miTEER--BXTM;" President’s Message. Fellow-citizens of the Senate and Souse of Repre- sentatives: Id the midst of unprecedented political trou bles, we have cause of great gratitude to God for unusual good health and most abundant harvests. Ton-will not be surprised to learn, that in the peculiar exigencies of the times, our inter course with foreign nations has been attended with profound solicitude, chiefly turning upon our own domestic affairs. A disloyal portion of the American people hare, during the whole year, been engaged in an attempt to divide and destroy the Union. A nation which endures factions domestic division is exposed to disrespect abroad, and one party, if not both, is sure, sooner or later, to invoke foreign intervention. Nations thus tempted to interfere are not always, able to resist the counsels of seeming-expediency and . ungenerous ambition, although measures adop “ ted under such influences seldom failto be un fortunate, and injurious- to those -adopting j , them.. * ' - " The disloyal citizens of the United States who have offered the ruin of our country in .return for the aid and comfort which they have Invoked abroad, have received less patronage and encouragement than they probably expec ted. If it were just to suppose, os the insur gents have seemed to assume, that foreign nations, in this case, discarding all moral, social and treaty obligations, would act solely and selfishly far the most speedy restoration ofoonimeroe, including espeoially.the acquisi : tion of cotton, these nations appear as yet not to have seen their way to their object more , , djpqctly or clearly through the destruction, * If we ooilld dare to believe that foreign na- L ~ tions are actuated by. ho higher principle than ‘i this, I am quite sure a sound -argument could be made to show them that they can reach ' / their aim more readily and easily by aiding to crush, this rebellion than by giving enoourage inent to’it. The principal lover relied on by -V- the insurgents ifor inciting foreign nations to, ’ hostility, against us, as already intimated, is the embarrassment of commerce. These na tions, however, not improbably saw from the first that it was the Union which made os well our foreign as our domestic commerce. They can scarcely have failed to perceive that the ’ effort for disunion produces the existing diffi culty and that one strong nation promises more durable peace and a more extensive and relia , bio commerce than can the same nation broken into hostile fragments. It is not my purpose to review; bur discussions with foreign States, because whatever might be their wishes, or dis positions, the integrity of our country and the Stability of our Government mainly depend not upon them, but on the loyalty, virtue, patriot ism and intelligence of the American people. The correspondence itself with the. usual reservations is herewith submitted. I. venture to' hope it will appear that we have practised prudence and liberality towards foreign pow ers, averting causes of irritation and with firm ness maintaining our awn rights and honor.— . Since, however, it is apparent that here, as in - every other State, foreign dangers necessarily attend domestic difficulties, T recommend that ■ adequate and ample measures be adopted for maintaining the public defences on every side. While under this general recommendation provision for defending our sea Coast line occurs to the mind. I also, in the same connection, ask the at tention of Congress to our great lakes and riv ers. It is believed that same fortifications and depots of arms and munitions, with harbor and . . navigation improvements,- all at well selected points upon these, f would be of great impor tance to the national defence and preservation. T ask attention to the views of the Secretary of War expressed in bis report upon the same general subject. I deem it of importance that the loyal regions of East Tennessee and West ern North Carolina should be connected with . Kentucky and other faithful parts of the Union by railroad, I, therefore, recommend,, as a military measure, that Congress provide for the construction of such road as speedily as possible. Kentucky, no doubt, will co-operate, and, through her Legislature, make the most judicious selection of a line. The Northern terminus must connect with some existing railroad, and whether the route shall be from Lexington or Nicholasrille to the Cumberland Gap, or from Lebanon to the Tennessee line in the direction of Knoxville, or on. some still different line, can readily be determined.— Kentucky and the General Government co operating, the work can be completed in a very Short time, and, when done, it. will be not only of vast present usefulness, but also a valuable permanent improvement, with its cost in all the future. Some treaties designed chiefly for the inter ests of commerce, and having no grave polit ical importance, have been negotiated, and will be submitted to the Senate for their considera tion. . Although we have failed to induce some cf the commercial powers to adopt a desirable melioration of the rigor of a maritime war, we have removed all obstructions from the way of this humane reform, except such as are merely of temporary and accidental occurrence. I invite your attention to the correspondence between Her Britannia Majesty’s Minister, ac credited to this Government, and the Secretary of State,-relative to the detention of the British ship Perthshire in June last, by the United States steamer Massachusetts, for a supposed breach of the blockade. As this detention was occasioned by an obvious misapprehension of the facts, and as justice requires that we should - commit no belligerent act not founded in strict right as sanctioned by public law, I recommend that an appropriation be made to satisfy the reasonable demand of the owners of the vessel for her detention. • I repeat the - recommendation of my prede cessor, in bis annual message to Congress in December last, in regard to the disposition of the surplus which will probably remain after satisfying the claims of American citizens against China, pursuant to the awards of the Commissionersunderthenctof theSd of March 1869. ■ . ’ ■ Ify however, it should not be deemed advisa ble to carry that recommendation into effect, I would suggest that authority bo given invest ing the principal over the proceeds of the sur plus referred to in good securities, with a view to the satisfaction of such other just claims of our citizens against China as arc not unlikely to arise hereafter in the course of our exten sive trade with that empire. By the act of the sth of August last, Congress authorized the President to instruct the Com manders of suitable vessels to defend themselves against and capture pirates. This authority has been exercised in a single instance only. For the more effectual protection of our extensive and valuable commerce in the Eastern seas' espe cially, it seems to me that it would also be ad visable to authorize the commanders of sailing vessels to recapture any prizes which pirates may make of United States vessels and their cargoes, and the Consular Courts now estab lished by law in Eastern countries to adjudicate the oases, in the event that this should not be objected to by the local authorities. If any good reason exists why we should persevere longer in withholding our re cognition of the independence and sove reignty of Hayli, I am unable to discover dt. Unwilling, however, to inaugurate a novel poucy in regard to them without the approba- Coil K re J l , a .J.submit,f9 r . yoiir,oonaidera.- , of au appropriation for* - \thoM l naw D Ht»( Cha r 8 j d ’Affaires near each of ose now States; it does not admit of a doubt that important oommDroial advantages might be secured by favorable treaties with them. The operations of the Treasury during the period which has elapsed since your adjourn ment, have been conducted with signal success. ThC patriotism of the people has placed at the disposal of theGovernment,the large moans de manded by the public exigencies. Much of the National Loan has been taken by citizens of the industrial classes, whose confidence in. their country’s faith and zeal/ for their country’s de liverance from the .present peril have induced them to contribute to the support of the Gov ’ eminent the whole of theirlimited acquisitions. This fact imposes peculiar obligations upon ns to economy in disbursement and energy in action. The revenues from all sources, including loans for the financial year, ending on the 80th of June, 1861, was $86,836,900 27, and tho ex penditures for the Same period, including pay ments on account of the public debt, -were $84,578,834 47, leaving a balance in the Treas ury, on the first of July, of $2,257,066 80.— For the first quarter of the financial year, end ing on the 20th of September, 1861, the re ceipts from all sources, including the balance of the Ist of July, wore $102,582,509 27, and the expenses $98,289,788 09; leaving a balance on the lst pf. October! 1861, of $4,292,776'18. KadmStca for the re mainingthree- quart erg of the forj the financial year of 1863, together witb’uls 'meeting the demandacop byithSigciill be submitted to Congreisity the Seoiolary of the Treasury. / . < It is gratifying to. know that the expendi tures made necessary by the rebellion are not beyond the resources of the loyal people, and to believe that the same patriotism which has thus far sustained the Government will con tinue to sustain it till peace and union shall again bless the land. I respectfully refer to: the report of the Sec retary of War for information respecting the numerical strength of the army and for recom mendations, having in view, an increase of its branches of the service entrusted to his .care. It is gratifying to know that the patriotism of the people has proved equal to the occasion, ahd that the number of troops tendered greatly exceeds the force which Congress authorized me to call into the field. I refer with pleasure to those portions of his report which make allusion' to the creditable degree of discipline already attained by our troops and to the excellent sanitary condition of the entire army. The recommendation of the Secretary far an organization of the militia upon a uniform basis, is a subject of vital importance to the‘future safety of the.country, and is commended to tho serious attention of Congress. : The large addition to the regular army in connection with tho defection that has so con siderably diminished the number of its officers, gives peouliar importance to bis recommenda tion for increasing the corps of Cadets to the greatest capacity of the Military Academy. By more omission, I presume, Congress has failed to provide Chaplains for hospitals occu pied by volunteers. This subject was brought to my notice, and I was induced to draw up tho form of a letter, one copy of which, properly addressed, has been delivered to each of the persons, and at the dates, respectively named, and stated in a schedule containing.also the form of the letter (letter marked A) and here with transmitted. The gentlemen I understood entered upon the duties designated at the times respectively stated in the Schedule, and have labored faith fully there over since. I therefore recommend that they be compensated at the same rate as Chaplains in the Army, further suggesting that general provision be made far Chaplains to servo at hospitals as well as with regiments. The report of the Secretary of theNovy pre sents in detail the operations of that branch of the service, the activity and energy which have characterized . its administration,' and the re sults of the meaeuree to increase'its efficiency and power. Sudh have been the additions by construction and purchase that it may almost be said a navy has been created and brought into service since our difficulties commenced. Besides blockading our extensive const, squad rons larger than ever before assembled under our flag, have been put afloat, and performed deeds which have, increased opr naval renown. I would invite special attention to the re commendations of the ■ Secretary for a more perfect organization of the Navy, by introdu cing additional grades in the service. The present organization is defective and unsatis factory, and the suggestions submitted by the Department, will, it is believed, if adopted, obviate the difficulties', alluded to, promote harmony, and increase the efficiency of the Navy. , There ore three vacancies on the bench of the Supreme Court ; two by the decease of Justices Daniel and McLean, and one by the resignation of Justice Campbell. I have so far forborne making nominations to fill these vacancies for reasons which I will now state : Two of the out-going Judges resided within the States now overrun by revolt, so that if their successors were appointed in the same locali ties, they could not now serve upon their cir cuit, and. many, bf tho most competent men there probably would not take the personol hazard of accepting to serve, even here, .upon the Supreme Benoh. I have been unwilling to throw all the appointments Northward, thus disabling myself from doing justice to the South on the return of peace, although I may remark that to transfer to the North one which has heretofore been in the South, would not, with reference to territory and population be unjust. , 1 During tho long and brilliant judicial career of Judge McLean, his circuit grew into an em pire altogether too large for any one Judge to give the Courts therein more than a nominal attendance, rising in population from 1,470 018 in 1880, to 6,151,405 in 1860. Besides, this, tho country generally has outgrown our present judicial system. If uniformity was at all in tended, the system requires that all the States shall be accommodated with Circuit Courts attended, by Supremo Judges, while, in fact, Wisconsin, Minnesota, lowa, Kansas, Florida, Texas, California and Oregon have never had any such Courts. Nor can this well be remedied, without a change of the system, because. s fhe adding of Judges to the Supreme Court, enough for the accommodation of all parts of the country with Circuit Courts, would create a Court alto- gether too numerous for a judicial body of any sort. And the evil, if it be one, wifi increase as new States obme into tho Union. Circuit Courts are useful, or they are not useful. If useful, no Stole should bo denied them. If not useful, no State should have them. Let them be provided for all, or abolished to all. Three modifications ooour to me either of which I think would bo an improvement upon our present system. Let the Supreme Court be of convenient number in every event. Then first, let the whole country be divided into circuits of convenient size, the Supremo Judges to serve in a number of them corresponding to their own number, and independent Circuit Judges be provided for all the rest; or, sec ondly, let the Supreme Judges be relieved from and Cirouit Jud Bes provided for all tue Circuits; or, thirdly, dispense with the Circuit Courts nil together, leaving tho Judicial functions wholly to the District Court and an independent Supreme Court. I respectfully recommend to the considera tion of Congress the present condition of the Statute Laws, with tho hope that Congress will be able to find an easy remedy for many of the inconveniences and evils which con stantly embarrass those engaged in the practi cal administration of them. Since the orgonl zation of Government, Congress has enacted some five thousand acts and joint resolutions, whioh-fill-moro - than- six' thousand ■ ■closely ' volumes PageS ’ and ° r ° soattered though many Many of these acts have been drawn in haste and without sufficient caution, so tba their provisions are often' obscure in themsel es, or in conflict with each other; or at It ist, so doubtful as to render it very difficult fc ■' oven ■ the best informed person to ascertain pr oisely what the statute law really is. It seemi to me very important that the statute laws she lid he made as plaiq and intelligible es possib j, and bo reduced to as small a compass as ms.jp con sist, with the fullness and precision of the Legislature and the perspicuity 6f its latjuago. This, well done, would, I think, greatly facili tate the labors of those whose duty it isjto as sist in the administration of the lawk and would be a lasting benefit to the penile by placing before them, in a more acceptable and intelligible form, the laws whioh so'deeply concern their interests and their duties, f I am informed by some, whose opinions I respect, that all the. acts of Congress now in foref, and of a permanent and general nature, might be revised and re-written, so as to be embraced in one volume, or, at most, in two volumes, of ordinary and commercial size, and I respect- 1 fully recommend to Congress to consider an the subject, and if my suggestion be approved, to devise such plan as to their wisdoml shall seem most proper for the attainment of the end proposed. " ‘ i l . One of the unavoidable oonseqnenooa of the present insurrection is tho entire suppression in many, places of all the ordinary moshs of administering civil justice by the officers in .the form of existing law. This is the base in whole or in part-in all the insurgent' Sfates— and os our armies' advance and take possession of parts of those.fetnteS the practical evil be comes more 1 There are no opurts nor officers to whom the citizensofother States may apply for the onforcemout-of,their 'Uwful claims against citizens of the insurgent States, and there is a vast amount of debt eonqtitaling such claims; some have estimated it os high as $200,000,000, due in large part from insurgents in open rebellion'to loyal citizens who are.even now making great saorafioes in the discharge of ther patriotic duty to support the Govern ■-intan. • Under those c 1 r CUtltSiariCCSfTli avo Seen urgently solicited to establish, by military power, oourts to administer summary justice, in such oases. I have thus far declined to do it, not because I had any doubt that tho end proposed—the collection of the debts—was just and right in itself, but because Ihavejbeea unwilling to go beyond the pressure of neces sity in the unusual exercise of power. Blit the powers of Congress, I suppose, are equal to tho anomalous occasion, and, therefore! I refer the whole matter to Congress, with,the hope that a plan may be devised for the administra tion of justice in all such parts of the insurgent States and Territories os may be under the control of this Government, whether by a vol untary return to allegiance and order, or by the power of our arms. This, however, is not to be a permanent in stitution, but a temporary institute, and to cease as soon as the ordinary Courts can be re established in peace. It is important tbatsome more convenient means shall bo provided, if possible, for the adjustment of claims against the Government, especially in view of their increased number, by reason of the war. It is as much the duty of Government to render prompt justice against itself in favor of olli -1 zens, as it is to administer the same between private individuals. The investigation and adjudication of claims in their nature belong to the judicial department. Besides, it is apparent that the attention, of Congress will be more than usually engoged for some time to come with great national ques ■ tions. It was intended by the organization of the Court of Claims mainly .to remove this branch of business from the halls of Congress; but while the Court has proved to be an effec tive and valuable means of investigation, |t, in a great degree, fails tf> effect the object of its Creation for wont of the power to mokjj its judgments final. Fully aware of the delhjaoy, not to say the danger of the subject, I oomojond to jonir-ouroful consideration whetner kjtls power of making judgments final may not prop erly be given to the Court; reserving the right of appeal on questions of law to tho Supreme Court, with such other provisions as experience - may have shown to bo nhcessary. [■ I ask attention to the report of the Posthas tes General, *lhe following being a summary statement of the,condition of the Department: The revenue from all sources during the Isoal year ending June 30,1861, including th ; .an nual permanentappropriation of s7oo,oC}for the transportation of free mail matter wos $9,049,296.40, being almost two per cent less than the revenue for 1860. The oxpenditires were $13,606,759.11'. Showing a deoreote of I more than 8 per cent, as compared with tiose { of the previous year, and leaving an ezoeis of expenditures over the revenue far the last iSoal year of $4,557,462.79. The gross rerenni for the year ending June 30, 1862, is estimated at an increase of 4 per oent. on that of 1861 ma king $8,683,000, to which should be add* 1 the earnings of the Department in carrying free matter, viz : $700,000, making $9,883,0 The total expenditures for 1862 are esti: at $12,628,000, leaving an estimated defit of $3,145,000t0 be supplied from the Trei in the permanent appropriation. The present insurrection shows, I think the extension of this District across the mao river at the time a£ establishihg the itol here, was eminently wise, and, conaec ly, 'that the relinquishment of that porli it which lies within the State of Virgin!: unwise and dangerous. I submit for yoni sideration the expediency of acquiring part of the District and the restoration c original boundaries thereof, through ne tion with the State of Virginia. ' The report of the Secretary of the Ini with the accompanying documents, exhibi condition of the several branches of the \ business pertaining to that Department, depressing influences of the insurrection been espeolally felt in the operations Patent and General Land Ofiioes. The cash receipts from the sale of lands during fhe past year have exoeedc expenses of our land system only about $ 000. The sales have been entirely suspi in the Southern States, while the intern to the business of the country, and the siou of large numbers of men to militar vice have obstructed settlements in tin States and Territories of the Northwest. - The receipts of the Patent Office have de in nine months about $lOO,OOO, rendei large redaction of the force employed neo to mafee it self-sustaining. The demands upon the Pension office y largely increased by the insurrection. Numerous applications for pensions, ) upon the casualties of the existing war 1 already been made. ' There is reason toll) that many who are now upon the pensio and in the receipt of the bounty of th« ( eminent, are in the insurgent army, or thein aid and comfort. The Secretary Interior has directed a suspension of tb ment of the pensions of suoh persons, proof of their disloyalty. I recommend, that Congress authoriz officer to oause the names of such pers< be stricken from the pension rolls. The relations df the Government wi Indian tribes been greatly disturl the insurrection, Especially in the So Superintendenoy aud in that of New IV The Indian country south of Kansas is possession of tho insurgents from Text Arkansas. The agents of tho United States Glover appointed since the 4th of Maroh, fop ( perintendenoy, have been enable to reao coats, while the most .of those who w| office before that time, have espoused 1) eurreotionary cause and assume to exercie the powers of agents by virtue of the insurrectionists. j lt has been stated in the public ppesp V portion of these Ihdfapa have been organized as a military force and are attached jo the army of the Insurgents. Although the Glvern ment has no official Information upon this sub- joct, letters have boon written to the Commis sioner of Indian Affairs by several prominent Chiefs, giving assurance of their loyalty to the United Stales and expressing a wish for the presence sf Federal troops to protect them. It is believed that upon the repossession of the country by the Federal forces the Indians will readily cease all hostile demonstrations, and resume their former relations to the Gov ernment., Agriculture, confessedly the largest interest of the nation, has not a department nor a bu reau, but a clerkship only assigned to it in the Government. While it is fortunate that this great interest is so independent in its nature as to not have demanded and. extorted more from the Government, I respectfully ask Con gress to consider whether something more can not be given voluntarily with general advan tage. Annual reports, exhibiting the condition of our agriculture, commerce and manufacture, would present a fund of information of great practical value to the country. While I make no suggestion to details, I venture the opin ion that an agricultural and statistical bureau might profitably be organized, . The execution of the laws for the suppression of the African slave trade has been confided to the Department of the Interior. It is a sub ject of gratulation that the efforts which have been made for the suppresion of this inhuman trafio have been recently attended with unusual success. Five vessels being fitted out for the Slave trade have been seized and condemned. • Two mates, of vessels engaged in the trade and one person engaged in equipping a slaver have been committed, and subjected to the penalty of fine and imprisonment; and one captain, taken with a cargo of Africans on board his vessel, has been convicted of the eigheat grade of offence under, our laws, the punishment of which is death. . The Territories of Colorado, Dakotah, and Nevada, created by the last Congress have been organized,Jand :pjvil adnainjatratipn has bean IfihU gQrawiO, thefbin under auspices especially gratifying, when it' is considered that the leaven of treason was found oxlsting iu some of those new countries when theFoderol officers arrived there. The abundant’maratimo resources of these territories, with the security and protec tion afforded by an organized government, will doubtless invite to them a large immigration when peace shall restore the business of the country to its accustomed channels. • I submit the resolutions, of the Legislature of Colorado, which evidence the patriotic spirit of the people of the territory. ■ So far the authority of the United States has been upheld in all the Territories, as it is hoped it will be in' the future. I commend their in terests and defence to the enlightened and gen erous care of Congress. . I recommend to the favorable consideration of Congress the interests of the District of Colum bia: The insurrection has been the cause of much Buffering and sacrifice toils inhabitants, and as they have no Representative in Con gress, that they should not overlook their just claims upon the Government.. At your late session, a joint resolution was adopted, Authorizing the President to take mea-. sures for facilitating a proper representation of the innustrial interests of the United States at the Exhibition of the Industry of all Nations, to be holden at London, in. the year 1862. I regret to say I have been unable to give personal attention to this subject—a subject at once so interesting in itself, and so extensively and intimately connected with the material prosperity of the world. Through, the Secre taries of State and. of the. Interior, a plan or system has been devised and partly matured, and which will be laid before you. Under and by virtue of the act of Congress, entitled “an act to confiscate property used for insurrectionary purposes,” approved August 6th; 1861, the legal olaims.of certain persons to the labor and servios.of certain other persons nave become, forfeited, and numbers of the lat ter thus liberated are already dependent on the United States, and must be,provided for in some way. Besides this, it is hot Impossible that some of the States will pass similar enactments for their own benefit respectively, and by operation of whioh persons of the. 1 same class will be thrown upon them for disposal." In such oases I recommend that Congress provide for accepting such persons from .such States, aooofding to some mode of valuation in I lieu pro tanto of direct taxes, or upon some other plan to bo agreed upon, with such States ( respectively that such persons or suoh accep tances by the General Government be at onoe deemed free, and that, in any event, steps be taken'for colonizing both olases, (or the one first mentioned, if the other shall not be brought into existence,) at some place or places in a climate congenial to them. It might be well to consider, too, whether the free colored peo ple already in the United States, could not, so far as individuals may desire, be included in suoh colonization. To carry out, the plan of colonization may involve the acquiring of territory, and, also, the appropriation of money beyond that to be expended in the territorial acquisition. Having practiced the acquisition of territory for nearly sixty years, the question of the ■ constitutional power to do so is no longer an, open one with us; The power was questioned at first by Mr. Jefferson, who, however, in the purchase of Louisiana, yielded his scruples on the plea of great expediency. If 1 it be said that the only legitimate effect of acquiring territory is to furnish homes for white men, this measure effects that object, for the emigration of colored men leaves addi- ated enoy mry, a of was ion that f the ttia- tional room for white men remaining or coming here. Mr. Jefferson, however, placed the im- procuring Louisiana more On po litical and commercial grounds than on provi ding room for population. On this whole proposition, including the ap propriation of money with the acquisition’of territory, does not the expediency amount to absolute necessity, that without which the Government itself cannot be perpetuated if the war continues. ;ior, i the :blio The lave, 1 the In considering the policy to bo adopted for suppressing the insurrection, I have been anx ious and careful that the inevitable conflict for this purpose shall not degenerate into a violent and remorseless revolutionary struggle. I have. therefore, in every case thought it proper to keep the integrity of the Union prominent as the primary object of the contest on our part, leaving all questions which are not of vitv} military importance to the wise delibera tion of the Legislature. In the exercise of my best discretion I hive adhered to the blockade of the ports held by the insurgents, instead of putting.in force, by ’ proclamation, the laws of. Congress enacted at the late session for closing these Jmrts. So, also, obeying the dictates of prudenoe as well as the obligations of law, instead of transcend ing, I have adhered to the not of Congress to confiscate property used for insurrectionary purposes. If a now law upon the same subject shall be proposed, its propriety will be duly considered, Ined ig ? Mary that is to The Union mast bo'presorved, and honed all indispensable means must bo employed. We should not be in baste to determine that radi oal and extreme measures, which may reach the loyal as well as the disloyal, are indispen sable. , ■ i i the lid by i them : ixioo. i the : and The inaugural address at the beginning of the Administration, am} the message to Con gress at the late special session, wore both mainly devoted to the domestic controversy out of which the insurrection and consequent war have sprung. Nothing more occurs to add or subtract to or from tho principles or general purposes stated and expressed in that docu ment, The last ray of hope for preserving the Unjon peaceably, expired at the assault upon Fort Sumter, and a general review of what has -Occurred.since jnay-not be unprofitable!-— ; — What was painfully uncertain then is much better defined cud more distinct now, and the I meat is su iheir S 3 in in- progress of events is plainly in the right direc tion, The insurgents confidently claimed a strong support from north of Mason and Dix on’s line, and the friends of the Union wore not free from .apprehension on that point.— This, however, was soon settled and on the right side. 1 South of tbo lino, noble little Delaware led off right from the first. Maryland yyats made to seem against the Union. Our soldiers were assaulted, bridges wore burned and railroads torn up within herjlimits; and we were many days at one time without the ability to bring a. single reginient over her soil to the Capital. Now her bridges and railroads are repaired and open to the Government. She seven regiments to the Cause of the Union and none to the enemy, and her peoplorata regular election have sustained the Union by a larger majority and a larger aggregate vote than they ever before gave to any candidate cn any ques tion. Kentucky, too, for some timo in doubt, now decidedly and I think unchangeably ranged on the side of the Union. Missouri is compara tively quiet, and I believe cannot again bo overrun by the insurrectionists. These three States of Maryland, Kentucky, and Missouri, neither of vrhioh would promise a single sol dier at first, have now an aggregate of not less than forty thousand in the field for the Union, while of their citizens certainly not more than a third of that number,- and they of doubtful whereabouts and doubtful existence, are in arms against it. After a somewhat bloody struggle of months, winter closes on the Union people of Western Virginia, leaving them mas ters of their own country. ' : An insurgent force of about fifteen hundred for months dominating the narrow peninsular region of the bounties of Aooomao and North ampton, and known as the Eastern Slloro of Virginia, together with some contiguous parts of Maryland, have laid down their .arms, and the people there have renewed their allegiance to and accepted the protection of the old flag. This loaves no armed insurrectionists North of the Potomac or East of the Chesapeake. • . Also, we have Aht.Rinml n ... 1. tho isolated, points bn the' southern coast of Hatteras, Port Koynl, Tyboo Island, near Savannah, and Ship Island; and wp likewise - have some general accounts' of popular move ments in behalf of the Union in North Carolina and Tennessee. These things demonstrate that the cause of the Union is advancing stead ily southward; Since your last adjournment Lieutenant Son oral Scott has retired from the head of the army. During his long life the nation has not been unmindful of his merit, yet, on calling to mind how faithfully, ably and brilliantly he has served his country for a timo far back in our history, when few of the now living had been bom, and thenceforward continually. I can not but think we are Still his debtors. I sub mit, therefore, for your-consideration, what further mark of recognition is due,to him and tp ourselves os a grateful people. , : With the retirement of General Scott came the executive duty of appointing in his stead a General-in-Chief of the army. It was a for tunate circumstance that neither in caunoil or country, was there, so far ns I know, anydif -ferenoe of opinion as to the proper person to be selected. The retiring Chief repeatedly ex pressed his judgment in favor of General Mc- Clellan for the position, and in this the nation seemed to me a unanimous concurrence. The designation of General McClellan is, therefore, in a considerable degree, the selection of the country as well as of the Executive, and hence there is better reason to hope that there will be given him the confidence ,and cordial support thus, by fair implication, promised, and with out which he cannot, with so full efficiency, serve the country. It has been said that one bad general is better than two good ones, and the saying is true if taken to mean no more than that our army is better directed by a single mind, though infe rior, than by two superior onesan. variance and cross purposes with each other.® And the Same is true in all joint operations; wherein those , engaged can have none but a bommon end in view, and can differ only as to' the choice of means. In a storm at sea, no One can wish the ship to sink, and yet not unfrequently all go down together, because too many will djreot, and no single mind can be allowed to control. It continues to develops that the insurrection is largely, if not exclusively, a war upon the first principles of popular government—the rights of the people.’ . Conclusive 'evidence of I this is found in the most grave and maturely | considered public documents, as well as in the general tone of the insurgents. In these documents we find the acknowledg ment of the existing right of suffrage, and the denial to the people of all right to participate in the selection of public officers, except the Legislature, boldly advocated, with labored arguments, to prove that large control of the people in Government is the source of all po litical trouble. Monarchy itself is sometimes hinted at as a possible refuge from the power of the people. In my present position I could scarcely be jus tified Wore I to omit raising a warning voice against this approach of returning despotism. It is not needed nor fitting hero that a general argument should be made in favor of liberal institutions. But there is one point with its connections not so hackneyed as most others, to which I ask a brief attention. It is the effort to plape capital on an equal footing with, if not above, labor, in the structure of the Government. Having proceeded so far, it is naturally con cluded that all laborers aro either hired labor ers or what we call slaves. And further, it is assumed that whoever is once a hired laborer is fixed in that condition for life. Now there is no such relation between capital and labor, as assumed, nor'is there any such thing as a free man being fixed for lilo in the condition of a hired laborer. It is assumed that labor is available only in connection with capital; that nobody labors Unless somebody else owning capital, somehow by the use of it, induces him to’ labor. . This assumed, it is next considered whether it is beat that capital shall hire laborers, and thus induce them to work by their own consent, or buy them and drive them to it without their consent. Both those assumptions are false, and all in ferences ftoin them are groundless. Labor is prior to and independent of capital. Capital is only the fruit of labor, and could never have existed if labor had not first existed. Labor is the superior of capital, and deserves much the higher consideration. Capital has its rights, which are as worthy of protection as any other rights. Nor is it denied that there is and proba bly always will bo a relation between labor and capital, producing mutual benefits. The error is in assuming, that the whole labor of the com- munity exists within that relation. A few men own capital, and that few avoid labor themselves, and with their capital hire or buy another few to labor for them. A large majority belong to neither class—neither work for others nor have others working for them. In most of the Southern States a majority of the whole people, of all colors, are neither slaves nor masters, while in the Northern a largo majority are neither hirers nor hired, Men with their families, wives, sons and daughters work for. themselves on their farms, in their houses, and in their shops, taking tho wholo product to themselves, and asking no favors of capital on the ono hand, nor of hired laborers or slaves on tho other. It is not for- gotten that a considerable number of persons mingle their own labor with their capital—Unit is, they labor with their own hands, and also buy or hire others to labor for them; but this is only a mixed aud not a distinct class. No principle stated is disturbed by the existence of this mixed class. Again, as has already been said, there is not, of necessity, any such thing as tho free hired -iaborer-being-fixed-to-that-condition'ofrllfbr Many independent men, everywhere in those States, a few years back in their lives, were hired laborers. Tho President, a penniless beginner in tfie world, labors for wages awhile, saves a surplus with which to buy tools or land for himself, , then labors on his own account another while, and at length hires another now beginner to;, help him. ' This is the jujtnnd generous and prosperous , system which opens the way to all, gives hope ’ to all, and consequently energy and progress ;, and improvement of tho condition of all. , No men living are more worthy to bo trusted > than those who, toil up Aram' poverty—none . less inclined to take Or touch aught which they have not honestly earned. Lot them beware of surrendering a political poWor which they already possess, and which,’ if surrendered, will surely be used to close tho iioora of ad vancement against such as they, and to fix new disabilities aqd burdens upon them till all of liberty shall bo lost. From the first taking of our National Census to tho last aro seventy years, and wo find our population at tho end of tho period eight times as groat as it was at the beginning. The in crease of those other things which men deem desirable has.beon greater. Wo thus have at one view what the popular principle applied to government through the machinery of tho States and the' Union has. produced in a given time, and also what, if firmly maintained, it promises for the fhtnre. There ore already among ns those who, if the UniOn be preserved, will live to see it cony tain two hundred and fifty millions. Tho strug gle of to-day is not altogether for to-day, it is for a vafit future also. With a reliance on Pro vidence all the more firm and earnest, let us . proceed in tho great' task which events have devolved upon us. ABRAHAM LINCOLN, Washington, Dec. 3,1861. Sentence of a Slave Teaoee. —Nathanile Gorden, convicted in the United States Court at New York, of piracy in carrying slaves from ■ the coast of Africa, was sentenced on Saturday morning 6y Judge Shipman to bo hung: In . , sentencing Inin, the Judge said : In the verdict of the jury it is my duly lo say that the Court fully concurred. The evi dence of your guilt was so full and complete as to exclude from the minds of your triers, all doubt. , > _ You are soon to be confronted with the ter rible consequence of your crime, and itis proper that I should call to your inind the duty of preparing for that event which will soon ter minate your mortal existenop, and usher you into the presence of the Supreme Judge 1 Let me implore you to seek the spiritual guidance of the minister,of religion, and let your repen tance be as thorough and humble asyouc prime was great. Do not attempt to hide its enormity from yourself. ■ Think of the cruelty and wickedness of seizing nearly a thousand fellow beings who never did you harm, and thrusting them be tween the decks of a small ship beneath a bur ning tropical sun—to die of disease of suffoca tion or be transported to distant lands, and consigned, they and their posterity, to a fate far more cruel than death! Think of the suffering of the unhappy beings whom you crowded on to, the Erie, of the help less agony and terror as you took them from their native laud, and especially think of those who perished under the weight of their miser ies on the passage from the place of your cap ture to Monrovia I Remember that you showed mercy to none, carrying'off, ns you did, not only those of your sex, but women and helpless children. Do not list.ter yourself that because they belonged to; a different rape from yourself your guilt is therefore lessened. Bather fear that it is in creased; , , In the just and generous heart the humble and weak inspire compassion, ando all fo* pity and forbearance, and as yon are soon to pass into the presence of that God of the black man as well' aajljc white,man, whip is fco*£Mpeotor of pantos, the thought that ho hears withlndifferenoe the cry of the humblest of his children. Do not imagine because others shared in the .guilt of enterprise yours is therefor© diminished, but remember the awful admonition of your, Bible “though hand join on hand the wicked shall not go unpunished.” . Turn your thoughts towards Him who alone can .pardon and who is not deaf to the supplications of those who seek. His mercy. It remains only- to pronounce, the sentence' which the law affixes to your crime, which is that you.be taken back to the city prison from whence you wore brought, and remain there until Friday, the 7th day of Febuary next, and (hen and thence to the place of execution, between the hours of twelve o'clock at noon and throe o'clock in the afternoon you be hung by the neok until yoUr are dead, and may the Lord have mercy on your soul. The prisoner was notin the least affected, although the Judge and the spectators exhibited' considerable emotion. ■ .He was remanded, and left the Court with his counsel. Excitement in New Ypnic— The TFar Risk on Vessels Advanced. —The burning of the ship Harvey Biroh by the Confederate steamer Nashville, as announced in ■ the foreign news, caused the most intense excitement among the shipping merchants in Now York ob Saturday, and formed the chief topic of conversation in business circles. The Express says: Its effects oh change were quite apparent, and there was a general disposition among shippers to operate very cautiously In bread stuffs, until further advices were obtained from the other side. The effects upon freights were depressing, so far as American bottoms are concerned,, although there has scarcely been enough done to tell what the effect really would be. There was' in fact a very unsettled and rather gloomy feeling among business men generally. Tho Harvey Biroh was a splendid clipper S oK tons, built at Mystic, Cohn., in 1864, and owned by Messrs. J. H. Brower & Co., of.this city. She was valued at $60,000, and has only the simple marine clause in her policy of insurance; and therefore is a total loss to hor owners. The board of Underwriters held a long sos swn on Saturday morning upon this matter, and nnally concluded to advance the war risk to five per cent. They will insure to a moder ate extent at this rate, although many vessels now duo in the British channel will be unable to get insured, unless at a still higher rate— There is considerable anxiety felt hero in re gard to the steamer.Arago, whioh was duo at Southampton two days after the Nashville ar rived there. Mn. IJat, private secretary to the President, has a touching sketch of Col. Baker in Harper's for Doftember, from whioh we extract the fol- lowing The Death op the Pbesidbnt’s Feienos.— Alas for (he dead hours of honest friendship I the goodly fellowship of noble spirits! Where are the good fellows who were friends at Spring field in the happier days? Hardin’s spirit went up through the murkey canopy whose baleful shadow hung over the battling legions at Buena Vista; Bisseli passed from lingering pain to Paradise, honored in the highest by the State that he had honored; Douglas lies under the prairie sod in the dear old State whoso half-estranged heart burned with more than the old love for him before he died; Baker rests glorious in death, a precious offering to the spirit of Freedom, to whioh'through life his worship was paid; and Lincoln stands, lonely in his power, a sadder, silenter, better . man than of old, timei beginning to jlft its. oarJV snows'upon the blackness Vf his hair, his heart heavy with the sorrows of a nation, his mind and sohl pledged-to self-abnegating effort to keep from detriment in his bonds the costly treasure of constitutional government.'
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers