legislation lias been reeouimeuded by me
tin Meviom occasions to cure defects in the
existing organisation, and to increase the
efficiency of the army, and further observa
tion has but served to confirm me In the
views then expressed, and to enforce in my
tuind the conviction that such measures are
not only proper but necessary.
I lrave, in addition, to invite the atten
tion of t.'ougress to a change of policy in
the distribution of troops, and to the neces
sity of providing a more rapid increase o*
the military armament. For details of
these and other subjects relating to the ar.
my, I refer you to the report of the Secre
tary of War.
The condition of the navy is not merely
satisfactory, but exhibits the most gratify
ing evidences of increased vigor. As it is
comparatively small, it is more important
shut it should be as complete as possible in
all the elements of strength; that it should
tnj elßcieht in the character of its officers,
jit ihe zeal and discipline of its meu,io the
reliability of its ordinance, aud in the ca
paci'y of its ships. I" a 'l these various
qualities tLe navy lias made great progress
within the last few years. The execution
of the law of Congress, of February, 28,
1855,-to promote the efficiency of the na-
has been attended by the most advan
tageous result*. The law for promoting
discipline among the ttrcn Is found conveni
ent'arid salufery.- The system of granting
an honorable discharge to faithful seamen
oiTthe expiration of the period of their en
listment, and permitting them to re enlist
after a leave of absence of a few months,
without cessation of pay, is highly benefi
cial in its influence.
The apprentice system recently adopted
is evidently destined to incorporate into the
service a large number of our countrymen
hitherto so difficult to proeure. Several
11 mid red'.American boys are now on a three
1 ears' cruise in our national vessels, and
will return well trained seamen. In the
ordnance department there is a decided and
gratifying indication of progress credita
ble to it and to the country. The sugges
tions of the Secretary ot the Navy in regard
to farther improvement in that branch of
(he service I commend to your favorable
action.
Ttie new frigates ordered by Congress are
now afloat, and two of them in active ser
vice. They arc superior moticls of naval
architecture, and with their forujidab e bat
tery add largely to public strength and se
curity.
1 concur in ibe views expressed by the
Secretary of the Departnieut in favor of a
ati further increase of our naval force.
The report of the Secretary of the Inte
rior presents facts and views in relation to
internal affairs over which the supervision
of his department extends, of much inter
est and importance.
. The aggregate sales of the public
during the last fiscal year, amouut to niue
Thilfiows, two hundred and twenty seven
thousand eight hundred and seventy eight
acres-, for which has been received the sum
of eight millions eight hundred and twenty
rne thousand four hundred and fourteen dol
fa rs.
During the same period there have been
located with-military scrip and land war
rants, and for other purposes, thirty million
one hundred thousand two hundred and
thirty acres, thus making a total aggregate
of thirty nine million three hundred and
twenty eight thousand one hundred and
eight acres. On the 30ih of September
last, surveys bad been made of sixteen mil
lion eight hundred and seventy three thous
and six hundred and ninety nine acres, a
large proportion of which is ready for mar
ket.
The suggestions in this report in regard
to the complication and piogreesivc expan
-ion of the business of the different bu
reaux of the department; to the pension sys
tem; to the colonization of Indian tribes )
aud the recommendation in relation to vari
ous improvements iu the District of Colum
bia, are especially conuucuded to pour con
sideration.
The report of the Postmaster General
presents fully the condition of that depart
ment of the government. Its expenditures
for the last fiscal year were ten mil!ion s
four hundred and seven thousand eight hun
dred and sixty eight dollars; and its gross
receipts seven millions six hundred and
twenty thousand eight hundred and one dol
lars—mading an excess of expenditure over
receipts of two million seven hundred and
eighty seven thousand and forty six dollars.
The deficiency of this department is thus
seven hundred and forty four thousaud dol
lars greater than for the year ending June
3U, 18">3.
Of this deficiency, three hundred and
thirty thousand dollars is to be attributed
to the additional compensation allowed post
masters by the act of Congress of June 22 ;
lhf4. The mail facilities in every part ot
the country have been very much increased
iu that period, and the large addition of
railroad service, amounting to seven thous
and Dine hundred and eight miles, lias ad
ded largely to the cost of transportation.
The inconsiderate augmentation of the
income of the Post Office Department un
der the reduced rates of postage and its in
creasing expenditures, must, for the present
nmke it dependent to sotne extent upon the
treasury for support. The recommenda
tions of the Poslmasttr Germral, in rela
tion t the abolition of the franking privi
i*;f. and bis views on the establishment of
mail steamship lines, desirve the consider*
ation of Congress. I also call the es
pecial attention of Congress to the state
ment of the Postmaster General respecting
the sums now paid for the transportation of
mails to the Panama Railroad Company,
and commend to their early and favorable
consideration the suggestions of that officer
in relation to new contracts for mail trans
portation upon that route, and also upon the
Tehuantapeeand Nicaragua routes.
The United States continue iu tho en
joyment of amicable relations with all for
eign powers.
When my last annual message was trans
mitted to Congress, two subjects of contro
versy, one relating to the enlistment of sol
diers in this country for foreign service 9
and the other to Central America, threaten
ed to disturb good understanding between
the United Slates and Great Britain. Of
the progress and termination of the former
qaestion you were informed at the time;
and the other is now iu the way of satis
factory adjustment.
The object of the convention between
the United States aud Great Britain of the
19tb of April, 1850, was to secure, for the
bvuvfit of all uations, the- neutrality and
the common use of any transit way, or in
teroeeanic communication, across the Isth
mus of Panama, which might be opened
within the limits of Ceutral America. The
pretension subsequently asserted by Great
Britain, to dominion or control over terri
tories, in or near two of the routes, those
of Nicaragua and Honduras, were deemed
by the U. States cot merely incompatible
with the ttiain object of the treaty, but op
posed even to its express stipulations.
The exports of domestic articles of those
provinces during the last year rmounted to
more than twenty two millions of dollars,
exceeding those of the preceding year by
nearly seven millions of dollars: and the
impmrts therefrom, during the same periodj
amounted to more than twenty one millions
—an increase of six millions npon those of
the previous yoar.
The iuipioved condition of this branch j
of our commerce is mainly attributable to !
the above mentioned treaty.
Provision was made, in the first article of j
that treaty, for a commission to designate j
the mouths of rivers to which the common '
right of fishery, on the coast of the United ;
States and the British Provinces, was not I
to extend. This commission lias been em
ploy cd a part of two sea.-ons, but without
moch progress in accomplishing the object
for which it wUs instituted, in consequence
of a serious difference of opinion between
the commissioners, not only.as to the pre
cise poiut where the rivers terminate, but
in many instances as to what constitutes a
river. Thc*e difficulties, however, may be
overcome by resort to the umpirage provi
ded for by the treaty.
The efforts perseveringly prosecuted since
the commencement of my administration to
relieve our trade to the Baltic from the ex
action of sound dues by Denmark, have
not yet been attended with success. Oth
er governments have also sought to obtain
a like relief to their commerce, and Den
mark was thus induced to propose an ar*.
rangemcnt to all the Europoan powers in
terested iu the subject; and the manner iu
which ber propositiou was received, war
ranting her to believe that a satisfactory ar
rangement with them could soon be conclu
ded, she made a strong appeal to this gov
ernment for temporary suspension of defi
' nitc action on its part, in consideration of
I the eiubarassmcnt which might result to her
| European negotiations by an immediate ad
i justraent of the question with the United
• States.
This request has been acceded to, upon j
the condition that the sums collected after
the Kith of June last, and until the Kith
of June next, from vessels and cargoes
belonging to our merchants, are to be con
sidered as paid tinder protest and subject
to future adjustment. There is reason to
believe that an arrangement, between Den
mark and the maritime powers of Europe
on the subject, will soon be concluded, and
that the pending negotiation with the Uni
ted States may then be resumed and termin
ated in a satisfactory manner.
With Spain no new difficulties have
arisen, nor lias much progress been made in
the adjustment of pending ones.
Negotiations entered into for the purpose
of relieving our commercial intercourse
with the Island of Cuba of some ot its bur
dens, and providing for the more speedy
settlement of local disputes growing out of
that intercourse, have not yet been attend
ed with any results.
Soon after the commencement of the
late war in Europe, this government sub
mitted to the consideration of all maritime
nations two principles for the security of
neutral-commerce: one, that the neutral flag
should covtr enemies' goods,except articles
contraband of war; and the other, that neu
tral property on board merchant vessels of
belligerents should be exempt from con
demnation, with the exception of contra
band articles. These were not presented
as new rules of international law; having
been generally claimed by Deutals, though
not always admited by belligerents.
One of the parties to the war—Knssia
—as well as several neutral powers,prompt
ly acceded to these propositions; and the
two other priuoipal belligerents, Great Bri
tain and Ffauce, having consented to ob
serve them for the present occasion a favor-
BEDFORD INQUIRER AND CHRONICLE.
able opportunity seemed to be presented
for obtaining a gegpral recognition of them
both in Europe and America. *
Their proposition was doubtless intended
to imply approval of the principle that pri
vate property upon the ocean, although it
might belong to the citizens of a bcliige r
eut LUate, should be exempted from capture,
and had that proposition been so framed as
to give full effect to the principle, it would
have received my ready assent on behalf of
tho United States. But the measure pro
posed is inadequate to that purpose. It is
true that it adopted, private property upon
the ocean would be withdrawn from 0116
mode of plunder but left exposed, mean
while, to anothe.r mode, which could be used
with increased afFectiveness. The aggres
sive capacity of great naval powers would
bo thereby augmented, while the defensive
ability of others would be reduced.
Though the surrender of the means of
prosecuting hostilities by employing priva
teers, as proposed by the conference of Paris
is mutal in terms, yet, in practical effeet. it
would be the relinquishment, of a right of
little value to one class of States, but of
essential importance to another and far
larger, class. It ought not to have been
anticipated that a measure, so inadequate
tp the accomplishment of the proposed ob
ject, and so unequal in its operation, would
receive the assent of all maritime powers.
Private property wcu'.d be still left to the
depredations of the publio armed cruisers.
Several of the governments, regarding
with favor the proposition of tho United
States, tiave delayed definite action upon it,
only for the purpose of consulting with
Others, parties to the eoofederence of Paris,
I have the satisfaction of stating, however,
that the Emperor of Russia has entirely
and exptieitly approved of that modifica
tion, and will co-operate in endeavoring to
obtaiu the assent of other powers; aud that
assurances of a similar purport have been
received in relation to the disposition of the
Emperor of the Freneh.
The present aspect of this important sub
ject allows us to cherish tho hope that a
principle so humane in its character, so just
and"equal iu its operation, so essential to
the prosperity of commercial nations, and
so consonant to the sentiments of this en
lightened period of the world, will command
the approbation of all maritime powers, and
thus be incorporated into the code of intei
national law.
My views on the subject are more fully
set forth in the reply of the Secretary of
State, a copy of which is herewith transmit
ted, to the communications on the subject
made to this government, especially to the
communication of France.
The government of the United States
has at all times regarded with friendly in
terest the other States of America, former
ly, like this country, European colonies,
and now independent members of the great
family of nations. But the unsettled con
dition o& some of thani, distracted by fre
quent revolutions, and tbu s incapable of
regular and firui internal administration,
has teudod to embarrass occasionally our
public intercourse, by reason of wrongs
which our citizens suffer at their hands, and
which they are slow to redress.
Unfortunately , it is against the republic
of Mexico, with which it is our special
desire to maintain a good understanding,
that such complaints are most numerous;
and althocgh earnestly urged upon its at
tention, they have not as yet received the
consideration which this government had a
right to expect. While reparation for past
injuries has been withheld, others have
been added. The political condition of that
country, however, has been such as to de
mand forbearauce on the part of the United
States. I shall continue my efforts to pro
• cure for the wrongs of our citizens that re
dress which is indispensable to the continu
!ed friendly association of the two repub
j lies.
The peculiar condition of affairs in Ni- !
caragua in the early part of the present
year, rendered it important that this gov- '
eminent should have diplomatic relations
with that State. Through its territory had
been opened one of the principal thorough
fares across the Isthmus connecting North
aud South America, on which a vast
amount of property was transported, and to
which our citizeus resorted in great num
bers, in passing between the Atlantic and
Pacific coasts of the United States. The
protoction of both required that the exist
ing power in that State should be regarded
as a responsible government: and its minis
ter was accordingly received. But he re
mained here only a short time.
Soon thereafter the political affairs of Ni
caragua underwent unfavorable change, and
became involved in much uncertainty and
confusion. Diplomatic representatievs from
two contending parties have been recently
sent to this government; but. with the im
perfect information possessed, it was not
possible to decide which was the govern
ment de facto; and, awaiting further Je
; velopiueuts, I have refused to receive eith
-1 er.
Questions of the most serious nature arc
pen'ling between the United States and the
Republic of New Granada. The govern
ment of that republic undertook, a year
since, to impose tonnage duties on foreign
vessels in her ports, but the purpose was re
sisted by this government, as being contra,
ry to existing treaty stipulations with the
United States, and to rights conferred by
Charter upon the Panama Railroad Com-
pany, and was accordingly relinquished at
that time, it being admitted that our vessels
were entitled to be exempt from tonnage
duty in the free ports of Panama and
Aspinwall. But the purpose has been re
cently revived, on the part of New Gran
ada, by the enactment of a law to subject
vessels visitiog her ports to the tonnage
duty of forty cents per ton; and, although
the law has not been put in force, yet the
right to enforce it is still asserted, and may
at any time, be acted on by the government
of that republic-
The Congress of New Granada has also
enacted a law, during the last year, which
levies a tax of more tliau three dollars on
every pound of mail matter transported a
cross the Isthmus. The sum thus required
to be paid on the mails of the Unitod States
would be nearly two millions of dollars
annualty, iu addition to the large sum pay
able by contract to the Panama Railroad
Company. If the only objection to this
exaction were the exorbitancy of its amount,
it could not be .submitted to by the United
States.
The imposition of it, however, would
obviously contravene our treaty with New
Granada, and infringe the contract of that
republic with the Panama Railroad Company
The law providing for this tax was, b}' If"
terms, to take effect on the first of Septem
ber last, but the local authorities on the
isthmus have been induced to suspend its
execution, and to await further instructions
on the subject from the government ot the
republic. lam not yet advised of the de
termination of that government. If a meas
ure so extraordinary in its character, and
so clearly contrary to treaty stipulations,
and the contract rights of the Panama Rail
road Company, composed mostly of Ameri
can citizens, should be persisted in, it will
be the duty of the United States to resist its
execution.
I regret exceedingly that occasion exists
to iuvite your attention to a subject of still
graver import in our relations with the iier
public of New Granada. On the fifteouth
day of April last a riotous assemblage of
the inhabitants of Panama committed a
violent and outrageous attack on the premi
ses of the railroad company, and the passen
gers and other persons in or near the same,
involving the death of several citizens of the
United States, the pillage of many others,
and the destruction of a large amount of
properly belonging to the railroad com
pany.
-1 caused full investigation of that event
to be made, and the msult shows satisfac
torily that complete responsibility for what
occurred attaches to the government of New
Granada. 1 have, therefore, demanded of
that government that the perpetrators of the
wrongs in question should be punished: that
provision should be made for the families of
citizens of the U. States who were killed,
with full indemnity for the property pillaged
or destroyed.
The present condition cf the Isthmus of
Panama, in so far as regards the security of
persons and property passing over it,requires
serious consideration. Recent incidents
tend to show that the local authorities can
not be relied on to maintain the public peace
of Panama, and there is just ground for
apprehension that apportion of the inhabi
tants are meditating further outrages, with
out adequate measures for the security and
I protection of persons or property having
i been taken, either by the State of Panama,
ior by the general government of New
| Granada.
Under tbe guarantees of treaty, citizens
of the United States have, by the outlay of
several millions of dollars, constructed a
railroad across the Isthmus, and it has be
come the maiu route between our Atlantic
and Pacific possessions, over which mul
titudes of our citizens and a vast amount of
property are constantly passing—to the
security aud protection of all which, and tbe
continuance of the public advantages in
volved, it is impossible for the government
of tbe Uuitcd States to be indifiercnt.
I have deemed the dangor of the recur
rence of scenes of lawless violence in this
quarter so imminent as to make it my duty
to station a part of our naval force in the
harbors of Panama and Aspinwall, in order
to protect tbe persons and property of the
citizens of the United States in those ports,
nnd to insure to them safe passage across
the Isthmus. And it would, in uiy judg"
mcnt, be unwise to withdraw the naval foreo
now in those ports, until, by the spootaueous
action of the republic of New Granada, or
otherwise, some adequate arrangement shall
have been made for the protection and se
cuiity of a line of inter occauic communica
tion so important at this time, not to tbe
United States only, but to all other mar
itime States both of Europe and America.
Meanwhile, negotiations have been in
stituted by means of a special commission,
to obtain from New Granada full indemnity
for injuries sustained by our citizens on the
Isthmus, and satisfactory security for the
general interests of the United States.
In addressing to you uiy last annual uics >
sage, tbe occasion seeuis to me au appro
priate on® to express uiy congratulations iu
view of tbe peace, greatness, aDd felicity
which the United States uow possess and
enjoy. To point you to tbe state of the
various departments of the government, and
of ail the gieat branches of the public
service, civil and military, in order to spoak
of the intelligence and the integrity which
pervades tbe vhole, would be to indicate
but imperfectly the administrative condition
of the country, and the beneficial effects of
that on the general welfare.
Nor would it suffice to nay that the nation
is actually at peace at home and abroad;that j
its industrial interests arc prosperous; that ,
the canvas of its mariners whitens every j
i sea; and the plough of its husbandmen is |
marching steadily onward to the bloodless j
I conquest of the continent; that cities and !
populous States are springing up, as if by
enchantment, from the bosom of our western
wilds, and that the courageous energy of
our people is making of these 11. States the
great republic of the world. These results
have not been attained without passing
through the trials aud perils, by experience
of which, and thus only, nations can harden
into manhood.
Our forefathers were trained to the wis
dom which conceived, and the courage which
aehtived independence, by the circumstan
ces which surrounded them, and they were
thus made capable of the creation of the
republic. It devolved on the next generation
to consolidate the work of the revolution, to
deliver the country entirely from the influ
ences of conflicting transatlantic partialities
or antipathies, which attached to our Colo
nial and revolutionary history, and to organ
ize the practical operation of the constituti
onal aud legal institutions of the Union. —
To us, of this generation, remains the not
less noble task of maintaining and extending
the power of the United Stales.
I sball prepare to surrender the Executive
trust to my successor, and retire to private
life with sentiments of profound gratitude
to the good Providence which, during the j
period of my administration, has vouchsafed
to carry the couutry through many diSk ulties
domestic and foreign, and to enable uic to
contemplate the spectacle of amicable and j
respectful relations between ours aud all
other governments, and the establishment ot ■
constitutional order and tranquillity thrcugb
out the Uuion.
FRANKLIN PIERCE.
Washington, December 2, 1856.
ifiira & cEiemcLE.
BEDFORD, Pa.
Friday Morning I>cc 5.
"Fearless and Free."
DAVID OVER. EDITOR AND PROPRIETOR
TREASON ABOVE PAR.
On last Tuesday we bad another adjourn
ed court bore. We had heard it was call
ed for the sole purpose of removing Mr.
JAMES McMULLIN, the Crier of the
court, and appointing someone of the faith
ful in his stead. We said nothiug in our
paper however, because of the fuss kick
ed up on a former occasion when we
announced that the adjourned court last fall
was called merely for the purpose of na- j
turalizing some foreigners. We believed
what we stated then, and wo believe it yet,
although our democratic friends will not ad
rait it. Wc believe also that this last court
was called for uo other purpose than the
political one above mentioned, of .removing
and appointing officers. True, there were
a few other uoimportaut matters attended to,
but they were of little or no consequence,
and "could have been attended to just 'as
well at last or next court. But these re- <
inovals it seems could not be made at last
term for the reason that Judge Noble was
unwilling to so belittle himself as to partici- |
pate in this small and pitiful business. It'
would not do to,wait until next court, be- j
cause the thirst for the spoils was such that j
unhappy consequences might have ensued;
and more than this, it is not unlikely that j
certain promises had to be fulfilled within j
a specified time. The time had arrived '
when his Honor Judge Suively might law- j
fully take his scat, aud he hastens to dis- ;
tingnish himself by an act which his pre
deeessor had repudiated and spurned. We
trust the Americans, and old line whigs
who voted for Mr. Suively, will duly appre
ciate this liberal aud magnanimous com
mencement of the new administration.—
Mr. McMULLIN, had served as crier for
a long series of years, to the °ut:re satisfac
tion of all concerned, but he has been re- j
moved for ibe purpose of punishing him for
bis political principles and rewarding a po- i
litical friend, ilia only sin consisted in j
his belonging to the American party. Ilis
successor is Mr. A. J. Baylor,who distingu
ished himself by getting elected judge of our
borough electior last spring as an Ameri
can, and then turning traitor to his party
i before tbe full elections. Hence we head
ed this article, "treasou above par." Hen
ry Nieodemus, another renegade from the
American party, Las hceu appointed clerk
j to the county Commissioners. The only two
offices worth anything are given to such
, men as these, whilst tbe democrats who have
( always stood firm to their party, get noth
■ ing,or arc put off,with the most insignificant
1 places. Not only is treason above par, but
fidelity is below par. Men who from prioci
j pie adhero to their party are removed and
i repudiated, because they do adhere whilst
! traitors and renegades are rewarded because
they have no principle but a desire for office
and because they arc traitors and rene
gades. Our friend* Win. Leary, was at
j this same court ag pointed Tipstave, in
, the place of Levi Agnew, American, re
-1 moved. As Mr. Lcary was no traitor we
; suppose he deserved no better place than
i this. The old line democrats no doubt
! feel proud to serve under such distinguish
: ed characters as Nicodemus and Baylor.
We tust the union" is now safe for a while;
and wo predict there will be no more ad
journed courts until some political man
euvers make it necessary to call our dis
tinguished Associates fwgether again. Eve
ry man, we presume, will explain these ap
pointments to suit himself. Wo incline to
the opinion that at least one reason which
influenced them, was the known political
standing of the senior Associate, who was
actuated by the principle that "a fellow
| feeling makes us wondorous kind."
The Prcsideui's Message,
To the exclusion of almost everything
else, we this week lay the President s Mes
sage before our readers. It is a common
place document, and unworthy to emanate
from the Chief Executive officer of this
nation. It is a_dcfeuce of his weak and
jwbceile administration, which has been con
demned before the people. lie calls all
who voted against the Loeofoco party, and
who condemned the repeal of the time-how.
orcd Missouri Compromise, fanatics, trai
tors. &c. The Message, like its author
will be condemned by every right thinking
man in the country.
The old, respectable, aud conservative
Xutional Intelligencer, holds this longuagc
in reference to it:
"Whatever repugnance may be felt iu
the Free States, north and west, to slavery
in the abstract, or to its practical extension
north of the line prescribed to it by the le
gislative act of 1821, wo have too high an
opinion of the general respect felt iu those
States tor the Constitution and its Compro
mises, and for the indefeasible rights of the
Southern States, to give credence to the
sweeping ebarge of tho President. It is
as unjust, we think, to attribute to them
any such sentiment or purpose as it would
be to impute to the patriotic people of the
South a desire to overthrow the Govern
ment because one or two newspapers and a
few monomaniacs in a particular locality
rail against tire union ot the States and ad
vocate its dissolution. There are doubtless
causes of complaint, not all of them imagi
nary, both North aud South, but we have
too much faith in the genctal loyalty of
both sections to admit the justice of the
President's allegation. In tho most violent
debates of the last sessiou we heard North
ern Senators, distinguished fo# 1 their ex
treme opinions on the Kansas questioD, not
only publicly repudiate the remotest wish
or iuteution to interfere with slavery in the
States, but avow their readiness to shoul.
der their muskets to defend the people of
the South, it need be, in inaiutaiuing their
authtrrity at home.
We are not extenuating the extravagan
cies of fanatics in the North or in the
West: but, with all deference to the Presi
dent, we Biust say that he has gone too far
in imputing revolutionary sentiments or de
signs to so large a portion of the people of
the Free States. It is not to be woudered
at, perhaps that the President should feol
wartuly arnd speak strongly on a subject in
which his own official course has becu so
sevejcly condemned; hut when the angry
contentions of the day sha'l have subsided
the unc'naritabloncss of in my present views
will be rectified, and among theui the one
advanced in the message from which we
now feel constrained in justice to dissent,
and on which we will say no more. We
will only add that we should bo happy to
see the day when neither the word slavery
nor any allusion to the institution will find
a [dace iu the President's Message to Con
gress."
The Philadelphia Sun disposes of it in
this wise:
"PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE. —As wo ex- !
peeled little from the last (tying speech and i
confession of President Pierce, we have not !
beeu disappointed. I: is full of weak so- !
phis tries, unmeaning goucralties and ridicu- !
lous arguments, unworthy a stump speech |
before an election, to sa) nothing of a pub
lic document emanating from a President
uuder the requirements of the Constitution.
If anyone has the courage to read it, let
him do so, but not by our advice. It will
be time sadly misspent. There was not a
stump speaker of the smallest calibre one
month since, who could not have given a
more comprehensive argument than this
message contains. The fact is, Mr. Pierce
finds he has made a great mistake iu trying
to octdemagogue Judge Douglas in subser
viency to the South, aud being ashamed to
acknowledge that be was duped, tries to
brar.cn it out. The country understands
the whole matter and will laugh at the uu
toward efforts of the Presideut to disem
barass himself. lio concludes by saying
that he sbali "prepare to surreuder the ex
; ccutive tru6t to bis successor, and retire to
private life, with sentimeuts of profound
! gratitude to the good Providence"'—aud to
this all the people will respond "Amen!"
PHILADELPHIA MARKETS.
Flour—s6.soa€ |cr bbl. Wheat,
red, ?1 50 per bush. White, $1 t>o.
The uioi important looking person, we
have seen for months past, was bis Honor,
J. G. Hartley, after causing the removal of
James MeMullin, as Court Crier, and Levi
Agnew, his kindstnan, as Tipstave. The
adjourned Court was called for that pur
pose, and he had, and was willing to do, the
bidding of the dirt} hounds, Bowman and
Cessna. He looked like the frog in the fa
ble, from the fact that be owes liis present
place to the Americans, after he had Jooled
the lccofocos into his support also, and then
desertad the party that elected hin; and
now, he bad the extreme satisfaction of ap
pointing a renegade liko himself, to the
high and lofty position of Court Crter!
Like the frog, dear John, don't swell so,
and bust ! for you are nothing uncommon,
so you aim, after ail!
We had almost forgotten to state that'
the office of Court Crier has been divided,"
and the Cellar part of the House, the cutting
of the wood, Ac., given to Charles Merwine
>
another renegade! The old steadfast mem
bers of their party, must expect nothing,
as long as there are those kind of creature#
iu existence.
PANuIIAM \.—Our citizens will have
tho pleasure of witoessing an exhibition of
the ''Grand Socrcd Panorama of the Pil
grim's Progress," on Wednesday evening
next. It is one of the best exhibitions of
the kind in the United States, and is very
highly spoken of by the press wherever it
has exhibited. We hope our citizens wiii
generally attend. The New York Tribune
says—
''We attended, ott Monday evening, a
private exhibition of the Panorama of the
Pilgrim's Progress, which has just been
completed by the talented artists, Kyle and
Dallas, The figures aud architectural
drawings of Mr. Dallas, especially in the
Palace Beautiful and Vanity Fair, are exe
cuted with great spirit and a breadth of ef_
feot quite above tie reach of ordinary pan
oramic landscape. M. Kyle, in the Valley
of the Shadow of Death and the "Land of
Beulah," gives evidence of a fine poetic
imagination. The entire work has been
highly praised by the artists of our city,
who have passed resolutions testifying to
its superior artistic character "
FLATTERING, VERY:— We understand
that our friend, Wm. M. llall, who had'
signed a remonstrance agaius t the removol
of Mr. Jamea MeMullin, as Court Cri
er, scratched bis name off, because he did
n't know it was to be signed by the citizens
generally, and he didn't want it alongside
of that of "Tom, Dick and Harry," Ac.—
This is flatteiiug, very! to our denizens.
What right has the name of a merchant,
mechanic, and laborer, to appear alongsido
that of (listing uished lawyers?
CONGRESSIONAL.
Congress met in Washington, on Monday
week, nearly all the me mbers of both Houses
being present. The usual preliminary busi
ness having been disposed of the Senate ad
journed, after learning that the President's
Message would not be brought in until Tues
day. In the House, the new members from
Vermont, Virginia and Illinois were quali
fied, after which Mr. Phelps presented the
credentials of \Y bitfield, as a delegate from
Kansas, and moved that he be sworn. Mr.
Grow of Pennsylvania, objected to the re
eepiiou of the credentials, when a debate
took place between Messrs. Grow aud PLolps
upon the merits of the question, at the close
of which the motion was rejected by a vote
of 97 years to 104 nays. Mr. Grow then
moved to rccouside r the vote and and lav
the motion on the table, when all kiuls of
parlimeutary expedients were resorted to by
the opposition to defer the question, when
at seven o'clock, an adjournment took place
with the question still pending upon Mr.
Grow's motion. Mr. Hickman,and Brown
and Fuller of Pennsylvania, voted iu favor
of giving Whitfield a seat.
Mr. Mason (Va.) said Slavery agitation
had brought the people of the South to
believe that the preservation of that in
stitution rested with theui aloue. Fremont's
friends had carried out their views,it would
have led to an immediate and final dissolu
tion of the Union.
Mr. Wilson (Mass ) had never asserted
the power of Congress to abolish Slavery in
the States, uor had he ever uttered the svn~
timcnt that those with whom be acted in
tended to assume such power.
Mr. Brown rep lied, the South was net
called upon to bear everything. Though
unwilling to break up tho Uniou, their
self-respect might compel them to assert aud
maintain their rights.
Mr. Trumbull (111.) deufcd that the
Fremont party held the views charged upon
thorn by Mr. lirown; they everywhere
disavowed such tentiments. The Ihrcsi
deut's Message contained a most uuwarrao
table assertion bearing upou UiL matter.—
The Presideut says the Missouri Compro
mise wjs unconstitutional. The Supreme
Court sustains the power of Congress to le
gislate for tho Territories, the power is
broad and unqualified, and it is a new dis
covery to say that Congress does not pos
sess it. Mr. T. defended the Republicans
from Mr. Mason's charge of hostility to tho
South, aud showed that all they had don®
or propesed to do was in strict accordanco
with the Constitution. If thsy could not
elect whom they chose in s lawful manner,
then the Constitution earned with it the ol
etiients of its own destruction.