OS DOLLAR PER ANNUM, INVARIABLY IN ADVANCE.
TOWANDA :
(tljursbiiß fllormitn, Hlartl) 12. 1837.
[From the Annual Gift.]
LONGINi} FOR HOME.
Our Northern hill.-, are cold and bleak,
And chilling is the.nir,
But dear to me is every peak—
Would now that I were there.
Stern Winter crowns with glitterinc geins
The mountain's stately height;
Majestic look their diadems,
Flashing in sunbeams bright.
Our forest trees are old and grand,
And beauti.id, I ween,
When Spring comes forth with fairy hand,
And decks their limbs with green.
1 wandered o'er, when but a child,
Each bleak hill's rugged brow,
And through the forest wild—
Would 1 could wander now.
Among those hills and vales my home
Is nestling 'mid the snow,
The Mecca si tine, to which my heart
Still turns, where'er I go.
Tears have passed, and friends have flown,
And 1 have roamed afar ;
But one is there to cheer me on,
Life's own.#) ight guiding star.
My Mother ! youthful love e'er throws
A halo rounr. thy brow ;
Kind sympathizer in my woes,
Would 1 were witl thee, now.
I long to come, my mother dear,
And r.'st me by thy side,
To meet familiar faces, where
Love lights the ingleside.
This world is very lone and drear,
And sadly do 1 roam ;
Mother, thy child is weary here —
Take me, O take tue home!
And mother, fold me to thy heart,
Securely as of yore ;
And mother, say we ne'er shall part,
No ! never, nevermore! if. C. L.
3Jisttllantotts.
[ From tac report of a Prussian Engineer.]
The Crazy Engineer.
My train left Dantzic in the morning gene
rally about eight o'clock ; but once a week wc
had to wait the arrival of the steamer from
Stockholm. It was the morning of the steam
ers arrival that I came down from the hotel
rial found that my engineer had been so seri
ously injured that he could not run. A rail
way carriage had run over him and broken
one of his legs. 1 went immediately to the
engine house to procure another engineer, for
i knew there were three or four in reserve
there, but I was disappointed. I enquired for
Westplial, but was informed that lie had gone
to isteegeu to see his mother. Goudolpho had
gone to Kouigsberg, on the road. But where
was Mayne ? lie had leave of absence for
two days, and had gone no one knew whither.
Here was a fix. I heard the puffing of the
steamer in the Xcufahrwasser, and the passen
gers would be 011 hand in fifteen minutes. I
ran to the guards and asked them it they knew
where there was an engineer, but they did not.
1 then went to the firemen and asked them if
any one of them felt competent to run the en
gine to Brora berg. X'o one dared to attempt
it The distance was nearly one hundred miles
What was to be done ?
The steamer stopped at the wharf, and those
who were going on by rail came flocking up to
the station. They had eaten breakfast on
hoard the boat, and were all ready for a fresh
-tart. The baggage was cheeked and register
ed, the tickets bought, the different carriages
pointed to the various classes of passengers,
and the passengers themselves seated. The
train was in readiness in the long station house,
and the engine was steaming and pit fling away
impatiently in the distant firing house.
It was past nine o'clock.
"Come, why don't we start?" growled an
old fat Swede, who had been watching me
narrowly for the last fifteen minutes.
And upon this there was a general chorus
of anxious inquiry, which soon settled to down
right murmuring. At this juncture some one
touched me on the elbow. I turned and saw a
stranger by my side. I expected that lie was
going to remonstrate with me for mv back
wardness. In fact, I began to have strong
temptations to pull oil' my uniform, for every
anxious eye was fixed on the glaring badges
which marked me as the chief officer of the
train.
However, this stranger was a middle-aged
man, tall and stout, with a face of great ener
gy and intelligence. JI is eye was black and
brilliant—so brilliant that 1 could not for the
life of me gaze steadily into it ; and his lips
which were thin, seemed more like polished
nimble than human flesh. Ilis aress was
black throughout, and not only set with exact
iii• etv, but was scrupulously clean and neat.
" Von want an engineer, I understand," lie
said, in a low, cautious tone, at the same time
gazing quietly about him as though he wanted
no one to hear what lie said.
"1 do," I replied. "My train is all ready,
and we have no engineer within twenty miles
of this place."
"Well sir, I am going to Bromberg—l
must go, and I will run the engine for you."
"Ha !" I uttered, "you arc an engineer ?
' 1 ain, sir—one of the oldest in the coun
tr.v; and am now on my way to make arrange
ments for a great improvement I have invented
''T the application of steam to a locomotive,
byname is Martin Kroller. If you wish I
will run as far as Bromberg ; and I will show
I'ou running that is ruuning."
IVa> 1 not fortunate? I determined to ac
"pt the man's offer at once, and so I told him.
He received my answer with a nod and a smile.
' went with him to the house, where we found
'iic iron horse in the charge of the fireman,
:i l all ready for the start. Kroller got upon
!;i c platform, and I followed him. I had ncv
"' ii a man betray that peculiar aptness amid
'< -i'h'ncry, that he dt\l. He let on the
THE BRADFORD REPORTER.
steam in an instant, and yet with care and
judgment, and he backed up to the baggage
carriage with the most exact uicety. I had
seen enough to assure mi that he was thor
oughly acquainted with the business, and 1 felt
composed once more. I gave my engine up to
the new man, and then hastened away to the
office. Word was passed for all the officers to
take their seats, and soon lfterward I waved
my hand to the engineer, There was a puff—
a groaning of the heavy axel trees —a trembling
of the building—and the<tr.iiu was in motion.
I leaped upon the platform of the guard car
riage, and in a few minutes more the statiou
honse was far behind us,
In less than an hour We reached Dirsham,
where we took up the passengers that had
come on the Kouigsberg railway. Here I
went forward, and asked Kroller how he liked
the engine. He replied that he liked it very
much.
" But," he added, with a strange sparkling
of the eye, " wait until T get my improvement,
and then you will see travelling. By the soul
of the Virgin Mother, sir, I could run an en
gine of mv construction to the moon in four
and twenty hours !"
I smiled at what I thought his faint enthu
siasm, and theu went back to my station. As
soon as the Kouigsberg passengers were all on
board, and their baggage attached, we started
again.
As soon as all matters had been attended to
connected with the new accession of passen
gers, I went into the guard cariagc, and sat
down. An early train from Kouigsberg had
been through two hours before reaching Broni
berg and that was at Little Oscue, where we
took ou board the western mail.
" How we go !*' uttered one of the guard,
some fifteen minutes after we had left Dirsh
am.
" The new engineer is trying the speed," I
replied not yet holding any fear.
But ere long I began to be fearful that lie
was running a little too fast, the carriages be
gan to sway to and fro, aud I could hear ex
clamation of fear from the passengers
" Good heavens !" cried one of the guard
coming in at that moment, " what is that fel
low doing ? Look sir, aud see how we are go
ing."
I looked at the window and found that we
were dashing along at a speed never before
travelled on that road. Posts, fences, rocks
and trees, Hew by in one undistinguished mass,
and the carriages now swayed fearfully, i
started to my l'ect, and met a passenger on the
platform. He was one of the chief owners of
our road, and was just on his way to Berlin.
He was pale aud excited.
" Sir," he gasped, " is Martin Kroller on the
engine."
" Yes," I told him.
" Holy Virgin ! didn't you know him ?"
"Know?" I repeated somewhat puzzled,
" what do you nicuu ? He told me that his
name was Kroller, aud that he was an engi
neer. We had 110 one to run 011 the engine,
and
" You took him interrupted the man.—
" Good Leavens, sir, he is as crazy as a man
can be. lie turned his brain over a new plan
for applying steam power I saw him at the
station, but did not. recognize him, as I was
in a hurrv. Just now one of your passengers
told me that your engineers were all gone this
morning, and that you found one that was a
stranger to you. Then I knew that the man
whom 1 had seen was Martin Kroller. He
had escaped from the hospital at Stettin.—
Von must get him off somehow."
The whole fearful truth was now open to
me. The speed of the train was increasing
every moment, and I knew that a few more
miles per hour, would launch 11s all into de
struction. I called to the guard, and then
made my way forward as quick as possible. I
reached the after platform of the after tender,
and there stood Kroller upon thetipinc board,
his hat and coat off, his long black hair float
ing wildly in the wind, his shu t unbuttoned
at the throat, his sleeves rolled up, with a pis
tol in his teeth, and thus glaring at the fire
man, who lay motionless upon the fuel. The
furnace was stuffed till the very latch of the
door was red hot, and the whole engine was
quivering and swaying as though it would shi
ver in pieces.
" Kroller ! Kroller I" I cried at the top of
my voice.
The crazy engineer started, and caught the
pistol in his hand. Oil ! how those great
black eyes glared, and how ghastly and fright
ful the face looked.
"Ha ! ha! lial" he yelled demoniacally,
glaring upon me like ari enraged lion.
"They swore that. I could not make it!—
But see ! see ! My new power ! See my
new engine ! I made it, and they are jealous
of me. I made it, and when it was done they
stole it of me. But I have found it ! For
years 1 have been wandering in search of my
great ciigine, aud they swore it was not made.
But I have found it ! I knew it this morn
ing when I saw it at Dantzic, and I was de
termined to have it. And I've got it ! Ho !
ho ! ho !—we're 011 the way to the moon, I
say ! By the Virgin Mother, we'll be in the
moon in four and twenty hours. Down, down,
villain ! If you move I'll shoot you.
This was spoken to the poor fireman, who
at that moment attempted to rise,and the frigh
tened man sank back again.
" Here's Little Oscue right at hand !" cried
oiu one of the guard. But even as he spoke
the buildings were at hand. A sickening sen
sation settled upon my heart, for I supposed
that wc were gone uow. The houses flew by
like lightning. I knew that if the officers here
had turned the switch as usual, we should be
hurled into eternity in one fearful crash. I
saw a flash—it was another engine—l closed
iny eyes ; but still we thundered ou. The of
ficers had seen our speed, aud knowing that
we would not head up in that distance, they
had changed the switch so that we went on.
But there was death ahead if we did not
stop. Only fifteen miles ahead was the town
of Schwartz, on the A'istula, and at the rate
we were going wc should he there in a few mo
ments for each minute carried us over a mile
PUBLISHED EVERY THURSDAY AT TOWANDA, BRADFORD COUNTY, PA., BY E. O'MEARA GOODRICH.
" KEARDLBSS OF DENUNCIATION FROM ANY QUARTER."
The shrieks of the passengers now rose above
the crash of the rails, and more terriffic than
all else arose the demoniac shouts of the mad
engineer.
" Merciful heavens !" gasped the guardsman,
" there's not a moment to lose, Schwartz is
close by. But hold, he added, let's shoot
him."
At that moment a tall, stout Gorman stu
dent came over the platform where we stood,
and We saw that the mad man had his heavy
pistol aimed at. us. He grasped a heavy stick
of wood, and, with a steadiness of nerve which
I could not have commanded, he hurled it with
such force and precision, that he knocked the
pistol from the maniac's hand. I saw the
movement, and on the moment that the pistol
fell, I sprang forward and the German follow
ed me. I grasped the man by the arm, but I
should have been nothing in his mad power
had I been alone. He would have hurled me
from the platform, had not the student at that
moment struck him on the head with a stick
of wood which he caught up as came over the
tender.
Kroller settled down like a dead man, and
on the next instant I shut off the steam and
opened the valve. As the freed steam shriek
ed and howled in its escape, the speed began
to decrease, and in a few moments more the
danger was passed. As I settled back, en
tirely overcome by the wild emotions that had
raged within me, we began to turn the river,
and before 1 was fairly recovered the fireman
had stopped the train in the station-house at
Schwartz.
Martin Kroller, still insensible, was *aken
from the platform ; and, as we carried him to
the guard-room, one of the guard recognised
him, and told us that he had l e u there about
two weeks before.
"He came," said the guard, " and swore
that an engine which stood near here was his.
lie said it was one which lie had made to go
to moon in, and that it had been stolen from
him. We sent for more help to arrest him,
and he fled."
" Well," I replied with a shudder, " I wish
that he had approached me in the same way ;
but he was more cautions at Dantzic."
At Schwartz 1 found an engineer to run the
engine to Bromberg : and having taken out
the western mail, for the next northern train
to take, alorg, we saw that Kroller would be
properly attended to, and then started on.
The rest of the trip we ran in safety, though
T could see that the passengers were not whol
ly at ease, and would not be until they were
entirely clear of the railway. A heavy purse
was made up by them for the German student,
and he accepted it with much gratitude, and I
was glad of it ; for the current of gratitude
to him, might have prevented a far different
current, which might hove poured upon my
head, for having engaged a madman to run a
railroad train.
This is not the end ; Martin Kroller remain
ed insensible from the effects of that blow up
on the head nearly two weeks, and when lie
recovered from that he was sound again—his
insanity was all gone. I saw him about three
weeks afterwards, but he had no recollection
of me. He remembered notiiinff of the past
year, not even his mad freak ou my engine.
But I remembered it, and I remember it
still ; anil the people need never fear that I
shall be imposed upon again by a crazy cugi
ucer.
A STREET INCIDENT. — A full-rigged maid of
fashion, with hoops all bolily set, movul up
the side-walk gaily, observed of nil she met.
The walk v;us very wide, but the hooped skirts
was much wider, and 'twere useless e'en to
think of walking up beside her. Her cheeks
were "red as roses," her face was all a-smile;
and her tread was as dainty as though earth
was all "too vile." It was her hour of triumph,
and she didn't seem to know that a coasting
sleigh was coming at a speed not very slow.
But it came, ami'ere she knew if, her "props"
were kroi ked away, and she was going down
street with a boy. upon .is sleigh. The wind
it blew quite roughly, turned all the hoops back
'and of partly smothered screams there wasn't
any lack ; while tlie maiden didn't know what
she was or wai.'t about, her person much re
sembling an umbrella inside out. The passers
stopped and wondered, as the swiftly speeding
sleigh devoutly kept onward, rushing past and
fast away ; the boy cried " road," and liked it,
and safely "shied " his sled, with his own feet
pointing backwards ami the maid's thrown out
ahead. They gained the level safely, and the
maiden, full of wrath, looked back in angered
silence upon their traveled path " You gond
ii r-nothing scamp," she said, " I've a mind to
shake you well." " Your face was covered
up raeni, and you know I nevet'll ted," said
the coasting lad quite boldly, and in a jo
vial mood, he bowed and said, "Good morning
mem ; you hold your fed up good — you did."—
Spring/icld Republic a.
Pooii RICHARD'S VIEWS OF TIME. — If time
be of all things the most precious, wasting time
must be the greatest prodigality, since lost time
is never found again: aud what wc call time
enough always proves little enough. Let us then
up and be doing, and doing to the purpose; so
by diligence shall we do more wit h less perplex
ity. Sloth makes all things difficult,but Indus
try all easy ; and he that riscth late must trot
all day, and shall scarce overtake his business
at night; while laziness travels so slowly, that
poverty soon overtakes him. Drive thy busi
ness, let not that drive thee ; and early to bed
and early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy,
and wise.
WHAT IIF: WANTED. —" Fellow citizens !"
said a stump orator, " we have the best couu
try in the world, and the best government.
What people on the face of the globe enjoy
more privileges than we do ? Here we have
liberty to speak, and liberty of the press, with
out onerous despotism. What, fellow citizens,
is more desirable than this? Do you want
anything more, my countryman ?"
" Yes sir-ree !'' sang out a red-faccd loafer,
" this is d y work. I want a suck out of that
flask sticking out of your coat pocket beliiud.''
INAUGURAL ADDRESS
OF
-TAIS. BUCHAKIN.
FEI.I,OW-CITIZENS : I appear before you this
day to take the solemn oath that I will faith
fully execute the office of President of the
United States, and will, to the best of my ab
ifijy, preserve, protect and defend the Consti
tution of the United States. In entering up
on this great office, I must humbly invoke the
God of our fathers for wisdom and firmness to
execute its high and responsible duties in such
a manner as to restore harmony and the an
cient friendship among the people of the seve
ral States, and to preserve our free institutions
throughout many generations. Convinced that
I owe my election to the inherent love of the
Constitution and the Union, which still ani
mates the hearts of the American people, let
me earnestly ask their powerful support in sus
taining all just measures calculated to perpet
uate these, the richest political blessings which
Heaven has ever bestowed upon any nation.
Having determined not to become a candi
date for re-election, I shall have no motive to I
influence my conduct in administering the Gov
ernment except the desire ably and faithfully
to serve my country and to live in the grate
ful memory of my countrymen.
We have recently passed through a Presi
dential contest iu which the passions of our
fellow-citizens were excited to the highest de
gree by questions of deep and vital importance ;
but when the people proclaimed their will, the
tempest at once subsided, and all was calm.—
The voice of the majority, speaking in the
manner prescribed by the Constitution was
heard, and instant submission followed. Onr
owu country conld alone have exhibited so
grand and striking a spectacle of the capacity
of man for self government. What a happy
conception, then, was it for Congress to apply
this simple rule, that the will of the majority
shall govern to the settlement of the question
of Domestic Slavery in the Territories ! Con- j
gross is neither to legislate Slavery into any
Territory or State, nor to exclude it there
from ; but to leave the people thereof perfect
ly free to form and regulate their domestic in
stitutions in their own way, subject only to
the Constitution of the United States as a
natural consequence. Congress has also pre
scribed that when the Territory of Kansas
shall be admitted as a State, it shall be recei
ved into the Union with or without Slavery,
as their Constitution may prescribe at the time
of their admission. A different opinion has
arisen in regard to the time when the people
of a Territory shall decide this question for
themselves. This is happily a matter of but
little practical importance, and beside it is a
judicial question, which legitimately belongs
to the Supreme Court of the United States,
before whom it is now pending, and will, it is
understood, be speedily and finally settled.—
To their decision, in common with all good
good citizens, I shall cheerfully submit, what
ever this may be, though it has been my indi
vidual opinion that under the Nebraska Kan
sas act, the appropriate period will be when
the number of actual residents iu the Tvrrito
ries shall justify the formation of a Constitu
tion with a view to its admission as a State in
to the Union. But, be this as it may, it is
the imperative and indispensable duty of the
Government of the United States to secure to
every resident inhabitant the free and indepen
dent expression of his opinion by his vote.—
This sacred right of each individual must be
preserved. This being accomplished, nothing
can be fairer than to leave the people of a ter
ritory free from all foreign interference to de
cide their own destiny for themselves, subject
only to the Constitution of the United States.
The whole Territorial question being thus set
tled upon the principle of popular sovereignty
—a principle as ancient as free Government
itself—everything of a practical nature has
been decided, and no other question remains
for adjustment, because that all agree that un
der the Constitution Shivery in the States is
beyond the reach of any human power, except
that of the respective States themselves where
in it exists. May we not then hope that the
long agitation on this subject is approaching
its end, anil that the geographical parties to
which it has given birth, so much dreaded by
the Father of his Country, willl speedily be
come extinct. Most happy will it be for the
country when the public mind shall be divert
ed from this question to others of more press
ing and practical importance. Throughout
the whole progress of this agitation, which has
scarcely known any intermission for more than
twenty years, while it has been productive of
no positive good to any human being, it has
been the prolific source of great evils to the
master, to the slave and to the whole country ;
it has alienated and estranged the people of 1
the sister States, from each other, and has
even seriously endangered the very existence
of the Union. Nor has the danger A'et entire
ly ceased. Under our system there is a rome
dy for all mere political evils in the sound
sense aud sober judgment of the people.—
Time is a great corrective. The political sub
jects which but a few years ago exasperated
the public mind have passed away and are now
nearly forgotten ; but this question of Domes
tie Slavery is of far greater importance than
any mere political question, because, should
the agitation continue ; it may eventually en
danger the personal safety of a large portion
of our countrymen where the institution ex
ists. In that event, no form of Government,
however productive of material benefits, eau
compensate for the loss of peace and domestic
security around the family altar. Let every
Union-loving man therefore, exert his best in
fluence to suppress this agitation, which, since
the recent legislation of Congress, is without
any legitimate object. It is an evil of the
times that men have undertaken to calculate
the mere material value of the Union.
Reasoned estimates have been presented of
the pecuniary profits and local advantages
which would result to different States aud sec
tions from its dissolution and of the compara
tive injuries which such an event would inflict
on other States and sections. Even descend
ing to this low and narrow view of the mighty
question, all such calculations are at fault.—
The bare reference to a single consideration
will be conclusive 01 this jioint.
We at present enjoy a free trade through
out our extensive and expansive country, such
as the world never witnessed. This trade is
conducted on railroads aud canals, on noble
rivers and arms of the sea, which bind togeth
er the North and the South, the East anil the
West of our noble confederacy. Annihilate
this trade, arrest its free progress by the geo
grupical lines of jealousy aud hostile States,
autl you destroy the prosperity and onward
march of the whole and every part, aud in
volve the whole in one common ruin.
But such considerations important as they
are in themselves, sink into insiguificance when
we reflect on the terriffic evils which would re
sult from disniiion to every portion of the Con
federacy—to the North not more than to the
South, to the East not more than to the West.
These I shall not attempt to portray, because
I feel an humble confidence that the "kind Pro
vidence which inspired our fathers with wis
dom to frame the most perfect form of govern
ment and union ever devised by man, will not
sutler it to perish until shall have been peace
fully instrumental, by its example, in the ex
tension of civil and religious liberty through
out the world.
Next in importance to the raaintaiuence of
the Constitution and the Union, is the duty of
preserving the Government. Public virtue is
the vital spirit of Republics, and history
proves that when this has decayed anil the
love of money has usurj>ed its place, although
the forms of free government may remain for
a season, the substance has departed forever.
Our present financial condition is without a
paralell in history. No nation has ever before
been em harassed by too large a surplus in its
Treasury. This almost necessarily gives birth
to extravagant legislation. It begets wild
schemes of expenditures and produces a set of
speculators anil jobbers, whose ingenuity is ex
erted in contriving and promoting expedients
to obtain the public money. The party, thro'
its official agents, whether rightfully or wrong
fully, is suspected, and the Government suffers
iu the estimation of the people. This is iu
itself a very great evil. The natural mode of
relief from this embarassraent is to appropri
ate the surplus fund in the Treasury to great
natioual objects for which a clear warrant can
be found in the constitution. Among these I
might mention the extinguishment of the pub
lic debt, a reasonable increase of the Navy,
which is at present inadequate to the protec
tion of our vast tonnage afloat—now greater
than that of any other nation, as well as the
defense of our extended sea coast. It is be
yond all question the true principle that no
more revenue ought to be collected from the
people than the amount necessary to defray
the expenses of a wise economical and efficient
Administration of the Government. To reach
this point it was necessary to resort to a mod
ification of the tariff, and this has been ac
complished in sncli a manner as to do as little
injury as may have been practicable to our do
mestic manufactures, especially those necessa
ry for the defense of the country. Any dis
crimination against a particular branch for the
purpose of benefiting favored corporations, in
dividuals, or interests, would have been unjust
to the rest of the community and inconsistent
with that spirit of fairness and equality, which
ought to govern in the adjustment of a reven
ue-tariff—but the squandering of the public
money sinks into comparative insignificance, as
temptation to corruption, when compared with
the squandering of the public lands.
No nation in the tide of time has ever been
blessed with so rich and noble an inheritance
as that we enjoy in the public lunds. In
administering this important trust, while it
may be wise to grant portions of them for the
improvement of the remainder, yet we should
never forget that it is our cardinal policy to
reserve these lands as much- as may be for ac
tual settlers, and this at moderate prices. We
shall thus not only best promote the prosperi
ty of the new States, by furnishing them a
hardy and independent race of honest and in
dustrious citizens, but shall secure homes for
our children and our children's children, as well
as for those exiles from foreign shores who
may seek in this country to improve their con
dition and to enjoy the blessings of civil and
religious liberty. Such emigrants have done
much to promote the growth and prosperity of
the country. They have proved faithful both
in peace and in war. After becoming citizens,
they are entitled, under the Constitution and
laws, to lie placed oti perfect equality with na
tive born citizens, and in this character they
should over he kindly recognized.
The Federal Constitution is a grant from
the States to Congress to certain specific pow
ers. ami the question whether this grant shall
be liberally or strictly construed, has, more or
less, divided political parties from the begin
ning. Without entering into the argument, 1
desire to state at the commencement of my
administration, that long experience and ob
servation have convinced me that a strict con
struction of the powers of the Government is
the only true as well as the only safe theory
of the Constitution. Whenever, in our past
history, doubtful powers have been exercised
by Congress, they have never failed to produce
injurious and unhappy consequences. Many
such instances might be adduced if this were
the proper occasion. Neither is it necessary
for the public service to strain the language of
the Constitution, because all the great and use
ful powers required for a successful administra
tion of the Government, both in peace and in
war, have been granted either iu express terms
or by the plainest implication. While deeply
convinced of these truths, I yet consider it
clear that under the war-making power Con
gress may appropriate money toward the con
struction of a military road when this is abso
lutely necessary for'the defense of any State
or Territory of the Union against foreign in
vasion. Under the Constitution Congress has
power to declare war, to raise and support ar
mies, to provide and maintain a navy, and to
call forth the militia to repel invasion. Thus
endowed in an ample manner with the war-
VOL. XVII. —NO. 40.
making |>ovver, the corresponding doty is re
quired that the United States shall protect
each of them (the States) against invasion.—
llovv is it possible to afford this protection to
California and our Pacific possessions except
by means of a military road through the terri
tory of the United States, over which men and
munitions of war may be speedily transported
from the Atlantic States to meet and repel tho
invader I In case of a war with a naval pow
!er much stronger than our own, we should
then have no other available access to the Pa
cific coast, because such a power would instant
ly close the route acoss the Isthmus of Cen
tral America. It is impossible to conccivo
that while the Constitution has expressly re
quired Congress to defend all the States, it
should yet deny to tliera by any fair construc
tion the only possible means by which one of
these States can be defended. Beside, tho
Government, ever since its origin, has been la
the constant practice of coustructiug military
roads. It might also be wise to consider whe
ther the love for the Union which now ani
mates our fellow-citizens on the Pacific Coast
may not be impaired by our neglect or refusal
to provide for them, in their remote and isol
ated condition, the only means by which tho
power of the States ou this side of the Rocky
Mountains can reach them in sufficient time to
protect them against invasion.
I forbear, for the present, from expressing
an opinion as to the wisest and most economi
cal mode in which the Government can lend
its aid in accomplishing this great and neces
sary work. I believe that many difficulties in
the way, which now appear formidable, will,
in a great degree, vanish as soon as the near
est and best route shall have beeu satisfactori
ly ascertained.
It may be right that, on this occasion, I
should make some brief remarks as to our
rights and duties as a member of the great
Family of Nations. In our intercourse with
them, there are some plain principles approved
by our own experience from which we should
never depart. We ought to cultivate peace,
commerce and friendship with all nations, aud
this not merely as the best means of promot
ing our own national interest, but in a spirit
or Christian benevolence toward fellowmen,
wherever their lot may be cast. Our diploma
cy should Ire direct and frank, neither seeking
to obtain more nor accepting less than is our
due. We ought to cherish a sacred regard for
the independence of all nations, and never at
tempt to interfere in the domestic concerns of
any, unless this shall be imperatively required
by the great law of self-preservation. To avoid
entangling alliances has been a maxim of our
policy ever since the days of Washiugton, and
its wisdom no one will attempt to dispute. In
short, we ought to do justice in a kindly spirit
to all nations, and require justice from them
in return. It is our glory that while other na
tions have extended their dominions by the
sword, we have never acquired any territory
except by fair purchase, or, as in the case of
Texas, by the voluntary determination of a
brave kindred, and independent people to blend
their destinies with our own. Even our acqui
sitions from Mexico form no exception. Un
willing to take advantage of the fortune of
war against a sister Republic, we purchased
these possessions under the treaty of peace for
a sum which was considered at the time a fair
equivalent. Our past history forbids that wo
shall in the future acquire territory unless this
be sanctioned by the laws of justice and honor.
Acting 0:1 this principle, no nation will have a
right to interfere or to complain if in the pro
gress of events we shall still further extend
our jKJsscssioi.s. Hitherto, in all our acquisi
tions, the people under the protection of the
American Hag have enjoyed civil and religious
liberty, as well as equal and just laws, and
have been contented, prosperous and happy.—
Their trade with the rest of the world has
rapidly increased, and thus every commercial
nation has shared largely in their successful
progress. I shall now proceed to take the
oath j r • cribed by the C ms i ut on, while hnm
bly invoking the blessing of Divine I'rovidenco
on this great people.
JAMES BUCHANAN.
A SIN-UUI.AU FASCINATION. —An English pa
per relates the following unaccountable occur
rence :—" One of th t- most singular instances in
connection with material thiugs, exists in tbo
case of u young man, who not very long ago
visited a large iron manufactory. He stood op
posite a large hammer,'and watched with great
intercstjits regular strokes. At first it was beat
ing immense lumps of crimson metal into thick
black sheets ; the supply becoming exhausted,
at length it only descended on a polished anvil,
still the young man gazed intently on its motion,
then he followed its stroke with a corresponding
motion of his head ; tlieu his left arm moved to
the same tunc ; and finally, he deliberately plac
ed his fist übou the anvil, and in a second it
was smitten to a jelly. The only explanation ho
made, was that he felt an impulse to do it, that
that lie knew lie should be disabled, that ho
saw all the consequence in a misty kind of man
ner, but that lie still felt the power within
above sense and reason—a morbid impulse in
fact, to which be succumbed, and by which ho
lost a good right hand."
fitln Memphis, Tennessee, tbo other day,
a countryman stood gazing in Mansfield's wiii
dows, where two skeletons luing suspended—
one being that of a man, the other a boy. A
stranger coming up—
" Whose skeleton is that ?" asked the coun
tryman pointing to the larger.
" That is Shakspcare's" said the stranger.
" And whose is that ?" continued tho coun
tryman, pointing to tho smaller.
" That is Shakspcare's, too," answered the
wag.
" How can It be ?"
" Why, that's him when he was a boy !'
was tho rejoinder.
" Oil ! I never thought of that."
And our country friend walked away, won
dering how them " queer cusses," the doctors,
got the bones out of Shakspcare's body when
he was alive !