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subject of general interest, For complete and
exact information regarding'thc finance,?, and
th various branches of the public service
connected therewith, I refer you to the report
of thc'Secretary of the Treasury, froni which
it will appear that the amount of revenue du
ring the last Seal year from all sources, was
seventy-three millions five hundred and forty
nine thousand seven hundred and fivetiollars:
and that the public expenditures for the same
period; exclusive of payments on accouut of
the public debt, amounted to fifty -one million
eighteen thc.usand two .hundred and forty
nine dollars. ' During the" game , period, the
paymentsmade in redept'ton of Jho, public;!
debt, including interest and premium, amount
ed to- twenty-fonr million'three hundred and
tnirty-six thousand three hundred "and "eighty
dollars. ., ... , ;. ' ;
To the sum total of the receipts-of that
year is to be added a balance remaining in
the Treasury. at the commencement thereof,
amounting to twenty-one millions nine; hun
dred and forty-two thousand eight hundred
and ninety-two. dollars ; and at the close of
the same year, a corresponding balanco
amounting to twenty million ofte hundred and
thirty-seven thousand nine hundred andasix
. ty -seven dollars of receipts above expendi
tures, also remained; in the Treasury.'- Al
though, in the opinion of - the Secretary of
the Treasury, the receipts of the current fiscal
year are not likely to equal' in amount those
of the last, yet they will undoubtedly.exceeed
the amount of expenditures by at least fifteen
pillions of dollars. I shall, therefore, cou-
tinue to direct that the surplus revenue be
applied, e far as it can be judiciously tnd
economically done to the reduction of the
public debt, the amount of which, at thecoui-
meneemont of the last fical year,', was sixty
seven -millions three hundred and -forty thou
sand jx hundred and twenty-eight dollars ;
of which there had been paid on t'ae twenti
eth day of November,: 1854, the sum of
twenty-two millions three hundred and sixty
five diousand baem hundred and seventy-two
dollars; leaving a balance of outstanding
public debt of only forty-four million nine
hundred and seventy-five thousand four- hun
dred and fifty-six dollars, redeemable at dif
ferent periods within fourteen years. There
s sire also remnants oi otner government scocks,
iiiost of which are already due, and on which
the interest has ceased,, but which have not
yet been presented for payment, amo'unting
to two hundred and thirty-three thousand one
hundred and ssventy-mne dollars.
. This statement exhibits the act, that the
annual incoine of the government greatly ex
ceeds the amount of its ; public debt, which
latter remains 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 prefer to retain the se
curities of the United States ; and the other
fact, no less striking that the annual revenue
fromall sources exceeds, by many millions of
dollars, the amount needed for a prudent and
economical ( administration of the govern
ment. .
The estimates presented to Congress from
the different Executive Departments, at the
last session, amounted to thirty-eight million
four handred and six thousand five hundred
and eighty-one dollars ; and the appropria
tions made, to the sum of fifty-eight million
one hundred and sixteen thousand nine hun
dred and fifty-eight dollars. Of this excess
of impropriations over estimates, however,'
more than twenty millions was applicable to
. extraordinary objects, having no reference to
the usual annual expenditures. ' Among these
' objects, was embraced ten millions to meet
the third aTticlc of the treaty " between the
f United States and" Mexico; so .that, in fact,
for objects of ordinary expenditures, - the ap
propriations were limited to considerable less
than forty millions of dollars. I thererefore,
renew my recommendation for "a reduction of
the duties on imports- The report of the
Secretary of the Treasury presents a series of
tables, showing 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 policy of
' tho coantry, J trust that little difficulty will
t be encountered in ; settling the details of a
measure to that effect. ' . .
In connection with this subject, I recom
mend a change in the laws, which 'ieent ex
perience has shown to be essential to thcpro
tcction of the government. There is no ex
press provision of law, requiring the records
and papers of a public character, of the sev
eral officers of the government, to be left in
their oCieps for the use of their successors,
nor any provision declaring it felony on their
part to mate false. entries in the books, or re
turn false accounts In the' absence of snch
express provision by law, the out going offi
cers, in many instances, have claimed aud re-
ceived the right to take into their own posscs-
sion, important books and papers, on the
ground that those were their private property;
and have placed them beyond the reach of the
government. Conduct of this character,
brought in several instances to the notice of
the present Secretary of the Treasury, natu
rally awakeni his suspicion, and resulted in
the disclosure that at.four ports, namely, Os
wego, Toledo, andusky. and Milwaukie, the
treasury had, by false entries, been defraud
ed, within the four . years next preceding
March. 18G3, of the sum of one hundred and
ninety-eight thousand dollars. The great
, difficulty with which tho detection. of these
frauJs has been attended, in consequence of
tho abstraction of books and papers by the re
tiring officers, and tho facility with which
similar frauds in the public service may be
perpetrated, render tbejiecessity of new le
gal enactments, in the respects above refer
- red to,.-quits obvious, "For other material
lnodiucaSoas of the'revenue laws which seem
" .,' to die desirable, I refer you to the report of
the Secretary of the Treasury? .That report,
and the iablts which accompany it, furnish
ample proofs of the solid foundation on which
s the financial security of the country rests, and
of the salutary influence of the independent
treasury syjcm on Commerce and all moneta
ry operations. :
Thy experience of the last year furnishes
additional reasons, I regret to tsay, of a pain
ful character, for the reccomme ndation here
tofore made to provide for increasing the mil
itary force employed in the territory inhabit
ed by tho Indians. The settlers on the fron
tier have suffered much from the incursionsof
predatory bands, and large parties -of emi
grants ta our Pacific possessions have been
massacre with impunity. The recurrence of
Hii-h scenes can only be prevented by teach-
ing these wild tribes the power of, and their
responsibility to tLe United States. From
the garrisons of our frontier posts, it is' only
possible to detach troops in email bodies; and
though these have on all occasions ' displayed
a. s-allantrv and a stern devotion to duty,
which on a larger field would have command
ed universal admiration, 5 they have usually
suffered severely. in these conflicts with superi
or numbers, nd have sometime 6been entirely
sacrificed. .All thedisposable force of the ar
my is already employed in this service," and
is known to be fullv inadequate to the protec
tion which should do afforded. '
The public mind of the country has been
recently shocked by savage atrocities commit
ted upon defenceless emigrants and border set
tlements, and hardly less by the unnecessary
destruction of valuable lives, where inadequate
troops have undertaken to, furnish the needed
aid. . Without increase of the military force,
these scenes will be riposted, it is to be fear
ed, on a larger seal-?, and with more! disas
trous consequences. . Congress, I am sure,
will perceive th-it tho planest duties and re
sponcibiuities of , government are involved in
this question, and I doubt not that prompt
action be confidently anticipated when delay
must be attended by such fearful hazards.
. Tire bili of the last' session, providing for
an iucrcase of the pay of the rank and file of
the army has had beneficial results not only
in facilitating enlistments, but in obvious" im
provement in the class of men who enter the
service. I regret ' corresponding considera
tion was not bestowed on the officers, , who, in
view of .their character and services, and the
expenses to which they are necessarily subject
receive at present what is in myr judgement;
inadequate compensation. :'
The valuable services constantly rendered
by the Army, and its inestimable importance,
as the nucleus around which the volunteer
forces cf the nation can promptly gather in
the hour of danger, and sufficiently attest the
wisdom af maintaining a military peace es
tablishment ; but the theory of our system
and the wise practice under it, require that
any proposed augmentation, in time of peace,
be only commensurate with our extended
limits and frontier relations. While scnipu
lously adhering to this principle, ' I find, in
existing circumstances, a necessity for an in
crease of our military force, and it ia to be be
lieved that four new regiments, two of infant
ry, and two of mounted-men, will be sufficient
to meet the present exigency.1 If it were ne
cessary to weigh the cost in a case of such ur
gency, it would be shown that the additional
cost would be comparatively light. . '
' With the increase of the -numerical forces'
of our army tshould, I think, be combined cer
tain measures of reform in its organic arrange
ment and administration. The present or
ganization is the result of partial legislation
often directed to special objects and interests ;
and laws regulating rank and command hav
ing been adopted many years ago-.from tho
British code, are not always applicable to our
service. It is not surprising therefore, that
the system should be deficient in the symme
try and simplicity essential to the harmoni
ous working of its several parts, and require
a careful revision. ' ,
The present organization, by maintaining
large staff corps, or departments separates
many officers from that close connection with
troops, and those active duties in the field,
which are deemed requisite to qualify them
for the varied responsibilities of high com
mand. Were the duties ofithe army staff
mainly discharged by officers detached .from
their regiments, it is believed that . the spe-r
cial service would be equally well perfonned,
and the diatipline and instruction of the army
be improved. . While due regard to the se
curity of officers, and the nice sense" of honor
which should be cultivated among them, would
seem to exact compliance with the "establish
ed rule of promotion in ordinary case3, stilljit
can hardly be doubted that the range of pro
motion by selection, which is now practically
confined to the grade of general officers,
might be somewhat extended with benefit to
the-public service. . -
Observance of the rule of seniority some
times leads, especially in time of peace, to
the promotion of officers, who, after meritori
ous and even distinguished service, may have
been rendered by age or infirmity, ; incapable
of performing active duty, and whose advance
ment, therefore would tend to impair the effi
ciency of the army Suitable( provision for
this class of officers by the creation cf a re
tired list, would remedy the evil without
wounding the just pride of men who, by past
services Lavo established a claim to high con
sideration. Iu again commending tkjs meas
ure to the favorable consideration of Congress,
I would suggest that the power of placing
officers on the retired list bo . limited, to one
year. The practical operation of the -measure
would thus be tested, aDd if, afjer the
lapse of four years, there should bev occasion
to renew the provision, it can be reproduced
with any improvements which experience may
indicate. . .
The present organization of the artillery
into regiments is liable to obviou3 objections.
The services of artillery is that of batteries,'
and an organization of batteries into a corpse
of artillery would be more consistent with the
nature of their duties A large part of the
troops now called artillery : are, - and have
been, ou duty, in infantry; the distinction
between the two armies being merely nomi
nal. This nominal artillery In our service is
entirely disproportionate to the whole force,
and greater than the wants of the coantry de
mand. I therefore command the dicontinu
anco of a distinction which has no foundation
iu either the arms used or the character of
the service expected to be performed.
In connection with tho proposition for the in
crease of the army, I have presented these sugges
tions with regard to Certain measures of reform,
as the complement of a system, which would pro
duce the happiest results from a given expendi
ture, and which I hope may attract the early
attention, and be deemed worthy cf the approba
tion of Congress. "V . --
The recommendation of the Secretary of the
Navy, liannjr reference to more ample 'provisions
for the discipline and general improvement in the
character of seamen, and for tho re-organization
and gradual increase of the nary, I deem eminent
ly worthy of your Javoifclc consideration. The
principles, which have controlled our policy in re
lation to the permanent military forcc,'by sea and
land, arc sound, consistent with the theory of our
system and slmuM ' by no means be disregarded.
But limiting the 'force to the objects particularly
et forth in the preceeding part of this message,
we should not overlook the present magnitude and
prospective extension of our commercial marine,
nor tkil to give weight to the fact that.liesides the
two thousand miles of Atlantic sealjoard. we have
a new Pacific coast, stretching from Mexico to the
British possessions, .in' the north, teeming with
wealth and enterprise, and demanding tbc con
ctant pretence cf sliips-of-war.
'ihe angmcstption of the navy has not kept
pace with the duties properly and profitably as
signed to it in time of peace, and it i inadequate
for the large field of its operations, not merely in
the present but still more in the progressively in
creasing exigencies of the wealth and Commerce of
the United- States. I cordially approve of the
proposed apprentice system for our national ves
sels, recommended by the Secretary of the Navy.
The occurrence, during the last few months, of
marine' disasters of the most tragic najurc, involv
ing great loss. of human life, has produced intense
emotions. of sympathy and sorrow throughout the
country. It "may be well doubted whether all
theso calamitous events arc wholly attributable
to the necessary and inevitable dangers of the sea.
.The mercliants, mariners,, and ship-builders of the
United States, are, it isjrue, Aiusurpasscd in far
reaching enterprise, skill ; intel ligence.and courage,
liv any others in the world. But with the increas
ing amomit of our commercial tonnage in the 8g
Tcgate, arid the larger size and improved equip
ment of the ships now constructed, a deficiency in
the supply of reliable seamen logins to be very
seriously felt. The .inconvenience may, perhaps,
be met, by due regulation for the introduction,
inoour merchant ships, of indentured apprentice's;
which, while it wouMl afford useful anI eligible
occupation to numerous' yqjmg men, would have a
tendency to raise the charter of bt ameu as a class.
And it is deserving of serious reflection, whether
it may not be desirable to revise the existing laws
for the maintenance of discipline at sea, upon
which the security of life and property on the
ocean must to an great an extent depend. Although
much attention Las already been given y Congress
to the proper construction ami arrangement of
steam vessels and all passenger ships, still it Ube-
"lieve'el that the achievements of science and me-
rchanical skill in this direction have i.ot been ex
hausted. -
' No good reason exists for the marked distinction,
which appears upon our statutts between the laws
for protecting life and proitcrty at sea, and tlioBe
for protecting .them en land. In most f the
states severe penalties are provide'd to punish the
conductors of trains, engineers, and others employ
ed in the transportation of persons by railway, or
by steamboats on rivers. Why should not the
same principle be applied to acts of insubordina
tion, cowardice, or other acts of misconduct on the
part of masters and mariners, producing injury or
death to passengers on the high sis, Iseyond the
jurisdiction of any of the States, and where snch
delinquencies only can be reached by the power of
Congress? -The whole subject is earnestly com
mended to your consideration.
The report of the Postmaster General, to which
you are referred for many interesting details in
relation to this important arid rapidly extending
branch of the public service, shows that the ex
' penditure of the year ending June 30, 1854. in
cluding $133,83 of balance duo to foreign offices,
amounting to $3,7 10J07.
The gross receipts during the sarpe period,
amounted to $0,955,580 ; exhibiting an expendi
ture over income cif $,755,321, and a diminution
of deficiency, as compared with the la.st year, cf
$3fil.75G.
The increase of the revenue of the department,
for the year ending June 8GV 1854, over the pro
ceeding year, was $970,399., No proportionate
increase, however, can be anticipated for the cur
rent year, in consequence of the act of Congress of
Julie 23, 1854, providing for increased compen
sation 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, anel un
der existing laws must continue to' be, to no small
extent, acharge upoii the general treasury.
The cost of mail transportation, during the year
ending June 30, 1854, exceeds the cost of the pre
ceding year by $495,074 I again call your at
tention to the subject of mail transportation by
ocean steamers, and commend the suggestions of
the lVstinaster General to your early attention.
- During the last fiscal year olefren million sev
enty thousand nine hundred aod thirty-live acrea
of the publiciands have been surveyed, ami eight
millions one hundred and nine ty thousand and sev
en acre-s brought into market. The number of
acres sold is seven million thSrtj--five thousand
seven hundred and thirty-five, and the amourit re
ceived therefor $9,2S5,633. The aggregate amount,
of land sold under military scrip and land war
rants, selected as swamp lands by States, and by
locating under grants for roads, is upwards ef 23,
000,000 of-acres. The increase of lands sold, over
the previous year, is about 6,000,000 of acres; and
the caies during the two first quarters of the cur
rent year present the, extraordinary result of five
and a half millions sold, exceeding by nearly four
millions of acres the sales of the corresponding
quarters of thc4at year, thus increasing to an ex
tent unparalleled during any like eriod in our
past history the amount of Teveriue provided from
1 this source for the Federal Treasury.
, The commendable policy of the government, in
relation to setting apart public domain for those
who have served their country iu time of war, is
illustrated by the fact, that since 1790 no less than
thirty millions of acres have been applied to tins
object. , ' t
The suggestions which I submitteel in my an
nual message of last year, in reference to grants of
land in aid ef the construction of railways, were
less full and explicit than the magnitude of the
subject and subsequent developments would seen
to render proper and desirable. On the soundness
of the principle the-n asserted with regard to the
limitation of the power 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 amount of money
may probably be received, in a given time, for all
alternate sectm; than could have been realized
for all the sections, without the impulse and in
fluence of the propoed improvements. A prudent
proprietor looks beyond limited sections of his do
main, beyond present results,.to the ultimate efiect
which a particular line of policy is likely to pro
duce upon ull his possessions and interests. The
government, which is trustee, in this matter, for
the pcopf e e if the States, is hound to take the same
wise and comprehensive 'view. 'i '
1 Prior to and during ihe lust session cf Congress,
upwards of thirty millions of acres of land were
withdrawn from public sale with a view to appli
cation for grants, of tliis chataeter pending before
Congress. A careful review tT 'the whole subject
led me to direct that all such orders be abrogated,
and the lands restored to market ; and instructions.
were immediately given to that effect. Ihe ap
plications at the last session contemplated the
construction of more than five thousand miles of
road, and grants to the amount of. nearly, twenty
millions of acres of the public domain. Even ad
mitting' th, right on the part of Congress to bo
unquestionable, is it quite clear that the proposed
0-ratit.f would be oroductive of trvd nrvl tint t?vil?
pThe 'different projects are confined for the pre-sent,
to eleven Mates ot the Unien, and one Territory
The reasons assigned for the grants, show that it
is proposed to pnt , the works upecd&y. in process
of construction. '"When wc reflect, that since the
commencement of the construction of railways in
tho United States, stimulated as they have "been
"by the, largo dividends realised from the earlier
works-over the great tttnrous;hf..rcs, ana Ix-tween
the moft important points cf commerce and pop
ulation, .encouraged by State legislation and f res
feed forward by 'the amazing energy of individual
eutepnsc, 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 commenced and projiecuted upon what
were deemed to be sound principles and safe cal
culations when wc contemplate 4the enormous
absorption of capital withdrawn from the ordinary
channels of business,' the extravagant rates of in
terest at this moment paid to continue operations,
the bankruptcies not merely in money, but in
character, and the inevitable effect upon finances
generally ; can it bo doubted that the tendency
is to run to excess in this matter ? Is it wise to
augment thi&eicess by encouraging hopes of sud
den weakh expected to flow from magnificent
schemes dependent upon the action of Congress?
Does the spirit which has produced such results,
r eed to be stimulated or "checked? Is it not the
better rule to leave all these works to private en
terprise, regulated, and when expedient, aided,
bv the co-operation of States? If constructed by
private capital, the stimulant and tho cheek go
togelhor, aud furnish a salutary restraint against
speculative scheme's and extravagance. But it is
manifest that, with tho most effective guards, there
is danger of going tou fast and too far.
- Wc may .well pause.,' before a proposition con
templating a simultaneous movement for the con
struction of railroads which, in extent, will equal,
exclusive of the great Pacific- road and nil its
brandies, nearly one third of the entire length of
such works, now completed, in the United States,
and which cannot crwt, 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 esti
mated. But independently of these considerations,
where is the accurate knowledge, the comprehen
sive intelligence which shall discriminate letweeh
the relative claims of these twenty-eight proposed
roads, m eleven States and one lerntory I here
will you begin and where end? If to enable these
companies to execute their proposed works, it is
necessary that the aid of the general government J
be primarily giveri, the policy will present a prob- j
lorn fio'vcomprehcnsive in its bearings, and so im
portant to our political and social we'll being, as-
to calm in anticipation, the severest analysis. En
tertaining these views, 1 recur with satusiaction to
the cxieric'uce and action cf the last session of
Congress, as furnishing assurance that the subject
will : not fail to elicit a careful examination and
rigid wrutiny . ' .
It was my intention to present on this occasion,
Some suggestions regarding internal improvement?
by the general government, which want of time
at the close of the last, session prevented my sub
mitting on the return to the House of Representa
tives, with objections of the bill entitled, " an act
making appropriations for the repair, prevention
and completion of certain public works heretofore
commenced under authority of law," but the
space in this comniimie-ation already occupied with
other matter of immediate public exigency con
strains mo to reserve that subject for a special
message, which will be transmitted to the two
Houses of Congress at an eanv tlay. ' . ,
The judicial etabliehment of the United States
requires modification, and certain reforms in the
manner of conducting the legal business of the
government are also much needed : but as 1 have
addressed you on both of these subjects at length
lcforc, I have 'only to call your attention to the
suKestions then made.
My former recjimme'nda tions in relation to suit
able provisions of various objects of deep interest
to the inhabitants of the District of Columbiaare
renewed,- Many of these objects partake largely
ot a national character, ami are important, inde
pendently of their relation to the prosperity of the
only considerable organized community ia the
Union, entirely unrepresented by Gmgress.
I have' thus presented suggestions on such sub
jects as appear to me to be of particular interest or
importance, and therefore most worthy of consid
eration during the short remaining period allotted
to the litbors t-f the present Congress.
Our forefathers of the thirteen United Clonies,
in.ncquiring their independence, and in founding
this Republic of the Uuited States of America,
have devolved upon us. their .decendants, the
greatest and the most noble trusts ever committed
to the hands of man, imposing upon all, and es
pecially such as the public will may have invested
for the time being, with pelitieal functions, the
most sacred obligations. We have to maintain
inviolate the great doctrine of the inherent right
of popular self-government ; to reconcile the larg
est liberty of the individual citizen, with complete
security-cf the public order; to render cheerful
eb:dience to the laws of the land, to unite in en
forcing their execution, and to frown' iiidignantly
on all combinations to resist them; to harmonize a
sincere and anient devotion to the institutions of
religion with the most universal religious tolera
tion; to preserve the rights of all by causing eacrj
to respect those of the other; to carry forward
every sco;d improvement to the utmost limits of
human perfectibility', by the free action of mind
upon mind, not by the obtrusive intervention of
miss applied force; to -uphold the integrity and
guard the limitations of onr organic law; to pre
serve eacrcd from all touch 'of usurpation, as the
very palladium of our politcal salvation, the reser
ved powers of the several State's and of the people;
to cherish, with loyal fealty an 1 devoted affection,
this Union, as - the only sure foundation on which
the hope of civil liberty rests; to administer gov
ernment with vigilant integrity -and riid econo
my; to cultivate peace and friendship with foreign
nations, and to eieinand and exact justice fn-m all,
"but to do wrong to none; to eschew intermeddling
with the national policy and the domestic repose
of other governments, and repel it from nnr own;
never to shrink from war when the rights and
honor of our country calls us to arms, but to cul
tivate in preference the arts of peace, seek enlarge
ment of the rights of neutrality, and elevate and
-Kbe'ralize tho intercourse of uations; and by such
just and honorable means, and such omy, whilst
exalting tho condition of the Republic, to assure
to it the legitimate influence and tie benign au
thority of a great example among all the powers
tf Christendom.' . '
Under trfe solemnity of these convictions, the
blessings ef Almighty God is earnestly invoked to
attend upon yeur deliberations, and upon all the
counsels and acts of the government, to the end
that, with common zeal and vcommon efforts, we
may, in humble submission to the Divine will,
co-operate for the promotion 'of the supreme good
of these United Suites. -
. - FRANKLIN TIERCE.
Washington, Dec. 4, 1854.
Sontig and Pozioliaa Suspicion of Poison.
The New Orleans Picaynne,' .in referring
to the report of the neglect of Madame Son
tag's remains at Vera Cruz, which we lately
published, says: . -
We have abstained altogether from allu
ding to the reports as to the cause of the
death of Sontag, which were rife at the time
in Mexico, and that were not long in sprcael
ing throughout this country. The very day
on which we received the news of tho sad
event, we also received through tho post of
five an anonymous note, suggesting the most
horrible suspicions, of which communication
wo took no notice at the time. On the sub
sequent arrival here from Mexico of several
gentlemen who were in a position to form an
opinion as to the circumstances, we made in
quiries which resulted in impressing upon our
minds the sickening fear, that, there .might
be some foundation for the suggestions of our
anonymous correspondent. .
Wre learned, too, from them, that all the
facts connected with thegdeath of Sontag, and
with the cquallyNinexplicaple demise; of poor
Pozzolini, who dropped dead from his chair ;
whilst in apparently the roost robust' health,
were sedulously hushed op by the authorities,
and were not allowed" to be published or com
mented on by the pressor1 the city of Mexico,
and that it was not permitted to . hold a pot
mcrtem examination in either case. Ihese
circumstances together with some others we
might mention, combine, we think,' to givef
a deep and momentous interest to .the ques
tion, the discussion of which we have hereto
fore eschewed, what was -the cause of the
deaths of younsr Pozzolini and Henrietta
Sontas? '
4 r
aiciiAKD white:
miEKRT C. DEVIVK
WHITE & DEVIXE, Editors and Proprietors.
EBEUSUURG.
THURSDAY MORNING:::::::;DECEMBEi: 14.
Youth's Casket. We have received No. 1, of
Vol. 4 of this interesting work. This is the first
number that we have been favored with, and
judging from its contents, tlio former iiumbciB
were eeiually as good as the present number. It
is vx2res-:sly designed for youth, and parents
should subscribe for it and place it in the bunds
of their clxildren. It is neatly executed, and e-rn-belishcd
with numerous engravings.
Godky's Lady's Book The January number
for 1855 has made its appearance, and a capital
number it is, being far ahead of any of .the for
mer numbers. The line engraving, " John pro
claiming the Messiah," is really beautiful, and
worth the subscription alone. This number con
tains the latest fashions, with a number of engra
vings for crotchet work and embroidery.
One cepy, one year,' $3
Two copies, one year, 5
live copies, one year, and an extra copy to
the person sendind the club, '10
Eight ctpieK, one year, do do '15
Eleven copies, one year, do do 20
Godey's Lady's Book and Arthur's Home Ma
gazine will both be sent one year for 3,50.
AeldressL. A. Godey, No. 113 Qhcstnut Street.
Philadelphia. '
U. S. Sen'atob. We learn from .the Ivittaning
papers that a meeting of the personal and politic
cal friends of ex-Governor Johnston, was held at
the Court House iu that place en Tuesday hist,
with a view" of presenting the claims of that gen
tleman to tho Legislature, as a candidate for U.
S. .Senator.
l7"The excitement raised in the North for
partisan purpewe's, against the Kansas and Ne
braska bill, is perceptibly dying out. Tho op
ponents of the measure got the start of its friends
by getting up a hue and cry that it was elesigncd
to propagate shivery, and to buil 1 up the South
at the, expanse of the rights and interests eif the
North. The excitement was based upon an utter
misapprehension of the provisions and principles
of the Act of Congress known as the "Nebraska
Bill." Instead of favoring the extension of slave
ry, it ia next to impossible that slavery can ever
be established iu the territories to which the law
applies. Instead of circumscribing, it will vastly
extend the "area ofFreedom." Instead of in
fringing upon popular rights, it expressly and
solemnly re-affirms the doctrine of the right of
"self government by the people," the very doc
trine for which our fathers fought tho battles of
tlic revojutim, and upon which the institutions
they established were founded. Instead of excit
ing, 1t will tend to allay, sectio nal agitatiou, or
at least to render it harmlcs.C It transfers the
question of slavery from the halls of Congress to
tjie people of the te rritories respectively, and thus
relieves it of its sectional and threatening asject.
These arc truths which cannot long be kept con
cealed from the public mind. TLe people are be
ginning to perceive them through all the misre
presentations, perversions, and falsehoods ef sec
tional agitnor.s and political demagogues. Slow
ly, but surely, a reaction is taking j-Licc in the
Northern mihd, and when that reaction comes ia
its full force, it will most certainly be the political
death ef'all who delight to heap abuse upon the
true frieuds of constitutional lilierly, and who are
now vainly attempting by a scn.scli.-ss and fanat
ical clamor to put down the great principle of
Pepular Sovereignty.
The Next TJ. S. Senate.
f Up to this time thirty Demicrat3 have been
elected to seats in the next session ef this IhvIv,
leaving the Democratic Legislatures of Alab.ma,
California, Florida,- South Carolina and Louisiana
yet to elect five more -making in all thirty-five.
The Whigs, Kuow-Nothings and Abolitions ts
'combined, have eighteen members elect of the
Senate. In addition, they lyivethc coutrt-1 of the
Legislatures of Iowa, Indiana, Illinois, Pennsyl
vania, Wisconsin and New York, and may elect
six Sen'atews in those States, increasing their forces
in the Senate to ticcnty-fuur. The New llarnp-
shrre Legislature, which will have to- elect two
Senators, is yet to be chosen. Tho Senator from
Missouri is eloubtful. It will be seen, therefore,
that the Democrats are sure ef a handsome major
ty in the next Senate. Of the thirty-five Demo
crats certain to be memlcrs of the next Senate,
all but four, the two from Rhode Island, Walker,
of Wisconsin, and Houston, of Texas, were in fa
vor of the Nebraska Bill. ,
State Education Convention.
A State Convention of Teachers and friends of
the cause of Education is to be held inLewistown
on the 20 th inst., contin uning three days.' -The
cause of educatitrti is so interwoven with all our
interests, that all should feel an interest in for
warding its progress. The old Keystone is
awakening to a just appreciation of the vast im
portance of the education of her j'outh, ami a
brighter day is inde-cd dawning. Not that we
have been heretofore unmindful or regardless ' of
this great objet-t, but there has not been so widely
diflused and general an interest manifested as is
now -apparent. Great and good results may be
anticipated from this interchange of sentiment
and opinions, and comparison of wxperience aud
practice in teaching, be-tween teachers and others
employed and engaged in furthering this great
cause.
Increase of the Army and Havy.
The recommendations of the Secretaries of War
and the Navy in favor of an increase of their
respective arms of the public service and defence,'
seem to meet with general acceptance; and these,
with the nfbdification of the Tariff, it is thought,
will be among the first measures of tho present
session. -
Commissioners to the Paris Exhibition.
Gov. Bigler has designated the following named
citizens as CoinnusbioiKTs to represent the State
of Pennsylvania, "at the UniversaI Exhibition of
the Industry of all Nations," to be opened at
Paris, in May next. TLe buildings of tLe Poly
technic College have been selected as the place
where all articles intended ibr the exhibition will
lie received and forwarded. AH coniniunicatkaui
on the subject will be aeldressed to Alfred S. Ken
nedy, Esq., at Philadelphia, Chairman of the
Coriimission and President erf said College.
Alfred S. Kennedy, Esq., Philadelphia. "
Hon. Janies X. M'Lanahan, Chaaibcnbar
". Dr. James Swaim, Philadelphia.
Ile'ii. W. L. Uelfciiktinc, Northumberland col
C. L. Ward, E.-q., Tow,anda. i '
Hon. Jeremiah S. Black, Somerset. . .
John M.,Grier, Reading.
Wm. II. Welch, Esq., York, Y. ; ' ;
Pierce Butler. Esq.", I'hiladt-IjJoa. -Frederick
Fraily, Esq., rhiladcrphfa.
Annexation of the Sandwich Islands.
j We hear from the Sandwich Islands that th
treaty of Annexation is on the point of being
signefl by the Royal Government, and will soon
reach the United Slates. Though the facts stated
by our present report with re-gard to the state of
the nejptiatifjis are essentially the same as wo
had some mentlis ago, the general publicity they
have Uw attained at IIono!u!a shows that tho
mailer lias nearly reached its tootlnsioHaiid that
in a few weeks the question will probably bo
brought before Cngress far final settlement.
Fresident of the Senate.
The U: S. Senate, ou Tuesday proceeded
to elect a President pro tem. the office being
vacant by Mr. Atchison's resignation. The
result was the election of Mr. Bright, of In
diana. The following is the vote :
Hon. Jesse D. Bright received 24 vctes:
Hon. Salmon P. Chase G "
Hon. William C. Dawson 2
lion. Solomon Foot l"
Hon. George E. Badger 1 '
- Sapromo Conrt.
The Surcmc Court of the United States, com
menced its term, on the 4th inst., at Washington
nil the meml)ers in attendance. TLo Court la
composed as follows : , '
Ii ger B. Taney, Chief Justice. '
John M'Lean, Associat do.
James M. Wayne, " '
John Catran, ' '
reter V. Daniel,
Samusl Nelson, " '
Robert C. Grier, " .
Benjamin R. Curtiss, '
John A. Campbell; "
Consul at Valparaiso.
Geo. B. Me J win has been apjointed U. S. Om
sul to Valparaiso, in place ef ex-Governor Reuben
Wood, resigned. Sonic three years ago the Con
sidshipat that ijrt vas worth $20,000 per year,
but in consequence of the shipping track- having
become centered in the hands cf a few individuals
anel less of our trade with California going round
the Horn, the receipts are supposed now to be
scarcely oue-f i:rth that amount.
Annual Eeport cf the Secretary of tha
Interior.
Jl'his is an able, document, giving an inter
csting exhibit of the various matters entrusted
to tho care of the department, over which tha
Hon. It McClelland presides It necessarily
however, embraces many facts of general in
terest given in other reiorts, particularly
thyse of the General Laud and Patent offices,
already published.
The Secretary reiterates his recommenda
tion that the officers connected with the survey
and sale of the public lands be prohibited by
law from becoming interested iu its purchase,
lie also adverts to the irregularities and ine
qualities produced by the numerous and dis
similar existing pension laws, and recommends
some' important modifications with a view to
uniformity, and also to re-store the' system
somewhauto. the original design of its projec
tors, ana to increase its benefits and restrict
its operation to thoso w ho are really and le
gitimately deserving objects of governmental
lavor and protection.
Her rene ws his recommendation of a bien
nial examination of invalid pensioners, and
cites the singular fact that while applications
arc numerous and constantly being presented
for an iucrease of pension on accouut of alleg
ed increase of disability, but two instances
have occurred of a voluntary acknowledgment
of a diminution of the disease or wound for
which the pension was originally granted.
The Department has been eminently suc
cessful in ferreting out and bringing to pun- .
ishment the perpe trators of frauds on the Pen
sion Bureau. Up to the COtU of September
last, aud since the 4th of March, 1853,30
persons have been indicted. .Of these, 11
have iajen convicted ; 9 have forfeited their
recognizances aud fled ; 1 has died ; 1 com
mitted suicide ; 2 have eluded tLe officers of
the law, and G await trial.
On the 31st of March, 1813, the enonnoua
suiupf 04S,475 80 was in the hands of
agents for paying pensions alone. The new
financial system has enabled the Secretary of
the Interior to call in this amount, so that on
the 30th of June last those agents only had
on hand tho aggregate sum of 303,801 20 ;
an ameiunt amply sufficient for the prompt
payment of pensions liable to be called for
until other advances are made.
Appropriations are urged for various im
provements in the District of Columbia, and
also the erection of fire proof buildings for the
accommodation of the State, War, Navy, and
Interior Departments, aud suggests that a bet
ter application of a portion of tho large
amount now in the Treasury cannot be made.
He also suggests the propriety of donating to
the city authorities for educational purposed
all the vacant city lots which may not bp
needed for public purposes.
The work on the Littlej.Falbj bridge, and
likewise the Insane Asylum has been vigo
rously prosecuted uuder the able and accom
plished officers respectly in oharge of thcin.
The latter will soon be ready to receive tho
patients for whose accommodation its erection
has been authorized. The affairs of the pen
itentiary are noticed, and an appropriation
asked to free it of an old indebtedness. ,. .
Lowell, Doc. 12. The entire Know No
thing Municipal ticket is elected. The vote
for Mayor is: Lawrence, K. N., 3,651 ; all
the other?, 400.