fkadfotfl Reporter. Towanda, Thursday, December 8, 1864 THE PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE. We have delayed our paper for the pur pose of laying before our readers the Pros ident's message, which will be found in oui columns. It is unusually brief, and goes straight to the point. Our foreign relations arc in a satisfacto ry situation, while our domestic affairs an shown to be highly favorable to the caus< of the union. We commend this part of the message to the especial attention of the de spondent. In regard to the future policy of the Pre sident concerning the war and slavery, tin high expectations of the country are fully met. The war will not be given up, unti the rebels lay down their arms and submil to the national authority. He recommends the present Congress U abolish Slavery by Constitutional enact incut. lie will not retract anything he hat ever said or dose on the subject of Slavery He will not retract or modify the Emanci pation proclamation, nor will he everreturi: to bondage a human being freed by thai proclamation or by acts of Congress. IATEST AVAR XEAVS. To make room for the President's Mes sage, we are obliged to content ourselves with a brief synopsis of the military op erations during the past week Additional particulars of the battle ol Franklin have been received. The battle is represented to have been one of the most brilliant of the war, and a complete victory for the Union arms. Thirty stand of colors and a thousand prisoners were captured.— Our loss is set down at one thousand/while that of the rebels was six thousand. Gen. Stanley was wounded. The dispatch states that Hood's main army is believed to be threatening Murfreesboro', while Forrest is making a demonstration in front of our forces. No fears are entertained for the safety of Nashville. A report in the New York Commercial Advertiser, of the 2d, says that on the 25th, Sherman was within forty miles of Savan nah or between two and three days' march distant. The information comes from Port Royal, by the liag-of-trnce boat. It is, prob ably incorrect. An Augusta dispatch of the 2fitli ult., says that Sherman is forty-live miles south of Augusta, and thus far has not been baf fled. Gen. Grant telegraphed to the War De partment on Thursday that the Richmond Examiner of that day admits that Sherman will succeed in reaching the sea-coast. It is also admitted that he has crossed the Oco nee. A Louisville dispatch states that < Jeneral Thomas has abandoned his position at Franklin, and has formed his line of battle within three miles of Nashville. On Thurs day the two armies were engaged in skir mishing", and the rattle of musketry could be heard plainly at Nashville. A great battle is imminent. In the Army of the Potomac there was quite a brisk cannonading on Wednesday afternoon. Fort Hell opened tire for the entertainment of some English visitors,and was replied to by several of the enemy's batteries. Several casualties occurcd. On Thursday night the pickets had a lively en gagement. Gen. Gregg's cavalry was sent south on Thursday to discover it' the enemy were sending away troops. General Gregg re ports officially that lie captu-ed Stony Creek station, with two pieces of artillery, which he spiked, 11K) prisoners, H wagons and 30 mules. He burned the depot, with 3000 sacks of corn, 500 bales of hay, a train of cars and a large amount of government stores. No information could be obtained of the passage of any troops southward.— At Duval station much property was also destroyed. The Washington Republican of the 6th says that by the arrival of a government transport at Fortress Monroe last evening, the government has received advices from Savannah to the 2d of December, that when the steamer left information had reached Savannah that Sherman's advance cavalry was within six miles of that city. This does not conflict with the news brought by the steamer Belle, which arriv ed on Saturday night, that Savannah pa pers of the 30th of November announced that Sherman's army was within forty miles of that city. These papers do not state at what date he was that distance from the city. V gentleman recently from Savannah in forms lis that there are no important de fences on the west side of Savannah. The Rallhnorc American special corres pondent sends the following correspondence of the same date : " Advices from Fortress Monroe of last evening report the arrival there of the steamer Gen. Lyon with seven hundred and fifty released prisoners. " At the time the General Lyon left Sa vannah (last Thursday night), the latest news received there was to the effect that General Sherman occupied Milieu, Georgia, and that his cavalry was scouting several miles out from the town, meeting with but little resistance. " Every effort was being made for the de fence of Savannah. " Our prisoners report that boys of tliir teen years and even women were assisting in the trenches and earthworks. "Sherman was surely advancing to tin coast, and no Sunlit of his success need In entertained." The Secretary of State lias author i/.oil the publication of intelligence tending to prove that the attempt to burn northern cities, lately initiated at New York was de signed in Richmond. The man giving in formation was apprised of the intention ai Savannah, on the 19th of October. A Cap tain Montgomery, of Baltimore, had charge of the affair. XXXVTIIth CONGRESS. Second Regular Session : convened Monday, Dec ember, 5, 18(14. SENATE. HANNIBAL HAMLIN, Bangor, Maine, President ei officio. John W. Forney, of Pennsylvania, Clerk. [l'uioniKtß(inEoiuan),3B; DemtH-rats (in Italics), 12 ; Total, 50.] CALIFORNIA. John Conness, James A. McDmajall. CONNECTICUT. James Dixon, Lafayette S. Foster. ) DELAWARE. Ueorge Head Riddle, WiUard Miulsbury. j ILLINOIS. Lyman Trumbull, | ]Vm. A. Richardson. INDIANA. Thomas .1. Hendricks, j Henry S. Lane. IOWA. James Harlan, James W. Grimes. KANSAS. | Samuel C. Pomeroy, j j James H. Lane. KENTUCKY. ISarret Davis, Lazarus VI". Poicell. 1 LOUISIANA. R. King Cutler, Charles Smith. MAINE, Lot M. .Morrill, [Vacancy—Mr. Fessen ; den, being Secretary of' j the Treasury.] MASSACHUSETTS. Charles Sumner, Henry Wilson. MARYLAND. fieverily Johnson, j Thomas H. Hicks. MICHIGAN. I Zachariah Chandler, ! Jacob M. Howard. MINNESOTA. Alexander Ramsay, Morton S. Wilkinson. MISSOURI. John B. Henderson, i i B. Grate Brown. NEW-HAMPSHIRE. J ! Daniel Clark, j John P. Hale. NEW-JEIiSEY. 11 in. VI rijht, j John C. Ten Evck. NEW-YORK. j Edwin D. Morgan, j | Ira Harris. OHIO. | Benjamin F. Wade, ! John Sherman. OREGON. Benjamin F. Harding, j j James VV". A'esmith. j PENNSYLVANIA. | Charles R. Bnckaletc, t Edgar Cowan. RHODE ISLAND. i William Sprague, Henry B. Anthony. VERMONT. Solomon Foot, Jacob Collamer. VIRGINIA. James S. Carlile, [Vacancy—Lemuel J. ( J Bowden being dead. WEST Vir.GINTA. ' I'eter G. Van Winkle, | Waitman T. Willev. WISCONSIN. James 11. Doolittle, Timothy O. Howe. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. SCHVYLEB COLFAX, of South Bend, Indiana, Speaker. Edward McPherson, of Gettysburg, l'enn .,l'lerk. \ [Unionists (in Roman), 103 ; Democrats (in Ital- ; ics), 80 ; Total, 183. Those marked * were in the j preceding House.] Di.lt. CALIFORNIA. Thomas B. Shannon, Wm. Higby, Cornelius Cole. CONNECTICUT. 1 Henry C. Doming, 2 'James K. English, i 3 Augustus Brandagee, I 4 John H. Hubbard. DELAWARE. Nathan 15. Smith ers, ILLINOIS. 1 'lsaac N. Arnold, 2 John F. Farnsworth, 3 *Elihu B. Waslibnrne, 4 t'harles M. Harris, 5 Ebon C. Ingersoll, 1' 6 Jesse O. Norton, 1 7 John It. Eden, 1 8 John T. Stuart, 1: "J Lewis W. Boss, 1 10 * Anthony L. Knapp, 1 11 * Janus C. RtAtinson, 1 12 H'W. It. Moirison, 1 13 * Wm. .1. Allen, 1 Jo.s.C. Allen, (utlarge) 1 INDIANA. : 2 1 *John Law, 2 2 * James .1. t'rarens, 2 3 Henry IF. Harrington, [2: 4 * I Fin. S. lfohnan, 12 5 'George W. Julian, 12 0 Ebenezer Dumont, j 2 7 * Daniel 117 Voorhees, 2 8 Goblove S. Ortli, 2! 0 'Schuyler Colfax, j2! 10 Joseph K. Edgerton, ® 11 ,lames 1\ McDowell, 3 IOWA. 1 'James F. Wilson, 2 Hiram Priee, 3 Wm. B. Allison, j 4 Josiah B. Grinnell, 5 John A. Kasson, (i A. IV. Hubbard. ! KANSAS. A. Carter Wilder. KENTUCKY. 1 Lueien Anderson, 'i 3 * Geo. 11. Yeaman, U 3 * Henry tr riiler, 4 "Aaron Harding, 7 ' Robert Mallory, ti Green Clay Smith, j i 7 Brutus J. Clay, 8 Wm. H. Randall. 11 'J * 117a. JI. Wmlsworth, ij MAINE. 1 Lorenzo />. .If. Sweat. | 2 Sidney Perham, 3 James G. Blaine, 4 'John H. Rice, 5 'Frederick A. Pike, MARYLAND. 1 John A. J. Cresswell, 2 'Edwin H. Webster, ! 3 Henry Winter Davis, | 4 'Francis Thomas, 5 Benjamin d. Hams, i MASSACHUSETTS. I 1 'Thomas I). Eliot, 1 2 Oakes Ames, 3 'Alexander H. Rice, j 4 'Samuel Hooper, 3 'John B. Alley, 0 'Daniel W. Gooch, 7 George S. Boutwell, 8 John D. Baldwin, 1) Wm. B. Washburn, 10 'Henry L. Dawes, MICHIGAN. 1 'Fernando C. Beaman, 2 Charles Upson, 3 Joßn W. Longyear, 4 'Francis W. Kellogg, | 5 Augustus Baldwin, | i! John F. Driggs. j MINNESOTA. 1 'Wm. Wiinlhoin, 2 Ignatius Donnelly, j MISSOURI. 1 Samuel Knox, 2 Henry T. Blow, 3 John D. Si-ott, 4 Joseph W. McClurg, l 5 Sempronius H.Boyd, 6 Austin A. King, 7 Benjamin F. Loan, 8 * Win. A. Hall, 9 * James S. Rollins, NEW-HAMPSHIRE. 1 Daniel Murrey, 2 'Edward H. Itollins, ; 3 James W. Patterson,' DELEGATES FROM TERRITORIES. ARIZONA. Charles D. Poston, COLORADO. Hirum P. Bennett. DAKOTA. William Javne. IDAHO. Win. H. Wallace. ! WASHINGTON — Geortje K. Cole. THE OFFICIAL VOTE AT THE OCTOBER ELEC TION.- The following is the official report of I the vote of the State at the October elec tion. It includes the home and soldier's vote : liislrirJ. Union. Dem. Ist 7,742 9,764 2d 11.767 7,290 3d ...11.467 9,992 4th 13,088 9,384 sth 11,007 10,729 6th 9,661 12,847 7th 10,908 7,231 Bth 5,071 12,076 Nth 11,804 7,344 loth 10,679 11,154 lltli 6,393 13,016 12th 10,058 10,573 13th 9,724 8,728 14th 11,619 11,092 15th 10,576 13,382 16th 11,252 11,174 17th 9,225 8,716 18th 11,533 10,681 19th 11,631 9,914 20th 14,314 10,976 21st 10,7:10 10,855 22d 11,233 7,013 23d 11,882 8,124 24th 11,727 10,112 357,160 343,301 343,301 ; Union Majority * 13,859 THE Q'HIEF-JCSTICKSHII*. —The President on Tuesday appointed Hon. SALMON- P CHASE Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. The nomination was at once unanimously con firmed by the Senate. This appointment will be received with great satisfaction by , the country. PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE. Feßoai-Citizens of the Senate and House nf Represented i oes : Again the blessings of health ami abun dant harvests claim our profoundest grati tude to Almighty God. The condition of our foreign affairs is reasonably satisfactory. Mexico continues to be a theatre of civil war. While our political relations with that country have undergone no change,we have at the same time strictly maintained neutrality between the belligerents. At the request of the states of Costa liica and Nicaragua a competent engineer has been authorized to make a survey of the river Sao Juan and the port of San Juan. It is a source of much satisfaction that the difficulties which for a moment excited some political apprehension, and caused a closing of the inter-oceanic transit route, have been amicably adjusted, and that there is a good prospect that the route will soon be reopened with an increase of ca pacity and adaption. We could not exag gerate either the commercial or the political importance of that great improvement. It would be doing injustice to an impor tant South American state not to acknowl edge the directness, frankness and cordial ity with which the United States of Colom bia have entered into intimate relation with this government. A Claims Convention has been constitu ted, to complete the uuiinished work of the one which closed its session in 1861. The new liberal constitution of Venezu elu having gone into effect with the univer sal acquiescence of the people, the govern ment under it has been recognized, and di plomatic intercourse with it has been open ed in a cordial and friendly spirit. The long deferred Avcs Island claim lias beeu satisfactorily paid and discharged.— Mutual payments have been made of the claims awarded by the late joint commis sion for the settlement of classes between the United States and Peru. NEW-JERSEY. 1 John F. Starr, 2 (ieti. Middleton, 3 * Wm. fl. Steele, 4 Andrew J. Roger*, 5 * Nehemiah Perry. NEW-YORK. 1 Jhriy/d Tmrnsand, 1 2 Martin Kalhfleisch, ! 3 * Muses F. Odell, 4 * Benjamin Wood, 5 Fernando Wood, 6 * Elijah Ward, 7 John W. ('hauler, 8 James Brooks, i 9 Anson Herrick, 10 H'm. Jladfonl, 11 ('has. 11. Wi afield, 12 Homer A. Nelson, 13 'John B. Steele, I 14 John V. L. Pruyn, . 15 John A. (rjisieohl, l'> Orlando Kellogg, 17 Calvin T. Hulburd, 18 James 11. Marvin, ' , If Samuel F. Miller, 20 'Ambrose \V. Clark, ; 21 Francis Kenton, 22 DeWittC. Littlejohn, 23 Thomas T. Davis, ! , 24 'Theo're M. Pomeroy, > 25 Daniel Morris, 2ti Oiles W. Hotchkiss, I 27 *ll. B. Van Valkenburg ] 1 28 Freeman Clark, 29 'Augustus Frank, 10 John B. Hanson, ! 11 'Reuben E. Fenton, j OHIO. 1 * (jeoryt 11. Pendleton, 2 Alexander Tsaaj, 3 Robert C. Sehrenek, i 4 J. F. Mr Kinney, 5 Frank V. l.a Bloml, 0 *( hit ton .4. II hite, j 7 * Samuel S. Cox, 8 M'm. Johnson, 9 * Warren P. NolAe, • 10 Monies M. Ashlv, I 11 Wells A. Hatch ins. 12 Wm. K. Finck, 13 John O'Neill, 14 tleorye Bliss, 15 * James 11. Morris, 10 Joseph W. White, 17 Ephraim 11. Ecklev, \ 18 Rufus P. Spalding, j 19 James A. Garfield. OREGON. John 11. Mcßride. j PENNSYLVANIA. 1 Samuel J. JRandall, 2 Charles O'Neill, 3 Leonard Lvers, 4 'Win. D. Kelley, 5 M. Russell Theyer, ; 0 'John 1). Stiles, 7 John M. Broomall, 8 * Sydenham K Ancona, i 9 'Thaddeus Stevens, ! 10 Myer Strouse, 11 * Pitilip Johnst ot, 12 Charles Dennisren, I 13 Henry W. Tracy, j 14 Win. 11. Miller,' 115 'Joseph lia'dey, 16 Alexander 11. ('offroth, ! jl7 Arehihahl McAllister, •18 'James T. Hale, 119 Glenni W. Schofield, 20 Amos Myers, 21 John L. In arson, 22 'James K. Moorliead, 23 Thomas Williams, ;24 'Jesse Ixizear. j RHODE ISLAND. ! 1 Thomas A. Jenckes, I 2 Nathan F. Dixon. VERMONT. i 1 J'. E. WoodbridgP, [ 2 'Justin S. Morrill, j 3 Tortus Baxter. WEST VIRGINIA. 1 'Jacob B. Blair, 1 'Wm. G. Brown, 3 'Killian V. Whaley, WISCONSIN. j 1 James S. Broten, 1 2 Ithamar C. Sloan, ! 3 Amasa Cobb, ■ 4 ('has. A. Eldridtje, ! 5 Ezra Wheeler, , I 6 'Walter D. Mclndoe, An earnest and cordial friendship contin ues between the two countries ; and such efforts as were in my power have been used to remove misunderstanding, and avert a threatened war between Peru and Spain. Our relations are of the most friendly nature with Chili, the Argentine Republic, Bolivar, Costa Rica, Paraguay, San Salva dor and llayti. During the past year no differences of any kind have arisen with any of these Republics. And, 011 the other hand, their sympathies with the United States are con stantly expressed with cordiality and ear nestness. The claim arising from the seizure of the cargo of the brig Macedonian, in 1821, has been paid in full by the Oovernment of Chili. Civil war continues in the Spanish part of San Domingo, apparently wit tout pros pect of an early close. Official correspondence has been freely opened with Liberia,and it gives us a pleas ing view of social and political progress in that Republic. It may be expected to de rive new vigor from American influence, improved by the rapid disappearance of slavery in the United States. I solicit your authority to furnish to tin; Republic a gunboat at. a moderate cost, to be reimbursed to the United States by in stallments. Such a vessel is needed for the safety of that State against the native Af rican races, and in Liberian hands it would be more effective in arresting the African slave-trade, than a squadron in our own hands. The possession of the least organ ized naval force would stimulate a generous ambition in the Republic, and the confi dence which we should manifest by furnish ing it would win forbearance and favor toward tho colony from all civilized nations. The proposed overland telegraph between America and Europe by the way of Belir ing's Straits and Asiatic Russia, which was sanctioned by Congress at the last session, has been undertaken under very favorable circumstances by an association of Ameri can citizens, with the cordial good-will and support as well of this Government as of those of Great Britain and Russia. Assur ances have been received from most of the South American States of their high appre ciation of the enterprise and their readi ness to co-operate in constructing lines tri butary to that world-encircling eommnnicu -1 tion. 1 learn with much satisfaction that the noble design of a telegraphic communica tion between the Eastern Coast of America and Great Britain has been renewed, with full expectation of its early accomplishment Thus it is hoped that with the return of do mestic peace,the country will be able to re sume with energy and advantage her for mer high career of commerce and civiliza tion. Our very popular and estimable rep resentative in Egypt died in April last. An unpleasant altercation which arose between the temporary incumbent of the office and the Government of the Pacha, re sulted in a suspension of intercourse. The evil was promptly corrected 011 the arrival of the successor in the consulate and our relations with Egypt, as well as our rela tions with the Barbary Powers, are entirely satisfactory. NEBRASKA. •Sam'l G. Dai ley. NEVADA. Gordon N. Mott NEW-MEXICO. Francisco Peren. UTAH. I John F. Kinney. The rebellion, which has so long been fla grant in China, has at last been suppressed with the co-operating good offices of this Government, and of the other Western commercial States. The judicial consular establishment has become very difficult and onerous, and it will need legislative requi sition to adapt it to the extension of our commerce, and to the more intimate inter course which has been instituted with the Government and people of that vast empire. China seems to be accepting, with hearty good will, the conventional laws which regulate commerce and social intercourse among Western nations. Owing to the peculiar situation of Japan and the anomalous form of its Government, the action of that empire in performing treaty stipulations is constant and caprici ous. Nevertheless, good progress has been effected by the Western Powers, moving with enlightened concert. Our own pecu niary claims have been allowed, or put in course of settlement, and the inland sea has been re-opened to commerce. There is reason also to believe that these proceed ings have increased rather than diminish ed the friendship of Japan toward the Tin ted States. The ports of Norfolk, Fernandina and Peusacola have been opened by proclama tion,. It is hoped that foreign merchants will now consider whether it is not safer and more profitable to themselves, as well as just to the United States, to resort to them and other open ports, that it is to pur sue, through many hazards and at vast cost, a contraband trade with other ports which are closed, if not by actual military operations, at least by a lawful and effect ive blockade. For myself, I have no doubt of the pow er and duty of the Executive, under the law of nations, to exclude enemies of the human race from an asylum in the United States. If Congress should think that pro ceeding in such cases lack the authority of law, or ought to be further regulated by it, 1 recommend that provision be made f< >r ef fectually preventing foreign slave-traders from acquring domicile and facilities for their criminal occupation in our country. It is possible that if it were a new and open question, the Maritime Powers, with the light they now enjoy, would not con cede the privileges of a naval belligerent, to the insurgents of the United States, des titute as they are and always have been, equally of ships and of ports and harbors. Disloyal emissaries have been neither less assiduous nor more successful during the last year than they were before that time in their efforts, under favor of that privil ege,to embroil our country in foreign wars. The desire and determination of the Mari time States to defeat that design are believ ed to be as sincere as, and cannot be more earnest than our own. Nevertheless, un forseen political difficulties have arisen, es pecially in Brazilian and British ports and on the Northern boundary of the United States, which have required and are likely to continue to require the practice of con stant vigilance and a just and conciliatory spirit on the part of the United States, as well as of the nations concerned and their Governments. Commissioners have been appointed under the treaty with Great Brit ain on the adjustment of the claims of the Hudson Bay and Puget's Sound Agricultur al Companies in Oregon, and are now pro ceeding to the execution of the trust assign ed to theui. In view of the insecurity of life in the region adjacent to the Canadian border, by recent assaults and depredations committed by inimical and desperate persons, who are harbored there, it lias been thought proper to give notice that after the expiration of six months, the period conditionally stipn led in the existing arrangements with Great Britain, the United States must hold them selves at liberty to increase their naval armament upon the Lakes, if they shall find that proceeding necessary. The con dition of the border will necessarily come into consideration in connection with the question of continuing or modifying the rights of transit from Canada through the United States, as well as the regulation of imports, which were temporary established by the Reciprocity Treaty of the sth of •Tune, 1854. 1 desre,however, to be under stood while making this statement, that the colonial authorities are. not deemed to be intentionally unjust or unfriendly toward the 1 nited States,but on the contrary,there is every reason to expect that with the ap proval of the Imperial Government they wili take the necessary measures to prevent new incursions across the border. The act passed at the last session for the encouragement of emigration has, as far as i as was possible, been put into execution. It seems to need amendment, which will enable the officers of the Government to prevent the pratico of frauds against the emmigrants while on their way, and 011 their arrival in the ports, so as to secure them here a free choice of avocations and places of settlement. A liberal disposition toward this great national policy is manifested by most of the European States, and ought to be reciprocated on our part, by giving the immigrants effective national protection. 1 regard our emigrants as one of the princi pal, replen'shing streams which are appoin ted by Pr< vidonce to repay the ravages of internal war and its wastes of national strength and health. All that is necessary is to secure the How <4 that stream iu its present fullness, and to that end the Gov ernment must in every way make it mani fest that it neither needs nor designs to im pose involuntary military services upon those who come from other lands to cast their lot in our country. The financial affairs of the Government have been successfully administered during the last year. The legislation of the last session of Congress has beneficially affected the revenue. Although sufficient time has not yet elapsed to experience the full effect of several of the provisions of the acts of Congress imposing increased taxation, the receipts during* the year, from all sources, upon the basis of warrants signed by the Secretary of the Treasury, including loans, ami the balance in the Treasury on the Ist day of July, 1863, were $1,394,79(5,0(1" (52, and the aggregate disbursements upon the same basis, were $1,298,050,101 89, leaving a balance in the treasury, as shown by warrants, of $9(5,730,905 73. Deduct from these amounts the amount of the principal of the public debt redeemed, and the am ount of issues in substitution therefore, and the actual cash operations of the Treasury were: Receipts, $*84,0 7 6,1546 77; disburse ments, $8(55,234,057 9(5, which leaves a cash balance in the treasury of $18,842,- 558 71. Of the receipts, there were de rived from customs $102,31(5,152 9(5 ; from lands, $588,333 29 ; from direct taxes, $475,(548 9(5 ; from internal revenue, $109,- 741,134 10; from miscellaneous sources, $47,511,448 10 ; and from loans applied to ! actual expenditures, including former bal ance, $023,443,929 13. There were dis bursed for the civil service, $27,505,599 40; for pensions and 1ndian5,57,517,930 97 ; for the War Department, $<50,701,84? 07 ; for tla - Navy Department, $85,73g,292 7*9 ; for interest of the public debt, $53,095,421 09, making an aggregate of $805,234,087 80, ! and leaving a balance in the Treasury of $18,842,558 71, as before stated. For the actual receipts and uisburse ; incuts for the past quarter, and the estima j ted receipts and disbursements for the three remaining quarters of the current fiscal i year, and the general operations of the j Treasury in detail, I refer to the report of ; the Secretary of the Treasury. 1 concur ! with him in the opinion that the proportion j of the moneys required to meet the expenses i consequent upon the war, derived from tax- I ation, should be still further increased ; and I earnestly invite your attention to this sub ject to the end that there may be such ad , ditional legislation as shall be required to j meet the just expectations of the Secretary. The public debt on the Ist day of July last, i as appears by the books of the Treasury, | amounted to one billion, seven hundred and | forty thousand million, six hundred and , ninety thousand, four hundred and cighty i nine dollars and forty-nine cents, Probabiy j should the war continue for another year, j that amount may be increased by not far | from five hundred millions. Held as it is I for the most part by our own people, it has become a substantial branch of national , though private property. For obvious rea- I sons the more nearly this property can be , distributed among all the people the better, j To favor such general distribution, greater inducements to become owners might per haps, with good effect and without injury, be presented to persons of limited means. With this view, I suggest whether it might j not be both expedient and competent for j Congress to provide that a limited amount ■of some future issue of public securities I might be held by any bona fida purchaser . exempt from taxation and from seizure for i debt under such restrictions and limitations as might be necessary to guard against | abuse of so important a privilege. This j would enable prudent persons to set aside a small annuity against a possible day of i want. Privileges like these would render the possession of such securities to the j amount limited most desirable to any per | son of small means, who might be able to ! save enough for the purpose. The great : advantage of citizens being creditors, as : well as debtors, with relation to the public debt, is obvious. Men readily perceive tiiat they cannot be much oppressed by a debt vviiich they owe themselves. The public debt on the Ist day of July las', although somewhat exceeding the estimate of the Secretary of the Treasury made to Congress at the commencement of the last session, falls short of the estimate of that officer made in the proceeding December, as to its probable amount at the beginning of this year, by the sum of This fact exhibits a satisfactory condition and conduct of tiie operations of the Treasury. The National Banking system is proving to be acceptable to capitalists and to the people. On the 25th day of November, 5X4 Na tional Banks had been organized, a consid erable number of which were conversions from State banks, Changes from the State system to the National system are rapidly taking place, and it is hoped that very soon there will be in the United States no bank of issue not authorized by Congress, and no bank-note circulation not secured by the Government ; that the Government and the people will derive general benefit from this change in the banking systems of the coun try can hardly be questioned. The national system will create a reliable and permanent iiiHuence in support of the national credit and protect the people against losses in the use of paper money. Whether or not any further legislation is advisable for the sup pression of State bank issue, it will be for Congress to determine. It seems quite clear that the Treasury cannot be satisfactorily conducted unless Government can exercise a restraining power over the bank-note cir eolation of the country. The report of the Secretary of War and the accompanying documents will detail the campaigns of the armies in t-hc field since the date of the last Annual Message, and also the operations of the several adminis trative bureaux of the War Department during the last year. If will also specify the measures deemed essential for the national defence, and to keep up and supply the requisit military force. The report of the Secretary of the Navy presents a comprehensive and satis factory exhibit of the affairs of that depart ment and of the naval service. It is a sub ject of congratulation and laudable pride to our countrymen that a navy of such pro portions has been organized in so brief a period, and conducted with so much effici ency and success. The general exhibit of the navy, includ ing - vessels under construction on the Ist of December, 1864, shows a total of 671 vessels, carrying 4,f March, 18(51, to the i Ist of November, 1864, are $238,(54?,202 35. Your favorable consideration is invited to the various recommendations of the Sec-re- ! tury of the Navy, especial in regard to a navy-yard and suitable establishment for i the construction and repair of iron vessels, and the machinery and armature of our j ships, to which reference was made in my ; last Annual Message. Your attention is also invited to the views expressed in the report in relation to the i legislation of Congress at its first session, in regard to prize on our inland waters. I cordially concur in the recommendation i of the Secretary as to the propriety of crea ting tlx - new rank of Vice-Admiral in our naval service. Your attention is invited to the report of the Postmaster-General for a detailed ac count of the opeiations and financial con dition of the Post-office Department. The postal revenues for the year ending June 30, 1854, amounted to $12,468,253 78, and the expenditures to $12,<544,786 20; the excess of expenditures over receipts being $206,(552 42. The views presented by the Postmaster General on the subject of special grants by the Government in aid to the establishment of new lines of ocean mail steamships, and the policy lie recommends for the develop ment of increased commercial intercourse with adjacent and neighboring countries, should receive the careful consideration of 1 Congress. It is of noteworthy interest that the steady expansion of population, improve ment and governmental institutions over the new and unoccupied portions of our country, have scarcely been checked, much less impeded or destroyed, by our great civil war, which at first glance, would seem to have absorbed almost the entireenergies of trie nation. The organization and admission of the State of Nevada lias been completed, in conformity with law, and thus our excel lent system is firmly established in the mountains which once seemed a barren and uninhabitable waste between the At lantic States and those which have grown up on the coast of tl\e Pacific Ocean. The territories of the Union are gener ally in a condition of prosperity and rapid growth. Idaho and Montana, by reason of their great distance, and the interruption of communication with theru by Indian hos tilities, have been only partially organized : but it is understood that these difficulties j are about to disappear, which will permit their Governments, like those of the oth ers, to go into speedy and full operation as j intimately connected with and promotive of this material growth of the nation, 1 ! ask the attention of Congress to the valua ble information and important recommen dations relating to the public lands, Indian | affairs, the Pacific Railroads, and mineral 1 discoveries contained in the report of the Secretary of the Interior, which is here with transmitted, and which report also embraces the subjects of patents, pensions I and other topics of public interest pertain ing to his department. The quantity of J public land disposed of during the five quarters ending on the thirtieth of Septem j her last, was 4,221,342 acres, of which I 1,538,614 acres were entered under the j homestead law. The remainder was loca ! ted with military laud warrants, agricultu ; ral scrip certified to States for railroads, j and sold for cash. The cash received front j sales and location fees was $1,019,446. — ! The income from sales during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1864, was $688,007- 21, against $136,077 95 received during the proceeding year. The aggregate number of acres surveyed during t ie year has been equal to the quantity disposed of, and there is open to settlement about 133,000,000 acres of surveyed land. The great enterprise of connecting the Atlantic with the Pacific States, by rail ways and telegraph lines lias been entered upon with a vigor that gives assurance of success, notwithstanding the embarrass incuts arising from the prevailing high prices of materials and labor. The route of the main line of the road lias been defi nitely located for one hundred miles west ward from the central point at Omaha City, I Nebraska, and a preliminary location of the Pacific Ifailroail of California has been { made from Sacramento, eastward, to the ; great bend of Mucker Kiver in Nevada.— Numerous discoveries of gold, silver and cinnebar mines have been added to the many heretofore known, and the country occupied by the Sierra Nevada and the : Rocky Mountains and the subordinate i ranges now teems with enterprising labor, which is richly remunerative. It is believed that the products of the j mines of precious metals in that region j has during the year reached, if not exceed ed, $190,000,900 in value. It was recom- \ mended in my last Annual Message that our Indian system be remodelled. Congress at its last Session, acting upon the recom mendation, did provide for reorganizing the system in California, and it is believed that undei tho present organization the manage ment of the Indians there will he attended with reasonable success. Much yet remains to he done to provide for the proper gov ernment of the Indians in other parts of the country, to render it secure for the ad vancing settler, and to provide for the wel fare of the nation. The Secretary reiter ates his recommendations, and to them the attention of Congress is invited. The liberal provisions made by Congress for paying pensions to invalid soldiers and sailors of the Republic, and to the widows, orphans and dependent mothers of those who have fallen in battle or died of disease contracted, or of wounds received in the service of their country, have been dili gently ad mi n iste re< 1. There have been added to the Pension Rolls during the year ending the 30th day of June last, the names of 16,710 invalid soldiers, and of 271 disabled seamen, mak ing the present number of army invalid pensioners 22.767, and of navy invalid pen sioners 112. Of widows, orphans and mothers, 22,198 have been placed on the Army Pension Rolls, and 248 on the Navy Rolls. The present number of army pen sioners of this class is 25,443, and of navy pensioners, 793. At the beginning of the year the num ber of revolutionary pensioners was 1,430. Only twelve of them were soldiers, of whom seven have since died. The remainder are those who, under the law, receive pensions because of relationship to revolutionary soldiers. During the year ending the 30th of June i 1864, $4,504,616 92 have been paid to pen sioners of al! classes. I cheerfully commend to your continued patronage the benevolent institutions of the District of Columbia, which have liitli erto been established or fostered by Con gress, and respectfully refer for information concerning them, and in relation to the Washington Aqueduct, the Capitol, and other matters of local interest, to the re port of the Secretary. The Agricultural Department, under the supervision of its present energetic and faithful head is rapidly commending itself to the great and vital interest it was cre ated to advance. It is peculiarly the Peo ple's Department, in which they feel more directly concerned than in any other. I commend it to the continued attention and fostering care of Congress. The war continues. Sin'e the last An nual Message all the important lines and positions then occupied by our forces have been maintained, and our armies have steadily advanced, thus liberating the re gions left in the rear, so that Missouri, Kentucky, Tennessee, and parts of other States have again produced reasonably fair crops. The most remarkable feature in the mili tary operations of the year, is General SHERMAN'S attempted march of three hun dred miles directly through an insurgent region. It tends to show a great increase 1 of our relative strength, that our General in-Chief should teel able to confront and hold in check every active force of the ene my, and yet to detach a well appointed large army to move on such an expedition. The result not yet being known, conjecture in regard to it cannot here be indulged. Important movements have also occur red during the year to the effect of molding society for durability in the Union, although I short of complete success, it is much in the right direction that 12,000 citizens in each ; of tho States of Arkansas and Louisiana have organized loyal State Governments with free constitutions, and are earnestly struggling to maintain and administer ; them. The movement in tho same direction inorc extensively, though less definite in i Missouri, Kentucky, and Tennessee should : not be overlooked. Rut Maryland presents the example of complete success. Maryland is secure to ! Liberty and Union for all the future. The genius of rebellion will no more claim Mary land. Like another foul spirit, being driv en out, it may seek to tear her, but it will woo her nor more. At the last session of Congress a pro posed amendment of tho Constitution abol ishing slavery throughout the United States passed the Senate but failed for lack of the requisite two-thirds vote in the House of Representatives. Although the present is the same Congress, and nearly the same members, and without questioning the wis dom or patriotism of those who stood in op | position, I venture to recommend the re | consideration and passage of the measure |at the present session. Of. course, the ab | straet question is not changed, but an in ! tervening election shows almost certainly that the next Congress will pass the mea sure if this does not. Hence there is only a question of time as to when the proposed ' amendment will go to the States for their 1 action, and as it is to go, at all events, may : we not agree that the sooner the better.— ! It is not claimed that the election has im j posed a duty on members to change their | views or their votes any further than as an i additional element to be considered. Their I judgment may be affected by it. It is the | voice of the people now for the first time j heard upon the question. In a great na tional crisis like ours unanimity of action among those seeking a common end is very ! desirable, almost indispensable ; and yet ! no approach to such unanimity is attaina j ble unless some deference shall be paid to : the will of the majority. In this case the 1 common end is the maintenance of the Un i ion, and among the means to secure that i end, such will, through the election, is most | clearly declared in favor of such constitu- I tional amendment. The most reliable indication of public j purpose in the country is derived through 1 our popular elections. Judging by the | recent canvass and its result, the purpose of the people within the loyal States, to I maintain the integrity of the Union, was never more firm nor more nearly unanimous than now. The extraordinary calmness i and good order with which the millions of voters met and mingled at the polls give strong assurance of this. Not only all , those who supported the Union ticket (so called,) hut a great irtajority of the oppo site party also may be fairly claimed to entertain and to bp actuated by the same purpose. It is an unanswerable argrnru.,,. to tiiis efieet, that no candidate for oliice whatever, high or low, has venture', to seek votes on the avowal that he v.,,. for giving up the Union. There has Lw., much impugning of motives and much lu-at' ed controversy as to the proper means best mode of advancing the Union cans.' but in the distinct issue of Union or i, Union, the politicians have shown their ii stinctivc knowledge that there is nodivci sity among the people. In affording tb. people the fair opportunity of showing on, to another and to the world this firmn, and unanimity of purpose, the election |, a . been of vast value to the national cans, 1 The election has exhibited another fact i,„, less valuable to be known—the fact tine we do not approach exhaustion in the in important branch of the national reeour, ~ That of living men—while it is mdanchoh to reflect that the war has filled so n,., ' graves and caused mourning to so ne, hearts. It is some relief to know that com pared with the surviving the fallen haw been so few. While Corps and Division and Regiments have formed and fought an dwindled and gone out of existence, great majority of the men who eompo-, them are still living. The same is trm the naval service. The election retu:., prove tiirs. So many voters could notch be found. The States regularly hold!; elections both now and four years a",... • wit: California, Connecticut, Deluwar. Illinois, lowa, Kentucky, Maine, Marvin., Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota. \ Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, 01,; Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, V, moiit, West Virginia and Wisconsin, en -3,952,0J1 votes now against 4,870,222 , then, showing an aggregate now of 3 39v 211, to which is to be added 33.702 r,. now in the new States of Kansas and V vada, which States did not vote in 18'0 thus swelling the aggregate to 4.07.",,7; and the net increase during the three w a and a half of war fo 145,751. A tai l, appended showing particulars. To tln> again, should be added the number ,; ;,! soldiers in the field from Massuehu- n> Rhode Island, New-Jersey, Delaware, I p.! Ny, Illinois and California, who, of those States, could not vote away !• their homes, and which number cannot ! less than 90,000. Nor yet is this all. 1.1 number in organized territories is t: , now what it was four years ago ; v thousands, white and black, join us astij national arms press back the insurg, | lines--so much is shown affirmatively negatively by the election. It is not terial to inquire how the increase lias 1. i produced, or to show that it would In 1 been greater but for the war, which f probably true ; the important fact renin! demonstrated that we have more men 1, 9 than we had when the war began ; that i are not exhausted nor in process of ex!... tion ; that we are gaining strength. J may, if need be, maintain the contest in 1 finitely. This as to men. Kentucky 141',. 216 St.; Maine 97,911 lla.ni Maryland .92.502.. 7j 7 Massachusetts 1(19,5:13.... 175.K Michigan 154,747 162.41 Minnesota 34.799 12.53-J Missouri 185,538 90,00fl New-Hampshire 65.953 G9.1. ? New-Jersey 121,125 lis.,- New-York... 675,156 7311.0- Ohio 4(2.44! 47 chu - . On careful consideration of all the evi: j accessible, it seems to me that no at' at negotiation with the insurgent 1 could result in any good. He w,,u! ' cept of nothing short of the several | the I nion. His declarations to thi> t | are explicit and oft-repeated. He <: Pi attempt to deceive us. lie afford- 1 j excuse to deceive ourselves. We ea J voluntarily yield it. Ret ween him audi:-j issue is distinct, simple and infl.x is an issue which can only he tried hv | and decide by victory. If we vield v. i beaten. If the Southern people fail 1 1 is beaten ; either way it would be t! |>" tory and defeat following war. Wi true ljowever, of him who heads the gent cause, is not necessary true of who follow. Although he cannot rc-a, the Union, they can. Some of tln i?\ know already desire peace and reun The number of such may increase, can at any moment have peace simp Jjt laying down their arms and submit t JK national authority under the Constit' 5 After so much the Government could raj if it would, maintain war against th, 4 The loyal people would not sustain or; 7 it. If questions should remain, we vl/ adjust them by the }>eaceful means ofp islation, conference, courts and votes. | ! crating only in constitutional and L&jj j channels, some certain and other j -fy| ! questions are and would be beyond t V j cutive power to adjust, as for instant n I admission of members into Congress || ; whatever might require the appropri J® lof money. The Executive power :jH ! would be greatly diminished by the 1 tion of actual war. Pardons and r< % ions of forfeiture, however, would sC'JB Executive control. In what spirit .'IIK I per this control would be exercised, < Hj i fairly judged of by the past. A yea: 9| general pardon and amnesty, upon sp 9 terms, were ofl'ered to all except o 9 designated classes, and it was at the -<9 time made known that the excepted cl 9 were still within contemplation of s| 9 i clemency. During the year many :oflH themselves of the general provision |9 many more would, only that the si. flj bed faith in some led to suehprecauti flMj measures as rendered the practical p: less easy and certain. During the -9 time, also special pardons have been H ed to individuals of excepted classed■ ; no voluntary application lias been dm 9 Thus practically the door has been I full year open to all, except such as ■ not in condition to make free choice 9 is, such as were in custody or unih B i straint. It is still open to all, but tli'fl ' may come, probably will come, whei I ; lie duty shai! demand that it be close-1 that in lieu, more vigorous measure q| 1 heretofore shall be adopted, j In presenting the abandonment of 1 resistance to the national authority part of the insurgents, as the on 4 , pensable condition to ending the part of tho government, 1 retr-n' 1 H ing heretofore said as to slavery. I '. I the declaration made a year ago. aiu | 1 while I remain in my present pes' 1 9 ' shall not attempt to retract or mod'v 9 Emancipation Proclamation. Nor - 9 return to Slavery any person who ' S