the op.n'on then expressed of the propriety A Diking proi-iowi, by u retired liot, lor eitsaoled officer, and fur itwued esomuemsatiou to th ot fLr miui o the iirt lor active duty. Ali' ti iw:m which exufcxl, wbu these measure Were recommended ua iuriaut otttasioua. Continue without luodiuautiou, except j i'ar a cireutu euaue Lave givcu to sjiiic ut them additional force . Toe rviimend.iUo!8, beret-furt madu for a partial rjjfg-kuization of f.e unny, are slso re ite ed. Tac thorough clemcatary cdue it.ou.i;iYr. ca 43 lli -ii ofSicri, wuu co:uiucuC: their sentcc with tne graAa of c-i-iet, qualities tiscm, ti a con Bi lerible extcilt, O perioral the dimes oi over; ( ar:a of the icrvicc ; bat to give tue highest elli tieucv to aruile.-y, re-iuires tue practice aud spe cial stu ty of many years ; aul it w u -t, tneretore, behevjd t be a-lvis-iOui to uiamtau, iu time t pea'C, a larger forces of that arm thau can Lc usu ally employed ia tue duties appei tuiuing to the M.rvku of tielJ and scige artdiery. The duties ol the staT in all its various braucties belong to the movement of troops, and the efficiency of an ar my iQ the field would materially depend upon the ability with which those duties are discharged. It is nt, as in the case of the artillery, a special icy, but requires, also, an intimate knowledge of the duties of en officer of the line, and it Li not doubted that, to complete the education of an offi cer fur either the Hue or the general staff, it is de sirable that he shall have crved in both. With this view, it was recommended ou a former occa sion that the duties of the staff should be mainly tjerfcrmed 'by details frotu the hue; and, witn rouviction of the advantages which would result fj: auja a chiiiio, it is atia presented fjr the "cousidoratioa of Congress. . NAVt. " The report of the Secietary of the Navy, here with subm.ited, exhibits iu full the naval epera hU jus of the pat year, together with the present condition of the service, aud it makes sugge&tious of farther i.'gislatiua, to whioh your attuutiou i invited. Tto construction of the six steam frigates, for "which appropriations were made by the last Con gres, has proceeded in the must satisfactory man ner, and with such expedition, as to warraut the "belief that they will be ready for tervice early in the coming spring. Important as this additiou to our naval force is, it slid remains inadequate to the ooatmgeut exigencies of the protection of the extensive sea coast aud vast commercial interests of the Uuittal States. Iu view ot this fact, and of tne acknowledged wisdom of the pojjy of a c.-adu.d aa i ysteulatic increase of toe navy, an appropriation is recuiumeuded for the coustruc ' t.ou of six sicaui sloops-of-war. ' In ieari to the steps taken in execution of the act of CvH.gress to promote the ethaeacy of tue nivy, it is Ui.nices try for me to say uure thau to express entire con.-urreuce iu tue observatiuns on that sul ject presented by the becretary iu his rejktt. POST OFFXCE. x It -ill be perceivetl, by the report of the Post " mastcr General, that the gross expenditure of the 1 department for the last tiacal year was nine ruil lion nine hun.hcd and sixty-eight thousand three Luudicl and forty two dollars, and the gross re- -ce'pts seven milliou three hunrtred and forty-two thousand one nun Jreu ana tuirty-six uo.i.trs, ma king au excess of expenditure oer receipts two milium six liun.ireu ana twenty-six tuouaauu two hundreil and six dollars ; and that the cost of mail tranauortatlon during that year was six-huudreu - and seveuty-f ur thousand nine hundred and lifty . two dollars greater than the previoua year. Much of the heavy expenditures, to which the treasury ia thus subjected, is to be ascribed to the large quantity of printed matter couveyed by the mails, either franked or l:able to no postage by law, or to verv low rates of postage compared with that charged ou letters ; anil to the great cost of mail aervice ou railroads and by ocean steamers. The anzestions of the Postmaster (Jeuend ou the sub- ' ject deserve the consideration of Cougress. IXTKfcUB. The report of the iwcretarv of the Interior wil. engage your atteuiiou, ns wen oi uanui "bKca" tiuus it Cv.utaiuii, a lor the interest aud impor- tave of the su': '.ojU to which they reler. " Tha aggregate atuuunt of j ub.ic laud s M du- rI'-" tto last Uscil year, 1 icateJ with military - ac .-. i or bind warrants, taken up under grants for - roads, una selected as swamp lauds by atates, is ,te ity-four million five hundred and fifty-seven thia4.ai fo'"r huadrod and nine acres ; of which . the fjortion sold w;is tii'teeii milii n seven hundred aud twenty-nine th ius-ind five hun Ired auutwru- tv-four ajres. yielJin ' iu receipts tue sum t elev- ea niiilua four hnudrcl aad e;gaty five ttiousaud three Imi'dre.l an I eighty d d its. I j the same pcrt-xl of time, eight mil ion sjyeu hundred aud itriinii-.thrM tlu.im in.l i!ir'ut hundred aud riftv- ; fanr acres have been surveyed : bat, iu considera tion of the quamity alreadysubjecttoeutiy.no . additional tracts have been brought iuto market. Tuc peculiar relation of the general governcueut to the District of Columbia, renders it proper to commend to your caro not only us material, but c also its moral interests, including education, more especially in those parts of the district outride ol - the cities of Washinzton and lieoraetown. The commissioners appoiutcd to revise and cod , if? the laws of tl.e District, have made such pro; rtss in the perl'oi uumce of their task, as to iusure iu couvjletiou in tLe time prescnoeu uy tue act oi Iaf ormation has recently been received, that f the settleiiicnU iu the U-rrituiied vi i v', L J -j mm iwwn p 'wB wUfinrtn WW V J laot o.i the VkTl of tae iu liaiii, witli iudicatiou of ei : teasire combiHatiom of a hostile character aiooiig the tnoes m that quarter, tlio tuore serious lu tueir - possioie etfect b- r-.'ason ol the uudcteruuL.eu li eign inte. eat existing iu thote'lenitories.to wLich Tour attention has already been csiieiaily invitoxl Efficient measures have btea taken, wnicn, it is ' believed, will restore quiet, aud atlord protectiou to our citizens. In the territory of Kansas, there have been acts prejudicial to good order, but as yet none Lave . occurred nnder circumstances to juaiiiy the inter position ot the federal lxeculive. luat could ou !y be in case of obstruction to federal law, or ot organized resistauce to territorial law, assuming the character of insurrection, which, it it should occur, it would be my duty to promptly overcome and suppress. I cherish the hope, however, that - the occurrence of any such untoward eveut u ill . bo prevented by the sound Sense of the peop.e ol , the territory, who, oy its organic law, possewtfi, the right to determine their own domestic iusti- tutious, are entitled, while deporting themselves peacefully, to the free exercise of that right, and " must bt protectl ia the enjoyment of it, without iuterfereuce ou the part of the citizens of any ol the Suites, 'ice southern, boundary line of this Territory has never Leeu survejed and established. Tue - rapidly extending setibnneuts in that region, a:;d the fact thtt the m uu route betweeu ludepeudeuce . iu the Suite of Missouri, aud New Mexico, is cou- tigious to this Hue, suggest tl.e probability tlut einbarrassiug questions of juris Jiciiou may cnuc- quently arise. For these add othtT Cousidera-'-- tions, 1 c-mmead the subject to your early atteu- tion. .; C0S9TITC TIONAL THE03Y OF TnB GOVEttSMEST. ; I ha.e tuus pa&el iu review the general state of the Union, iucluding such particular concerns rf the federal government, whether of domestic or ' foreign relation, as it appeared to mo desirable "aid useful to bring to the special notice of Cou- gre3. Unlike the great states of Europe anil : Asia, and many of those of America, thee United States are wasting their strength ueiiherin foreign . war nor domestic strife. Whatever uf discontent cr public dissatisfaction exists, is attributable to the impwtectioE f human oature, or Is incident ' t o all govcraraci.t, bonreyer perLt. which human ' wisdom can devise. Such subject of ' political groat extent, of exaggeration of iud it ibie evils. t 1 over seal in social improvement, or mere im--. . inti'.-n- of grid vans, harinj but rcoiote oounex cn wthaaycT'tLe cv'oatitutiotil"futictroEa or " duties of the fedtrMl goveiim.eut. To . whatever :xttot tleso qut-fctions cxliiLit a tendeucy mena cing to the Utility CI the constuution.or the lu teal ity of the Union, and bo fc.riUr, they t'emaud the consideration of the Eitcutive, and require t be rresta-ted by Lioi to Cciigrtss. j - : IJ.lore the 'Ihiiteto d louies bceniue a coiTea eratiou tuf iudependentfcith Us.tht:) w ere associated 01.lv by. I'cuxm unity of trans-ailautic vrigin, by 'to""rai'Lical notation, and by the mutual tie of ;ymwU.dcpeiiUeutc. pi0itutJiiUiin3 ben that tie was ullt;lled, t!vy hvvtiall ai-umwi tte powersd rights' of "alsoiXito el-go erUmeut . ihe muiplcipal mid social it.stituUoiis of each, its laws of property, aud 'nf ptis HiM rvir.tiou, even ;ts political orjranizati. :i, were' such only as each one ciK.se to establish wholly without interference from any other, lu the bpugo of the IJe.lara ti..n of Independence, each Suite i ad " full power to levy war, ciic!wdo peace, contract alliances, tstabiisa couiRTwce, and to do ail other actaiiud things which mdt-peiwkut States may of Tight tlo." The everal 0 bies differed in dimate. in soil, in natural productions, iu religion in systems of education, in legislation, and in the forms of political administration ; aud tire continued to diner m thet-e respects wltcn they voluntarily al lied themselves as Spates to carry ou the war of the revolution. The object of that war was to disenthral the United Colonies from foreign rule, which had pro ve.! to be oppressive, and to separate them per manently from the mother country ; the political esiilt was the foundation ot a lederal rci uonc 01 the free white u.ea of the coloi-ies, constituted as thev were, in d stinct. and reciprocally indepen dent. State governments. As for the subject ra ces, whether Indian or Alrican, the wise ana brave statesmen of that day, being engage 1 in no extravagant scheme of social change, left there as they were, and thus preserved themselves and their posterity from the anarchy, and the ever-re curring civil wars, whicu have prevailed iu other revolutionized Euuqean colonies of America. Wheu the confederated States found it conve- niert to modify the conditions of their association, by giviug to tf e general governmeut direct access, in some respects, to the people of the States, in stead of confining it to action on the States as such, tl.ey proceeded to frnre the txi.lin'p consti tution, adhering steadily to otie guiding thought. which was, 10 delegate only such power as was necessary aud proper to the execution of specific pu pis,s. or, iu other words, to retain as much as possible, consistently with th( sa purposes, of the independent powers of the individual Stab 8 For ol ivets of common defence and security, the- intiu.-ted to the general goVerrimimt certain care fully defined function.- Iravinpr all others a the undelegated rights of the separate independent sovereignties. Such is the constitutional theory of our govern- ment, the practical observance of which has car- j ried us, aud us alne. amoug modern repuoucs, 1 through nearly three geae'ations of time witnout the cost of one drrp of bloodshed in civil war. W ith freedom and concerto! action, it liaseuar.ieu 1 i. us to contend success! uiiy on tne naiue-neiu against foreign foes, has elevated the feeble colo nies into powerful States, and has raised ur in- da-trial productions, and our commerce, which transports them, to t;.e levil ol the richest and the greatest natv ns ol turope. And tbe admira ble adaption of our political in .titutio.is to their objects, combining 1 ical seli'-goverunieut with au- regat strength, has estab.ishecl the practicaoui- ty of a government like ours to cover a continent with coufecerate btates The Congress of the United States is, in effect, that corgress of sovereignities, which good men in the Old World have sought for, but could never attain, and which imparts to America au exemption from the mutable leagues for common action, Irom the wars, ti e mutual mvasious aud vague aspirations alter the baianee ol over, which co ivulse from time to time the goveru- u.eats of Europe. Our co-operative actiou rests tu the conditions oi permanent conleocatiou prescril e 1 by the constitution. Our balance oi tMiwer is in the seperate reserved rignts 01 tue States, aud their equal repre.eiitatiou iu theSeu ate. That indtpeuvknt soverdguty in every on.- of the S ates, with its reserved rights of local self govtrnmeut assured to each by their co-equal powir in the Senate, was the fundamental condi tion of the constitution. Without it the Union would never have existed. However dts.rous the larger States might be to re-organize the gov ernment so as to give to their population its pro-. portionate weight in the coninin couusels, they i.ew it was impossible, mi. ess uic lonceceu to the smaller ones authoiity to extrcitc ut .east a negative indueuce ou all the measuies of the governmeut whether legislative or executive. through their equal representation in the Senate. Indeed, the larger States themselves coUJ not uavc failed to perceive, that the same power was eaualiv nece-arv to them, for the security of their own dome, tic interests ngainst the aggre gate force of the general governmeut. In a word, the original States went iuto this permanent league ou the agTeed premises, of exerting their common strength for the defence of the whole, ami of all its parts; but of utterly excluding all capability of reciprocal aggressious. .Each sol emuly bound itself to all tiie others, neither to undertake, nor permit, any encroachment upon, or lutermeduhug with, another's reserved rights When it was deemed expedient, particular rights of the States were expressly guaranteed by the constitution : but, iu all things beside, these rignts were guardoa oy the limitation of tftepow ers grauted, aud by express reservation of all powers not granted, in the campact of Union. Thus, the great iower of taxation was- limited to purposes of common defence and general welfare, excluding objects appertaiufug" to the local legis lation of the several States ; and those purposes of general welfare aud common defence weie al ter wards defined by spfteifie enumeration, asb?ing matters only of co-relation between the States themselves, or between them and foreign govern ments, wLich. because of their common and gen eral nature. o u!d not be left to the separate con trol of each State.' Of the circumstances of local condition, inter est, arSvl rights, hi whrrch a' portion of the States, constituting one great Section of fhe Union differ ed from the rest, and from another section, the most important wai the peculiarity of a larger relative colored population in the southern thau iu the northern S:ates. A J.ulatiyu ut this class, held in subjection, existed in nearly all the States, but was moie numerous and of more ser-ous concernment in the South thau in th.j North, ou account of natural dihe.-encis of climate and produ--tuR and it was foreseen that, for the san t reasons, vhile this population would diminish, and, sooner or later, cease to exist, iu some Sratcs, it might increase in otheis. The pecu i.ir character and magnitude of this question of local rights, not ia material relations only, but still more in social ones, caused it to eutcr iato the special stipulations of the constitution. Hence. -vLile the general government, as well by the enumerated powers granted to it, as by those not euumeratod, and therefore refused to it, was forbidden to touch this matter in the sense of attack or ofiencc, it was placed u8der the general safeguard of the Union, iu the sense of defence against either invasion or domestic vio lence, like all other local intetesls of the several States. Each State expie.-Iy stipulated, as well for its"lf as for each and all of its citizens, and every citizen of each State became solemnly bouud by his allegiance to tho constitution, that auy perMMi, held to service or labor in one State, escaping into another, should nt, i i consequence f aay law ur regulation thereof, be discharged from such service or labor, but should be deliver ed up ou claim of the party to whom such service or labor nught be di e by. the la s of hU State, Thus, and thus only, by the reciprocal guar anty of all the rights of every State' against in terference on the part of another, wra the pres ent form of government established by oar fath ers and transmitted to us; aud-by no other means is it poS-able for it to uxL-t. it one State ceases to rvsptct the right of anotler, and obtrusiely ir.teruieddles with its local interests, if a portion of the Sta'es assume to impose their iastitutious on the others, or refuse to 1 elm t Loir obligations to tl.em, weure uo longer united, liiendly States, but distracted. Load! outs, with, little capacity left of cuiniuou advantage, but abuudaut lueaus tif reciprocal injury aird mischief. '; " . " ' l'racticad y,-.it is immaterial whether szgres- sivc jnteifwrencv betwten the States, or deldierat refusal on the part l auy of theiu to "comply With ColiStitntiojial obtigatieJis arise from errone ous toaviction, or b'.iad prejudice, whether it bo perpetritted by direction or iiKlirevtkm: Iiieiiher case, it is full of threat, end of. Caugcr .to the drabihty of the Union. - j " ro.StTHCTHS.L KEL4TI01.8 OF PLAVyfiT. pJacvd iu the oiiice of Uhiwf Mi'gistiute as the executive agent i f the whole coi.uiry, Itoutnl to t;kc care ti.at the laws be faitl.tuliy executed, and specially enjoined by the constitution to give information to Congress ou the ttate of the Un ion, it wou?d be Hlpable neglect of duty on my part to pass over a subject like this, which, t yon 1 all things at the present time, vitally Con cerns iudividual and public security. It has been matter of painful regret to sec States, conspicuous for their services m founding this Lie 1 ublic. aud equally sharing ita advanta ges, disiegard their constitutional obligations to it. Although conscious of their inability to heal idn.ii tfd aud palpable social evils of their own, aud which are completely within their jurisdic tion, they engage iu the offensive and hopeless undertaking of reforming the domestic institu tions of other States wholly leyoud their control aud authority. Iu the vain pursuit of ends, by them eatinly unattainable, and which tl.ey may not legally attempt to compass, they peiii the very exist nee of the constitution, and all the countless benefits which it has conferred. While the people of the southern States Confine their at-( tentiou to their own annirs, u-tt presuming ofli cioutJy to intenoe.idle with the social institutions of the northern State, too many of the inhabi tants of the latter are permattly organized in as sociations to inflict injury on the former, by wrongful acts, which would be'eause of war as laetwetp foreign powers, and only fail to be such in our system, because perpetrated under cover of the Union. It is impossible to present this subject as truth and the occasion require, without noticing the re iterated, but groundless allegation, that the south has persistently asserted claims and obtained ad vantages in the practical administration of the general government, nuhe prejudice of the north, and in which the latter has acquiesced. That is, the S:ates. which either promote o" tolerate at tacks on the riirhts of persons and of proi fct ty in btLer Stales, to disguise their own injustice, pre- teud or imagine and constaut'y aer, that they. whose const, uitioual rights are thus systematically assailed, ure themselves the aggressors. At ti.O present time this imputed aggression, resting, as it does, only iu the vague, declamatory charges of political agitators, resolves itsell into misappre hension, or mU'iuterpretation, of the principles and facts of the political organization of the new Territories of the United StatiS. - . hat is the voice of history 1 W hen the or- diuame, which provided for the government of the territory northwest of the nvcr Ohio, aud for its eventual subdivision into new States, was adop ted in the congress of the confeceration, it it not to be supposed that the question of future nlative power, as betweeu the States which retained, and those which did not retain, a numerous colored population, escaped notice, or faded to be consid ered. And yet the concession of that vast terri tory to the interest and opinions of the northern States, a territory now the t-eat of five anions the largest members of the Uuiou, was.i- g-eat meas ure, the act ot the State of lrginia and of the south. When Louisiana vn acquired by the United States, it was an acquisition not les to the north han to the so ith : lor while it was linrxrtaut to the country at the mouth of the rher Mississippi to become the emporium of the country abo e it, it also was evou more important to the wbo'e Un ion to have that emporium ; and although the ikw province, by reason of its imperfect settle ment, was mainly regarded as on the Gulf of Mexico, yet, in fact, it extended to tbe opposite boundaries of the United States, with far greater breadth above than below, and was in territory, as iu eveiything else, equally at least an acces sion tu the northern States. It is mere delusion and prejudice, therefore, to speak of Louwiaua as acquisition in the special interest of the south. The patriotic aDd just men, who participated In that act, werw influenced by motives far above all sectional jealousies. It was in truth the great event, which, by completing for w the possession of the valley of tho Mississippi, with commercial access to the Gulf of Mexico, imparted unity and strength to the whole confederation, and attached together by indiss-luble ties tlie east and the west, as well as the North and the south. As to Florida, that was but tlie transfer by Spain to the United States of territory on the east side of the river Missitippi. in exchange for larjre territory, which the United Suites trausfer red to Spaiu on the west side of that river, as the entire diplomatic history of the transaction serves to demonstrate. Moreover, it wts an acquisition demanded by the commercial iateresta aud the security of the whole Union- j . In the meantime, the. peop of the United States had grown up to a proper consciousness of their strength, and in a brief 0 Blest with France, and ii a second series war with Great Britain, tbey bad shaken oil all wbioh remained of tvndue reverence for Europe, and emeris! from tlie at mosphere of those transatlantic influences which surrounded the infant Republic, aad had beun to turu their attention to the full and pystemntic development of the internal resourcts ot the Ln ion. Among the evanescent controversies of that period, the most conspicuous was the question of regulation by Congress of the social condition of the future States to be founded in the territory of Loui.-iana. The ordinance for te gbvernrnftni of the terri tory northwest of the river Ohio had contained a provision which prohibited the use of servile labor therein, subject to the condition of the extradition of funitives from service due n nny'.btjj.er art of the United States. Subsequently to.the" afoption of the constitution, this rovision ceased to re main as a law; for ils operation as such was ab so.uttly 8iipereded by the constitution, tut the recollection of the f.tct excited the real of social proparandit-ni iu son.e sec turns of the coffedcrit tion ; jvnd wheu a sr ,tmd State, that of Missouri, came to he formed hi tie territory of Louisiana, proposition was made to extend to the latter ter ritory the restriction originally apt lied to the coSintry situated bvtweeu the rivers Oiiio and Mis sissippi. - Moet questionable as was this proposition in all ks coBNtit id ioual relations, nevertheless it re ceived the bam-tion of Congress, with some slight modifications of line, to save the existing rights of the intended new State. It was reluctantly acquiesced ia by southern State as a sacrifice to the cause of j-eace and of the Union, not only of the rights stipnnited by the treaty of Louisiana, but 1 f the priuci le of equality am ng the States guaranteed by tl.e coi.stltutk.n. It wns received by the northern State with angry , and resentful condemnation and complaint, because it did not concede afi which they had exactiugly demanded. Having passstl through the forms of legislation, it tools its plai-fe in the statute book, stauding open to repc.illitc9 any other, act of doubtful con Htirntiomlity,- subject to be pronounced hull and void by the courts of law. and possessing no pos sible efficacy to control tbe rights of the States, which might thereafter be orsranizefTout of ay part of tha -original territory of LfiuWaTia In all this, if any asrgrensi n. therb were, any innovation upon pre-existing rights, to which portion of the Union are tbey justly chargeable 1 Tiili Cotitioversy passed away -with the occr. elon, notl.icg surviving it savu thedoimai.t letter of the statute. , Bat, lo:.g hftcrwarJa, when, by the' prr,prcd acoxS-ica 1 i the lie-public of Texas, the Ui.ited S Jti e;u to take their next step in territorial greatness, a similar contingency occurred and bo came tho occasion for systematized attempts to iulervene iu tne domestic aCairs of ouo tcctiou of tl.e Union, iu defiance of their rights a States, and of the stipulations of the cousitutiou. Ti.ee attempts assumed a practical direction. In tl e shape of persevering endeavors, by some of the representatives, in both houses wf Congress, to de privo the Southern S.a'.es of the supposed benefit tif the provisions ot the act authorizing the or ganization ol the State of Missouri. . . But , the guod sense of the po.ple, and the Vital force t'he constitution, triumphed over feetioii bl prtjuiiice. and tl.e pol.tical err. rs of the day, and tne Stuie 1 f Texas returned to the Unii-n as she was, with social itooi.uti jus which L.er peo lle had chosen tor themselves, aud with expresn agreement, by tho r -annexing act, that rhe should . be susceptible of subdivision into a plu rality of Stutes. Whatever advantage the interesta of the South ern States, us such, gained by this, were far in ferior in results-, as they unfolded in the progress of time, to those which sprang from previous con cessious made by the South. ; To every thoughtful friend of tlie Union.' to the true lovers of the country to all who long ed and lal ored for the full success of this great experiment of repnllicau institutions, it was cause of grat illation that such an opportunity had occurred to illustrate our advaucing power on this continent, and to furnish t" the world ad ditional assurance of the strength and stability of the constitution. Who would wish tosee Florida still a European wlony 1 Who would rejohe to had . Uxa. .is a lone star, instead of one in the galaxy of States? Who d s not appreciate tl e incalculable Lm nefits of the acquisition of Loul-i-ana t And yet narrow views and sectional pur poses would iucvitably have txcluded them ali from tlie Union. . but an iti.cr struggle on the Mine point ensued, when our victorious armies returned from Mexico, and it devolved on Congress to provide for the territories acquired by the treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo. The great relations of tho subject has now become distinct and clear to the erccption of the public mind, which appreciated the evils of sectional controversy ujon the question of the admission of new States. In that crisis intense solicitude j erv;aledthe nation. Hut the patriotic impulses ol ti e popular heart, guided l y the ad mouitory advice of the Father of his Gmutry, rose sujierior to ail the difficulties of the inc rpo ratiou if a new empire into the Ut.i on. Iu the counsels of Congress there wss manifested ex treme ahtagonifm of opinion aud action between some representatives, who sought by the abusive aud unconstitutional employment of the legisla tive powers of the government to interfere in the condition of the inchoate States, and to impose their own social theories upon the latter; knd oth er representatives, who repelled the interposition of the Keneral government in this respect, and maintained the self-constituting rights of tLe States. Iu truth, the thing attempted was; in form al ne, actiou of the general govtfninerit. while in reality it was the endeavor, by abuse ol legislative power, to force the ideas of iutenial policy, entertained in particular Staters, upon al lied independent S.alis. Once more the consti tution and the I nion triumphed signally. Ihe new Territories were organized without restric tions on the disrated point, and were thus left to judge in that particular for themselves ; and the sense ol constitutional laith proved vigorous enough iu Corgress not only to accomplish this primary object, but also the incidental and hardly less important one, of so amending tl.e provisions of the statute for the extradition of fugitives from service, aa to place that public duty under the safe-guard of the general government, and thus relieve it fr-m obstacle raised up by the legisla tion of Some of the States. Vain declamation tegardirg the provisions of law for the extradition of fugitives from tervice, with occasional episodes cf frantic effort to ob struct tl.eir exN inion by riot and murder, con tinued, for a br'ef time, to agitate certain locali ties. But tho true principle, of letvinz each State and Tert itory to regulate its own laws of labor according to its own sense of light anil expediency, hail acquired fast hold of the public judgement, to such a tlegre, that, by common consent, it was 1 unserved in the organization of the Teiritory of Washington. .When, more recently, it became requisite to organize the Territory's eif Nebraska and Kansas, it was the natural and legitimate, if not the in evitable consequence ef previous events and lgi. lation, that tLe same great and souud principle, which had already been applieel to Utah and New Mexico, should be applied to them that j they should stand exempt from the restrictions proposal in ine act relative to mo ouiie 01 iuia souri. These re-trictions were, in the estimation of many thoughtful men, null from the beginning, tmautnenzei Dy tne constitution, contrary to toe treaty stipulations for the cession ol Louisiana, )i inconsistent wit.11 uic cuauij 01 tlio iiwiito. -Thev had been stripejd of all moral authority. by persisteut efforts to procure their indirect re peal through contradictory enactments. They had been practically abrogatcel by tne legislation attending tl e rgaiii''itioii of Utah, New Meiico . m . 1 . V F ; 1 1 and VasUlUglon. l any vitality retnaweu 111 tl etn. it would have b-een taken away, in effort, bv the new territorial acts, in the form originally pro-posed in tbe Senate at tl. ftrwt msKOtm of the last UoncTe:s. ll wa mamy an 1 ingenious, as well as patriotic and just, to do this directly and plainly, and thus ren-.ve the statute uoeK ri an ; act. which niHit le ejf issinie liilure injury, but of no possible future l-euefit ; and the measure of its real was the final consummation and re cognition of the principle, that no portion of the United States shall r.nt-ertake, through assump tion of the powers of the general government, to tlictate the social institutions tf any other portion. The scope ftml effect ef th language of r pnal weri rt't left in eloubt. It waseloclaredi in terms, to be " the true intent and meaning of this act not to legilate s'avery into any Territory or State, n r to exclude it therefrom, bit leave the pfople thereof jrCrfwi't'y free to f'nu and regul itn their domestic institutions in their own way. subject only to the constitution of the U. States." The measure could Dot be withstood upon its merits alone. It was attacked with vio lence, by the false or dluive pretext, that it constituted a broach of faith. JJever was ob jection more utterly destitute of substantial justification. When, before, was it imagined by sensible men that a regulative or declara tive statute, whether enacted ten or forty years ago, is irrepvalable, that aa act of Con gress ia above the Constitution ? If, indeed, there were in tbe ficts any cause to impute bad faith, it would attach to those drily, who have never ceased, from the time of tlie en actment of tlie restrictive provision to the present day,- to denounce and condemn it, who have constantly refused to complete it by needful pupplementary legislation ; who have spared no exertion to deprive it of moral force who lrave themselves' again and again attemp ted iW repeal by thtt edactment of incompati ble provisions ;"and who, by tbe inevitable re actionary effect ef their own violence on the subject, awakened the country to perception of tbe true constitutional principle, of leaving the matter involved to the discretion of tbe people of the respective existing or incipient Otates. - It is not pretended that this principle. OV any other, precludes tbo possibility of evils in ' j- 1 1 i:s 1 l- r 11 practice, aujturowx u poiiuau Kaon is u&cne to be by Lua-piMMOsC:-NeilMa'of eniuu-r.t U oxcuj.-t from iuc.r.ivcniencca goT; ; Lut in .tliw tbty are tne ru.iii abuj , and not tf tbv legitlu.ate cxt-rcka, of the'puw eis re "c-d or coufcrred ia the oi-jju-ization of a Territory. They are tot to I e charged to the great principle of popular sovereignty; ;u the contrary, tbey dissppear before the iutell:gfciiee aDd patriotii-Oi it Ue pet pie. exer ting through tbe ' allot-box their pcacofal aud silent but in esistiblo power. - If tbe frieuds of tbe constitution aro to baro another struggle, its enemies t-ou'd not pre sent a more wcoeptable issue, than that of a State, whore cotistitutiou embraces a repub lican form of government being excluded Irom the Ui.i 'ii because its domestic institu tions may not in all respects comport wth the tele a of wh:.t is wise and expedient entertained in some (lilicr States. Frith from groundless imputations eif breach if faith against others, men will commence tfio 'agitation rf this new question with indubitable v.olatiou of au ex press cou.paet between tho iudepcudent sover eign powers of the United States and of the republic of Texas, as well as of thft older and iqurlly soiemu compacts, which assure the equality of all the States. But, de plorable us would be such a viola tion of compact in itself, aud in all its direct consequences, that is the very least of the evils involved. Wheu sectional agitators shall have pucccci'ed in forcing on this issue, caa their prete utions fail to be met by counter pretentions ? Will not uifferent States re spectively be compelled to meet with ex tremes.' AuJ, u either extreme carry its point, what is that so far fort.'i but dissolution f the Uniou ? If a new State, formed from the territory of the United State, be abso lutely excluded from admission therein, that lact of itself constitutes the disruption between it ud the other States. But the process of dissolution could not stop there. Would not a sectional decision, producing such result by a majority of votes, either northern or south ern, of necessity drive oat the o; pressed and aggrieved miuority. and place in presence of each other two irretoncileably hostile confed erations. It is necessary to speak thus plainly of pro jects, the eci.-pnng ot that sectional ugitation now prevailing iu some of the States, which are as impracticable as they are unconstitu tional, ami which, if persevered in, must and will end caluiuitou.sly. It is either disunion aud civil war, or it is mere angry, idle, aim lcbs disturbance of public peace aud tranquil ity. Disunion for what? If the passionate rage of fanaticism aud partizan spirit did not force the fuct upon our attention, it would be difficult to Loliwve, that auy considerable por tion of tbe people of this enlightened couutry eioiild have so surrendered themselves to a fa natical devotion to the supposed interests of the relatively flw Africans in the Uuited States, as totally to abandon and disregard the interests of tbe twenty-five millions o. Americans to trample under foot the injunc tions of moral and constitutional obligation and to engage it plans of vindictive hostility against tho;so who are associated with them in the enjoyment of the common heritage of our uatioiial institutions. . .Nor is it hostility against their fellow-citizens of one section of the Union alone. The interests, the honor, the duty, the peace, and the prosperity of the people of all sectiois are equally involved and imperilled iu this ques tion. And are patriotic meu in any part of the Union prepared, ou such an issue, thus madly to invite all the consequences cf the for feiture of their constitutional engagements? It is impoi-sil'e. The itorui of fre;zj aud faction must inevitably dash in vuin uiust the unshaken rocks of the cor&:i;i.ion. I shall never doubt it. I know that toe Union is stronger a thousand times thau r-!l the wild and chimercial schemes of social change which are generated, one after another, in the un stable minds of visionary sophists and interes ted agitatetrs. I rely confidently on the pat riotism of the people, on the dignity and self respects of the States, on the wisdom of Con gress, and above all, on the continued gra cious favor of Almighty God, to maintain, against all enemies whether at home or abroad, the sanctity of the constitution aud the integ rity of the Union, . FRANKLIN TIERCE. Washington, Dec. 31, 1S55. S11LVULC TtACIIIXC. fZ' en dall's Patkst DOUBLE ACTING RIT Jam. Ell AND SHAVER. The attention of Smngle and Lumber dealers, spee-ulators and oth ers, is directe I to this invaluable invention, which is now presented to the public as t he jfrar and on ly practical machine extant, for Riving and Sha ving Shingles. Various citUing and sawing machines have been invented for making Shingles, but it is a well known fact that Shingles cut or sawed acris tl.e grain are quite Uu llimsy for roofT.ng purposes. Armncrous inventions have recently appeareel for riviug and shaving, and these have all been cou- elemneel as worthless, from theirjmperfect method of riving, which consists of splitting from the side of the Mock but one shingle, which almost inva riably runs off. This diniculty is entirely obvu- tea oy ,. KENDALL'S MACHINE, Which first splits from the side of the block a piece thick tnugh for two shingles, which is sop arateel iu the centre, and by means of elastic guides each part is cemducteel through a pair of approximating knives, which completes the oper ation ; thus producing two shingles at every rev olution. This machine will rive and shave from the block three thousand shingles per hour, of uniform thicknos and taper,- superior in solidity and du rability to those fr.ade by band or any other pro- ces-s. It operation's are by no means confined to pine arid other soft wooel but works to equal advan tage, oak. wainnt, and" every other description of timber that can be split. The workings of the machine can be extmined at II. H. Ryan's" Furniture Buildings, Fifth street, Pittsburgh. To timber ownes. shingle dealers, and men of enterprise, this opens a new field for speculation, us there is no similar invention extant. The machine occupies but a small space, is of durable constructiou, and costs but a tout two hundred dollars, and a man and two boys can make from 25.001 to 0,000 shingles per day. For right of territory, or machines, inquire at No. 81 Fifth street, or at the St. Clair Hotel. C7 AU needed iuformation will be forwarded by letter, when desired. 0. K. CII ABUSER LIN. Agent. Pittsburgh. December 12. 1855. For Elent. Orre, STABLE in the borough of Ebens- ti.irty-two feet square, with stalls. racks, granery and loft well fl.iored. The whole in goed order. Possession given on the first day of Jaiiuii y next. ' JOSEPH ITDONALD. El)exuborg, Dee. &, 186. . r - ;C OlfS'TJ I'll? T 1 0 2? 1 f. fcacc:,iiu uy 'frt utcd by ; THHALAlIOii CF iiI!CATD 0Z3 BY JOUXUiN STEWART ROJL, HI li. OcXLOW of-tne R.yal C boge of rbyskiuns" M. -.uX Ir year Se.,.or Pus.ci;.n ;n tue Lou! don R .yai Lilirmary lr Diseases of tl.e Limo. Iu thisajjoof progress, Xicdical science" Las contributed l:er i'ui! sai e to the 1 eucnd wedar. aad tuat whicu shioes reapleueient, the LriLust jowal in her diadem, u tier lst aud greatest gut, bedicsted Vapor lchalatloa. In the treatment of Consumption and kindred af fections. Tne most absurd notions, n arrow-minded prejudice contemptible ignorance, and un blush:ng quackery, have long existed iu the treat ment of Consumption. Men of skill and reputa tion aa physicians have prescriled nauseous com pounds to be taken i.ii the stomach, to rare dis ease of tho lung i, while the brazen-faced quack heid up hU nostrum as the only star of hope for tLe consumptive if only enou-U of it were awal lowed. Tu stomach, where no tU-wMtag exists, being tho receptacle of all this, is soon rendered uutit to perform its luuctioug, and the health thus materially injured. All must see the absurdity, tl.e positive injury tf such a course; the disease U in the lungs, mt in the stomach ; then why, ia tho name e f common sense, do you not apply meeii.-ine directly to the lungs ? The advantage as Ini.alation iu Consumption and Throat Disea ses is. medicines io tl.e form of Vapor nre applied eiirectly to the lungs whrre the disease exists; the stomach is thus left free to and in restoring health, by administering to it healthy, life-giving food. Tuere is no case so hopeless that Inhalation will not reach ! The means, too are brought withiei the reach ef all, the manner ol administering the Vaxors bing so simple, that Ihe iuvnlid is never; icquired to leave borne, where the hand of friend ship and affection tcmJs so much to aid the phy siciau's cftbrts. 1 The lniialuig method is soothing safe anrl speedy, aud consists in the administration of med icines in such a manner that they aVe .conveyed into the lungs in the form e.f Vapor, and produce their action at the scut of the eiiseMSj. It pruc1 tical success is destined to revr.luti'.Miize the opin ions of the medical woil !. aLd establish the eutir curability of Consumption. ; I earnestly appeal to the common sense of all afflicted with lung diseases, to embrace at enc the a-.lvantages of tabulation, and ni longer ap ply medicine to the uuotTouiing stomach. I claim for inhalation a place amongst the price'es gifts that nature and art hath gi ven ns, that " onr diiys may be long in the land," and as the cn!y Aik of Kefage for the Consumptive. A method not oniy rational, Lut simple, sife and efficacious. - Tj niiinyof my pr..fesshinr.l brethern through out tl.e L'hion 1 te'idermy ackuoledgcmeiits fcr their frank and manly course in testifying to tho merits of Inhalation. I shall be pleased tu Co- perate with them in eif -ring to the afrJLtcei tha blessings of il e heated apvr Iuhala'.ioii in tLn treatnietit r f C-'Usumption. . One word for myseif. in answer t j those claim ing to have introduce 1 the practice, ami to the trile ef imitators wno, with brazen impudence, cl.d" it at their owu. I b h wrote in favorof Inhalation aud ractised it 15 years ago! Th apparatus . then used, with the medical agents employed, achieved only a partial succe: I therelore end ii-.t claim for it tnen thote miracu lous powers which a ling practice has since ena bled me to give to it. Pr.x'f of tl is may be fouud in my work published in 1840. Applicants will pie-ate state if they have ever bled from the lungs, if they have lost flesh. Lave a cough, night swe tts ami fever turns, what and how much they expectorate what the ct million of their st much and bowels. Tlie L?cevary mediciues. apparatus, &c.t will be forwarded to any part. Tb.ims Five dollars cjnsua'.i-in fee. B-d.mce of fwre payal le wheu patients rep-rt theaistlve convalescent. Ee:om?iendatioin by Physicians. We, the undcrsignel prarvitior.ers in medicine, cheerfully and heartily recommend ir. Rose' iiietho! of treating diseases of the Longs and Throat, as tho be?st aud m-jst etfectual tver iiitrc ducoei into mrdical practice. Our convictions ar based ujh'U having several of our own patients, confirmed consumptives, restored to vigorous' health, after a few months treatmeut by Dr. Rose. In the above named ili-ieasfs the application tf Medicateel Vapors, irdialed di.-ei-tly iuto the lunqs, may be justly considered a great boon to sufering humanity, reuderiag Coa umption a perfectly cu rable di -ease! D". Rise deserve well of the profession for his unweariexl labors in brin pogtlK; Inhaling method to such a degree of perfection. Ralim! Stoxf, M. D. Jonas A. Mott, M. D. CVRCS KtNGSLET. U. D. Wk. B. Acstin, M. D. Okville Ukon, M. I). Gavin Wethoes, M. D. Di. S03FS TTIEATIS2 0IT COSSTmPIIOS. Trice One Dollar. Address JOHNSON STEWART ROSE. 351 Broadway, New York. N. B. The new postage law requires pre-pay-nient of letters. My correspondence being exten sive, applicants, to eusuro replies, must encli postage. Money letteirs must be registtred by the Postmasters each letters only w ill le at my risk. December 12, 1855. 6m. O' UR FIUE.XDS ARE INVITED call at Holmes & Yousej's otore, on JNia-.n rtreet, and ex- amine one ol the hneet and lar-1 gtst lots of Watches ever (without exception) brought to this county. Tbey are all of the new est style and superior to anything heretofore made. Cylinder watches of beautiful style and size, suitable for yoting men or ladies. Hunting-ease silver-eletached Levers, full-jewelled, and warran ted $16, $17, and $19. Silver Lepice $8,75 to $11. Hunting-cases, $14 to $15. Also, a splen did assortment of Bard & Wilson's celebrated 15 caret pateut angular Jib Tens, each one warran ted not to break. All persona that love good sight, would do well to try the justly celebrated Perifocal Spectacles, of which we hare a full supply for all r.gtu. We will just sav. In conclusion, that we are thankful for the libornl share of business we hare received, and wi l always endeavor to p.ease and suit our kind customer. HOLMES & Y0UXG. Persons wanting honest gods and fair deal ing, will please look for the sign, of the G0LDE3T watch. ; Johnstown, Dec. 5, 1855. D' R. H. T. COFFEY'S Tarsd and Bhacx Es tablishment, Allegheny St., Hollidav&burg.- Constantly on hand. Marsh S? Co' Improved Trusses -every style and size ; Fine Ercneh Trus ses iff Hernia, or Rupture, combining correct construction, extreme lightness, and durability,' with ease and comfort. . , Dr. Bantling's Body Brace fof Prolapsus Uteri and its associate pains and weaknese ; rector Braces, and Chest Expander of approved make. C7 Special attention invited to Banning' to test improocmeniCat Spriug-Spino She'jUier Brace, adapted, to all with steioped ysrioulilerS, narrow chest, and spinal weakness' IV attaches to the Boely Brace, w easy, elegaut, anil f ffrciive. Order's, from a distance promptly attended t3. Persons writing for Trusses will st?e ilx rhrres around bod jr, over rupture ; for Boc Brace N . inches arownd hips; for Spring-Spmc-SL..uleler Attachment No. inches around client un-'.r a.-m-, pita. . I ist rumen t not filling, iiangotiif re turned unsoiled. i.., Holildsytburg, Dec. 19, 1366. Jm. TO
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers