•" iUld pittocful policy pursued by # » .”°ywmuent of tbo United States towards • :«A Tim exchange of the ratifications of the cou .vcntion with the republic oi’ New tlranada, signed at Washington on the UJlli - Hememberj 11807,1ms'been long delayed from accidental causes; for which neither parly is censurable. Thcsn ratifications were, duly exchanged in this city on the sth of November last.“ Thus Lima controversy been amicably terminated which lirid become so serious at the period of my inauriiration, as to reijuiro me, on the 37th April, 1857, to direcl our minister to demand . his passports and return to the. United Slates. Under this convention the government of. New.Uranadahas specially acknowledged itself to be responsible to one citizens “for damages •which were caused by the riot, at. Panama “on the 15th April, 1850.” These claims, together with other claims of our citizens which had been long urged in-,yain, are referred for ad justment to a board of commissioners. T sub- Init a copy of (he convcnlion lo Congress, and recommend,the legislation -necessary to carry it into effect.- 'COSTA JfICA AND,JtICAKAIJItA Persevering efforts have been made for (he adjustment,of the claims of American citizens against the government of Costa Rica, and I -am.happy to inform you (lint these, have finally prevailed., A convention was signed, at (he oily of,San Jose, on the 2d of .Inly last, be tween (ho minister resident of the United Stately in Costa Rica and the plenipotentiaries of that republic, referring these claims .to a Board ot Commissioners, aud providing for the pay ment of their awards. This convention will be submitted immediately to the .Senate, for (heir constitutional action. ; The claims of our citizens upon file republic of Nicaragua have not, yet been provided for by. treaty, although diligent, efforts lor this purpose have been made by our. minister resi dent, to that republic. These are still contin hed, witii a fair prospect of auccess. Mexico. Our relations with Mexico remain in a most un satisfactory condition. .. In ,my 'last’two annual messages I discussed .extensively the- subject of these relations, and do not now propose to repeat at length the fuptn and arguments then presented. They proved conclusively that our oitizdqa residing in Mexico, and our merchants trading thereto, had suffered a series of wrongs and outrages such as we have never patiently borne from any other nation, ■for these our successive ministers, invoking the ,I'aith of treaties, had, in the name of their coun try, p.rsistontly demanded redress and indemnifi cation, bnt without the slightest effect-. Indeed, an confident had' the Mexican authorities become of ottr patient endurance, that tiny universally bo , lievdd they, might commit,these outrages upon American citizens With absolute impunity. Thus wrote our minister in KSjti, and expressed the opinion that nothing but a manifestuliun of tite power of the Government, ami of its purpose to punish these wrongs, will avail.’' Afterwards, in 1857. came the adoption of a new constitution for Mexico, the election of a President and Congress under its provisions, and the inauguration of the President, Within one short month,-however, this President was expelled from tlio capital by a rebellion in the .army, and tho supreme power of the republic was assigned to General Zuloagu. Tilts usurper was in his turn soon compelled to retire and give place to General Miranion. Under tho constitution which had lints beep adopted, fienor Juarez, as chief justice of the Supremo Court, became the lawful President of •tlie,Republic ; and it was fur. titc maintenance of the constitution and his authority derived from it that the civil.war commenced, and still 'Continues to lie prosecuted., Throughout the year iS-78 the constitutional party grew stronger and stronger. In dm pro vious history' of Mexico a successful military, revolution at the capital had almost universally boon the signal for. submission throughout (lie republic, Not so on tho present occasion. A majority of the citizens persistently sustained the constitutional government. When this was recognized in April, 18-jl), by the Government ot the United Stales, ils authority extended over a large majority of the Mexican States ■ and people, including Vera Cruz aud all tho i other important sea ports of the republic, from , that perio.d our commerce with Mexico be*an to revive, and tho constitutional government ' has afforded it all tho protection in their power. ' Meanwhile, the government of Miramoa etill hel! ewav at the capital ana over the surrounding country, and continued Its outrages against tho few Amsrlean ctUsens ■who etill hod the courage to remain within its power 'To COP the climax : After the battle of Tacnbaya, in CHINA A P ril.l S 6 3 . Geo. Marques nriirrc'i throe citlmne of tbn i h J ra P’W’iclanii, Into B*l/,od in Iho UoaDlta attbntpUcn tekcn ,at sort shot. without crime ana without trisl. This was done, notwithstanding our' ?„K, rt ?°?' e »w »t tho moment enraged in theholj- c.uso of affording relief to tno sodieraof peities who had boon wounded in the battle, with oul ii.rtk nganroisilnotlon between them. 1 The t me loul arrived, in rayopnion, when Ihje Oov. einmrnt was bonod.to exert Its power to aTongo and re- UrtiV ' 0 ’ r J? Dlt - t of U on r C| V E aod t 0 afford them pro* 1 Mexi o, Iho interposing obstacle was that the portion of the counlrjr under tho sway of Miramon could not ho reached.without passing orer territory on do! the turlhdiclmn of tho Constitutional government Under those circumstances, ! deemed It my duty to riT commend to Congress, in n,y last K emplomiont of a aulllcicnt military force to penetrate’llln ,h, interior, "here tho government of Mh.mon wns In , Wltll i °‘> if need be, without the consent of the Joai>7. government, though it won not doubted that thin coDSint could be obtained Never have I had a cleawrVon! ictjon on anj' subject (bun of the justice as well as wt«. • o“n n | tl /on ’lr P °'r\ N 0 nlternalive wa" St S cepc tue eniir-* abandonment of our .fellow-eilizftiVw&v. sy\tem'Aim o|m 0 |m P.’, 00 ’ HndB ,i: ,h * fallh of ‘reatioe, to the irjustice, croolty nod opprrssioo of Mirimon’i •Switv?o om e f < “T. t , it r ls "'hlin that tho sTn pie authonty to employ th's force would of itself have ac- Tho'?on=m *« ou E ol,jccts without striking a single blow. Tho constitutional government won! ' then ere inis have been established at the city of Mexico, and .raid have ns iustice y # ‘" i wlihns > to the exlont °r «» ability, to do sld l e n retl!ii,‘ io S~ Md Idcem this a most important con. B ‘, o8 1 '“r"T, Bur °P ea “ SovernmontswoiiW have been do dZeiu allpre ‘to interfere in the territorial and relieve, r°. lt™ m. M^ lCO ' We Blloold thudhave been ahnnM thu be l,lo obl, S at iou of resisting, oven by force, ornmo d J h . become necessary, aoy attempt by thosegov of dCPriVe i C ? r ? C ff U^ri ”ff rC P“ blic 0f P° rt >" u9 without e °eT ; duty from wl,loh Tre 00,1111 «»t "brink ooiCet or.i l the traditional and established J” A“ er,oan "P°nplc. lam happy to observe, that, linnly relying upon the'justlco and good faith of •lS VCrn ” e ”mi ttar “ 18 00 P ro *°nt danger that such a contingency will happen. ““Ti n ? discoremi that in.vrccnmincndntioii would not neeo.f. t oi'i“u d - by Con S rcM • the next alternatlvo was to WivT i V“, B( l™ e de it rec : if-possililojthesamcobjccts meot ' Sl,rU at ""‘ S W ‘ th the cunstitolionnl govorn .l,?'.‘ cl, i r 0 '"■° l ' o accordingly concluded hv our late able and excellent minister to Mexico, and on'tlio tth of t T ion’ mr « WC E° "nbmitted to the Senate for ratihea .l, ,V . .I 080 u«vo not yet received the lloal action of that body. It would be improper for me to present a do tailed statement of their provisions. Still 1 maybe per mitted to express tho opinion in advance that they are calculated to promote the agricultural, tho manufactu ring and commercial interests of tho country, and to se cure our just influence with an adjoining republic ns to wnoso fortunes and fate wo can never foci indifferent whilst at the same time they provide for fhopaymentof a considerable amount towards tho satisfaction of the (Manns,of our injured fellow-citizens. - KANH4S JIXD UTAH, At the period of my inauguration I was confronted In Kansas by a revolutionary government, existing uader what xb called the Topeka constitution. Its avowed ob ject was to subdue tho territorial government by force, and to inaugurate what wus-calicd tho Topeka govern merit in its stead. To accomplish this object an extensive was formed, aiyl its command en trusted to the most vmlont revolutionary leaders. Under those circumstances it became, my imperative duty to exert tho whole constitutional power of, the Executive ■to prevent the flames of civil war from again raging in Kansas, which, in the excited state of the public mind imlghboringS?^ 0 .' 1 ■’ I “ V< ‘ U ’"'“' U iot ° the ■s'ra!ir.f^ M 'i! le M ,, "i lM 10 Ka ™>» h»d been inllsmcd against each other by emissaries holli from tho nnrlli nod iSf-h"?. ’’ toado ff ril " of malignity without parallel in om history,. To prevent actual collision, and to assist TS ro,M i “™ forol "S 1110 I«wa, a strong doj' tnchment of tho army was stationed .in the Territory tead.v to aid the marshal and his deputies, when lawfully called, upon, as a posse comitutus' ill the executioner civil and criminal process. .ni’iilili 1118 III 0 . 111 ??." 1 Kana " s ccuid not have been per lyscttiodwjthont an election by tlic people. Tiie lal ot i?*, 18 surest arbiter of disputes among free c™vic!lon i every proper effort was cm pioyed tomdurc the liostile parties to vote at the election to , lrainoaS ‘ at e constitiition. and afterwards JIJ « itii Q?1 n t 0 !el C ' d ° "' llet her,Kausas should he a slave oilt.vl' 1 b< i 1 ""ueffeiit party refused to, vote, at either,Jest this might, be considered a recognition on. l,lO ‘emt.orial gohornmeut cslabiislied by Coiigiohs Abettor spirit, however, seemed sdoH after fhi P wrm.'f;-! I “ d f h ?, two ,, |,artieB m,,t ra,: ' >to face at tlio third election, held on the ii is t Monday of.immnrr !BnB " f !h ° " nd S ta 'e' under the J.ecompton constitution. The result was the triumph il in", i ~lr" y p “, rty . at ll ?° 1,01,8 ■ Thin- decision of the ballot box.proved clearly that tills party were in tin majority, ami removed the danger of civil war froni that Lime wc have heard little or.nothin- hf the Jripeka government; and ail serious dnngor offrovoln tiunaiy troubles nr Kansas wax then at an end. The Lecompton constitution which had been thus recognised at this Slate election by-thc votes of both political parties iu Kah.-na,.was transmitted U me with the request that I should present it to Oonjresj\ This I. could not have refused to do without violating my clearest aud strougost cou victiou« oi duty. The conatitmion, and all the pro- ' ooedmgs which preceded and followed its forma turn, were fair and regular on theic feet:. I‘then beidivetl, and experience has proved, that tbeAii teresls of tho people of Kansas would have been best consulted by its admission as a State into, tho Lnion, especially as the majority, within a brief period, could have amended the constitution ac cording to their will and pleasure. If fraud ex isted in nil'or nny of these proceedings, it was not for the President, bat for Congress, to investigate and determine the question of fraud, and what ought to bo its consequences. If, at the two first elections, the majority refused to vote, it cannot bo pretended that this refusal to exercise the elective franchise could invalidate an election fairly held under lawful authority, oven if they; had not 'sub sequently voted at tho third election. It is true that tho whole constitution had not boon submitted to the people, as I always desired; but the prece dents are numerous of tho admission of States into the Union without such submission. It would norcoiupnrt with my present purpose to review tho .proceedings of Congress upon the Leeompton constitution; It is sufficient to observe that their fluid action has removed the Inst vestige of serious revolutionary troubles. The desperate band recently assembled, under a notorious outlaw; in the southern portion of the Territory, to resist the execution of tho laws and to plunder peaceable citizens, will, I doubt not, bo speedily subdued anil brought to justice. . ' Had I treated tho liccomplon constitution as a nullity and refused to transmit it to Congress, it is not difficult to. imagine, whilst recalling the posi tion of the country at that moment, what would have been tho disastrous consequences, both in and out of tho Territory, from such a dereliction of duty on the part of .the Executive. Pence has also been restored within the Territory of Utah, which at the commencement of my admin istration, was in a state of open rebellion. This was the .more dangerous, us the people, animated by a fanatical spirit and entrenched within, their distant mountain fastnesses, might have made a long and formidable resistance. Cost what it might, it was necessary to bring them into subjee-t tion to the Constitution and tho laws. Sound pol icy, therefore, as well as humanity, required that this object should, if possible, bo accomplished without the effusion of blood. This could only bo effected by sending a military force into the, Ter ritory sufficiently strength convince the people that resistance would bo hopeless, and at tifo same time to offer them a pardon for past offences on-condition of immediate submission to the Government. This policy was pursued with eminent success ; and the only cause for regret is the heavy expenditure required to inarch a large detachment of the army to that remote region and to furnish it subsistence. •Until i« now comparatively peaceful arid quiet, and the military force has been withdrawn, except that portion of it necessary to keep the Indians in check ami to protect the,emigrant trains on their'way to our Pacific possessions. In my first minimi message I promised to nmplov my bent exertions, in co-oporation with Congress, tomluca the expenditures of tho Government within the limit* of a wise and judicious economy. An treasury had produced habits of prodigality and oxtrava-oince which could only be gradually corrected. The work re quired both time and patience I applied myself dill gently to tbista.sk from the beginning, and was aided bv the able and energetic efforts of the Heads of the differ ent Executive Departments. The result of our labors In this good cause did not appear in the sum total of our expeudituves for the first two years, mainly in conse quence of the extraordinary expenditure necessarily in currod in the Utah expedition, and the very large amount of tho contingent expenses of Congress during this period. These greatly exceeded tho pay and mile, age of the members. Por tho vear ending 30th June 3858, whilst the paynnd mileage amounted to $1,490 214 the contingent expenses rose to $2,093,809 79, and Tor the year ending 30th Jnno, 3859, whilst the pay and mileage amounted ,to $859,093 CO, tho contingent ex ponses amounted to $1,431,505 78 lam happy lio\v ever, to bo able to inform you that during the last fiscal year ending on the 30th June, 1800, tho total expendi tures of the Governmontiu all its branches—legislative executive and judicial—exclusive of tho public debt* were reduced lo tho sum of-$55,402,405 40. This con clusively appears from the hooks of the Treasury In the year ending on the 30th June. 1858, tho total expen ditures, exclusive of the public debt, amounted to $71,901,129 77, and that for the year ending 30th Juno 1550. to $00,336,220 13. Whilst tho books of the Trea sury show /in actual expenditure of $59,858,474 72 for the year ending on the 30th June, 3800, including $1,040,607 71 for tho contingent expenses of Congress* there' must bo deducted from this amount the sum of $1,290,009 29, with tho interest upon it of $150,000, up propriatod by tho act of 35th Pebruary, 3800, ‘*for the purpose of supplying tho deficiency fn the revenues and defraying the expenses of the Post Office Department for tho year ending the thirtieth of June, one thousand eight hundred and fifty-nine.” This sum, therefore, .justly chargeable to the year 1859, must be deducted irom the sum of $59,848,474 72, in order to ascertain the »vH e v d i tturo fo * thojrear ending on the 80th June,-1860, ot b 4 h 5 4(y. T 4«.f l’n‘ ”^' Ifo . r t he ®*P e “ ( liturea of that year J?» 4Q5 46 ‘ The Interest on tho public debt, in -lou d thJf j run eo t?!fm r the fiame flacAl y« ar ending ne «Ub June, 1800, amounted to $3,177,314 62, | rIXANOIIS • ' whifch, adder) to tbo above sum of $55,602,465'40,’ i thn aggregate of $68,670,780 08. :- > .I* ought In justice to do observed that soveralof the •’ estimates from tho departments for the year ending 30 th I June, 1860, was reduced by Congress below what was r and atm la deemed compatible with the public interest. Allowing a liberal 1 margin of $2,600,000 for this rcdifc tion, and for other causes, it matbe safely asserted that the sum of $01,000,000, or at the most §02j000,000, is amply sufllcieht to administer the Government and >to<, pay.the intdrepf on tbo public debt, unless contingent. • events should hereafter render extraordinary expendi tures necessary. • , ■[ This result lias been attained in a considerable do-* groeby the care exorcised by the appropriate departments! In entering into publif. contracts. X have myaolfneverj interfered with the award of any such contract, except In a single-case with tbo Colonization Society, dooming' it advisable to east the whole responsibility in each case* on the proper head of the department, with thp general! instruction that, these contracts should always be given} ,to the lowest ami. best bidder. It has Over been, my; opinion that public coii tracts arc not a legitimate s'onrce* of patronage to.be conferred upon personal or politioalj favorites} but that 1 in nl^.such cases a public ofllccr ,iaj bound to act for tho Gbvernmdutas u prudent ihaiVlduah would act for himself. •'! AFRICAN SLATE XJUDE, Ac. I It is with grc'at satisfaction,! communicate the fact, that, since the date of mylaat A.nuual Message, not a. eingloslavo has .been imported into tbo United Statesin violation of the laws prohibiting tho African slave trade.' Tbls atatement is founded upon a thorough examination and investigation of the subject. Indoedj tho spirit which prevailed some time since among a portion of our fellow-citizens In favor of this trade seems to have en tirely subsided. ’ I also congratulate you upon the-’ public sentiment, which now exists against tho crime of setting on foot ; military expeditions within tho limits of tho United , States, to proceed from thence and make war upon the 1 people of unoffending Statcs, with whom wearoat peace, j In this respect a happy change has been effected - since . tho commencement ofmy Administration. It surelv ought to bo tho prayer of every Christian and patriot, that such expeditions may never again receive counte nance in our country or depart from onr shores. It would bo a useless repetition to do-more than refer, with earnest commendation; to my former recommen dations in favor of tho Pacific railroad—of tho grant of power to tho President to employ tho naval force in tho vicinity, for the protection of tho lives and property of our fellow-citizens passing In transit over -the different Central American routes, against sudden and lawless outbreaks and depredations} and also to protect Ameri can merchant vessels, their, crewa and cargoes, against violent and unlawful seizure aud confiscation ,in tho •ports ofMexico and the South American republics; when these may bo in a disturbed and revolutionary condition. It is.my settled conviction, that without such ft power wo do not afford that protection to those engaged iu tho commerce of the country which they hare a right to de mand. , ■ ' ; , , - - iii.botio.v of..mi;mbers ov coKobess, . * again recommend to Gongreps tho passage of a law in pursuance of the provisions of the Constitution, ap pointing a day certain, previous to the 4th March, in each year of an odd number, for tho,clcction’of repre sentative* throughout all the States. A similar power has already.been exercised, with general approbation, i? 0 tt PP o^nt pOHt of the same day‘ throughout the Umou for.holding the election, of doctors for President and > ice President of the United • States. My attention vjas earnestly directed to this subject from the fact h £, h Cou S reBs terminated on the 3d 'March, 2b09, without making the necessary appropriation for the service of the Post Office .Department. I was then • forced to .consider the best,remedy for this omission,, and an immediate call of the present Congress was the IV 1 * r i\l resort,: inquiry, however, 1 ascertained that fifteen ont of tho thirty-three States composing the Confederacy were without representatives, and that, consequently, these iiftoen States would bedisfranchised by such a call ‘These fifteen Slates will be in tlio same condition ou the 4th March’next. Ten of them, cannot elect representatives, according to existing Statolaws. until dilTeront periods, ex lending from the beginning of August next until the mouths of. October and November.. •In ray last message 1 gave warning that, in a lime of. sudden and alarming danger, the salvation of our insti tutions might depend upon the power of the President immediately to assemble a full Congress to meet the emergency. ‘ ... Till! FT r'lt owr f l u^c evident that ihe financial necessitl'cs of the Government will require a modification of the tariff during the present session for the purpose of in creasing the revenue In this aspect, I desire .to wit .crate the recommendation contained in my last two an nual messages, In favor of imposing specific instead of ad •valorem duties on rill imported articles to which these can bo properly applied, Prom Jong observation and ex perience. I am convinced that specific duties are neces sary, both to protect the revenue and to secure to our manufacturing 'interests that amount of incidental en tnrifr S ° im>n * unavoidably results.from a revenue As an abstract proposition it jijitr 1m admitted that'ad valorem .duties would, in theory, Im the most fust mid equal. But if tho experience of this and of nil other com mercial nations Ims demonstrated that such duties cannot be assessed and collected without great frauds upon the reyenue. then it is tho part of wisdom lo resort to specific duties .Indeed from tlio very nature of.nn ad valorem duly, this must be tho result. Under it-.the inevitable c msouuence is, that foreign goods will be' entered at n , t, ‘‘ ?lrtru « value. The treasury will, therefore, .. .s..* ie uuty^on the difference between their,real and. m, 10 ' 13 VA^Qe 5 and.to lb)s extent we aro defrauded. ; 1 ne teinptatioDs whinn a4‘ valorem duties present Id a imiionest importer - .Uls.object.ie to pnfla ills gubdn tiirougu ihe VuaVdm' liousoTifthp very lowest valuation necessary to saSwj them from confiscation - In this he too often succeeds in spite of the vigilance of the revenue officers. Hence tlio rewrite false invoices, ouo for the purchaser andjanother for the custom house, and to other expedients to defraud the government Tlio honest importer produces his invoice to tho collector stating tho actual price at which ho purchased the arti cles abroad., Notsothedisbonestimportorandthen"eut of the foreign manufacturer. Aud here it mav be°ob served that a vary large proportion of the mamuactures imported from abroad are consigned for sale to commis sion, merchants, who are more ageuts employed by the manufacturers. In such cases no actual sale has been made to fix their value. The. forelgy manufacturer, if he be dishonest, prepares an invoice of. thegoodsmot at thoi r actual value, but at the very lowest rate necessary to escape detection. In this manner the dishonest-im porter and the'foreign manufacturer enjoy a decided advantage over the honest merchant. They are f hus en abled to undersell tbo fair trader, and drive him from tho, market. Intact, the operation of this system lias already 1 driven from tho pursuits of honorable cnimucroe many ■ of that-class of regular-and conscientious merchants ] wheso character throughout the world. U the pride of 1 our’couotry. ' • ‘ , The-remedy for those evils is to be found in specific duties, so far ns this may lie practicable.- They dispense wjth any inquiry at the custom-house into the actual cost or taino of the article, and it pays the precise amount of duty previously -(iied-by latv. They present no temptations to the appraisers of foreign goods: who tfnn 1 in C n b r.L'T'' ""•“■“"■-“"I might, by nndervalua- il 11 ?j fv caHef, » rentier themselves independent Besides, specific duties best conform to the reo'uisi tiou in the. Constitution .that “no pcrference shall-he given by any regulation of commerce or reveiino to tiro ports ol one State over those of-another.” Under our ad valorem system such preferences are to some e\toul « m.d complaint, have often been made tlm the spirit of this provision hss been violated by a lower I!SeT“ Perf.m irnt" ,T, P t r “ Sio -?. at ™"Scly enough prevails, to some on tent, that H|)ccif|C duties are necessarily protective dn ties Nothing can he mure fallacious, threat iritS n glories in free trade, and yet her whole revenue fro imports is at the present momeut collected under a ays tein of specific duties, ft is a striking fact i,° this c,m. - ?Sn l l n i ttllt ' commercial treaty of 2:Jd January ItiOO, between France and England, one of tL articles fhalMu." thllt V*J vlllorpm duties which it Imposes wliall be converted into specific duties within six months from its date, and these are to bo nscfT J ned bvSS for ax -**• ium.. J.ne muse ol tiio proposition would be nen.iw extent the revenue would be Increased, and in tho same' * SSSJifh 11 !* a P M1 0c duty might bo diminished .■.«( Mieciiie. duties, would secure to tlio American m,nn. minM r iTt r h 1 mcidc “ t * l P rot «u‘lonto which heisSV entitled under a revenue tariff, and to this surely nonet son would object. The framers of the o"i,tS°tLTff have gone further, ami in a liberal spirit hiveVnfcrim! iipsill Ciller into the composition of their fabrics. ahv. -vriffch a ways operates against him. The revenue's Sf\hocran ductuation. In °tUd „f a?,: i“wo n Jid™it ri ht3i'nS astfari? ss:i r ttverano vJb inf 1 b " cco ‘npli"bed by ascertaining the necessary Cor rcrcimo'nnrnft««e wight bo deemed cifio fiiitb* Qnni. 6 purposes, into the lorm of &HTie> a,^the^C» em tO , »»*• Hented by the Secretary in n/ U n c carly P r “ - recommend, that ineamim:lf, “ V! c<, ”8 leB » i and to bio it to dl»hSmS e irSSnHh?' tl ?. recoimn«ndatJoiiBof ih» i-uhn°k ooH * 'i'* l6 other favorable consideration 6 * e^ort «« '™'tby of yoor S oL«Si th af t^^t r llle CO Nl e v r v e;i^■ «“ the Postmaster General 1 The ?J?omml h 0 uncl of compnneatlon than this’iulat*” 1 '' 0 '«?” ake . llim 6 >iy other bo mlcbt carry it _ P ofl tago on tbo mail, matter which postals would’ Wl TI! knO Y n ’ atthB tlm «' ‘bat tbo»« “:=t x of Congms to make up the deficiency : and I. toerarnr* pu°n)oM. olld tblt ttQ up P r °P r, f UoD »V b e granted lor this Xsliouj! do great injustice to’tbe Attorney General, were I to omit the mention of bis .distinguished services In the measures adopted and prosecuted jsy him lor the defense of the Government against numerous and un founded claims to land in California, purporting to nave f l;-'n made bythc Mexican Government prcrlotis'ln tho ti.-atj «f eeffli«t}. ! The ancceaaful opposition to tliOße v\ IraVhas . caved ( to the UmtedSUisa public prop’riy ,'v uith many millions of dollars, and to individuals him!*. •Ing title under them Wat least an eqanl amount. ft has betn represented to me, from sources which I doHM reliable, that the Inhabits’ts io several pirliota of Kansas.hare been reduced nearly io a stale of starvation, ou account of the almost total failure of their crops, whllat the harvests in every other portion of the country have b£en abundant. The prospect before them for iho approachirg winter la well calculated to enlist the aympß thios .of every heart. ‘ The destitution appears to be bo general that it cannot be relieved 'by private contrlbu lions, and they are In such Indigent circumstances as to be unable to purchase,the necessaries 6f Jifo for them selves.' I refer thd subject to Congresfl. If any constitu tional taeasure for their relief can he dov.sea I wonla recomlbend its adoption. ' I cordially commend to your favorable regard the in* tereata of the people of this Diatrict. They are eminently en.itlell to year consideration, especially since, unlike the peoplejof the States, thej'can appeal to no (torernmeiif except that of the Union, JAMES* BUCHANAN Washington CiTtyDecimber;],3Boo. ' THP TOME OP THE WASHINGTOXFAM ILY m. ENGLAND. LKTTER FROM CHARLES SUMNER TO JARED SPARKS. ('From the Boston Advertiser, November 26.] Wb lake pleasure in printing the following intci(ostirig letter from Mr. Sumner to Mr. Sparks, describing the “memorial stones” of the Washington family, received from the Earl of Spencer. The letter'describes the parish church of Brington, near Althorp, (the home of the ( Speuoers,) and the magnifioent park at Al thorp ; am! exhibits the associations between the Spenror family and Washington: I Boston, l!2d November, J8(!0. ' Blv l)i:.\tt Sin : Since our last conversation the’Bar! Spencer has kindly sent to mo precise copies of the two “Memorial Stones” of the Bullish family of George Washington, which 1 litre already described to you as harmonizing exactly with the pedigree which has the sanc tion of your authprity. Those are of the same stolic and of thp same size with the originals— and have the original inscriptions, being in all roipeclsyite fimiles. They will, therefore, give yon aii exact idea of,these most interesting memorials in the parish church of Brington, near Althorp, in Northamptonshire. The largest is of Lawrence Washington, the father of. John Washington, who emigrated to America. It is a slab of bluish gray sandstone anil measures five feet and nine inches long, and two feet and seven inches broad. Hero is the inscription.: HEKELIETIiTHEBODIOFLAVRENCE WASHINGTON SONNE AND HEIRE OF nOBKItr WASHINGTON OF SOTLOBAVK IN THE COUNTIE QF NORTHAMPTON EStJDIEB WHO MARRIED MARGABET THE ELDEST DAUGHTEB OF WILLIAM BUTLER OF TEES IN THE COUNTIE OF SUSSEXB ESQUIEB, WHO HAD ISSU . BY HEB 8 SONS,AND 0 DAUGHTEES WHICH LAVKBNOE RECESSED THE IB OP DECEMBER A, DNIIOIO THOSE THAT BV CHANCE OB OHOrOE OP THIS HAST SIGHT ■ KNOW LIHiJ'O DEATH RBSIGNES AS DAYE TO NIGHT: ■ BUT AS THE SUNNS BETOBNE ' REVIVES THE DAY . SO CUBIST SHALL US THOUGH TUKNDE TO DUST A- CLAY. Above the inscription, carved in the stone, are the.arms of the Washingtons with an ad ditional. quartering of another family. : The other is of Elizabeth .Washington,-daugh ter of Lawrence Washington, and.sister of the emigrant. This is a slab of the same sandstone, nndmcasurcs three feet and five inches lougand two feet and six inches broad. The inscription is on a small brass plate set, into the stone and i.%a» follows.: . HEBE LIES INTERRED. YE BODIES OF ELIZAB. WASHINGTON WIDDOWE WHO CHANGED THIS LIFE FOB IMMORTALITY YE Kill OF MARCH 1022. AS ALSO YE BODY OF ROBERT. WASHINGTON GENT. HER LATE HUSBAND SECOND SONNE OF ROBERT WASHINGTON OF SOLUBATE IN YE COUNTY OF NORTH. ESQB. WHO DBF'TBD.THIS .'LIFE YEIOTU OF MARCH 1022. AFT KU THEY LIVED LOVINGLY TOUETHBR iStANV, YEARS IN THIS. , I'ARISU. .■'■■■ _ j ■./ .lv 9 n ’ A septate. brARS/h(ineftUrtbe inscription, the arms ot the J&ydnngtonH without any addition. ; , Those, aJMSfere well aware, have .the combination stripes, and are sometimes sunposetWawe suggested our na tional flag, in horanST language there are’ bars of gules and argent;, with three mallets or stars.- ■ In the interesting chapter on the origin and genealogy of the Washington family, which you' giye in the appendix to your Life of Washing ton, it appears that Lawrence, the father of the emigrant, died Lith December, and was buried at lirington ■ 15th December, 1610. But , the genealogical tables which you followed gave no indication of the locality of this church. Hail it appeared that it was the parish church of the Spencer family in Northamptonshire, "the local ity, which I believe has -not been heretofore known in our country, would have been pre cisely fixed. In point of fact, the slab which covers Law rence Washington is in the chancel of the church, by the,side of the monuments of the Spencer family. These are all in admirable preset 1 va tion, with full length effigies,, busts or other sculptural work, and exhibit an interesting and connected scries of sepulchral memorials, from the reign of Henry VIII. to, the present time. Among them is a monument by the early English sculptor, Nicholas Stone; another by Nollckins, from a design by Cipriani, and another by Flaxman, with exquisitely beautiful personifications of Faith andChariiy. Beneath repose the. successive representatives of this illustrious family which has added to its aris tocratic claims by services to the state, and alMfby the unique and world-famous library collected by one of its members. In this com panionship Will bo found the last English.an cestor of pur Washington. . ; ,Tl)e other slab, covering Elizabeth, the sister of the emigrant, is in one of the aisles of the nays where it is scraped by the feet of all wiio pass, The parish of Bringtou is between seven and eight miles from the town of Northampton, not far from the centre of England. It is written in, Domesday Book “Brinintone” and also Brintone.” It contains about 2,210 acres, of which about. 1,490 acres belong to Earl jlpenccr,. about ;!2C acres to the rector in right) of Ihe church, and about 160 acres to othei persons. The soil is.in general a dark color d loam with a small trace of olay towards the iiirth. Nearly four-fifths of (lie whole is pastu te and feeding land. In he village still stands the house, said lo hftvc peon occupied by the .Washingtons when the _emigrant brother left them. You will sec a vigi clr i> of it on the litle-pnge of the recent, Eugli.liirk, entitled The IViia/ilw/lom, Over the dear is carved the words, “The Lord giv cth; lie Lord Inketii away. Blessed hellio name >1 the Lord while the parish register gives t pathetic commentary by showing that, in the voi y year when this house was built a child had bten born and another one had died in this family ' j The chur.ph, originally dedicated to the Vir gin, st nds at Ihe northeast angle of the village; 1 and co mists of an embattled tower with five belle, ii nave, north and south aisles, a ohanoel, ! a clift[iel and a modern porch. Tho tower is flanked, by buttresses of two stages. Thopre- Imt fabric goes back in its origin to the be nning of the fourteenth century, nearly two .indeed years before (ho discovery of America, lie chancel and chapel, where repose the pencers and Lawrence 1 Washington, were re- 1 lilt by Sir John Spencer, the purchaser of ie estate, at the beginning of the sixteenth intury. They allbrd one of the latest speci onsof the Tudor stylo of architecture. The lurch is beautifully situated on the summit of ie highest ground of Brington, and surrounded fy a stone wall flanked on the inside by trees, libdin says that a more complete picture of a country churchyard is rarely seen. A well- Irimrped walk encircles the whole of the inte rior, while the fine Gothic windows at tbo.eud pf tho ohancol fill the scene witlipioturesquo beauty. . , The Register of the I’arish, which is still preserved, commences in 1560. From this it appears that William Prootorwasthercetbrfrom 160] to 1627, covering the period of the last of llic Washingtons there; The following fur ther entries occur relating to this family : „ 1010. “ Mr. Lawrence Washington was buritd XVth daj* of December.” 1020, “Mr. Philip Curtin & Mias Amj WMblogton wore innrritMl August 8.” : • 1022. 4t Mr. Robert WashiogtmnTM buried BUrch jro ilth.’ 1 “Mrfl.UiizftUeth Wasldagtol), widow, wa'» buried March y*! CfUh.” Of one of Itio ministers in Ibis clmroh ire have an interesting glimpse in Evelyn’s Me moirs( Vol. 1., p. 012,) where tho following entry will be loiiml under dale of duly, 1688: “Dr. Jeffrycs, the minister of Althorp, who wns my lord’s chaplain alien ambassador in France, preached the shortest discourse I ever heard; but what was defective,in the amplitude.of;his sermon, ho had supplied in the largeness and convenience of (lie parsonage-house.’’ ' At a short, distance—leas than a mile—is Althorp, the seat of. the Spencers, surrounded by a park of five hundred acres, one of whoso gates opens near.tho church. , There are oak trees bordering on the churchyard, which Were growing at the tithe, of the purchase of the estate in the reign of Henry VII. Evelyn wns often hero a delighted visitor. On one occasion ho speaks of “the bouse or rather palace at Althorp.” (Vol. 1., p. 612.)' In another place he describes it as “ placed in a pretty open bottom, very finely watered and flanked with stately woods and groves in a park.” (Vol. 1., p. 461.) Letme add that there is an engraving of Althorp at this time, by the younger Voster man, a Dutch artist. There is one feature of the. park which ex cited the admiration of Evelyn, and at a later day of Mrs. Jameson, who gives to it some beautiful pages in her Visits and Sketches at Home and Abfond. It is the record of the time when different plantntfbns of trees were begun. While recommending this practice in his Sylua, Evelyn remarks: “the only instance X know of. the'like in our counti-y is.in the park at Al thorp.” There are six of these commomora tivo stones. The first records a wood planted by Sir John. Spencer, in 1567 and 1668; the second, ,a wood planted by Sir John Spencer, son of the former, in 1089 ; the third, a wood planted by Robert Lord Spencer, in 1602 and 1603; the fourth, a wood planted by Sir William Spencer, Knight of the Bath, afterwards Lord Spencer, in 1624. The latter stone is orna mented with the arms of the Spencers, and oh the back is inscribed “Up and be doing and God will prosper.” It was in this scenery and amidst these associations that the Washingtons lived. When, the emigrant left in 1657, these woods must have been well-grown. It was not long afterwards that they arrested the attention of Evelyn. - The Household Books at Althorp show that for many years the Washingtons wore frequent guests there. The liospitality of (his seat has been renowned. The queen of James I. and the Prince Henry, oh their way to London, in 1603, were welcomed there in ah entertainment, memorable for a masque from the vigorous muse of Ben Jenson. (Beh Jenson’s Works, Vol. Vl.,’p. 485.) Charles I. was at Althorp, in 1047, when ho received the first intelligence of the approach of those pursuers from whom ho never escaped until his life had been laid down upon the scaffold. : In 169? King William was there for a week, and according, to Evelyn was “mightily entertained.’’ (Vol. 11. p. 50.)'. At least one of the members of this family wns famous for hospitality of a different character*.. Evelyn records that ho used to dine with the Countess of Sunderland—the title then borne by tlie Spencers—•• when she invited j&e-ra/erj, stone-enters and opera singers, after the fash-' ion of the day.” (Vol. 1., pp. 458, 481), 579.) The family was early and constantly associa ted with literature, .Spender,' the poet, be longed to it: and to onb of ;iis members he has' dedicated his “Tears of thu Muses.” It was for ;Alioe Spencer that Milton is said to have written his Arcades, and Sir John Harrington has celebrated her memory by an epigram.— The Bacharisaa of Waller was the Lady Dorothy Sydney, wife of the first Earl of Sunderland, thcthml Lord Spencer, who perished fighting. I for King Charles I. at Newbury, fdo not dwell on other associations of a Inter day, as my object is simply to allude to (hoso which existed in the .time of the Washihgtofis. “ The nobility of the.Spencers has, been il lustrated and enriched by the trophies of(Marl borough ; but I exhort them to consider the Fairy Queen as the most precious jewel of their coronet.” Tims wrote Gibbon in Iris memoirs, n.nd all must feel the beauty of the passage.— Perhaps it is not 100 much to say tliat this nobility may claim another' illustration from its ties of friendship and neighborhood with the family of Washington. I cannot doubt that hereafter the parish church of:lsrington will be often visited by our countrymen, who Willlook with reverence upon a spot so closely associated with American history., I trust that this little sketch,,suggested by what X saw at Althorp durifig a brief visit last autumn, will not seem irrelevant, besides my own personal impressions, and the volumes" quoted,'! have relied upon Wtdhin'tt jKdc.i Al llierjnana:, so interesting to' all bibliographical students, and especially upon Baker’s History of Northamptonshire, one of those magnificent local works which illustrate Xlnglish history, to which you refer in yCur Appendix, but which was not completed till some time after the Life of Washington appeared. ■Of course, the Memorial Stones, which I have received from Lord Spencer, are of much his toric value, and ! thipk that I shall best carry out the generous idea of the giver by taking care (hat permanently placed where they can be seen by the public; perhaps at.the State House, near Chantry’s beautiful statue of Washington—if this should be agreeable to the Commonwealth. Pray pardon this long-letter, and believe me, ly dear sir, with much regard, Bier sincerely yours, Charles Shjixkb. lared Sparks, Jisq. THIEF-TAKING IN LONDON. I'ibm Household Words Tour wife discovers,, on retiring for-the night, that her drawers are void ; her toilette table is bare ; except the ornaments she now, wears, her beauty is ns unadorned ns that of a Quakeress; not a thing is loft; all the fond tokens you gave, when her pro-nuptial lover, arc gone ; your own miniature, with its setting of gold and brilliants; her late mother's dia monds : the bracelet “dearpapa’’ presented her, on her last birth-day; the top of every bottle in the dressing case brought from Paris by .Uncle John, at the risk of his life, in'February lb-18, (being of gold,) are oti’—but the bottles (being of glass) remain. livery valuable is swept away with the most discriminating vil lainy ; for no other thing in the chamber is touched; not a chair has been moved; the costly pendule.on the chimney-piece still ticks ; the entire apartment is as neat and trim as when it had received the finishing touch of the housemaid’s duster. The entire establishment runs frantically up stairs and down stairs,'and finally congregates in my lady’s chamber. No body knows anything whatever about it. The housemaid bursts into tears; the cook declares she is going into hysterics ; and at last you suggest sending for the police, which is as a suspicion of an insult on the whole assem bled household, and they descend into the lower regions of t he house in tho sulks. X4O arrives. Ills faembetrays sheepishness combined with mystery. Ho turns his bull’s eye into every corner of passage, and upon every countenance bn the promise’s.: He ex amines all the looks, bolts and burs, bestowing extra diligence on which enclosed the stolen treasure. Those he declares have boon “ Wioldted;” thus concisely intimating,'without quoting pope, that there has been more than one V. Hope.of’the Xiook,” Ho then notes the' übn-disturbanoc of other valuables; takes you solemnly aside, darkens his lantern; and asks in a mysterious whisper,’if you' suspect any of your servants; which implies tlmt /u does. Ho then examines the upper bed-rooms, and, in the room of the female servants ho discovers the least valuable of the rings and a east-off silver tooth-piok, between the maflrelaoss v every oenadonoo u your fflMda, bit iu® 1 you think? Jem suggest their s .f„ Wb,t t but your wife intercedes, and th« C ??H would prefer bpeaklng to his inspector^® lll * lie looks anybody up. peotor bofo] Had tho whole.&oUer'rßmain.j. , of X J°> I* I* possible that yourwtodlvll llll ** would have lasted till now A tr°| 6^““,l| i prooeedings-actions for defnmatitfio/!! I '*' terand suits damagcs-would havof„n ,,,( costing more than the'value of th. • 0 ,0 **i gethcr with the entire execration of 0 !,? 1 ’ 1 * neighbors and every private friend ’ 7o ' domestics. But, happily, theinspeolwVrJ"! sends a plain,. earncet-lookin E offiZ P .“P 11 nounoes himself as one of two deZi: ' ,bl> >« X division, ..He settles the maitfe utes. His examination is ended in fiv connoisseur can determine a painter Z at the first glance. oita.win, P ?£ vintage of n sherry by the. merest ei? '"* detective at once.pounces upon the the work of art under I flonsideralio n h i t '' lf styles of performance, if.not upon executant, upon the •■school” to whi*k P** longs. Having .finished the the inquiry, ho takes a short view of th™* of your house, and makes an equality investigation of the attic window fast? 7 His mind is made up, and most likolv f 1 address yomn those words: ' 1 ■■ All right,, sir.. Tins is done bvon,;. ■ Dancing School ?’ ” ? 0l c 6| ., j ‘•lmpossible!” exclaims your , partner. “Why, our children™ to Pattitoes, of No. Sir and. I assure voufr highly respectable professor; As tohisp Bp ii ' Tb ,? j ,ot f C , t 1 !vo Blni S and inlorinpls ■ rifled at a fashionable hotel. . itho theftm so managed, that ho auspioion could rest onu; one. The detective .sergeant, who had to sent.fo'r, fairly owned, aftbr' making, a minute examination, that ho eould afford up hope of elucidating the, mystery.' As lie.was leaving the bed-room, however, in wh’icli theportma tedu stood, ho. picked up an ordinal shirt button from the carpet.. lie silently compittl it with those which the thief had left beiiindii ‘the trunk. It did not match them.' Dorf nothing, but liune about the hotel for the ret of the day. Had he. been!narrowly.wateW he would have been set down for an ccoealiii critic of linen. Ilowaslopkingoutforashitl front or n wrist-band without a button. Hi* search was long and patient'; but at length it was rewarded, pne of the inmates of the house showed a deficiency in ’his dress, which no one but a detective would'have noticed.—; He looked as narrciwly as ho dared at the pat tern of the remaining buttons. . It corresponded with that of the little tcll-talo he had picked ufa He went deeper into the subject, got a trace of spmo of the stolen property, asoerlaihed a connection between it and thesusjpeofed person, confronted him with the owner of the trunk, and finally succeeded in convicting him of lb theft. At another hotel robbery, the blade if a, knife, broken in the look of a portmanteau formed the clue. The detective employed a that case was for some time indefatigable in seeking out knives with broken blades. H length he found one belonging to ah undo' waiter, who proved tp be the thief. Tu e Amkiuc as Minibterin Paius.-J M* r dated Paris,; November 10, saysiryl^ c ‘! D , , f f ' ' can Minister again throw; open, bis doors a few evenings ago andbrougWW ! in n very brilliant and very agrcosbh' 6 ® / the American colony in. I’aris, with » “I sprinkling of .diplomacy and other foreign inonts. Among the ladies, present ncW 6 for, tlieir position or boa,uty, or botl‘, wer^. in : 3 . the amiable and charming ladies of wo 5 tor’s family, Mrs, Speneer, wife ol and Miss Spencer ;( Mrs. Commodore o ’' Mrs. Coleman, (daughter of Senator." , den,) and bliss Coleman; Mrs. Caldffebi I , Breckinridge, of Kentucky;) Mrs, 0 n „ jj. King, of Alabama; Mrs. Dr. HitchOOoM forpin, (Miss Hunter, of Virginia.) no ' . Lillie Hitohoook; Mrs. Baas, of M lB |J ■ n o , Mrs. arid Miss Thorn, of .Louisianal on ’ „ bles, of Paris, (grand daughterof y j Coster, of,Now York;) Mrs. Eagnani, the,artist; Miss A. C. Johnson, $O. Mrs. field, of New York ( Mrs. ButterfieUC'' York; Mrs. Estelle. Lewis,; the P o^ s ’’v or k Hutton, Jr.,; the Misses Downing, of and others. ‘ 1 r Our Minister to Peru.— John B is bu his way from Peru,' is a veteran dip <’ , list.. Ho went from Pennsylvania^ ■folm Randolph, as his secretary of "Sr , St. Petersburg, where'ho afterwards M , the same capacity with Mr. Buchans > has ever since been his friend. In Clay was transferred to Vienna, where •• secretary of legation until 1845, wheu restored to : his 'position 1 at St. PctoraD Mr. Buchanan;, then Secretary of - pt a "',, Dl 1847, Mr. Buchanan obtain'ed from Pre 4.^ Polk the appointment of charge d a®! ~4 J ■Peru for Mr. Olay, and in 1858 ho W 0 minister plenipotentiary. 6a, . *