U U
Raftsman's Journal.
S. B. ROW, Editor akd Proprietor.
CLE Alt FIELD, PA., MARCH 11, 1857.
, The I ArocRATio.tTUE Message. We take
up a considerable portion of our paper to-day
with an account of the inauguration of James
Buchanan and his Inaugural Address. Every
one must at ouce he struck with the pomp and
show displayed at the inauguration, reminding
one more of the ostentation and parade accom
panying the coronation of some titled mon
arch than of the plainness and simplicity of
ceremony which formerly characterized the
accession of our Presidents to office. It shows
that there is a tendency to degenerate from
ancient American integrity, and that the dig
nity of the office is lost in the worship of the
man, and in base subserviency to the party he
represents.
The inaugural address has the good quality
of being short, and Mr. Buchanan states, in
the outstart, that he will not be a candidate
lor re-election, from which he would have us
conclude that he has no indncement to stray
from the path of duty and rectitude. We
hope be may not. Time will tell whether he
does. lie applauds the ready submission of
(he minority in the late warm contest to the
declared will of the People. The praise he
thus bestows on the Americans and Republi
cans is a virtual condemnation of his own par
tisans w ho declared that if Fremont was elect
ed they would not submit that the Union
would be dissolved a hue a cry to which he
is indebted for many a Tote ! Mr. Buchanan
holds that Congress has not the power to ex
clude slavery from the territories; in this dif
fering, not only from the opinions of JeHer
son and other great men of the past, but from
his own in 1819, and in his professions since of
approving and upholding the Missouri Com
promise, lie denies to the poople of Kansas
any power to inhibit Slavery until they shall
come to form a State Constitution, saying that
the time is, however, "a matter of but little
practical importance." With a Supreme
Court to decide that the slaveholder has a right
to take his slaves there, hold them, and de
mand the same protection of the law that you
would for cattle or other domestic animals, the
time is all-important, as any one can see after
but a moment's reflection. Mr. Buchauan,
however, promises ,to protect the people of
Kansas in the enjoyment of Popular Sover
eignty. We shall sec how he does ?t. He
thinks it is an evil omen of the times that men
have undertaken to calculate the mere mate
rial value of the Union a hit, we should say,
at the disunionists ; reprobates corruption in
high places ; deprecates extravagant expendi
tures; approves the reduction just effected in
the Tariff; condemns appropriations for doubt
ful enterprises ; recommends an increase of
tho navy, and the construction of a military
road to the Pacific but whether he means a
railroad or not, can only be guessed at ; and
avows himself opposed to meddling in the do
mestic a (lairs of other nations. He justifies
the acquisition of Texas and the territory ce
ded by Mexico, and says that, if iu acting up
on the principle he has laid down, we shall still
further extend our acquisitions, no nation will
have a right to interfere or complain which
is evidently intended as a morsel for tho filli-buster-favoring
portion of the party.
State Contention. Tho call for a Staio
Convention, issued by the members of the Le
gislature opposed to Locofocoism, has met
with the fullest response from the press thro'
.out the State, and icarcely a paper reaches us
that does not contain a notice for county meet
ings to select delegates to the same. In our
own columns will be found a notice for a Con
vention of thos'j in this county friendly to the
call, and who are sincerely opposed to the pol
icy of the Pierce-Buchanan party to a union
of Church and State to Roman-Catholic in
terference in the affairs of our Government
and to the extension of the blight of slavery
over the fair territories of ; the West. We
trust, if the business of the season will not in
terfere, that the meeting will bo well attended.
As we remarked before, we receive from all
sections of the State the most cheering evi
dences of a disposition on the part of both the
Americans and Republicans to concentrate
tbelr forces upon one sett of candidates, and
in this connection one fact worthy of special
note is, that the American State Council, which
assembled last week at Altoona, passed reso
lutions to that effect.
Ma. JJcchaxa.i's Cabinet. Tho following
is Mr. Buchanan's cabinet, the nominations
having been confirmed by the Senate :
Secretary of State Lewis Cass, of Mich.
Sec'y of Treasury Howell Cobb,of Georgia.
Sec'y of War John B. Floyd, of Virginia.
, Sec'y of Navy Isaac Toucey, of Conn.
Sec'y Intericr Jacob Thompson, of Miss.
Postmaster Gen. Anson V. Brown, of Tenn.
Attorney Gen. Jeremiah S. Black, of Pa.
Locoroco Statc Nominations The Loco-
foco Stat Convention, at its session in Ilar
risbnrg last week, nominated
Gen. William F. Packer, of Lycoming coun
ty, for Governor ; .
Hon. Nimrod Strickland, of Chester coun
ty, lor Canal Commissioner ;
And non. Ellis Le-Js, of Philadelphia, for
!5preme Judge.
Thb Drxd Scott Case Decided. On the 6th
Inst., the TJ. S. Supreme Court at Washing
ton gave as important decision in this case.
The first point decided is, that Dred Scott,
(colored, manumitted slave,) is not a citizen.
Next, that be was not manumitted by being ta
ken by his master, when a slave, into the then
Territory of Illinois. Tho Missouri Compro
mise Act of 1820 is decided to have been an
act unconstitutionally passed by Congress.
Thesdecision involves the point, that a slave
taken temporarily into a free State or Territo
ry, in transitu, is not emancipated, and that
negroes, whether slaves or free, are not citi
zens under the Constitution. The decision
was rendered by Chief Justice Taney. Justice
Nelson,' of New York, and others, dissented.
Washington, March 7. In the U. S. Su
preme Court, this morning; Justice McLean
delivered his views,' argning that slavery is
limited to the range of the States where es
tablished by mere municipal law. If Congress
deem slaves or frco colored persons injurious
to the territory, they have the power to pro
hibit them from becoming settlers therein.
The power to acquire territory carries with it
the power to govern it. Th? master does not
carry with him to the territory the law of the
State from where he removes hence the Mis
souri Compromise is Constitutional, and the
presumption is in favor of the freedom of
Dred Scott and his family, who were free tin
der decisions for the last twenty-eight years.
Justice Curtis dissented from the opinion of
the majority of the Court, as delivered by
C.J. Taney, and gave his reasons for dissenting.
He maintained that native born colored per
sons can be citizens of the State and of the U
nited States; that Dred Scott and his family
were free when they returned to Missouri ;
that the power of Congress to make all need
ful regulations respecting territory. was not, as
tho majority of the Court expressed, limited
to territory belonging to the United States at
the time of the adoption of the Constitution,
but has been applied to five subsequent acqui
sitions of lands ; that Congress has power to
exclude Slavery from the Territories, having
established eight territorial governments with
out it, and recognized slavery in six, from the
days of Washington to John Quincy Adams.
These opinions occupied five hours in deliv
ery. Justices Wayne, Grier, Campbell and
Daniel had papers expressing their; views on
certain points of the opinion of the Court, but
did not read them.
The Court then adjourned until the time fix
ed by law.
"A New thing under the Scn" (O Scn.)
The Submarine Oceanic Telegraph Bill has
passed both branches of Congress and ere this
has received the President's signature and bo
come a law. Eighty thousand dollars per year
has been appropriated conjointly with the Brit
ish Government to establish and keep in re
pair a lino of telegraph laid upon the bottom
of the Ocean from the nearest hnadlanda be
tween the two Continents. Government ves
sels are supplied to lay tho cable, one to start
from each Continent at the same time and
meet midway in the Ocean, the whole to be in
operation about tho first of July next. This
will inaugurate a new era in the newspaper
world. Lightning will flash across the Atlan
tic the news of the day in London, Liverpool,
Paris and the principal cities of Europe, and
the same will be published here hours in ad
vance of if publication there,' according to our
time. What is this world coming to 7
Kansas. St. Louis, March 6. A letter in
tho Republican, dated Westport, Feb. 2Cth,
says that a meeting has been held at that place,
and a series of resolutions passed to resist ev
ery effort and every movement calculated to
produce troubles similar to those of last year,
and extending hospitality, welcome to emi
grants from all sections of the country, pledg
ing themselves to let the laws of Kansas and
Missouri punish offenders.
The Santa Fe mail had been received on the
26th. The party met with no difficulties ex
cept the high streams and deep mud. The
general news is unimportant. It is considered
certain that the Indian Agent, Mr. Dodge, has
been killed by the Apaches. All was quiet at
Fort Bent.
From Europe. The steamship Persia ar
rived on the Cth. It is announced that the
British Government has a despatch from Ad
miral Seymour announcing tho total destruc
tion of Canton by the British fleet.
M. S. Israeli's amendment to the financial
budget resulted in an adjournment until the
following Monday.' The Persian negotiations
are less amicable. Franco and other great
powers are to open the Ncufchatel Conference
at Paris. The Russians have resumed the
Circassian war. It is rumored that Russia is
to have large cession of territory from Persia.
Vivia j the Secret of Power by Mrs. E. D.
E. N. Southworth is the title of a new book
which T. B. Peterson, No. 102 Chestnut St..
Philadelphia, bas in press, and will publish on
the 14th inst. The high character of the for
mer productions of the authoress, is a suffi
cient guarantee for this one. By remitting
$1,25 to the publisher, ho will send the work,
in one volume, neatly bound in cloth, free of
pottage, or in two volumes, paper cover, for $1,
to any part of the United'States.
nyTHK Murderer M'Kix Is still at large.
Within tho last week several reports of his ar
rest were circulated. The last was that three
citizens of Luzerne, after a desperate encoun
ter, had captured him near Wilkesbarre ; but
the report is contradicted. He is supposed to
be somewhere in Ohio. We pity the poor
wight -who bears the least resemblance to
M'Klm, as he undoubtedly stands in imminent
danger of being arrested.
CrT-An exchange says that the cabinet of
Mr. Buchanan ought to prove satisfactory to
the Abolitionists, as there is a Black and a
Drown man in It."
I5AUOTJBATI01T OF JAMES BUCHANAN,
fifteenth president of the U. 8.
HIS INAUGURAL ADDRESS
Washington, March 4, 1857 A brighter day
seldom dawned upon the Federal city than the
4th of March, 1857, which was to witness the
retirement of Franklin Pierce and the -ascension
of James Buchanan, to the Presidency of
the United States.
The city bas been' filling up with strangers
from ail parts of the Union for a week or two,
and yesterday and this morning, many thou
sands arrived by the trains and steamboats.
Last night, there were thousands who eneffmp
ed in parlors, dining-rooms and other apart
ments, the sleeping-rooms of the public and
private houses being totally unequal to the ac
commodation of the vast multitude. The e
vent of the night was the Democratic Inaugu
ration Ball, given by the Twelfth Ward Dem
ocratic Association of Philadelphia. It took
place at Carusi's saloonl The tickets were
five dollars, and the proceeds were for the ben
efit of the poor of Washington city. A large
miscellaneous company was present, and the
President and Vice President elect were pres
ent for a short time, being received with ac
clamations on their arrival. There were, in
the course of the evening, salutes fired, rock
ets discharged, and various other demonstra
tions in view of tho coining event.
The city woke early this morning, being a
roused by new salutes and the ringing of bells.
The streets were soon alive with moving mul
titudes. Pennsylvania Avenue presented a
most animated appearance Flagswaved from
all the hotels and public buildings andTrom
many private houses. The movements of mil
itary companies, preparing to take thir places
in the line of procession, gave a peculiarly
lively character to the scene. Altogether the
volunteers in the city taking part in the cere
monies numbered not less than a thousand rank
and file. There wore also detachments of U.
S. Light Artillery from Fort McIIenry, and a
corps of some three hundred TJS. Marines.
They were all under the command of General
John A. Quitman.
Tho streets were further enlivcnod by the
rapid movements of the Marshals and their
deputies. These numbered altogether nearly
two hundred men from all parts of the Union.
Tho marshal-in-chief and aids were designated
by yellow scarfs, with white rosettes, and blue
saddle cloths, with gilt edging. The marshals
were designated by blue scarfs and whito ro
settes, and whito saddle'covers trimmed with
blue. And they carried a baton two feet long,
of blue color, with gilt ends about two inches
deep. The assistant marshals wore pink scarfs
with white rosettes, white saddle covers trim
med with pink. They also carried whito bat
ons two feet long, with pink ends two inches
deep.
The Fire Companies and the various politi
cal and civic societies were also early in mo
tion, preparing to take their places in the line
of procession. Towards nine o'clock they
and the military all began to form in proces
sion on New York Avenue, the right consist
ing of the military, resting on loth street.
This is close to the President's House and the
public Departments. There was necessarily a
good deal of confusion and delay in forming
into line; but the procession got into motion
about 12 o'clock and advanced down Pennsyl
vania Avenue. Its appearance, as a popular
demonstration, was very fine, and the masses
of people in the Avenue cheered frequently
as it passed. -
On reaching the National Hotel there was a
halt, and after a short delay an elegant ba
rouche, drawn by four horses, containing the
President and the Prcstdent elect, joined tho
procession, immediately in the rear of the mil
itary. Tho Vice President elect was also in
an open carriage, with several other gentle
men, and tho two carriages were surrounded
by tho Keystone Club, preceded by the milita
ry and representation by a lady dressed as tho
Goddess of Liberty on a high platform drawn
by six horses, followed by a miniature ship-of-war
of considerable size, made by the mechan
ics of the Washington Navy Yard. The pro
cession then moved ou iu the order agreed up
on. As the head of tho column reached the
north gate of the Capitol, at about 1 o'clock,
it halted, and the military opened ranks, facing
inwards and presenting arms, forming what tho
French call a 'haie," or double lino of sol
diers, through which the carriage with tho
President and President elect, drove, to the
gate. There they alighted, and were received
by the Committee of tho Senate appointed for
the purpose. They were escorted to the north
door of the Capitol, and then to tho Vice Pre
sident's room.
Tho Senate met at 12 o'clock. On the an
nouncement of the arrival of the President
and President elect, all rose to their feet. The
President and President elect took thoplace
assigned to them, aud in a few miuutes, all be
ing prepared, the venerable Roger B. Taney,
Chief Justice of the Supremo Court of the U
nited States, advanced with the Holy Bible in
his hand. The President elect rose, and then
took the oath of office, as follows :
"1 do solemnly swear that I will faithfully
execute the office of President of the United
States, and will, to the best of my ability, pre
serve, protect and defend tho Constitution of
the United States."
Those in the Senate Chamber then formed a
line and proceeded to the eastern poitico of
the capitol. A very spacious platform was o
rectcd on tho portico, on which places were as
signed for all those who had been admitted to
the Senate Chamber. At last the procession
cmeqged from the Capitol door and appeared
on the platform. As the tall figure of the
President elect, clad in that famous black suit,
with the thirty-one stars embroidered on its
lining, became visible, there roso a deafening
shout from the vast human mass. It spread
over the. whole multitude, and it was some time
before it could be quieted. When quiet had
been restored, after the acclamations that
greeted the President elect, be proceeded, at
about If o'clock, to deliver his inaugural ad
dress, as follows :
1NACCIRAL ADDRESS.
Fellow Citizens : I appear before you this
day to take the solemn oath "that 1 will faith
fully execute the offico of President of the U
nited States, and will, to the best of my abili
ty, preserve, protect and defetid the Constitu
tion of the United States." In entering upon
this great ofliec, I most humbly invoke the aid
of the God of our Fathers for wisdom and firm
ness to execute its high and responsible duties
in such a manner as to restore harmony and
ancient friendship among the people of the
several States, and to preserve our free insti
tutions throughout many generations. Con
vinced that I owe my election to the inherent
lore for the Constitution and the Union, which
still animates tho hearts of the American peo
ple, let me earnestly ask for their powerful
support in sustaining all just measures calcula
ted to perpetuate these, the richest political
blessings which Ileaven has ever bestowed
upon any nation."
Having determined not to become a candi
date for re-election, I shall have no motive to
influence my conduct , in administering the
Government, except tho desire, ably and faith
fully to serve my country, and to live in the
grateful memory of my countrymen. We have
recently passed through a presidential contest
in which the passions of our fellow citizens
were excited to the highest degreo by ques
tions of deep and vital importance. But when
the people proclaimed their will, tho tempest
at once subsided, and all was calm. The voice
of the majority, speaking in the manner pre
scribed by the Constitution, was heard, and in
stant submission followed. Our own country
could alone have exhibited so grand and strik
ing 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 tho majority shall gov
ern" to tho settlement of the question of do
mestic Slavery in the Territories. Congress
is neither "to legislate slavery into any Terri
tory, nor exclude it therefrom," but leave the
people thereof perfectly free to form and reg
ulate their domestic institutions in their own
way, subject only to the Constitution of tit U
nited States. As natural consequence, Con
gress has also prescribed that when the Terri
tory of Kansas shall bo admitted as a Statc, it
shall be received into the Union with or with
out Slavery, as their own Constitution may
prescribe at the time of their admission. A
different opinion has arisen in regard to the
point of time when the people ot a Territory
shall decide the question for themselves. This
is happily a matter of but little practical im
portance, besides, 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
lc speedily and fiually settled. To their
decision, in common with all good citi
zens, I shall cheerfully submit, whatever this
may be ; though it has ever been my individu
al opinion that, under the Nebraska Kansas
act, the appropriate period w ill be when the
number ot actual residents in the Territory
shall justify the formation of a Constitution
with a view to its admission as a State into the
Union. But be this as it may, it is the imper
ative and indispensable duty of the govern
ment of the United States, to secure to every
resident inhabitant the free and independent
expression of his opinions by his vote. This
sacred right of each individual must be pre
served. This being accomplished, nothing
can be fairer than to leave the people of a
Territory free from all foreign interference, to
decide their own destiny for themselves, sub
jact only to the Constitution of the United
States. The whole Territorial question being
thus settled upon the principle of popular sov
ereignty a principle as ancient as free gov
ernment itself everything of a practical na
ture has been decided. No other question re
mains for adjustment; because all agree that
under the Constitution, Slavery in the States
is beyond the reach of any human power, ex
cept that of the respective States themselves
wherein it exists. May we not, then, hope
that tho long agitation on this subject is ap
proaching its end, and that the geographical
parties to which it has given birth so much
dreaded by the Father of his country will
speedily become extinct 1 Most happy will it
be for the country when the public mind shall
bo diverted from this question to others of
more pressing and practical importance.
Throughout tho whole progress of this agita
tion, which has scarcely known any intermis
sion for more than twenty years, whilst it has
been productive of no positive good to any
human being, it has been a prolific source of
great evils to the master, to the slave and the
whole country. It has alienated and estrang
ed the poople of sister States from each other,
and has even seriously endangered the very
existence of the Union. Nor has that danger
entirely ceased. Under our system there is a
remedy for all mere political evils in the sound
senso and sober judgment of the people.
Time is a great corrective. Political subjects
which, but a few years ago, excited and exas
perated the public mind, have passed away aud
are now nearly forgotten. The question of domestic-slavery
is of far greater importance
than of any mere political question, because,
should the agitation continue, it may eventu
ally endanger the personal safety of a large
portion of our countrymen where the institu
tion exists. In thut event no form of govern
ment, however admirable in itself, however
productive of material benefits can compen
sate for the loss of peace and domestic securi
ty around the family niter. Let every Union
loving man, therefore, ej.ert his best influence
to suppress this agitation, which, since the re
cent legislation of Congress, is without any
legitimate object. It is an evil omen of the
times that men have undertaken to calculate
tho mere material value of the Union, reason
ed estimates havo been preseuted of the pecu
niary profits and local advantages which would
result to the different States and sections fr om
its dissolution, and of the comparative injuries
which such an 'event would inflict on other
States and sections. Even descending to this
low and narrow view of the mighty question,
all such calculations arc at fault the bare ref
erence to a single consideration will be con
clusive on this point. We at present enjoy a
free trade throughout our extensive and ex
panding country such as tho world never wit
nessed. This trade is conducted on railroads
and canals, on noblo rivers and arms of the
sea, which bind together the North and tho
South, the East and the West of our Confede
racy. Annihilate this trade, arrest its free
progress by the geographical lines of jealous
and hostile State?, and you destroy the pros
perity and onward march of the whole and ev
ery part, and involve all in one common ruin.
But such considerations, important as they are
in themselves, sink into insignificance when
wo reflect on the terrific evil which would re
sult from disunion to every portion of the con
federacy. To the North not more than to the
South to the East not more than to tho West.
These I shall not attempt to portray, because
I feci an humble confidence that the kind Pro
vidence which inspired our fathers with wis
dom to frame the most perfect form of Gov
ernment and Union ever devised by man, will
not suffer it to perish until it shall have been
peacefully instrumental by its example, in
the extension of civil and religious liberty
throughout the world.
Next in importance to the maintenance of
the Constitution and the Union, is the duty of
preserving the Government free from toe taiat
or even the suspicion of corruption. Public
virtue is the vital spirit of Republics; and
history proves that when this has decayed and
the love of money has usurped its place, al
though the forms of free Government may re
main for a season, the substance has departed
forever.
Our present financial condition is without a
parallel in history. No nation has ever before
been embarrassed from too large a surplus in
its treasury. This almost necessarily gives
birth to extravagant legislation. It produces
! wild schemes of expenditures and begets a
race ol speculators and jobbers, whose ingenu
ity is exerted in contriving and promoting ex
pedients to obtain public money. Tho purity
of official agents, whether rightfully or wrong
fully, is suspected, and the character of the
Government suffers in the estimation of the
people. This in itself is a very great evil.
The natural mode of relief from this embar
rassment is to oppropriate the surplus in the
Treasury to great National objects, for which
a clear warrant can be found in the Constitu
tion. Among these I might mention the ex
tinguishment of the public debt, a reasonable
increase of the Navy which is at present in
adequate to the protection of our vast tonnage
afloat, now greater than that of any other na
tion, as well as to the defence of our exten
sive sea coast.
It is beyond all question the principle that
no more ravenue should be collected from the
people that the amount necessary to defray
the expenses of a wise, economical, and effi
cient administration of the government. To
reach this point, it was necessary to resort to
a modification of the tariff, and this has, I
trust, been accomplished in such a manner as
to do as little injury as may have been practi
cable to our domestic manufactures, especial
ly those necessary for the defence of the coun
try. Any discrimination against a particular
branch for the purpose of benefitting favored
corporations, individuals or interests, would
have been unjust to the rest of the community,
aud inconsistent with that spirit of fairness
and equality which ought to govern in the ad
justment ot a revenue tariff.
But the squandering of the public money
sinks into comparative insignificance as a
temptation to corruption, when compared with
the squandering of the public lands. No na
tion in the tide of time has ever been blessed
with ao rich and noble an inheritance as we
enjoy in tho public lands. Iu administering
this important trust, whilst 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 preserve these
lands, as mnch as may be, for social settlers
and this at moderate prices.
We shall thus not only promote the best
prosperity of the new States and Territories
by furnishing them a hardy and indeendent
iace of honest and industrious citizens, but
shall secure homes for our children and our
children's children, aa well as those exiles from
foreign shores who may seek in this country
to improve their condition and to enjoy the
blessings of civil and religions liberty. Such
emigrants have done much to promote the
growth and prosperity of the country. They
have proved faithful both in peace and war.
After becoming citizens they are entitled, un
der the Constitusion and laws, to be placed on
perfect equality with native born citizens; and
in this character they bhould ever oe kindly
recognized. Tho Fedeial Constitution is a
grant from the Statea to Congress of certain
specific powers, and the question whether this
grant should be liberally and strictly coustru
ed, has more or less divided political parties
from the beginning.
Without entering into the argument, I de
sire to statc, at the commencement of my ad
ministration, that long experience and obser
vation have convinced mc 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, iu our past
history, doubtful powers have been exercised
by Congress, these have never failed to pro
duce injurious and unhappy consequences.
Many such instances might be adduced, if this
were the proper occasion. Neither is it ne
cessary for the public service to strain the lan
guage of the Constitution, because all the
great and useful powers required for a suc
cessful administration of the Government,
both in peace and in war, have been granted
either in express terms or by the plainest im
plication. Whilst deeply convinced of these truths, I
yet consider it clear, that, under the war-making
power, Congress may appropriate money
towards tho construction of a military road,
when this is absolutely necessary for the de
fence of any State or .Territory of tho Union,
against foreign invasion. Under the Constitu
tion, Congress has power 'to declare war"
"to raise andsuppoit armies" "to provide
and maintain a navy," and to call forth the
militia to "repel invasion." 'Thus endowed
iu an ample manner with the war-making pow
er, the corresponding duty is secured that "the
Unittd States shall protect each of them (the
States against invasion."' Now, is it possi
ble to afford this protection to California and
our Pacific possessions except by means of a
military road through the Territories of the
United States, over which men and ammuni
tions of war may be speedily transported from
the Atlantic States to meet and repel the in
vader. In the event of a war with a naval
power 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 across the Isthmus of Cen
tral America. It is impossible to conceive,
that 'whilst the Constitution has expressly re
quired Congress to defend all the States, it
should yet deny to them by any fair construc
tion tho only possible means by which one of
these States can be defended. Beside, the
Government, ever since its origin has been in
the constant practice of constructing military
roads. It might also be wise to consider
whether thn love for the union which now an
imates our fellow citizens on the PaciCc coast
may not be impaired by our neglect or refusal
to provide for them in their remote and isola
ted condition, the only means by which the
power of the State on this side of tho Rocky
Mountains can rtncli them in sufficient time to
protect them against invasion.
1 forbear for the present from expressing an
opinion as to the wisest and most economical
mode in which the Government can lend its
aid in accomplishing this great and necessary
work. I believe that many of the difficulties
in the way which now appear formidable, will,
in a great degree, vanish as soon as the near
est aud best route shall have been satisfactori
ly ascertained. It may bo right that on this
occasion I should make omo brief remarks in
regard to our rights and duties as a member of
the great family of nations. In our intercourse
with them there aro some plain principles ap
pioved by our own experience from which wo
should never depart.
We ought to cultivate peace, ccmmercc'and
friendship with all nations, and this, not mere
ly as tho best means of promoting our own
material interests, but in a pirit of Christian
benevolence towards our fellow-men, wherever
their lot may bo cast.
. Our diplomacy should bo 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 na
tions, and never attempt to interfere in the
domestic concerns of any, unless this shall bo
imperatively required by the great law of self
preservation. To sroid entangling alliances
has been a maxim of our policy ever since the
days of Washington, and its wisdom ao one
wiil attempt to dispute. In short, we ought
to do justice in a kindly spirit to all nntiou,
and require justice from them in return.
It is our glory that whilst other nations have
extended their dominions by the sword, w
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 cur acquisitions from
Mexico form no exception. Unwilling to
take advantage of the fortune of war against a
sister Republic, we purchased these posses
sions under the treaty of peace, for a sum
which was considered at the time a fair equiv
alent. .Our past history forbids that we should
in the future acquire territory, unless this be
sanctioned by the laws of justice and honor.
Acting on this principle, no nation will have
a right to interfere or complain, if In the pro
gress or events we shall still further extend
our possessions. Hitherto in all our acquisi
tions, the people under .the protection of the
American flag have enjoyed civil and religious
liberty, as well as cqnal and just laws, and
have been contented, proserous and happy.
Their trads with the' rest of the world has rap
idly increased, and thus every commercial
nation has shared largely , in their successful
progress. I shall now proceed to take the
oath prescribed by the Constitution, whilst
humbly invoking the blessings of Divine Pro
vidence on this great people.
James Buchanan.
At the close of the Address, tho ex-President
advanced and offered his congratulations
to the President,- and he was followed by the
other dignitaries. The crowd at the same
time renewed their cheering, and the guns on
the Capitol Hill bellowed out the news that a
new President had entered then his term of
office. The salute consisted of thirty-one gui s-
one for each Stato of the Union.
The ceremony being concluded, the Presi
dent returned to the Senate Chamber, and
soon after resumed his scat in the carriage
and was conducted to the White House, the
ex-President and others accompanying him.
The military and a great portion of the civic
procession formed again, to escort the Presi
dent and those along with him to the Execu
tiveMansion. As Eastern editor says that a man out west
got himself in trouble by marrying two wives.
A western editor replies by assuring bis co
temporary that a good many men in that sec
tion have done the same thing by marrying
one.
A northern editor reports that quite a num
ber of his acquaintances found trouble by
barely promising to marry, without going any
further.
A southern editor says that a friend of his
was bothered enough by simply being found
in company with another man's wife.
Cheated. The eccentric John Pbenix re
cently went to the Theatre in Boston, whfn
Mrs. W. II. Smith was advertised to appear io
two pieces. After the performance he de
manded the return of his money, for he sa'i
Mrs. Smith appeared whole during both pei
formances.
An Exhibition ot Long Run School, F-ogps
township, will be held on the evening of Fri
day, March 20th. A large attendance i in-.;,
ted. W. W. Shaw, and others..
DOn the 7th, Hon. Charles Sumner sailud"
from New York for Europe.
WEAVER. FITLER & CO.,
No. 19 North Water Street, Philadelphia,
Dealers in Carpet Chain, Yarn,
.MANILLA AND HEMP ROPES,
Red-cords, Clothes-lines, Ae.. Ac.
January 1. Igj7. . 1 year-p.
LOOK II JE K E ! The undersigned ha
Wheat. Rye, Corn, Oats. Bacon,
Fish, Salt, l'laster aud Dried Aeplev
also a general variety of Merchandise,'
to KXCHANSK FOR GOOD HOARDS AND
SHINGLES. J. II. 1IOMMEK.
March ll-.ttp Water Street. Hunt, co.. Pa.
rilO CARPENTERS. Proposals will be re-
A ceived up to the first of April next, for doing
the carpenter work of a plai.k frame dwelling
house, to be built on the River bank at Curwrnj
villc. ciie St by 68 feet. Plan and specifications
enn be seen by calling at the ofSce of the subscri
ber at Curwensville. WM. IRVIN.
Curwcnsville. March 11. 1857.
IMPORTANT. The person who received, on
last Court week, from the undersigned, at Mr.
Lanich'g corner in Clearfield, a letter directed to
fc U. 1'iMcr. is requested to return the same im
mediately or leave it at the "Journal"' office, if it
is yet in his possession, or givelnforinatioi. of what
ho did with it. C. JEFFRIES,
marl 1 at
UNION CANAL This work having been en
lnrgcd tbruughont to admit the largest siiec
I ennsylrania Canal P.oata : the i.r k. i :.
ed
from Miildletown to Reading, on tho 1st day of A
pril. Toll Sheets and information respecting the
Canal can bo obtuined at the office of the compa
n-
ny, -o. itt Malnut Street. Philadelphia, on appli
cation to R. KINDLE SMITH.
uiarll-3t
President, Ac.
IOU. SALE. The subscriber will offer by
public sale, at 2 o'elwk P. M. on Saturday
the 2Sih March, one half acre of ground in the
town of New Washington, with a two-story frame
House, frame stable and other buildings thereon.
Terms made known on the dav of sale, bv
JOHN M. RIDDLE,
for thohcirsof Hugh Riddle, dee'd.
Rurnside township, March 11. 1S57.
IOR RENT OR SALE, (the latter preferr
ed.) the former residence of the subscriber,
ono mile west of Clearfiekl. on the Pike leading to
Luthersburg. with about 8 acres of ground. 6 of
which are cleared, and in a pood state of cultiva
tion ; buildings about 32-by 40 feet : pood chain
Cutnp at the door; and stabling sufficient for three
orscs and three cows, as well as all the out-build-in
s tha t are necessary for the accommodation of
a family. Terms will be made reasonable, by
Marchll-tf L. R. CARTER.
AUDITOR'S NOTICE. The undersigned
.Auditor, appointed by the Court of Common
Pleas of Clearfield county, to "distribute the pro
ceeds of the snle of the store of R. M. Stevenson
A Co. to Thos. Ralston, after the 20th December,
lSjA, pro rata, among the Philadelphia creditors
of R. M. Stevenson A Co.." will attend for that
purpose at the office of M. A. Frank, Esq., in the
Borough of Clearfield, on Saturday the 21st March,
inst., when all those interested can present their
claims. E. S. DUNDY,
marll - - . Auditor.
farxFISTI t FISH !? Superior Mackerel and
" M Herrinir iust received and nn.nin m . iK.
cheap Cash store of Rio hard Mosson in
Clearfield. fob ll-'i"
A LARGE lot of Family Groories just receiving
at Mossod'i in CUar field. fMl.'AT
CLOCKS'. CLOCKS 'JsEight day. thirty houp
Clocks for sale at- JTaop'a St re Ifcb 11.
MOLASSES Best Syrup at 116 cents a gallon,
at feblll MOSSr?-- .