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