0 wivo tbc necessity of resorting to the ex treme measure indicated in Lis proclama tion; but that officer, instead of acecdiug to tbc request, did nothiug more than to protest against the contemplated bom hard mcnt. No steps of any sort were taken by Un people to give the satisfaction required. individual?, n any there w ere, who regarded themselves as i.ot responsible for the misconduct of the community, a dopled any means to separate themselves 1'ioui the fate of the guilty. The several charges, ou which the demands for re dress were founded, had been publicly Jtnown to all for some lime, and were n gKin announced to them. They did not deny any of these charges; they offered )io explanation, nothing iu extenuation of their conduct; but contumaciously refused to hold any intercourse with the comman der of the "Cyanc." By their obstiuatc hIoiico they seemed rather desirous to provoke chasetisemcnt than to escape it There is ample reason to believe that this conduct of wanton defiance, on their! part, is imputed chiefly to the delusive idea that the American government would be deterred from punishing them through fear of displeasing a formidable foreign power, which, they presumed to think, looked with complacency upon their ag rrssivc and insulting deportment towards ihc United States! The "Cyane" at length fired upon the town. Bsfore much injury had been done, the Ore was twice suspended, in order to afford an oppor tunity for an arrangement; but this was declined. Most of the buildings of the place, of little value generally, were, in the sequel, destroyed; but, owing to the considerate precautions taken by our na 7 val commander, there was no destruction of life. "When the "Cyane," was ordered to Central America, it was confidently hop ed and expected that no occasion would arise for "a resort to violence and destruc tion of property, and" loss of life." In teractions to that effect was given to her commander. And no extreme act wo'uld have been requisite had not the people themselves by their extraordinary con junct iu the affair, frustrated all the possi ble mild measures for obtaining satisfac tion. A withdrawal from the nlaw-nr object of his visit entirely dcicated, would .... nw...UV.v II .UN. e&mteandcr of the Cvane found himself, have been absolute abandonment of all' claim of om citizens for indemnification, and submissive acquiescence in national indignity. It would have encouraged in lawless men a spirit of indolence j pine most dangerous to the lives ; nnd r; and property of our citizens at Punta reuiis, and probably emboldened them to CTHT 3t tbc irpls.nrp; finrl Trnlnnliln r:fr- i; i ...v. ehsudUe continually passing over the Kic - fcr3gue route. It certainly would have oeca most satislactorv to me H the ODiects of the "Cvane V mission could have been eosumated without any act of public force; but the arrogant contumacy of the offenders rendered it impossible to avoid ; the alternative either to break up their! v&tblishment, or to leave them impress - impress- ed ivith the idea that they might perse vera "with impunity m a career o; mso Irnte and plunder. This transaction had been the of complaint on the part of some subject foreign Powers, and has been characterized with more of harshness than of justice' If uuoer tnc cireumstaLces in which tuelsoinr? olnccrs. m iomparisons were to be instituted, it j I refer you to the repoit of the Secreta .yrouid not be difficult to present repeated ' ry of the Treasury'. That report, and ioatauces in the history of States, stand - 5ag in the very front of modern civiliza-' tion, where communitief, far less offend lag ind more defenceless than Greytown, have been chastised with much greater severity, and where not cities only have been laid in ruin but human life has been rcoklessly sacrificed and the blood of the isOfent made prcfuscly to mingle with ibat of th? guilty. Passing from foreign to domestic af fairs, your attention is naturally directed to the financial condition of the country, nlwsya a subject of general intrest. For complete and exact information regard ing the finances, and the various brauch- of tbe public Eervice connected there with, I refer you to the report of the Sec retary of the Treasury; from which it will appear, that the amount of revenue dur ing the last fiscal year, from all sources, vena seventy-three million five hundred and forty-nine thousand seven hundred and five dollars; and that the public ex penditures for the ssme period, exclusive of payment on account of the public cent, amount to ntty-one million eighteen thousand two hundred and fortv-ninc! ooJJara. Dunng the same period, thcseverly in these conflicts with superior payments made in redemption of the pub- numbers, and have sometimes been entire lie debt, including interest and premium, ly sacrificed. All the disposable force of acouated to twenty-four million three i the army is already employed on this and thirtj'-six; thousand three hundred j service, and is known to be wholly inad and eighty dollars. j equate to the protection which should be lo the sum total of the reemtsof that! year, is to be added a balauco remaining in the Treasury at the commencement thereof, amounting to twenty-one million uine hundred and forty-two thousand eight hundred and ninety-two dollars: and at the close of tho same year, a cor- J rosponding balance, amounting to twenty Ciillion one hundred and thirtv-srvnn iboa?aud nine hundred and sixty seven dollars of receipts above expenditures, also remained in tho Treasury. Although, 5u the opinion of the Secretary of the Treasury, the receipts of the current fis cal year are not likely to equal in amount those of the last, yet they will undoubt edly exceed the amount of expenditures, "by at least fifteen millions of dollars. I 6hull therefore, continue to direct that the surplus revenue be annlicd. so far as Jt can be judioiously and economically done, to tho reduction of the publio debt, the amount of which, at the commence ment of the last fiscal year, was 07,340,028, dollars; of which there had been paid on the 20th day of November, 1854 the Eum of 22,365,172 dollars; leaving a balance -?f outstandingpublic debt of only 44,975. dollars, redeemable at different pcr lods, within fourteen years. There are Ieo romnfiiiJg$f other government stocks, most of whigK" Aro already due, and on which Mjielatcrebt has ccaccd, but which havo not yr( been presented for payment, amounting to 233,170 dollar?. The statement of the Secretary of the1 lreasury exhibit the fact that the annu al income of the government greatly ex pends the amount of its public debt, w hich latter n mains unpaid, only because the time of payment has not matured, and it cannot be discharged at once, except at the option of public creditors, who pre- States; and the other fact not less strik ing, that the annual revenue from all sources, exceeds, by uianv millions of dol- lars, the amount needed for a prudent and economical administration of the gov ernment. The estimates presented1 to Congress from the d liferent executivo departments, at the lait session, amounted to $38, 106,581, and the appropriations made to the sum of 58,1 It), 95a. Of this excess of appropriationsovcr estimates, however, more than $20,000,1)110 was applicable to extraordinary objects, having no refer ence to tho usual annual expenditures. Among these objects was embraced 510,- , " 000,000 to meet the third article of the treaty between the. United btates and Mexico; so that, in fact, for objects of or dinary expenditure the appropriations were limited to considerably less than 40, 000,000. I therefore renew my recom mendation for a reduction of the duty on imports. Tho report of the Secretary of the Treasury presents a series of tables show ing the operation of the revenue system for several successive years; and as the general principle of reduction of duties with a view to revenue and not protection, may now be regarded as the settled pol icy of the country, I trust that little dif ficulty will be encountered in settling the details of a measure to that effect. Iu connection with this subject, I rec ommend a change in the laws, which re cent experience has shown to be essen tial to the protection of the government. There is no express provision of law, re quiring the records and papers of a pub lic character, of the several officers of the government, to be left in their offices for the use of their successors, nor any pro visions declaring it felony on their part to make fake ent" - ,;cv- or j-c- .urn raise- account?. In the absence of such express ibion by law, the out manv instances, have j Jj , . ........ ..-I" w-, . - claimed and exercised the right to take into their possession, important book and paper, on the ground that these were i their private property; aud ban placed govern- ' them beyond the reach of the meut. Conduct of this character, brought in several instances to the notice of the A-'present Secretary of the Treasury, natu - j rally awakened his su-picion, aud result- ! fit? ill tllf ( lsnlnsnrp thsf ?! t frnr nnrf i - - - r ! namely, Oswego, Toledo, Sandusky, and! ! Milwaukie. the treasury had, by false en - : tries been defrauded, within the four years nest preceding March, of the sum of one hundred and ninety-eight thousand dollars. The great diffielty with which the detection-of these frauds hajcration of Congress I would suggest that been attended,in consequeuee of the ab-jihe power of placing officers on the re- ' "traction of books and papers by the re- iniraciion or ucoks ana papers ty the re- similar trauds in be perpetrated, the public service may render the necessity of j new legal enactments, in the rep referred to, quite obviou.-. cct above ror other material modifications of the reveuue law3 which seem to me desirable, the tables which accompany it, furnish j ample proofs of the solid foundotion on which the financial security of the coun- try rests, and of the salutary influence of the independent treasury systemn upon commerce and all monetary operations. The experence of the last year furnish es additional reasons, I regret to say, of a painful character, for the recommenda tion heretofore made, to provide for in creasing the military force employed iu the territory inhabited by the Indians. The settlers on the frontier have suffered much from the incursions of predatory bands, and large parties of emigrants to our Pacific possessions have been massa cred with impunity. Tho recurrence of 6uch scenes can only be puevented by teaching these wild tribes the power of, and their resposibility to, the United States. From the garrisons of our frontier posts, it is only possible to detach troops in small bodies: and though these have on all occasions displayed a gallantry and a stern devotion to duty, which on a larger held would have 'commanded universal admiration, thev have usually suffered afforded The public mind of the country has been recently shocked by the savage atrocities commited upon defenceless emigrants and border settlements, and hardly less by the unnecessary destruction of valuable lives, where iu adequate detachments of troops have undertaken to furuieh the needed aid. Without increase of the military force, these scenes will be repeated, it is to be feared, on a larger scale, and with more disastrous consequences. Congress I am sure, will perceive that the plainest du ties and responsibilities of government are involved in this question, and I doubt not that prompt action may be confident-, ly anticipated when delay must bo at tended by such fearful hazards. The bill of the last session, providiV' for an increase of the pay of the rank and file of the army has had beneficial results, not only in facilitating enlist mcnts, but in obvious icunroveniPni In ih class of men who enter the service. I regret that corresponding considera tion was not bestowed on the officers, who in view of their character and services, and the expenses to which they are neces sarily subject, receive at present what is, iu my judgment, inadequate compensa tion. The valuable Eorvices constantly rend ered by ihc "army, and its inestimable f v .4.. , ' himportance, as tho nucleus around which the volunteer forces of tho nation can promptly gather in the hour of danger, sufficiently, attest the wisdom of main taining a military peace establishment, the theory of our system and the wise practice under it, require that any pro posed augmentation, in time of peace, be only commensurate with our cxtencd lim its aud frontier relations. "While scrupulously adhering to this principal, I find in existing circumstances, a necessity for increase of our militaay force, and it is believed that four new regiment?: two of infantry and two of mounted men, will be sufficient to meet If it were neces- the present exigency sary carefully to weigh the cost in a case . , .i.i i -i ... . of such urgency, it would be shown that the additional expense would be compar atively light. With the increase of the numerical force of the army should I think, be com bined certain measures of reform in its organic arrangement and administration. The present organization is the result of partial legislation often directed to spe cial objeeta and intesesfs; and the laws regulating rank and command, having been adopted many years ago from tho British code, aro not always applicable to our Fervice. It is not suprising, there fore, that the systemn should be deficient in the symmetry and symplicity essential to the harmonious working of its several parts, and require a careful revi.-ion. The present organization, by main taining large staff corps or department, seperatcs many officers from that close connexion with troops, and thos active duties in the field, which are deemed re quisito to qualify them for the varied re sponsibilities of high command. Were the duties of the army staff mainly dis charged by officers detached from thoir regiments, it is believed that the special service would be equalty well performed, and the discipline and instruction of the army be improved. While due regard to the security of the rights of officers. irwl In if Viirr ennen rf mn-r n-l.JnL HUM . IHW li IV. UWLtt VA II llllli should be cultivated among them, would seem to exact compliance with the estab lished rulo of promotion in ordinarv cas es still jt car, ucraiy fcc tfeubted that the range of promotion by selection, which is now practically confined to the grade of general officers, might be somewhat ex tended with benefit to tho public service. Observance of the rule cf scnioritv sometimes leads, especially in lime of peace, to the promotion of officers who, after meritorious aud even distinguished service, may have been rendered by age or infirmity incapable of performing ac tive duty, and whose advancement, there fore, would tend to impair the efficiency . J . class of officers, by the creation 'of j tired list, would remedy the evil, wit! or tnc Army, suitable provision lor tin. thout L'ounuiug the just pride of men who, by- past services, have established a claim to high consideration. In again commend ing this measure to the favorable conuid- ttrud list bo limited to one year. The practical operation of the measure would thus be tested, and if, after the lapse of 'years, there should be occasion to renew the provision, it can bo reproduced with any improvements which experience moj indicate. Tho present organisation of the artillery into regiments is liable to obvious objections. The service of ar tilicry is that of batteries, aud an organ- izaliou of batteries into a corps of artil lery would be more consistent with the nature of their duties. A large part of the troops now called artillery are, and have been, on duty as infantry; the dis tinction between the two arms bciugmere ly nominal. This nominal artillery in our service is disproportionate to the whole force, and greater than the wantn of the country demand. I therefore com mend the discontinuance of a distinction, which has no foundation in cither the arms used or the character of the service expected to be performed. In connection with the proposion for the increase of tha Army, I havo present ed these suggestions with regard to cer taiu measures of reform, a3 the comnle- mcnt of a system, which would produce ' il... I ; . i l . r uie uappiest results irom a given expeu diture; and which I hope may attract the early attention, and be deemed worthy of the approval of Congress. The recommendation of the Secretary of the Navy, having reference to more ample provisions for the discipline and general improvement in the character of seamen, and for the re-organization and gradual increase of the Navy, I deem em inently worthy of your favorable consid eration. The principles, which have con trolled our policy in relation to the per manent military force, by sea and land, are sound, consistent with the theory of our system, and should by no means be disregarded. But, limiting the force to the objects particularly Eet forth in the preceding part of this message, we should not overlook the present magnitude and prospective extension of our commercial marine, nor fail to givo duo weight to tho fact that, besides the two thousand miles; of Atlantic seaboard, wo have now a Pa- j cific coast, stretching from Mexico to the j Uritish possession m the north, teeming with wealth and enterprise, and demand ing the constant presence of ships of war. The augmentation of the Navy has not kept pace with the duties properly and profitably assigned to it in time of peace, and it is inadequate for the large field of its operations, not merely in the present bat btill more in the progressively in creasing exigencies of the commerce of thc'Uuited States. I cordially approve of the proposed apprentice system for our national vessels, recommended by the Sec retary of the Navy. The occurrence, during the iast few months, of marine disasters of the most tragic nature, involving great los.i of hu man life, has produced intense emotions of sympathy and sorrow throughout the country. It may well be doubted wheth er nil these calamitous events aro wholly attributable to tho necessarv and inevita ble dangers of the eca. The merchants, mariners, and ship-builders of the United.) States, are, it is tiue, unsurpassed in far reaching enterprise, skill, intelligencc,and courage, by any others in the world. But, with the increasing amount of our commercial tonnage in the aggregate, and the larger size and improved equip ment of the sbips now constructed, a defi ciency in the supply of reliable seamen begins to be very seriously felt. The in convenience may, perhaps, be met, in part, by due regulation for the introduc tion, into our mcrchnut ships, of indented apprentices; which, while it would afford useful and eligible occupation to numer ous young men, would have a tendency to raise the character of seamen as a clase. And it is deserving of serious reflection, j whether it may not be desirable to revise i: l r.. i r the existing laws for the maintenance of discipline at sea, upon which the security of life and property on the ocean must to so great an extent depend. Although much attention has already been given by Congress to the proper contraction and arrangement of steam-vessels and all pas senger ships, stil! it is believed that the resources of science and mechanical skill in this direction have not been exhausted. Xo good reason exists for the marked dis tinction, which appears upon our statutes between the laws for protecting life and property at sea aud those for protecting them on land. In most of the States se vere penalties are provided to punish con ductors of trains, engineers, and others employed in the transportation of persons by railway, or by steamboats on rivers. Why should not the same principle be applied to acts of insubordination, cow ardice, or other misconduct on the part of masters and mariners, producing injury or death to passengers on the high seas beyond the jurisdiction of any of the States, and where such delinquencies can be reached only by the power of Con gress? The whole subject is earnestly commended to 3'our consideration. The report of the Postmaster General, to which you are ieferred for many in teresting details in relation to this im- nni'f flTlf MTlll Yf ntfl 1 V Ovfonrl !tln Vironnli nf 1 - w . " - - ' I J sVrJvi. LSAt.lJk.U V ! tb public service, shows that tbe expen diture of the TC r endms dune liu. ItiO'i. includina cr.n hnn.lr.i1 .vw! (lttvlii ...rcc thousand four hundred and eighty-three dollars of balance due to foreign offices, amounted to eight million seven hundred aud ten thousand nine hundred and seven dollars. Tho gross reeeints during the pame period amounted to six million nine hundred and fifty-five thousand five hun dred and eighty-six dollars; exhibiting an expenditure over income of one mil lion seven hundred and fifty-five thous and three hundred and twenty-one dol lars, and a diminution of deficiency, as ; compared with the last year, of three bun- ! urcu anu sixty-one tuousanc seven hun- a re!dred and nity-six dollars. The increase of the revenue of the Department, for the year ending June 30, 1354, over the pre ceding year, was nine hundred and seven ty thousand three hundred and ninety nine dollars. No proportionate increase, however, can be anticipated for the cur rent year, in consequence of the act of Congress of June 23, 1654, providing for increased compensation to all postmasters. From these statements it is apparent that the Post Office Department, instead of defraying its expenses, according to the design at the time of its creation, is now, J 1 . ; i ium uuuur existing laws must coutmue to be, to no small extent, a charge upon the general 'lreasury. The cost of mail transportation, during the rear enamg June 30, lc54, exceeds the cost of the preceding year by four hundred and uiucty-five thousand a nu seventy-lour i dollars. I again call your attention to a I. 1 i ir ! . . me suojecfc oi man transportation by o cean steamers, and commend the sugges tions of the Postmaster General to your early attention. During the last fiscal year eleven mil lion seventy thousand nine hundred and thirty-five acres of the public lands have been surveyed, and eight million one bun dred and ninciy thousand and seventeen acres brought into market. The number of acres sold is seven million thirty-five thousand seven hundred and thirty-five, and the amount received therefor mm- million two hundred aud eighty-five thous a"d five hundred and thirty-three dollars. j.uu aggrugaie amount or lands sold, lo cated under military scrip and land war rant, selected as swamp lands by States, and by locating under grants for roads.i upwards of twenty-three millions of acres. I he increase of lands sold, over the pre vioue year, is about six millions of acres; and the salc3 during the two first quar ter of the current year present tho ex traordinary result of five and a half mil lions sold, exceeding by nearly four mil lions of acres the sales of the correspond ing quarters of the last year. The commendable policy of the Gov ernment, in relation to setting apart pub lic uomam lor those who have served their country in time of war, is illustrated by the fact, that since 1790 no less than thirty millions of acres have been applied to this object. The suggestions, which I submitted iu my annual message of last year, in refer ence to grants of land in aid of the con struction of railways, were less full and explicit than the magnitude of the subject J 1 . V v ana suDscquent uevelopments would seem to render proper and desirable. Of the soundness of the principle then asserted with regard to the limitation of tho pow er of Congress, I entertain no doubt; but in its application it is not enough that the value of lands in a particular locality may be enhanced; that, in fact, a larger a mount of money may probably bo receiv ed, in a given time, for alternate sections, than could have been realized for all the sections, without tho impulse and influ ence of the proposed improvements. A prudent proprietor looks beyond limitod sections of h'3 domain, beyond present results, to the ultimate effect which a par ticular line of policy is likely to produce upon all his possessions and. interests. Tho Government, which is trustee, in this matter, for the people of tho States, is bound to take the same wiso and com prehensive view. Prior to and during tho last session of Congress, upwards of thir- ty millious of acres of 'land were with drawn from publio sale with a view to ap plications for grants of this character pending before Congress. A careful re view of the whole subject led me to di rect that all such orders be abrogated, and tbe lands restored to market; and in structions were immediately given to that effect. The applications at the last ses sion contemplated the construction of more than five thousand miles of road, and grants to the amount of nearly twenty mil lions of acres of the public domain. E ven admitting the right on the part of Con gress to be unquestionable, is it quite clear that the proposed grants would be pro ductive of good, aud not evil! The dif ferent projects aro eonfined, for the pres ent, to eleven States of this Union.and one Territory. The reaeons assigned for the grants, show that it is proposed to put the works speedily in process of construction. When we reflect, that since the commence ment of the construction of railways iu the United States, stimulated as they have been by the large dividends realized from the earlier works over the great thorough fares, and between the most important points of commerce and population, en couraged by State legislation, and presseo forward by the amazing energy of private enterprise, only seventeen thousand miles have been completed in all the States in a quarter of a century; when we see the crippled condition of many works com menced and prosecuted upon what were deemed to be sound principles and safe calculations; when we contemplate the enormous absorption of capital withdrawn from the ordinary channels of business, the extravagant rates of interest at this moment paid to continue operations, the bankruptcies not merely in money but in character, aud the inevitable effect upon finances generally; can it be doubted that the tendency is to run to excess in this matter? I3 it wise to augment this excess b- encouraging hopes "of sudden hvcalth expected to flow from magnificent schemes dependent upon the action of Congress? Docs the spirit, which has produced such results, need to be stimu lated or checked? Is it not the better rule to leave all these works to private C-tCipie, regulated, ?.nd, when expedi ent, aided, by the co-operation of S::itcs? If constructed by private capital, the atitn ulaut and the cheek go together, aud furnish a salutary restraiut against spec ulative schemes and extravagance. But it is manifest that, with the most effec tive guard., there is danger of roinsr too fast and too far. We may well pause before a proposi tion contemplating a simultaneous move ment for the construction of railroads, which, iu extent, will equal, exclusive ol the great Pacific road and all its bran ches, nearly one third of the entire length of such works, now completed in the Uni ted States, and which cannot cost, with equipments, less than one hundred and fifty millions of dollars. The dangers likely to result from combinations of in terests of this character, can hardly be over-estimated. But, independently of these considerations, where 13 the aceur ate knowledge, the comprehensive intelli gence, which shall discriminate between relative claims of these twenty-eight pro posed roads, in eleven States and one Ter ritory? Where will you begin, and where end? If to enable these companies to ex ecute their proposed works, it is necessa ry that the aid of tha General Govern ment be primarily given, the policy will present a problem so comprehensive in its bearings, and so important to our po litical and social well being, as to claim, in anticipation, the severest analysis. En tertaining these views, I recur with satis faction to the experience and action of the last session of Congress, as furnishing as surance that the subject will not fail to elicit a careful rc-cxamiuution and rigid scrutiny. It was my inteution to present, on this occasion, some suggestions regarding in ternal improvements by the General Gov ernment, which want of time at the clos-j of the last session prevented my submit ting on the return to the House of Hi-presentations, with objections, of the bill, cutitled, "An act making appropriations for the repair, preservation, and comple tion of certain public works heretofore commenced under authority of law;" but the space iu this communication already occupied with other matter of immediate public exigency constrains me to reserve that subject for a special message, which will be transmitted to the two Houses of Congress at an early day. The judicial establishment of tho Uni ted States requires modification, and cer tain reforms'in the maimer of conducting the legal business of tho Government are also much needed, but as I have addres sed you upon both of the subjects at length before, I have only to call your nttcutjou to the suggestions then made. My former recommendations, in rela tion to suitable provision for various ob jects of the deep interest to the inhabi tants of the District of Columbia, aro re newed. Mauy of these objects partake largely of a national character, and are important, independently of their relation to the prosperity of tho only considerable organized community iu the Uniou, entire ly unrepresented in Congross. I have thus presented suggestions on such subjects as appear to me to bo of particular interest or importance, and therefore most worthy of consideration during the short remaining period allot ted to the labors of tho present Congress. Our forefathers of the thirteen United Colonies, in acquiring their independence, aim in iouuumg this lvepublio of the Li nked States of America, havo devolved upon us, their descendants, the groatest and tho most noble trust ever committed to the hands of man, imposing upon all, and especially such as the public will have invested, for the time being, with politi cal functions, tho most sacred obligations. We have to maintain mviolato the great doctriue of the inhcreut right of popular self-governmcut; to reconcile the largest liberty of the individual citizen, with com plete security of tho public order; to ren der cheerful obedieuco to tho laws of the laud, to unite in enforcing their execu tion, and to frown indignantly on all com binations to resist them; to harmdn&o" :U sincere and ardent devotion to the insti tutions of religious faith with the most o uiversal religious toleration; topresene the right of all by causing each to respect those of tbebthcr; to carry forward eve ry social improvement to the uttermost limit of human perfectibility; by tho free action of mind upon mind, not by the ob trusive intervention of misapplied force; to uphold the integrity and guard the lim itations of our organic law; to preserve sacred from all touch of usurpation, as tho very palladium of our political salvation, the reserved rights and powers of the sev eral States and of the people; to cherish, with loyal fealty and devoted affection-, this Union, as the only sure foundation on which the hopes of civil liberty rcst;to adminiitcr government with vigilant in tegrity and rigid economy; to cultivato peace and friendship with foroign nations, and to demand and exact equal justice from all, but to do wrong to none; to eschew intermeddling with the national policy and the domestic repose of other Governments, and to repel it from our own; never to shrink from war when tho rights and the honor of the country call us to arms, but to cultivate in prefcrenco the arts of peace, seek enlargement of tho right? of neutrality, and elevate and lib eralize the intercourse of nations; and by such just and honorable mean?, and such only, whilst exalting the condition of tho Republic, to assume lo it the legitimate in fluence and the benign authority of a great example amongst all the Powers of Christendom. Under the solemnity of thc3c convic tions, the blessing of Almighty God is earnestly invoked to attend upon your de liberations, and upon all the counsels and acts of the Government, to the end that, with common zeal and common effort?, we may, in humble submiss ion to the Di vine will, co-operate for the promotion of the supreme good of these United States. FRANKLIN PIERCE. Washington, December 4, 1654. P0 Vs? TSTJE.8DAY, DECEMBEE 14, 1854. Congress. The second session of the 83d Con gress, commenced at Washington, on Mon day of last week, and will adjourn by limitation on the 3d of March next. Nothing of interest was disposed of in. either branch during the past week. We lay before our readers to-day; the Presidents Message, which will give them an opportunity of seeing all that the President has to say. The examination of Gray, the vitriol man, in New York on Friday, resulted in his commitment to prison in default of bail. There are fifteen complaints against him, and five hundred dollar bonds ia each case arc required. The Washington correspondent of the N. York Tribune soys the Message is pronounced decidedly milk-and-waterish , and seems to pleas'e nobody. After all extra and ordinar effort to keep tho day of deliver,, it turns out ouiy a very little mouse after all. In all circles thu document is generally pronounced below criticism as a public paper, and it falls till-boru to the grouud. The corres pondent of the Herald says the Message is considered an exceedingly tame docu ment. From the absence of any decid ed rccommcudatiou- with regard to for eign affairs spoken of, it is evident tho Administration ia broken down, and now only begs for quarter. Members appear to have met for a spree. Every one is laughing at the Administration, them selves, aud the state of parties. ,0. Gov. Iteeder in Trouble. The Lexington (Mo.) Express, of tho 2Gtli says that a rumor was current iu that city, that Gov. Rceder had been forced lo leave Leavenworth City. No cause is assigned. Liter from California. The steam ship North Star has arrived at new York, bringing latter news from the Pacific, and 81,360,000 in gold. At Acapulco, the rebel chief Alvarez had drawn up a declaration of independence, and puipos ed making the south of Mexico an indc pendent republic. In China, the city of Canton still held out bravely against the insurgents, 100,000 of whom threatened it. In the Sandwich Islahds, the treaty of annexation to the United States has been agreed to by the royal family. ' Iu Orc gon Indian fights and gold excitement continue. EisT Buckwheat flour is ruling very high tho present season. At St. Louis the w holesale price is 0 per hundred, or 812 per barrel. A horse in a stable at Clevoland,Ohio, ran hi tongue through a crack in a par tition between two stalls; it was caught by another horse; the first on drawing back,, bit his own tonguo completely off. It was found iu the manger of the next stall. Probably snoh an accident norcr before occurred, . , t: 1 13 I- I r & i L m t f. - 4 . ..'- v "i'"r " " '
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers