry some of
the veriest abominations of rufliati and radical
politics. Their pulpits become platforms, wheie
all questions of practical morals are discussed as
side issues with some aim of the den agogties. —
The cross of Christ is L.ken down from its high
place, as the crowning glory of the sanctuary,
and in its stead—as an engine of reform —is lilt
ed the ballot box. And with this advocacy
and patronage in the Church's high places, it
has, not marvellously, come to puss tEat the
edification of the audiences should be after their
kind. Certain we are at least of the fact, that
many a christian man looks to-day to the foul
est machinery of partizan politics as an efficient
auxiliary in a reformation <1 mora is. Temper
ance— moral reform—religious education—uni
versal brotherhood—indeed all things that are
true, and pure, and lovely, and of good report,
are—to speak technically—by a species of mor
al log-rolling, linked as twin issues with the
foulest aims of rufiian demagogies seeking pre
ferment and place. Nay, verily alas! tinse
heavenly moral virtues, that as white rolled an
gels on radient wings should he all unsoiled by
dust and soaring sweetly in God's sunshine, are
hatnessed side by side with l ank charters, and
tariff provisions, to drag the chariot of some un
principled place-man into honour and power.
"J inn not, of course, condemning, nor will I
he niisnnderst >od as condemning, anv conscien
tious endeavor to legislate crime out of a com
munity. O no. T hold it to be my right (and
f will not insult your understandings by attemp
ting proof of such atrueism.) 1 hold it to Im my
most hounded duty, to seel; all honorable legis
lation to aid me in the suppression of popular
iniquities. Intemperance, oppression, Sabbath
breaking, profaneneys, these, and the whole
great catalogue of flagrant immoralities, are as
very felonies on a man's civil rights, asare high
way roi.berv, or adultery, or murder. And as
an integral part ofsocietv for whose widest re
gard the government is created, I can come to
that government, not asking as a favor, but
claiming as a right, (hat it protect trie and my be
loved ones from such foul felonies on my in
ter' sis.
"But (lien, as Christian freemen, it) a high
minded and manly wav, to seek legislative ac
tion in maintenance of these great moral inter
ests, this is one thing—but another thing is it
altogether, to enter into foul partnership with
political partizans for the sake of such legislation
—making temperance and Sabbath-keeping, and
the Bible HI schools, and all or an v great practi
cal morality t win-measures, co-ordinate ami co
etjitai issues, with tiie cliarter of a Sabbath
breaking railroad, or a swindling banking house,
or a monopolizing gas company. 'ldle first is
only a goodly, and lawful, and noble ctmjing
the crnnd science of <sover invent into religion :
while the last is manifestly an ignoble carrying
ol politics —politics in its most vulgar and ab
horrent sense, with all its monstrous shapes and
gigantic abominations— politics — politics in re
ligion
From the Pennsylvania!)
KMTPTIiMM ISOMER!
Every Member of the Order subject to a Cri
minal Prosecution, according to the Opinion
of JAMES M. PORTER, one. of the
ablest Judges in Pennsylvania.
The inb.rnoiis nnd unconstitutional organization
that delight* in this cognomen, is fa -1 approaching a
position front which it will not be able to escape
The exposition in one or' the Massachusetts Courts,
exhibited the dangerous character ol the combina
tion, as the laets were elicited from the lips of mem
bers themselves. The witnesses there examined,
acknowledged that a disclosure of the secrets of the
Order would subject them to punishment by the laws
of the land. One Judge has been found in this State
who has charged a Grand Jury directly upon the sub
ject, and informed them that the Order was a legiti
mate object of criminal indictment. There will be
many other Judges found who will lake the same
view, and thereby test the Constitutional character
of the organization. We have heard several eminent
Lawyers in Philadelphia declare that the first mem
ber of the secret order brought to trial would he con
victed, if the facts as made public, were proven, as
the organization was in clear violation of ttie laws
and the constitution. We copy the following notice
of the CHARGE of Hon. JAMES M. PORTER to
the Grand Jury of Wayne County a few days since:
In the Court of Quarter Sessions ol Wayne county,
at lionesdaie, on the sth inst. His Honor, JAMES M.
PORTER, Pre-ident judge, alter recapitulating the
provisions of the Constitution of the United States
and of this State, in regard to the rights of conscience
and other civil rights of the citizen, whether native
or naturalized, proceeded in an able and lucid man
ner, to -trongly charge the Grand Jury against all
combinations of persons banded together by vows,
oaths, or other obligations, lor the purpose—WHETH
ER ACCOMPLISHED OR .NOT —of depriving any citizen,
native or naturalized, of any right or rights given
and secured to him by the Constitution and laws of
Pennsylvania or of the United States.
His Honor told the Grand Jury, in strong and deci
ded language, that if they, or any of them, knew of
any such combination, or if complaint should be le
gally made to them of the existenceof any such com
bination in this county, it was clearly ther duty, un
der the oaths they have taken as Grand Jurors, to
present the same to this Court, by indictment, that
they might be dealt with according to the common
law, which, by its wisdom and plasticity, happily a
adapted itself To the redress of every wrong, and the
punishment of every po-sible otfence against public
justice and the common l ights of the citizen.
Judge Porter further said in his Charge fo the
Gram) Jury, that no oalh or obligation taken to do an
unlawful act, was, or could be, binding in law or
conscience, though no person could be compelled to
swear-that he, himself, was a member of such a
combination; still he could be COMPELLED to swear
who of others were, if within his knowledge, not
withstanding behaif taken an OATH to keep
knowledge secret, as such oath was clearly die . i
and co.it. it the secret was to be kept auKm .,' N'*
tueniuer* ol at:i illegal com bioatirn.
STARTLING MMW.
Hair w/iat ii subordinate Know Xothing Lod<rr
sap of the GRJXD Council in ~Xcu>
York !
It appears that the Grand Conned of Knoiv-Xotfi.
ings in the State of New-York, has <lire C teJ that the
members of the Subordinate Lodges, be interro
gated under oath as to how they voted at the recene
election in that Statp. Some of the Lodges in Brook-
Lyri have refu-ed to comply with t!ip in-clent man
date, and have denounced the tyranny of the act in
no measured term-. Americans must not charge the
dowr.-trodden ma-ses of Europe with servility if
they themselves are prepared to snbrrnt to so degrad
ing a thraldom. We give the resolutions yawed iu
one of the Brooklyn Lodges :
"Resolved, That we repudiate and condemn the
afore-mentioned action of the Grand Council, as Antil
American, Anti-Repiibiiran, and the most tin warrant
able, abominable arid dangerous assumption of 1),.,,
potic power ever attempted in this Republic ; in j( S
Confessional, Penance, and threats oi Exccrmnrmica
tion, only equalled by the Holy Inquisition of Span
and only worthy of imitation by the Grand Council
of Cardinals at Rome.
"Resolved, That any American a-sentingor yield
ing obedience to -ich degrading and Inquisitorial re
quisitions. inherits not the spirit of his revolutionary
sires, and is unworthy iho name of a son of 'IC, and
descends !o the level ol an ignorant Papist.
"Resolved, That we recommend our brethren to
pause and candy reliect, beiore they aid in centraliz
ing so dangerous a power in the hand-of a body, who
how ever pore they may he, may at some future Ume.
be composed of unprincipled men, who, regardless of
the public interests, will wield it lor their own per
sonal aggrandizement."
The tendency of all such bodies is not only tc de
moralize their own members, but also to destroy all
confidence and security in our citizens generally. To
obey the order of the Grand Council in this particu
lar, would he a complete surrender of individual lib
erty, and a death blow to the hopes of prtriols every
where.
Meeting of Congress.
Congress met on the -Ith instant—a quorum pre
sent in both blanches. The President oil he Senate
Mr. ATCJIINSUM, being absent Gen. CASS was unani
mously fit-vied to preside over the body. '1 he Gen
eral accepted the honor, but declined anything more
than a temporary append men! for the duv. The
HOME was called to order by Speaker BOYD. PotN
houses being thus organized, Ttie President's Ales
sage was sent in about 'd o'clock, and read. In the
Senate 10,(10(1 c.Mra copies ol the Message.-, with ine
accompanying documents, and in the House dO,OUO
were ordered to be printed.
On Tuesday, the Senate elected Mr. BRIGHT, of
Indiana, to preside over the body urdil the arrival of
Air. ATCIIINSOS, who is not expected in Wa-hmgtou
lor two or Ihree weeks. In the House a variety of
fulls were introduced, or announced .-•> ir. preparation.
Among the latter one (by a Mr. 'Baylor, a Whig
Know-Nothing Clergyman of Tennessee.) to repeal
the nat uializat ion laws, and another to prevent the
enlistment ol persons of toreign birth in the army
and navy! AN interesting rieLale took place on a
resolution of inquiry relative to the ministerial con
ference at Ostein!.
On Wednesday, nothing of importance transpired
in the Senate, in the House, the resolution ol m
qiuiy relative to the meeting ol American Ministers
at Ostchil, was relet red to the Committee on I'nieigu
Allatrs. The message of the President, at the close
ol the la-t session, vetoing the River and Harbor l>dl,
was considered and di-cu-sed. and on the question of
pa-sing the bill against the veto, the vote -ton.l ayes
U5, noes 80. Not being two-thirds, the bill fell.
Nothing of importance fraii-pired in either branch
on '1 hnrsi'iiy. In the House, the death of a member,
Mr. Kevins, of Kentucky, was announce.!. A report
Iroui tire Committee of Ways ami Means was read,
ami the Pension and Indian Appropriation bills were
submitted. Poth branches adjournal! over tiil Muii
duy.
Ji'DGE BLUR'S ADDRESS.
The following notice of the address and of its
distinguished Author, appeared lately in the
columns of the "Iron City," and meeting, as
it does, our full and decided approbation, we
transfer it to our columns with pleasure:
"The above is the title of a pamphlet which
has been placed on our table, and which has
recently been issued from the press, it con
tains about sixteen pages, and comes forth, of
course, under the auspices of the Agricultural
Society of Somerset countv.
We always read the productions of Chiti'
Justice Black with care and curiosity. Even
his legal opinions as published in the newspa
pers—although not possessing much interest
u it h the general rtader outside of the legal pro
fession—are peiused by us with a degree of
earnestness winch we can scarcely account for.
It may he because we have known the man tor
many years, and because we like the elements
which constitute his personal and private char
acter. We have always since our first acquaint
ance with him, looked upon him as a man of
great abilities and decided character. When
ever he sets the massive machinery ol ilis brain
at work—whether in private converse or public
task—his friends need have no nervousness
or solicitude about the emanations of his intel
lect.
Horn and reared in a locality diversified by
mountains and valleys—spending the greater
portion of his lite in the quiet scences of coun
try life, and habituated to the calm contempla
tion of ail subjects worthy of his investigating
mind—no man that we know of in this State
could have been selected bv the Society more
suitable to the delivery ofthe annual address.
]n a literary point of view, this production
must command more than respect. A scholar
cannot fail to perceive in it the workings of a
mind well trained in the rufis that regulate
composition. The author must be a man who
has carefully studied the standard works of our
language. We venture to assert that Milton,
Addison, iMacauley and Sbakspeare are his dai
ly companions, when his duties permit him to
indulge in general reading. His style is really
refreshing and inspiring in these days ol long
spun sentences and sickening verbiage. Head
ways, in his compositions, gives us an example
which is worthy of imitation.
But ht* is not acomplished merely in his
knowledge of the great English masters. He
shows a thorough familiarity with the ancient
classics. And this, iu him, is not idle display,
or vain pedantry.
Mow beautifully his classic lore is made sub
servient and delightful, in an address to a ru
ral people not much accustomed to the (ablest',
mythology, is evident in the simple yet lacina
ting manner in which he speaks to tliem of tin*
dawn of Agriculture, and recounts the achieve
ments of Ceres. We have not lately seen any
thing half so enchanting. These things cause us
to admire the scholarship of the Chief Justice,
and to point him out as a model to our young
barristers and judges.
He has not a particle of affectation. H' s
style is felicitous, perspicuous, easy and flow
ing. The images he wishes to impress are clear.
What hod.-signs them to be, they are.
This pamphlet will arid much to the literary
fame of the author. \\\ l wish it could be rea l