ij| further experience s=hi!i hive developed the best pulict to he ultimately Adopted in regard to them. It is safer to suffer the iiiconventetices that now exist, t'.ir i short period, than, by premature legislation, to Ptsieii on the country a system founded in error, winch may place the whole subject beyond the fu ture control ol Congress. Tile agricultural lands shou!.4> however, be sur veved and brought into market with as little delay as possible, thai the titles may become settled, and the inhabitants stimulated to make permanent improve ments, and enter on the ordinary pursuits of life. To i ,feet these objects it is desirable that the necessary provision be made by law for the establishment of land offices in California and Oregon, and for the ef ficient prosecution of the surveys at an early day. Some difficulties have occurred in organising the Territorial governments of ,Nou Mexico and t'tah; and, when more aci nr.de information shall be obtain ed of the causes, a further communication will be nvide on that subject. In my last annual communication to Congress 1 recommended the establishment of an Agricultural Bureau, and I take this occasion again to invoke vour favorable consideration ol the subject. Agrieulturt may justly he regarded as the great in terest of our people. Four-fifths of our active pop ulation are employed in the cultivation of the soil, and the rapid expansion of our settlements over new territory is daily adding lo the number of those en gaged in that vocation. Justice and sound policy, therefore, alike require that the Government should use all the neaiis authorized by the constitution to promote the interests and welfare of that important class of our fellow citizens. And yet it is a singular fact that, whilst the manufacturing and commercial interests have engaged the attention of Congress du ring a l.irge portion of every session, and our statutes abound in provisions for their protection and encour agement, little has yet been done directly for the ad vancement of agriculture. It is time that this re proach to our legislation should be removed, and i sincerely hope that the present Congress will not close their labors without adopting efficient means to supplv the omissions of those who have preceded them. An Agricultural Bureau, charged with the dutv of collecting and disseminating correct infor mation as to the best modes ot cultivation, and of the most effectual means of preserving and restoring the fertility of the soil, and of procuring and distributing seeds and plants and other vegetable productions, with instructions in regard to the soil, climate, and treatment best adapted to their grow th, could not fail to be, in the language of Washington, in his last annual message to Congress, "a very cheap instru ment of immense national benefit. ' Regarding the act of Congress approved 28lfi of September. IHSO granting bounty lands to persons who had been engaged in the military service of the country, as a great measure of national justice and munificence, an anxious desire has been felt, by the officers entrusted with its immediate execution, to give prompt effect touts provisions. All the means within their control were, therefore, brought into re quisition to expedite the ajudication of claims, and 1 am gratified to be able to state that near one hundred thousand applications have been considered, and a bont 70.000 warrants issued within the short space of nine months. If adequate provision be made by law to carrv into effect the recommendations of the Department, it is confidently expected that, befoie the close ol'ihe next fiscal year, all who are entitled to the benefits of the act will have received their warrants. The Secretary nf the Interior has sugg. sti-il in his re port various amendment! of the laws rotating to pen si.ins and bounty lands, for the purpose of more effectu ally guarding against abuses ami frauds on tin- tlovern iii. Nt, to all of which ! invite your particular attention. The large accessions to our Indian population ronse qu< nt upon the acquisition of New Mexico and (Califor nia, and the extension of our settlements into t't.ih and Oregon, have given im watted interest and importance to our relations with the aboriginal race. .No material change has taken place, within the last v.-ar. in the condition and prospects of tile Indian trill '8 who reside iii the Northwestern Territory and west of the Mississippi river. We are at peace with all of them; and it w ill he a Sonne of pleasure to von to learn that they an* gradually advam lug iu civilization ainf the pur suits of social life. Along the Mexican frontier, atul in California, and in Oregon, there have been occasional manifestations of unfriendly feeling, and (nine depredation! committed. I am satisfied, however,that they resulted more from the destitute ami starving condition of the Indians than from any settled hostility toward the whites As the settle ments of our citizens progress towards them, the game lijein which they mainly re'y tor subsistence is driven off or destroyed, and the only alternative led to them is starvation or pJunder. It becomes us te> consider, in view of this condition of tilings, whether justice and hu manity. as w ell as an enlightened eeonomy, do not re quire that, instead of sec-king to punish them for offences which are the result of our own policy towards them, we should not provide hrr their immediate wants and en courage them to engage in agriculture, and to rely on their labor, instead of tto- chase, for the means of sup |wirt. Various important treaties have be<tt negotiated with different tribes during the year, by which their title to large and valuable trails of country lias he n extinguish ed, all of which wiH, at the proper time, he submitted to the Senate for ratification. 1 lie joint commission under the treaty of Guadalupe Ilidalgo, lias been actively engaged iu running and mar king the boundary line between tbe I'nited States and Mexico. It was staled, in tire last annual report of the Secretary of the Interior, litat the initial point on the Pari tic ami the -point of junction ot the Gila with the t'..lorado river had been determined, and tile intervening line, about one hundred and fifty utiles in length, run and marked by temporary monuments. Since that lime a monument of marble has been erected at the initial point, and permanent landmarks of iron liave been placed at suitable distances along the tine. The initial point on the Ilio Grande has also been fixed by tlie commissioner* at latitude 32 deg- 22 min., and at the date of the last communication the survey of the line ha I been made thence westward about one hundred and fifty miles to the neighborhood of the copper mines. The commission on our part was at first organized on a scale whi. h experience proved to be unw ivttly ami at tended w nli unnecessary exjiense. Orders have, there fore, been issued for the reduction of the number of persons employed within the smallest limits, consistent w.th the safety of those engaged in the service, and the prompt and efficient execution of their important duties Iteturns have been received from all the officers en gaged in taking the census in the States and Territories, except California. The superintendent employed to make thi- enumeration in that .State, has not vet made lot f ill report, from causes, as lie alleges, beyond his control. This failure is iiiuch to be regretted, as it has prevented the Secretary of the Interior from making the decennial apportionment of representatives among the States, :ts required bv the act approved May 23, 18.'i0. It is hoped, however, that the returns will soon lie re ceived, and no lime will then be lost in making the ne cessary apportionment, and in transmitting the certifi cates required by law. The Superintendent of the .Seventh Census is diligent ly employed, under the direction of the .Secretary of the Interior, hi classifying and arranging, in tabular form, all the statistical information derived from the returnsof the marshals, and it is believed that when the work shall be completed, it will exhibit a tnore perfect view of the population, wealth, occupations, and social condition of a great countrv, than has ever been presented to the world. The value of such a work, as the basis of en- !i^rhtlegislation, can hardly ho over-estimated ; and ; ) earnestly hope that Congress will lose no time in mak ing the appropriations necessary to complete the cla3sifi- I rations, and to publish the results in a style worthy of the subject and of our national t haractcr. The want of a uniform fee hill, prescribing the com p -nsation to he allowed distrh t attorneys, clerks, mar shals, and tommies loners in civil and criminal cases, is the cause of much vexation, injustice, and complaint. 1 would recommend a thorough revision of the laws on the whole subject, and the adoption of a tariff"of fees which, as for as pracln aide, should he Uniform, and pre scribe n speritic compensation for every service which , the officer may he required to perform. This subject I will he fully presented iu the report of the Secretary of the Interior. In my last annual ni"s<age I gave brieflv tnv reasons fir believing that you possessed the constitutional power to improve the harbors of our creat lakes and seacoast, and the navigation of our principal rivers, and recom- ' mended that appropriations should l>.- made for coniple i ig such works >n had already been comment ed, and for | < o,iiio- nring su. h others as might seem to the wisdom of Congress to be of public and general importance Willi 0 >t reje ating llie reasons then urged, 1 deem it my duty agiin to call your attention to llns important subject. The works on many of the harbors were left man Uulin i-lied state, consequently exposed to tin action of the e ennuis, which is last del toying them. <• at nuinhcrs lives and vast amounts of property are annually b>st f,.r want of sife and convenient harbors on the laker. None hut Ihuse u lm h ive been exposed to that danger ous navigation can fully appreciate the importance of ; ! ns sit j ■t. The who!-- northwest appeals to you for ; relief. * id I trust their appeal will receive due considera tion . t your hinds. The some is in a measure true in regard to i -emc of the harbors and inlets on the seaeoast. '! he unobstructed navigation of our large , 1 lie: -is of equal importance. Our settlements j arc now extending to the sources of the great | rivers which empty into, and form a part of the | Mississippi, and the value of the public lands in those regions would be greatly enhanced by I freeing the navigation of those waters from ob ; structions. In view, therefore, of this great i interest, I deem it my duty again to urge upon | Congress to make such appropriations lor those improvements as they may deem necessary. The survey of the Delta of the Mississippi, ; with a view to the prevention of the overflows that have proved so disastrous to that region of • country, have been nearly completed, and the reports thereof are now iu course of preparation, j and will shortly be laid before you. j The protection of our southwestern frontier, i and of the adjacent Mexican Slates, against the ! Indian tribes within our border, has claimed j mv earnest and constant attention. Congress i having failed, at the last session, to adopt my I recommendation that an additional regiment of ! mounted men specially adapted to that service | should be raised, all that remained to be done | was to make the best use of the means at my i disposal. Accordingly, all the troops adapted to that service that could properly be spared from other quarters have been concentrated on that frontier, and officers of high reputation se lected to command them. A new arrangement ! of the military posts has also been made, whereby the troops are brought nearer to the Mexican frontier and to the tribes they are in tended to overawe. Sufficient time has not yet elapsed to realize all the benefits that are expected to result from these arrangements, but I have every reason to hope that they will effectually check their ma rauding expeditions. The nature of the country, which furnishes little for the support of an army and abounds in places of refuge and conceal ment, is remarkably well adapted to this preda tory warfare; and we can scarcely hope that any military force, combined with the greatest vigilance, can entirely suppress it. By the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo we are bound to protect the territory of Mexico against j the incursions of the savage tribes within our 1 border " with equal diligence and energy" as if ! the same were made within our territory or j against our citizens. 1 have endeavored to com- I ply, as far as possible, with this provision of the J treaty. Orders have been given to the officers j commanding on that frontier to consider the | Mexican territory and its inhabitants as equally j with our own entitled to their protection; and ! to inake all their plans and arrangements with i a view to the attainment of this object, ln l structions have also been given to the Indian j commissioners and agents among these tribes, : in all treaties, to make the clauses designed for j the protection of our own citizens apply also 'to those of Mexico. 1 have no reason to doubt that these instructions have been fully carried | into effect. Nevertheless, it is probable that, in spite of all our efforts, some of the neigh , boring States of Mexico may have suffered, as our own have, from depredations by the Indians. To the difficulties of defending our own terri i tory, as above mentioned, are superadded, in ! defending that of Mexico, those that arise from | its remoteness, from the fact that we have no j rigiit to station our troops within her limits, and ttiat there is no efficient millitary force on the Mexican side to co-opcrate with our own So long as this shall continue to be the case, the uutnber and activity of our troops will rather j increase than diminish the evil, as the Indians will naturally turn towards thatcouutry where they encounter the least resistance. Vet these j troops are necessary to subdue them, and to j compel them to make and observe treaties. | Until this shall have been done, neither country i w ill enjoy any security from their attacks. The Indians in California, who had previously anpearod of a peaceable character, and disposcil | to cultivate tiie friendship of the whites, have j recently committed several acts of hostility. | As a large portion of the reinforcements se.nt to the Mexican frontier were drawn from the I'a ; cific, the military force now stationed there is i considered entirely inadequate to its defence. It ; cannot be increased, however, without an in j crease of the army ; and 1 again recommend that measure as indispensable lo the protection of the frontier, j 1 invite your attention to the suggestions on i this subject, and others connected with his De- I partment, in the report of the Secretary of War. The appropriations for the support of the army during the current fiscal year ending 30lh , June next, were reduced far below the estimate i submitted by the Department. The consc i quence of this reduction is a considerable de j liciency, to which 1 invite your early attention. The expenditures of that Department, for the I year ending 30th June last, w ere §9,060,268 5-. ■ The estimates for the year commencing Ist I July next, and ending June 3D, 1833, are £7,8.18,- ( 775 83; showing a reduction of §1,161,492 75. The Board of Commissioners, to whom ; the management of the affairs of the Military ) Asylum created by the act 3d March last j was entrusted, have selected a site for the i establishment of an Asylum in the vicinity of j this ctty, which has been approved by me, sub ! ject to the production of a satisfactory title. The report of the Secretary of the Navy will ! exhibit the condition of the public service under the supervision of that Department. (>ur naval force afloat during the present year has been actively and usefully employed in giving protec tion to our widely extended and increasing c rrnmcrce and interests in the various quarters ol the globe, and our fl3g has everywhere af forded the security and received the respect in spired by the justice and liberality of our inter course, and the dignity and power of the nation. The expedition commanded by Lieutenant De Haven, despatched in search of the British commander. Sir John Franklin, and his com panions in the Arctic Seas, returned to New Vork in the month of October, after having un dergone great peril and suffering from an un known and dangerous navigation and the rigors of a northern climate, without any satisfactory information of the objects of their search, but with new contributions to science and naviga tion from the unfrequented polar regions. The officers and men of the expedition, having been all volunteers for this service, and having so conducted it as to meet the entire approbation of the Government, it is suggested, as an act of grace and generosity, that the same allowances of extra pay and emoluments be extended to them that were made to the officers and men of like rating in the late exploring expedition to the South Seas. I earnestly recommend to your attention the necessity of recognizing the Naval establish- | merit, appropriating and fixing the number of officers in each grade, providing some mode of , promotion to the higher grades of the navy, 1 having reference to merit and capacity, rather than seniority or date of entry into the service, ! and for retiring from the effective list upon re duced pay those w ho may be incompetent to the performance of active duty. As a measure of ; economy as well as of efficiency in this arm of the service, the provision last mentioned is emi nently worthy of your consideration. The determination of the question of relative rank between the sea officers and civil officers of the navy, and between officers of the arnty & na vy, in the various grades of each, wtil also merit your attention. The failure to provide any sub stitute. when corporal punishment was abolished for offences in the navy, has occasioned the convening of numerous courts-inurtial upon the arrival of vessels iri port, and is believed to have had an injurious effect upon the discipline and efficiency of the service. To moderate punish ment from one grade to another is among the humane reforms of the age ; but to abolish one of severity, which applied so generally to offences on ship-hoard, and provide nothing in its stead, is to suppose a progress of improve ment in every individual among seamen which is not assumed by the Legislature in respect to any other class of men. It is hoped that Con gress, in the ample opportunity afforded by the present session, will thoroughly investigate this important subject, and establish such modes of determining guilt, and such gradiations of ' punishment as are cons,stent -.villi humanity and the personal rights of individuals, and at the ; same time shall ensure the most energetic and efficient performance of duty and the suppres sion of crime in our ships of war. The stone dock in the navy yard at New \ork, which was ten years in process of con struction, has been so far finished as to be sur rendered up to the authorities of the yard. The dry dock at Philadelphia is reported as com pleted, and is expected soon to be tested and ■ delivered over to the agents of the Govern ment. That at Portsmouth, New Hampshire, is also nearly ready for delivery ; and a con , tract has been concluded, agreeably to the act of Congress at its last session, for a floating sectional dock on the Bay of San Francisco. 1 invite your attention to the recommendation of the Department touching the establishment of a j navy yard in conjunction with this doek on the Pacific. Such a station is highly necessary to the convenience and effectiveness of our flee't in that ocean, which must be expected to in crease with the growth of commerce, and the ; rapitl extensions of our whole fisheries over its ' waters. The Naval Academy at Annapolis, under a revised and improved system of regulations, now affords opportunities of education and in ' struction to the pupils quite equal it is believed, tor professional improvement, to those enjoyed by the cadets in the Military Academy. A : large class of acting midshipmen was received i at the commencement of the last academic term, and a practice-shop has been attached to the institution, to afford the amplest means i for regular instructions in seamanship, as well | as for cruises during the vacations of three or | four months in each year The advantages of science In nautical affairs ; have rarely been more strikingly illustrated than j in the fact stated in the report of the Navy De ; partment, that by means of the wind and cur- I rent charts, projected and prepared by Lieu j tenant Maury, Superintendent of the Naval Ob ; servatory, the passage from the Atlantic to the Pacific ports of our country has been shortened j by about forty days. The estimate for the support of the Navy and Marine Corps the ensuing tiscal year will be found to be §;>,856,4 i 2 ID, the estimates for the current year being $5,300,621. The estimates for special objects under the control of this Department amount to §2,684,220 89, against §2,*210,980 for the present year, the increase being occasioned by the additional mail service on the Pacific coast and the con struction ol the dock in California, authorized at the last session ot Congress, and some slight ad ditions under the head of improvements and re pairs in navy yards, buildings and machinery. 1 deem itofmuch importance to a just economy and a correct understanding of naval expendi tures, that there should be ari entire separation ot the appropriations lor the support ol the na val service proper lioiu those for permanent im provements at navy yards and stations and from ocean steam-mail service, and other special ob jects as assigned to the supervision of this De partment. Phe repoit of the Postmaster General, here with communicated, prese its an interesting view of the progress, operations, and condition of his Department. At the close of the l. st fiscal year, the length of mail routes within the United Stales was 196,- 291) miles; the annual tra isportat ion thereon 53.- 272,252 miles; and the annual cost of such transportation $3,421,754. I he length of the foreign mail routes is esti mated at l-',349 miles; aid the annual trans portation thereon at 615,206 miles. The annual cost'ol this service is $1 472,187, of which §448,- 937 is paid by the Post Office Department, and $1,023,250 is [laid through the Navy Depart ment. The annual transportation within the United States (excluding the service in California arid Oregon, which is now, for the tir-t time, re ported and embraced in the tabular statements of the Department) exceeds that of the pre ceding year 6,162,855 miles, at an increased cost of §547,110 The whole number of Post offices in the U. States, on the 30th day of June last, was 19,79ti. There were 1,691- post offices established, and 256 discontinued during the rear. The gross revenues of the Department for the tiscal year, including the appropriations for the franked matter of Congress, of the Departments, and officers of Government, and excluding the foreign postages, collected for, and payable to the British post office, amounted to §6,727,866 I lie expenditures for the same period (exclu ding §20,599, 49, [iaid under an nwatd of the Auditor, in pursuance of a resolution of the last Congress, for mail service on the Ohio and Mis sissippi rivers in 1832 and 1833, and the amount paid to the British post office for foreign postages collected for, ami payable to that office t amoun ted to §6,024.566 79; leaving a balance of revenue over the proper expenditures of the year of §703 299 99. The receipts for postages during the year (ex cluding the foreign pi llages collected for and payable to the British post office) amounted to >6,31.7.717 31, being an increase of B')'-'~,61t) 7'J, or 18.6.7-10(1 per cent, over the like receipts for the preceding year. Die reduction of postage, under the act of March last, did not take effect until the com mencement of the present fiscal year. The ac counts for the first quarter, under the operation of the reduced rates, will not be settled before Januaiy next; and no reliable estimates of the receipts for the present year can yet be made. It is believed, however, that they will fall far short of those of the last year. The surplus of the revenues now on hand is, however, so large that no further appropriation from the treasury, in aid of the revenues of the department, is re quired for the current fiscal year; but an addi tional appropriation for the year ending June 30, 18.73, will probably be found necessary when the receipts of the first two quarters of the fiscal year are fully ascertained. In bis last annual report the Postmaster Gen eral recommended a reduction of postage to rates which he deemed as low as could be prudently adopted, unless Congress was prepared to appro priate from the treasury, for the support of the Department, a sum more than equivalent to the mail services performed by it for the Govern ment. The recommendations of the Postmaster General, in respect to letter postage, except on letters from and to California and Oregon, were substantially adopted by the last Congress. He now recommends adherence to the present letter rates, and advises against a furtTier reduction until justified by the revenue of the Department. lie also recommends that the rates of postage on printed matter be so revised as to render them more simple, and more uniform in their opera tion upon all classes of printed matter. 1 sub mit the recommendations of the report to your favorable consideration. The public statutes of the United States have now been accumulating for more than sixty years, and, interspersed with private acts, are scattered through numerous volumes, and, from the cost of the. whole, have become almost in accessible to the great mass of the community. They also exhibit much of the incongruity and imperfection of hasty legislation. As it seems to be generally conceded that there is no "com mon law" of the United States to supply the defects of their legislation, it is most important that that legislation Should he as perfect as pos sible, defining every power intended to be con ferred, every crime intended to be made punish able, and prescribing the punishment to be indic ted. In addition to some particalar cases spo ken of more at length, the whole criminal code is now lamentively defective. Some ofiences are imperfectly described, and others are entire ly omitted ; so that dagrant crimes may he com mitted with impunity. The scale of punishment is not in all cases graduated according to the degree and nature of the offence, and is often rendered more unequal by the different modes of imprisonment, or penitentiary confinement, in the different States. Many laws of a permanent character have been introduced into appropriation bills, and it is often difficult to determine whether the par ticular clause expires with the temporary act of which it is a part, or continues in force. " It has also frequently happened that enactments and provisions of law have been introduced into bills, with the title or general subject of which thev have little or no connection or relation. In this mode of legislation so many enactments have been heaped upon each other, and often with but little consideration, that, in many instances, it is difficult to search out and determine what is the law. The Government of the United States is em phatically a government of written laws. The statutes should, therefore, as far as practicable, not only be made accessible to all, but be ex pressed in language so plain and simple as to be understood by all, and arranged in such method as to give perspicuity to every subject. Many of the States have revised their public acts witb great and manifest benefit; and 1 recommend that provision be made by law for the appoint ment of a commission to revise the public sta tutes of the United States, arranging them in order, supplying deficiencies, correcting incon gruities, simplifying their language, and report ing thetn to Congress for its action. An act of Congress approved 30th September, 1850, contained a provision for the extension of the Capitol, according to such plan as might he approved by the President, and appropriated one hundred thousand dollars to be expended under his direction, by such architect as he should ap point to execute the same. On examining the various plans which had been submitted by dif ferent architects, in pursuance of an advertise ment by a committee of the Senate, no one was found to be entirely satisfactory, and it was therefore deemed advisable to combine and adopt the advantages of several. The great object to be accomplished was to make such an addition as would afford ample and convenient halls for the deliberations of the two Houses of Congress, with sufficient accom modations for spectators, and suitable apart ments for the committees and officers of the two branches of the Legislature. It was also desi rable not to rnar the harmony and beauty of the present structure, which, as a specimen of ar chitecture, is so universally admired. Keeping these objects in view, I concluded to make the addition by wings, detached from the present building, yet connected with it bv corridors. This mode of enlargement will ieave the present Capitol uninjured, and afford great advantages for ventilation and the admission of light, and will enable the work to progress without inter rupting the deliberations of Congress To carry this plan into effect 1 have appointed an expe rienced and competent architect. The corner stone was laid on the 4th day of July last, with suitable ceremonies, since which time the work has advanced with commendable rapidity, and the foundations of both wings are now nearly complete. i again commend to your favorable regard the interests of the District of Columbia, and deem it only necessary to remind you. that although its inhabitants have no voice in the choice of representatives in Congress, they are not the less entitled to a just and liberal consideration in your legislation. .Mv opinions on this subject were more fully expressed in my last annual communication. Other subjects were brought to the attention of Congress in my last annua! message, to which I would respectfully refer. But there was one of more than ordinary interest to which 1 again invite your special attention. 1 allude to the recommendation for the appointment of a com mission to settle private claims against the United States Justice to individuals as well as to the Government imperatively demands that some more convenient and expeditious mode than an appeal to Congress should be adopted. it is deeply to be regretted that in several in stances officers of the government, in attempting to execute the law for the return of fugitives from labor, have been openly resisted, and their efforts frustrated and defeated by lawless and violent mobs; that in one instance such resist ance resulted iu the death of an estimable citi zen, and in others serious injury ensued to those officers and to individuals who were using their endeavors to sustain the laws. Prosecutions have been instituted against the alleged offen ders, so far as they couid be identified, and are still pending. 1 have regarded it as my duty, in tiiese cases, to give all aid legally in my power to the enforcement of the laws, and 1 shall continue to do s<> wherever and whenever their execution mas be resisted. The act of Congress for the return of fugitives from iuhor is one required and demanded by the express words of the Constitution. The Constitution declares, " That no person ' held to service or labor in one State, under the 'laws thereof, escaping into another, shall, in 'consequence of any law or regulation therein, 'he discharged from such service or labor, but 'shall he delivered up on claim of the party to ' whom such service or labor may be due."— This Constitutional provision isVqually obliga tory upon the Legislative, the Executive, and Judicial Departments of the Government, and upou every citizen of the I'nited States. Congress, however, must, from necessity, first act upon the subject, by prescribing the pro ceedings necessary to ascertain that the person is a fugitive, and the means to be used for his restoration to the claimant. This was done by an act passed during the first term of President Washington, which was amended by that enact ed by the last Congress, and it now remains for the Executive and Judicial Departments to take care that these laws he faithfully executed. This injunction of the Constitution is as peremp tory and as binding as any other; it stands ex actly on the same foundation as that clause which provides for the. return of fugitives from justice, or that which declares that no hill of attainder or r.r post facto law shall he passed, or that which provides for an equality of taxation, according to the census, or the clause declaring that all duties shall lie uniform throughout the United States, or the important provision that the trial of all crimes shall he by jury. These several articles and clauses of the Constitution, all resting on tiie same authority, must stand or fall together. Some objections have been urged against the details of the act for the return of fugitives from labor; but it is worthy of remark that the main opposition is aimed against the Con stitution itself, and proceeds from persons and classes of persons, many of whom declare their wish to see that Constitution overturned. They avow their hostility to any law which shall give full and practical effect to this requirement of the Constitution. Fortunately, the number of these persons is comparatively small, and is believed to be daily diminishing, but the issue which they present is one which involves the supremacy and even the existence of the Con stitution. Cases hare heretofore arisen in which indi viduals have denied the binding authority of acts of Congress, and even Slates have proposed to nullify such acts, upon the ground that the Con stitution was the supreme law of the land, and that those acts of Congress were repugnant to that instrument; hut niillilieation is now aimed, not so much against particular laws as being inconsistent with the Constitution, as against the Constitution itself; and it is not to be disguised that a spirit exists and has been actively at work to rend asunder this Union, which is our cher ished inheritance from our revolutionary fathers. In my last annual message I stated that 1 con sidered the series of measures, which had been adopted at the previous session, in reference to the agitation growing out of the Territorial and Slavery questions, as a final settlement in prin ciple and substance of the dangerous and excit ing subjects which they embraced ; and I rec ommended adherence to the Adjustment estab lished by those measures, until time and expe rience should demonstrate the necessiiy of fur ther legislation to guard against evasion or abuse 1 was not induced to make this recom mendation because 1 thought those measures perfect, for no human legislation ran be perfect. Wide differences and jarring opinions can only be reconciled by yielding something on all sides, and this result had been reached after an angry conflict of many months, in which one part of the country was arrayed against another, and violent convulsion seemed to be imminent Looking at the interests of the whole country, 1 felt it to he my duly to seize upon this Com promise as the best that could be obtained amid conflicting interests, and to insist upon it as a final settlement, to be adhered to by all who value the peace and welfare of the country. A year has now elapsed since that recommendation was made. To that recommendation I still adnere, and I congratulate you and the country upon the genera! acquiescence in these mea sures ol peace, which has been exhibited in all parts of the Republic. And not only is there this general acquiescence in these measures, but the spirit of conciliation which has been manifested in regard to them in all parts of the country, has removed doubts and uncertainties in the minds ot thousands of good men concerning I lie durability of our popular institutions,land given renewed assuiance that our Libert} and our Union may subsist together for the benefit of this and all succeeding generations. MILLARD FILLMORE. WASHINGTON, Decembers, 1851. THE GAZETTE! LEWISTOWN, l'A. FRIDAY EYEYIYG, December 5, 1851. THE MESSAGE. —We publish this document (for a copy of which we are indebted to Mr. JONES, Postmaster at Ilarrisburg) in our columns to-day, to the exclusion of almost every thing else. It is an able exposition of the affairs of govei nment, and although necessarily long on account of the important matters treated of, de serves a general perusal, and, we w ill add, gen eral commendation. CONGRESS organized on Mouday last. Lynn Boyd, of Kentucky, was elected Speaker, and Forney of the Pennsylvanian, Clerk. The Cass locofocos in this State might as well make up their minds to vote for Buchanan and ten cents a day, as they are evidently sold. ACCIDEN'T.—A young Irishman named JAMES DAI.Y, was severely injured on Thursday after noon, 27th ult., near the Railroad Depot, by falling between a hand car and a gravel truck while in motion. The flange of the wheel caught his leg near the knee and took off the flesh t*> the bone down to his foot, when the truck was fortunately thrown off the track. He is doing well, and will be sent to the hospital at Philadelphia as soon as he cau be removed with safety. COLLISION'.- —The down train on Friday last, at the Cove, in Dauphin county, came in collision with a freight car that had somehow got on the track, by which the engine was thrown off", upset and badly broken: the engineer, Levi Hewston, had his fingers taken oft' the right hand , and the fireman, Daniel Rupert, had his skull fractured, an arm and both legs broken. The latter was living at last accounts, but is not expected to recover. people of Pennsylvania, who were taught during the recent election campaign that the safety of the Union depended on an endorse ment of the compromise measures, will perhaps be surprised to learn that the caucus of demo cratic members of Congress for nominating of ficers, laid a motion to endorse those measures on the table ! We are requested to state that Geo. W. Ei.oeh, Esq., will deliver a Lecture before the Apprentices Literary Society on Saturday even ing, 6th inst., at 7 o'clock. Ladies and gentle men are invited to attend. The Christmas Brother Jonathan. The appearance of this elegant holiday Pic torial will astonish every body this year. It is rcallv and truly the most spirited and beautiful sheet of pictures ever issued in America. The grand feature of the paper is the wonderful Christmas Journey of that jolly friend of good boys and girls known as Santa Claus, or Saint Nicholas. This fine large picture occupies two entire pages of that paper. The latest report is that over 80,00b copies of the Jonathan was sold during November. Well, it would notsur prise us if twice that number were circulated be fore Christmas, at 12 cents per copy—for it is by far the best thing of the kind ever issued. 15. 11. Day, (successor of Wilson, & Co.) is the pub lisher. Subscribers to the weekly Brother Jonathan (one dollar a year) receive this beau tiful Pictorial free. As the season is with us, when all are liable to the aiflictions that follow colds sealed on the throat and lungs, we should keep it in mind that .Iyer's Clurry Pectoral is the proper remedy for these diseases, and that it seldom fails to cure. lit' Congress has assembled at Wash ington, and, among other things, it is said that the taritl will lie amended and raised. \\ liatever may be the result, there will he no rise in the tariff of prices charged for goods of any kind at John .7. Sterett's store, his stock having been purchased and paid for while the market was at a low ebb. MARRIED, On Tuesday, the 2d instant, by the Kev. J. Ro senberg, J. A. Ei.liot and ftliss Elizabeth Morrison, both ol Lewistown. DIED. In Granville township, on the 27th November, ; Mrs. Maria Clay, aged 75 years. THE MARKETS. Lewistown December, 5, 1851. Fatd by Dealei * Flour --- $3 25 Wheat, white - - - 75 Do red - • 70 Rye .... 50 Oats - 25 Corn ... 45 Cloverseed - - - 425 Flaxseed - - - 1 00 Timothyseed - - - 200 Butter, good 15 Eggs - - • l-i Lard - 0 Tallow - 8 Potatoes ... 50 The Lewistown Mills are paying 75 cts. per bushel for White Wheat, and 70 cts. for Red. Rye 55 cents. Corn, old 50, new 45 cents per bushel. Prices of Flour—£2,2s per 100 lbs. for extra, and £2,00 for superfine. E- E. Loc-kf. & Co. at Locke's Mills, are paying 60 cents for Rye, and 45 cents for Corn. At Philadelphia Flour 13 firm at £3.87; white wheat 88 and red 82. At Baltimore, Flour is quoted at £3.87. The American reports a sale on Wednesday of Pen . white wheat at 87 and of red at 82 cents. of the noblest traits of human char acter is gratitude for benefits received, and the heart which would forget the benefactor who made it happy, sinks below the level of the dumb brute. Uut how much pleasure toeshouhl we derive from doing good, not for the sake of being thanked and placing persons under obli gations to tis, but the sake alone of making them happy. The greatest benefit one can bestow upon another, is restoring him to health. I)r. C. M. Jackson, by the aid of Hoofland's Ger man Hitlers, sold at 120 Arch st., I'hila., has been the instrument of saving thousands from an untimely grave. Shawls, Muffs, Bonnets, &c. 11/ E have just opened our second stip f T ply of included in which will be fount! splendid Brocjic Isomu .Sliawls, I£ay Slate flo. | A JluuiLsmne Assortment of M i FFS and 117.V TER BOyjS'E TV. Rich watered, figured and plain Merino*!, • Cuehmere.*, Mou* de Laines, fcc. We have also opened some superior CAUPETS, Floor Oil Clotlts, Window Shades, Ace. Our flock of goods is now very complete, and we invite our friends to I call and examine for themselves. U ATTjSON, JACOB & CO. Lewistown, Dec. 5,1851. Bridge Election. riMIE Stockholders of the Lewistown JL ai d Tuscarora Bridge Company are requested to j meet al the Toil House, at the Bridge, in the Borough of l.ewistown, on the I'litST MONDAY, (51 LI) ol JAM A | BY, 1852, to choose, by ballot, a PRESIDENT, SIX MANA GERS, and a THEASI HER. to conduct tile business of said company for one year thereafter. \VM. RUSSELL, Scc'y. Lcwistow n, December 5, 1 jsl.—3t Register's Notice. f pllE following Accounts have been ex- A amtned and passed by me, and remain tiled on re ; cord for Hie inspection of lleirs. Legatees, Creditors, and | all others in any way interested, and will be presented to i the next Orphans' Court of the county of Mifflin, to he held at the Court House in l.ewistown,on THURSDAY. : tlie Silt day of January, for allowance and confir ' matioii : 1. The account of Samuel Barr, Administrator of Na ' thaniel Fear, deceased. 2. The account of Samuel Drake, Executor of Francis : Hutchinson, deceased. 3. The account of Samuel Barr, Administrator of Ber nard Stohl, deceased. -1. The final account of \Vm. W. Gilmore and Henry Steely, Administrators of Daniel Reel, deceased. 5. The account of Jacob Mohlcr, Guardian of John Loyrs. i 0. The final account of Robert G. Shaw, Executor of . Adam C. Shaw, deceased. J. L. MdLYAIXE, Reg. Register's Office, l.ewistown, Dec. 5, 1851. Register's Notice. R|T HE following accounts have been ex- A a mined and passed by me, and remain filed on re cord in this office for inspection of Heirs, Legatees, Credi tors, and all olhers in any way interested,and will be pre sented to the next Orphans' Court of the county of Mif flin, to he held at the Court House in l.ewistown, on THURSDAY, the Btb day of January, 1552, for allow ance and continuation : 1. The account of Robert Stewart, Administrator of David S. Shaw, deceased. 2. The account of Nathaniel Wilson, Guardian of the minor children of Thomas Mitchell, deceased. 3. The final Administration account of Eliaa W. Dixon, Administrator of the estate of Martin Dixon, late of Oliver township, deceased. 4 the account of Samuel Morrison, Administrator of the estate of J 1> Morrison, deceased. James Mcdowell, Reg. Register's Office, l.ewistown, Dec. 5 1851. Remember the Sabbath Day. rpO the Honorable the Judges of the A Court of Quarter Sessions of Mifflin County. The Grand Inquest of the County of Mifflin, respect fully repre-enis : That they believe the selling of Into.v- I icating Liquors by Licensed Tavern-keepers, and olhers, upon Ihe Sabbath Day, fo be a great public evil, destruc | live to the morals of the young, and a great source of I disorder, riot and crime. That the Court has every dUpo . sitihn to aid, to the extent of its power, to suppress vice ! and promote sound morals, we have full confidence ; and wealso believe that respectable innkeepers would gladly close their bars on that day, if all others would do so, ; either of their own accord, or by direction of the Court. We have noticed that in many counties of ihe State, Ihe Courts have ordered the bars of licensed innkeepers | to be closed upon Ihe Sabbath Day, and that such orders have produced the happiest results. The Grand Inquest, of Mifflin county would therefore respectfully ask the I Couit to make an order to that effect in this county. DAVID McCLUBE, Foreman. ] August sth, 1851. Act of 1705, entitled 41 An Act to Restrain People from labor on thr i-iret Day ofjhc Heck. —Dun. Dig., ed of j page 14. "SEC. 5. All persons who are found drinking and tip pling in ale houses, taverns, or other public house or place, on the first day of the week, commonly called Sun day, or any pait thereof, shall for every offence forfeit and pay one shilling and sixpence to any constable that shall demand the same to the use of the poor. And all constables are hereby empowered, and by virtue of : Iheir office required, to search public houses and places suspected to entertain such tipplers, and them, when ! found, quietly to di-pe.rse, but in case of refusal to bring the persons so refusing before the next Justice of the Peace, who may roimnit such offenders to the stocks, or hind them to their good behaviour, as to bim shall deem requisite. i " And the keepers of such ale houses, taverns or oiher public house or place as shall countenance or tolerate any such practices, being convhted thereof, by the view of a single magistrate, his own confession, or the proof of one or moie credible witnesses, shall for every offence forf- it and pay ten shillings, to be recovered as and fur the uses aforesaid." Act of 111/, of .March. 1834, relating to Inns. 7kt(rni,j t Di nlop's Dig., p. 523. " SEC. 27. If any innkeejier or tavern keiqier shall be convicted of any offence not mentioned in this art, os, shall know ingly suffer drunkenness, riot, or other disor derly conduct in his house, or shall disobey any of the provisions of this act, it shall bo lawful fhr the Court which granted the license, in t' e-'r discretion, to revoke, the same, and such revocation shall be entered on record,, and the license thai! thereupon cease and determine." Pursuaut to instructions of trie Court of Quarter Si ssinus ot Mifflin county, louie directed, I have rallied l lie above and foregoing report of the (.'rand, t Inquest of saidcounty, as also the several sections of the acts of ITtti and of the Llthol' March, I!s3l, above recited, to be published in all the newspapers printed in Mifflin county. And also, pursuaul to sahiiiistrutlioiiP, I hereby give that the powers in the said Court vested in relation to the practice complained of hi tho report of the Urand Juty, will tie enforced. JOSEPH ALEXANDER. iMsirict Attorney for Mitflin Lew is town, December 5, lbsl—3t Pennsylvania Railroad. PASSENGER TRAINS leave Lew istown daiiy as follows: MAII. TWAIN. Eastward at I'd o'clock 4 minute? P. M. Westward at 4 o'clock 2ti minutes P. M. EXPRESS TWAIN. Eastward at ] o'cl ck IP minutes A. M. Westward at 2 o'clock l(t minutes A. M. FREIGHT TWAIN DAILY, (EXriPT SUNDAYS' Eastward at 2 o'clock :tti minutes p. M. , Westward at 12 o'clock 4 minutes P. M. James milliken. I Lewiato vu Repot, Dec. 5, I Sol.
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers