Savannah Georgian & journal. (Savannah, Ga.) 1856-1856, December 04, 1856, Image 2

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IlKlIy. Trl-'l|r—ly »»ri WmMv. At Constitution requlraa that I ItM toUme^ notonlj PROrRIRTOM AND PUBUSURM. *«> .1.Milan. int, tail .HkMio ih.ll give Information tu them ol too stato or tho Union. To do this fully In- MlvM expoidtlou of all matter* In to. actual condition of too country, domntloor foreign, lly concern tho general welfare. itng hie eoniMlutlomd doty in tbU Uto Praudenf does not eneak merely to convictions. botes tho cxeeii- li&S arts1 ■H it.ofjOougremwIwtover. emof Inurmoulmt cp.op- The PraldM'i VeWr' position, and gglled upon by hie official Qbllgn- Thle document reached lid at a quarter put bone, to Bean with an Impartial eyo_ the Inter- 11 o'clock hit ttlgU. Wo' weto.dbto to p#t It to pnu thb morning at 1 o'clock. Onr neighbors or to. ArpvNIcm and toe Nm, by nailing their ftorCM, were probably able to flnlth toe Job a little earlier. Oommentd on the aurdgeare neceaurlly re- Pakita |eh M || In inMiawla Sannnah hu within her llmlta two '■ Pnbllo Bohoole,” of which any city might be prood. Wehddyuterday the satisfaction of rlaltlng both while they were In eeetlon, and reryhlgh •atlifeoUoa It was. The good mannera, order ly deportment, and reapectfal bearing of the popUe, male and female, coartltote the htgheet teetluioay la behalf of their management Onr lint visit wu to the “lUemi School." a handeome building lately elected at the cor nor of Gordon and Abercorn strata. The coot of the etraoten with ita tnrnitnre, paring Ao., may bare been about did,000 paid out of the Houle Hind, a bequest of a gentleman of that name to the city for educational purpose* The School went Into operation on the loth of October loot under the charge of Hr. Hal. Ion u Principal, oulateto-tfy Miss Mason, tin, Oamwell, Him Cubbadge, and UIm Butler. It hu accomodations for 200 pupils, and already numben 110. At the commencement of the eeocod quarter, the drat or January. It will doubtleu reoelre Its full complement. Two thirds of the pupils recoin tuition fnt of oharge-dhe remainlng one third paying at the rate of fire and elz dollars per quarter. The pupilaare compound of boys and girls Ut newly equal numben. Though sitting In theume room and reciting in tho some etw ees—thus exercising on Important restraining and stimulating influence upon each other— there la at no time any communication between the two sense. They moke their entrances and ■xltsby different doors, bare separate play grounds, and are Indeed nerer thrown togeth er except under the Immediate eye of the tesoher when reciting their lessons. This ar rangement la one ol the moot admirable fea tures of the organization or the school. For admission pupils are required to be able to nod. [This' was a necessary limitation, yet It forcibly suggests the Importance of early precision by the city for primary schools.] In struction la Riven In the various branches of an English education including natural philosophy and Mathematics, drawing, Latin and French. [The latter at the cost of tho pupil.] Last, though not feast—for no school ought to be without It—Instruction Is given In vocal music- The coune will probably be extended ea the pupils advance. Five boon dally (with the exception of Saturday!, and Sundays) are devoted to the school room—from 9 A. If. until 9 P. M. It hoe been our fortune to know, intimately, for yean the principal of the Massle and to be acquainted with his Bystem of school management. Thus prepared to speak, we have no hesitation la expressing the opinion that bad the Commissioners ransacked the Un ion, they could not have found a gentleman better salted to the post. His assistants too, ore doubtless laborious and faithful. It is very rare that corporal ponlsliment la administered In any form, yet a more quiet and orderly collection of children we never saw. The annual expense of the Hassle School Is estimated at 13500. Of this 01600 may be ex pected from tuition fees. The remainder will be g charge upon the Snanciesof the city. Huob that has been said of "Hassle School" ap pliesto the" Public School" situated at the corner of Barnard and Taylor sts: The Utter building was constructed at the expense of the accumu lated school fund of Chatham County. Of that fund Buffloicnt'remains, when its proceeds are united with the tuition fees of the poping pu pils, to support the school. It was organised early In 1854. It was a favorite enterprise with the Rev. J.P. Tustln, whllo a rlaldent of Savan nah, and It is perhaps not too much to say that but forhlspenlstenteffortsli would never have been projected and urged on to Its successful 1 consummation. The school U now'uoder the charge of Mr. W. H. Baker, (a gentleman singularly well fitted 'for the pUce) assisted by Miss Frlsble and Miss Godfrey—both excellent teachers The pupils, male and female, are 150; and these are not all who have sought admission. It la to be regretted that the school has not ampler ac commodations. An enlargement of the build ing to something like the capacity of the Mas- ale school la a work tor the future. Both theso schools are under the geueral control and supervlsorship of the School Com- mlirioners-MsJ.Porter.John Stoddard, Esq.nnd Solomon Cohen, Esq., and (we believe) one or two others. To them, for their dlslnterasted services In this great work, our community owes a lasting debt of gratitude. PxnxsTBiiN Fist—Kennovei, an Irish pe destrian, bos fust completed In California the great feat of walking on a twenty-foot plank, 100 consecutive hours, without sleep or rest. What about Paddy Hoofs who wagered to walkaniuddalady, fully rigged, one hundred- times In us many successive days. We are anxious to learn tho result of tho bold adveh lure. Mr. Cobb finds himself already booked as the new chief of toe Treasury Department. He is not quite fast enough for the new Southern party, but as a prudent sad conservative man, he will suit Hr. Buchanan very well. Among the members of Congress who are likely to bB called Into tho Cabinet, are, beside Mr. Cobb, Senators Cass, Bright and Toucey, and Mr. Faulkner of tho House. Bo says the Washington correspondent of the Hew Turk Commercial Adctrliur. The Aspinwdll Courier of the 18th Instant soya:— Our markets are now goad—tho health of the Isthmus Is bolter than usual at this season of the year—and yet we have had more rain during the fortnight than in any other within our remembrance. The railroad Is In good con dition, much better than could bo expected after so much wet weather. Tho depot, at this plum. Is rapidly approaching completion, and olds fair to no the most serviceable and durab construction of the Company thus far made. The Washington correspondent of the Cunr lor and Enquirer ontertalns tho opinion that H. Ferrer, the Nicaraguan Minister appointed by Provident Walker, will evontoslly^e re ceived by oar Government, Rivas having ap pointed none. Elohwnt Frustuatio.—There camo von near being another fashionable elopement In New YoS lust week. Tho gontleman Is s handsome Italian, a favorite tenor _at the vote of tho whole, and oi every part of the Uid- ted States. Of the condition of too domestio interests of ■jo Union,'Its agriculture, mlncs.manuluctiiro, navigation, and commcrco, ItU ueccMury only to in that the Internal prosperity or tho coun- tryTjts continuous and steady advadeemout in wealth and population, and In privuto as well as publlo wclfc-bclng’ attest the wisdom of our mutations, and the predominant spirit of in telligence and patriotism, which, not* Ithstaud. ing occasional Irregularities of opinion or ac tion resulting ITOm popular freedom, has dis tinguished and characterised tho people of America. lathe brief interval bottom the termination -of the last and the commencement or the pres ent session or Congress, tho publlo mind has deen occupied with the cure or selecting lor another conatitutteual term, the Presideut and 1 Pice-President of tho United States. Thb determination of the) eraoiw, who nro of right, or contingently to preside over tho ad* ministration of the government, is, under our system, committed to tbe States and the peo ple. We appeal to tnem, by their voico pro nonneed In the forma of law, to call whomso ever they will to the high post of Chicl Magis trate. And thua.it ia that as tho senators represent tho respective States ol tho Union, uud the members ortho Mouse of Representatives the several constituencies of each State, so the President represent* the aggregate, population or the United State*. Their election oi him U the explloit and aolemn act ortho sole sovereign authority of the Union.. It ia impoaa.ble to miaapprebend the great principles, which, by thfeir recent political action, the people af the Uhited States have sanctioned and announced. They have asserted the constitutional equal! ty of each and* &U of the Stutes of the Union us States; they have affirmed the constitutional equality ot each and lor all the citizens or tho United States as citizens, whatever‘their reli gion, whatever their birth, or tueir residence; j hey have maintained the inviolability of the constitutional rights of their different sections or the Union; and they have proclaimed their devoted and unalterable attachment to the Union and to the constitution, as objects or in* teresi superior to all subjects' of lucal or sec tional controver-y, as the safeguard ot the rights or all, as the spirit and the essence of the liberty, peace, and greatness of the Re public. . V- ; In doing this, they have. atUie same time, emphatically condemned the idea of organizing in these united States mere geographical parties: of marshalling in hostile urray towards each other the different parts of the couutry, North or South, Mast or West. Schemes or this nature, fraught with incal culable mischier, and which the considerate senso of the people has rejected, could bavo hud countenance in no part of tho couutry, had they not been disguised oy suggestions plausible in appearance, ucting upon uu excited state of the public mind, induced by caUses' temporary in their character, and it is to bo hoped trausieut in their influence. Perfect liberty of association for political oh- , ects, and tho widest scope of discussion, are he received and ordinary conditions of gov ernment in our couutry. Our institutions, framed in the spirit of confidence in the iutel* ligence and integrity of the people, do not for bid citizens either individually or associated together, to attack by writing, speech, or any other methods, short or physical force, the Constitution and the very existence oi tho Union. .Under the shelter of this great liberty, and protected by the laws and usages of tlie l Government they asspil, association! have been ormed,insome of the States of individuals, who, pretending to seek only to' prevent the spread of tho institution of slavery into the present or future inchoate States of the Union, are really inflamed with desire to change tho domestic institutions of existing States. To accomplish their objects, they dedicate them selves to the odious task of depreciating the government organization which stands in their way, and of calumniating, with indiscriminate invective, not only the citizens of particular States, with whose laws they find fault, but all others of their fellow-citizens throughout the country.whodonot participate with them in their assaults upon the Constitution, framed and adopted by our fathers, and claiming for the privileges it has secured, and the blessings it has conferred, the steady support and grate ful reverence of their childreu. They reck an otject whioh they well kuow to be a revolu tionary one. They are perfectly awaro that the change in the relative condition of the white and black races in the stavuhulding States, which they would promote, is beyond their lawful authority; that to them it is a foreign oljcct; that it canuot be effected by any peace- ful instrumentality of theirs; that lur them, and the States of which they ate citizens, tbo only path to its accomplishment ia through burning cities, and ravaged fields, uud slaughtereu populations, and all there is most terrible in foreign, complicated with civil and rervilo war; and that the first step in the attempt is the foroible disruption ot a country embracing ' its broad bosom a degieo of liberty, and amount of individual and public prosperity, to which there is no parallel in history, and sub stituting in its piaco hostile governments, driv- en ut once and inevitably iuto mutual devas tation and fratricidal curuge. transforming tho new peaceful and felicitous brotherhood into a vast permuuont camp of armed men like the rival monarchies of Europe mid Asia. Well knowing that such, and such only, are the means and the consequences of their pluus uud purposes, they endeavor to prepare the people of the United States for civil war by doing everything in their power to deprive the Con stitution and tho luws of moral authority, uud to andermiue the fabric of the Union by ap peals to passion and sectional prejudice, by in. doctrinatiug its people with reciprocal bailed, and by educating them to staud face to lace os enemies, rather than shoulder to shoulder as friends. It is by the agency of such unwarrantable in terference,foreign and d-imestic.tliut the minds of many, otherwise good- citizens, have been so inflamed into the passionate condemnation Of the domestio institutions of the Southern States, as at length to pas inrensibly to utmost equally pasaionate hostility towards their fel low citizens of those Status, and thus finally to fall into temporary fellowship with the avowed and uctive enemies of the Constitution. Ar dently attached to liberty in tbe abstract, they do not stop to consider pructicully, how the ob jects they would attain can bo accomplished, nor to reflect that,even if the evil were us great as they deem it, they have no remedy to ap ply, and that it can be only aggravated by their violence and unconstitutional action. A ques tion, which Is ono of the most difficult of ull the problems or social institutions, political economy and statesmanship, they treat with unreasoning intemperance of thought and lan guage* Extremes beget extremes. Violent attack from the North finds its inevitab e con sequence in tho growth of a spirit of angry defiance at tbe South. Thus in the progress of events we bad reached that consummation, which tht voice of the people has now so point edly rebuked of the attempt of a portion of the- States, by a sectional organization and movements to usum tho control or tho govern ment Ql' tbo Uuited States. I confidently believe that tbo great body of those who inconsiderately took tills fatal step, are sincerely attached to the Constitution and the Union. They would, upon deliberation, shrink with unaffected horror, from any con- sclous act of dfauuiun or civil war. But they bavo eutered into a path,which leads nowhere, unloas it to to civil war and disunion,und which has no other possible outlet. They have pro* ceeded thus for in that direction in consequence of tbe successive stages of their progress hav ing consisted of a series of secondary issues, each of which profesesd to be confined within constitutional am. peaceful limits, but which attempted Indirectly what few men were will* inir fn ii„ jt...ti I> ' tv., t. a. .... ...... this way tnat system or uarmouim, co-op- .ration between too authorities ut the Untied States uud ol too several Staten, lor the main • tslnnnco ol their common Institutions, which existed In too early yeatsof toe lleilutdlc, was destroyed; conflicts of Jurisdiction canto to he Irequuut; and Congress found itaell compelled for toe support ot tbo Constitution, end the vindication of its power, to authorise the an- nolnuucntol uow officers charged with the execution Of Itsaota, os If they and tho oHoen ol tliu States were .the minister, respectively of fuieign governments in a stale of mutualnoo- tIUty, rather than fellow magistrates of* com mon couutry, iieaculully subsisting under the iroteeticu of one well-constituted Union. Thus icre. also.aggreraion wns followed by reaction and tho attacks upon tho Constitution at this loint did but serve to raise up new carriers hr Itndcfenco end security. The third stage or this unhappy ecctkma! controversy was m connexion wftn tho organ ization or territorial governments, and the ad mission of uow States Into tho Uulnu . When it was proposed to admit tho Stato.ui Maine, by separation or territory from that of Hasaaohu- setts, and the State of Missouri, formed ol a portlou of the territory ceded by Eiauce to too United States, representatives la Congress oh- Jecten to too admission of loo latter, unless with conditions suited to particular views or public policy. The Imposition of such aeon- Ultlon was successfully resisted. But, at tho same period, too question wue presented of Im posing restrictions upou tlie residue of tbe territory ceded by France. That question was, lor too time, disposed of by tho adoption of a geopraphical line of limitation. In this connexion It should not bo forgotten tost France, of her own uccunl, resolved, for considerations of the most far-sighted sagacity, to cede Louisiana to the United States, and that accession was accepted by tho United States, toe latter oxprc.v.1,- engaged that "tho inhabitants of the ceded territory shall be in corporated lu toe Uulon or the United States, and admitted as soon as possible, according to toe principles of the Federal Constitution, to tbo enjoyment of all tbe rights, advantages, and Immunltlesof citizen* oftno United States; and in the meantime they shall be maintained and protected in the free en joyment or their liberty, property, and the religion which they profess,"— that is to say, while it remains in a territorial condition, its inhabitants are main tained aud protected in the free enjoyment of ed, In het>nd Itt.lnw, All the repeal did was to relieve toe'Wutote*ot,k of ad idjecllonaMe cnsclmeul, uncouslllutleual In t Jiuious in terms tqtnfgeporaoi Is It the bctV.toat, In tllVtofi lr . _ .. Ions of the United 8tites, If emlgnilon be glons ortho .United States, If etnlgnl loft free to set In till, respect for itself, without legal prohlbltlone on either tide, slave labor will apontaueouriy eo i everywhere. In prefer ence to free labor F la It toe fact, that the peculiar domestio Instihitlona of the Southern States possess relatively so much of vigor.that, wheresoever an avenue la freely open to alt tbo world, tbey.wlll penetrate to ton oxclusloh of those of the Northern States? Is It the foot, tost the former enjoy, compared with the 1st- ter, Hindi irresistibly superior vitally, .11 eiill4meilt^ i*vo ocrni’i¥i!riii’IHfi lug iliiW'to rte-uiilW* aitef i teava.ol —_ Tlioae disorders ware not tlm conse- of u few w! ,J ,,,ml - «*e*tlon of Pjay. -- ce,_ln..Ksus»A..orJbo..freedom of sollr. ..lilgliiy Boncflolul In Its lafluonce. Thoappren- government, conceded to that Territory hyalite system recently jidnpted Isevldtntfydes. Congreii, but of unjust Inbtfereiicc onnefsoriH lined tu lucoi puraie Into the service a targa nottnlifibltantsTir toe Tdmto'iy. Hindi inler- ilBiiioSrBDour uomiliyuioii hitherto sodlllcult tlon to inoccHwrt or Wy lias Ikion repelled «»r v<*a-oK ami will return well tralnoil seamen, mmproied by all the '^means which the C01U1I- linliiMunliMitee doiwilmeiil there isa decided tutlon and tlui"laws 1 ulucu in (lid liHUdn dr tile nftil'umliryiug indication ofiirogWss creditable Executive. ’ ‘ * 1 1 V ! U '' " 1 to itliiul tu the c.Mintey. The suggestions of 7w those jiirte uT the UnlU«I 8tati}»< Were by ‘f the ‘tfiturutary'hi tliu in regard to farther 'reason of the Inflamed state ofthe blind, UiIho'; tupruveinont lu that l»r.iuchj>r the service I rumors aufi mlftrebreMutStion* han* the great*'I'lCominond to vour I'avowble action, est cuirertcy.it hasbdefiassunifed that it W4* ' 7 Thbmew frigates ordered by Congress are tho duty’ot the Executive not only ti> mipitifete .j'.iW afloat, 1 and two of them In active aervice. inaurbctinniiry irtovemehtH- ‘Ui T KHnHH-, hut .They nro Muperlor modols of niual architecture, also tnveo to the regularity of local eleutiotiH. j and with their lornddable battery add largely partiesto neutral It ueids little argument to show that ilio Pres* j to (uiblio strength iiUd security, dent of climi iddiitthnano huoIi power. All govcnuueul in the United HtuteH rasts sutatautiully upon popu lar election.' TlmlrecdourOI WettiolwH lia- able to bu impatred'by thh iutrinion of Unlaw ful votirt] or the ‘cxoIuhIoii or lawful (me.*, by lmpH'|M*r iulluenccs, by violence, or by rraud. But the people of the United Staten lire tbein- Icntal 1 *hcIvch tne-aufllciont guardians ol' their own * righto, and tosuppoBc that they will net remedy in due aeuirtm,' ahy such incident* ol vivlll freedom, is to suppose 1 them in liave reused to Ixi capable of selPgovenimentv Thu President of tho United States irua nut power to iutei pofco in elections, to see to their freedom, to chuvubw them votes, or to liass u;Nm their legality in territories ana more than in the States. If [overumeut luhjbt he circumstances, as to be able to produce the supposed twills, In spite of the assumed mora] and natural ofastaules to Its accomplishment, and ofthe more numerous population of too Northern States ? Tho argument of thoeo who advocato too enactment of tiMVilaws.ot restrietkm, sudicon- demu the ropesl or old ones, ineflTOtavbratbat the Territories mu their particular vlewsof government have no ho b id suuh power the govoruuicut might lie eelf-extcndlng.rueelf BUotainliigiiower of their rcpn|illciiu in romi; hut it would bednummrhy own, and will go »6 fchero'tmlM*^dorcod. bp. |Vf«ct;nnd if hu hud undertaken to exercise It actofCongrcsA And. ir Congress do but pause ^ fbr a moment in the'pollcy of stern coeroliin ; to expermont of leaving ir It venture to try u_ . _ men to Judge for themselves what Institutions will host suit them ; if It he not strained up to perpetual legislative exertion on this point y If Congress proceed thus lo act lu the very spirit or liberty, It is at once charged with aiming to extend stave labor into all too new Territories of the United States. Of course, these Imputations on tho inten tions of Congress in this respect, conceived as they were in prejudice, ana disseminated in passion, arc utterly dcstltnteorany Justification In the nature of things, and contrary to all tho fnndamentnl doctrines and princlpt. s of olvll liberty and self-government/ n tbe oaso of Kansas, ho would have ten just. subject to toe charge of usuipAt|on, and of violation or the ilemo, right. ,,r the* people of the United Stales. Unwiso laws, eipiidly with irreguIuiitU 1 * ut. elections, aro, lu periodso) gieut oxeitoiucnt, tho dccosioiial incidents ol even the freest end best puliticul institutions. But nil experience demonstrates tout in a country like ours, where fife right of self-constitution exists in too coin, detest form, the attempt to remedy umrUe ogislutlon by resort to revolution, Is totally out ofphico; Innsmuuh us existing legal Institutions aflhrd marc prompt and cfllcuel us menus fur the redress uf wrong. I contlilcntly trusted that now, when the leucefUl condition of Kansas uflords onportu- Wbile, therefore, in general, the people of inty for calm refleetiou and wl«i legislation, tho Northern States have never, at any time, either tho legislative assembly id the Terrttnr arrogated for tho federal government tho pow- ’ * " -‘•“with the domestio con- their liberty and property, with a right then to pass Into tbo condition of States on a foot ingof ported equality with the original Stater The enactment, which established this ia strictive geographical Una, was acquiesced In rather than approved by tbe States of tho Union It stood on the statute book, however, tor a number of years; and tho people of too respective States acquiesced in toe reenact ment of the principle as applied to the State of Texas; and it was proposed to acquiesce in its farther application to the territory acquired by toe United States ITOm Mexico. But this proposition was successfully resisted by the representatives Irom the northern States, who, regardless uf the statute line, insisted upon ap plying restriction to too new territory gener ally, whether lying north or sooth of it, thereby repealing it, as a legislative compromise, and, on toe part ofthe north, persistently violating the compact, If compact there was. ^Thereupon this enactment ceased to have uindlug virtue in any sense whatever,la re spects the North or the South; and so in effect it was treated on the occasion of the admission of tho State of California, and the organisation of tho territories of New Mexico, Utah, and Washington. Such was the state of this question when the time arrived for the organization of the territo ries of Kansas and Nebraska. In tbe progress or constitutional inqnirv and reflection, it had uow at length come to be seen clearly that Congress does not possess constitutional power to impose restrictions of this character upon any present or future State of the Union. In a long series of decisions, on the tallest argu ment, and after the most deliberate considera tion, theSuprcmo Court of the United States had finally determined this point inevery form under which this question could arise, whether asaffectingpublioor private rights—in ques tions of the public domain, or religion, of nav igation, and of servitude. The several States of the Union are, by force of tbe constitution, co-equal In domestio legis lative power. Congress cannot change a taw of domestic relation in tbe 8tate of Maine; no more than it can in the btate of Missouri. Any statute that proposes to do this is a mere nul lity; it takes away no right, it confers none.— If it remains on the statute book unrepealed, it remains there only as a monument of error, and a beacon of warning to the legislator and statesman. To repeal it will be ouly to remove imperfection from the statutes without affect ing, either in the sense of permission or pro hibition, the action of the States, or of tueir citizens. Still, when the uominai restriction of this nature, already a dead letter iu law, wan in terms repealed by the lost Congress, in a clause of the act organizing the territories of Kansas and Nebraska, that repeal was made the occa sion of a wide-spread and dangerous agitation. It was alleged that the original enactment be ing a compact of perpetual moral obligation, its repeal constituted an odious breach of faith. An act of Congress, while it remains unro- pealed, more especially if it be constitutionally valid in the judgement of those public functio naries whose duty it is to prououunce on that poiut, is undoubtedly biudiug on the conscience of each good citizen of the Republic. But in what sense cun it be asserted that the enact ment in question was invested with perpetuity and entitled to the respect of a solemn com pact. No distinct contending powers of tbe government, noseperate sections of the Uniou, treating as such, entered into treaty stipulations on the subject. It was a mere clause of an act of Congress, and liko any other controverted matter of legislation, received its final shape uud was puesed by compromise of conflicting opinions or sentiments ot tbe members of Con gress. But if it hud moral authority over men’s consciences, to whom did ttie authority attach ? Not to those of tbe North, who had repeatedly refused to confirm it by extension, and who had zealously striven to establish other and jn- compatible regulation* upon tbe subject. And if, as it thus appears, tlie supposed compact had no obligatory force as to the North, of its course it could not have had any as to the South, for all such compacts must be mutual and of reciprocal obligation. it has not uufrequently happened that law givers, with undue estimation of the value of the law they give, or in the view of imparting to it peculiar strciigth, make it perpetual in term?); but they cannot thus bind the consci ence, the judgment, and the will of those who may succeed them, invented with similar re sponsibilities, and clothed with equal authority. More cm elul investigation may prove tho taw to be uusouud in principle. Experience may show it to bo imperfect in detail and impractf* bio iu execution, And then both reason and right combine not merely to justify but to quire it* repeal. The Constitution, uuprime as it is over all the departments of the government, legislative, ex ecutive, and judicial, is open to amendment by its very terms, aud Congress or the States may, in their dlscreat on, propose amendments to it, solemn compact though it in truth is be tween tbe sovereign States of the Union. In the present instance, a political enactment, which had increased to nave legal power or authority of any kind, was repealed. The position asssumed, that Congress had no mor al right to enact such' repeal, was strange enough, aud slngulurly so in view of the fact that the argument came from those who open ly refused obedience to existing taws of the* land, having the same popular designation and quality as compromise acts—hay, more, who unqulvocally disregarded and condemned the most positive and obligatory injunctions of tbe Constitution itself, and sought, by every means within their reach, to deprive a portion of their f..il-... it.. ....1 —*-- ■■ ditlon of persons in tbs Southern State., but i n toe contrary have disavowed all such In tentions, and have shrunk (tom conspicuous affiliation with those few who pursue their fa natical objects avowedly through the contem plated means M revolutionary change ofthe government,-knd-with acceptance of the no. csaauy consequences—a civil and servile war —yet many citizen, hive suffered themselves tone drawn Into one evanescent political Issue of agitation after another, appertaining to the same set ofoplnlona, and which subsided, as rapidly aathey arose when It came to be Been, as it uniformly .did, that toey were, incompa tible with the compacts of the Constitution and the existence ol the Union. Thus, when the acts of some of tho Btstea to nullify the existing extradition law Imposed upon Con- peas the duty ot passing a new one, tho coun- ry was Invited by agitators to enter into par ty organization for Its repeal; but that aglta- Aotdemy of Mnilq/anA his name In Brlgnoll. ing to do directly, that Is. to act aggrossivoly The mother of theyoang lady had an Inkling Jgakuttho constitutional rlght/of nearly onb ofwhatwaagroipg on, and. managed to upset half of too tkiriy-bue States? the well laid plan of the loving ooaple. Her St the long series or aotsofindlroctsggrea- famlly are Inexorably opposed tea connexion “ ,nn t* 1 " n~‘ . with eny of the "toot a toot" tribe. _ Poo* “Nam*.”—n!V. WUIls, the editor of ^thm^stei."’ negro cmuucl " ulln " ti,i to, Home doprtm), ta jgrin raid toU ldv ?g| Jhe rocond .^lu to, S R . u , „ r e?) , ■p.heoould i Lis Mend people of the Northern »1 Instances of their gov- eonstltn* States,andin severallusiaucos,or tueir nov- .elements, aimed to. facilitate tho. ewana of penouhdd to aervice In tha Southern (K and to prevent their extradition whoa reclaim ed according to law and In virtue of axnresa provMons ofthe Constltatloa. To promote fallow-citizens of the equal enjoyment of those ftttoro domestic Institutions wastaevltsbls;lbat rights and privileges guardalned alike to all by that no human prudence, no form of legialz- tbe fundamental compact of onr Union. *> -.r»-—„_,—u This argument against the repeal of the stat ute Hue in question, was accompanied by another of congenial character, and equally with too former, destitute of foundation In reason and truth. It waa imputed that the measure orglnated In the conception of ex tending the limits of slave-labor beyond thoao previously assigned to It, and that such waa its natural as well os Intended effect; and tbeeo baseless assumptions were nude, in the North ern Stutes, toe ground of unceasing auanlt' upon constitutional right. The repeal In terms of a statute,’ whioh wu already obsolete, end also null for unconstltn* Humility, could have no inffaence to olatruct or to promote the propagation of eonfllotlhg views of political pr social institution. When thaact organising tbo Territories of Kuow and Nebraska wot passed, tbo inherent tflbn __ upon tost portion ofthe publlo domain, thus the Ttrettoriesior Nebraska .--nr—. n— open to legal settlement, was la admit Httlsn grass abstained ITOm Imnostna restraints nnon from all tto States ofthe .Union oUka, etch with fEn. tTwh”hSrtato W SStoXd his • ooviotlons of publlo policy and private la* been au^tet, therefor* dUontere ooourrtdln „ „ 7, or Congress, will see that 110 uct shall remulu on its statute book violative of the pr ivintous of the Constitution, or subversive of the great objects for which that was ordained and estab lished, and will take all other uecessary steps to assure to its inhnbitabta the the enjoyment, without obstruction or abridgement, of ail tlie constitutional rights, privileges uud immuni ties »t citizeusof tho Uultcd State*, as con templated by the organic law of the Terri tory. | , Full Information in relation toreceut events in this Territory will be inuud iu the documents communicated herewith from the Departments of State and War. , I refer yon to the report of the Secretary of thi Treasury for pertlcular information con cerning the financial condition of the govern ment, and tbe various branchtu of the public service connected with the Treasury Depart ment During the last fiscal year the receipts from customs were, for tho first time, more thau sixty four milliau of dollars, aud from ull aonrees. seventy three miliUma uine hundred and, eighteen thousand one hundred and forty- orte dollars; which, with the balance on hand up to theAbt of July, 1855, made the total re sources of the yeqr to amount (0. ninety-two million eight hundred and fifty .thousuud one hundred and seventeen dollars. The expendi tures, including three million dollats in execu tion of the treaty with Mexico, and excludiug sums paid on account of tliu public debt, tmouut ed to sixty million one hnddred and seventy- two thousand four hundred and one dollars, anfijncluding the latter, to aeventy-two million nine hundred and forty-fight thousand se ven hundred and ninety-two dollar*, tlie pay ment of this account having amounted to twelve million sevcu huudred and seventy-six thousand three hundred and ninety dollars. On the fourth of March, 1853, the amount of the public debt was sixty-one million one hun dred and twenty nine .thousand nine hundred and thirty-seven dollars. There wax a subse quent increase of two million .seven hundred aud fifty thousand dollars for the debt of Texas —making a total nf scventy-ouc million eight hundred aud seventy-nine thousand niue hun dred and thirty-seven dollars. Of this tiic sum of forty-five million five hundred und twenty- five thousand three hundred aud nineteen dol lars, including premium, has beeu discharged, reducing the debt to thirty million seven hun dred and thirty-seven thousand oue hundred and twenty-nine dollars; ail which might be paid within a year without embarrassing the public service, but being not yet due, and ouly redeemable at the option of the holder, cannot be pressed to payment by the government. On exuiningthe expenditures of tlie laat five years, it will l>o seen that tlie average, deduct ing payments on account of the public debt, und ten million paid by treaty to Mexico, has been about forty-eight million dollar*. It ia believed that, under an economical udministra tion of the govt rnnx-nt, the average expendi ture for tho ensuing five yearn will not exceed that sum, unless extraordinary occasion for its Increase should occur. Tlie ads granting bounty land* will soon have been executed, while the extension of our frontier t-.cttlumenta wjll cause u continued demand for lauds und augmented receipts, probably, from that source. These considerations will justify a reduction of the cevenue from customs, so as to exceed for ty-eight «.r fifty million dollar?. I think tho exigency for kucIi reduction fa imperative, und again urge it upon the consideration of Con gross. Tho amount of reduction, a.i well as tho rnanuer of effecting it, are questions of great and geueral intercut, it bciugcwjcntial to indus trial enterprise and the public prosperity, us well ts the dictate of obvious justice, that tho burden of taxation be mudo to rest an equally as possible oil all classes, and all sections nnd interests of the country. I have horotorib recommended to your 0011- Bideration the revision of the revenue laws,pre pared under the direction of the Secretary or the Treasury, and also legislation upon Home special questions affecting the bu?ine?Hof that department, more especially tlie enactment of a law to punish the abstraction of oiTlciul book* or papers from the files of the government , and requiring all such book? nnd papers and all other publicproperty to be turned over by tho outgoing' officer to ufa tmccewior; of u law re quiring disbursing officers to deposite all pub lic money in tho vaults of the treusury or In other legal depositories, where the same aro conveniently aceeaaible; aud a law to extend existing penal provisions to all persons wiio may become possessed of public money by de- posite or otherwise, and who shall refuse or neglect, on due demand, to pay tho same into the treasury. I invito youfattentinn anew to each of these objects. The army during tbe post year has been so constantly employed against (tortile Indians In various quarters, that it can seareely be said, with propriety of language, to have been a peace (establishment. Its duties have been satffactnnly performed, and we have reaaon to expect, as a result of the year’s operations, greater secueity to tho frontier in habitants than baa been hitherto enjoyed. Ex tensive combinations among the hostile Indians of the Territories of Washington and Oregon at one time threatened the devastation ofthe newly formed settlement of that remote por tion of the countnr. From recent information, we are permitted to hope that the energetic and sucoenlnl operations conducted there will prevent such combinations in future, and se cure to those Territories an opportunity to make steady progress in the development pf their agricultural and mineral resources. Legislation has been recommended by me on previous occasions to cure defects in the existing organization, and to increase the efficiency of the army, and further observation has but serv ed to confirm mb ihjtbb views then expressing tad to enforce on my mind the conviction that such immures i|fe not only proper hot neces- aary* Itb Idle to npporo toot ton particular pro. I "^..ofprovlil vWons of their organic It* were the cause of agitation. Thoeo proririoni were but tbe oc- cashm^or tta pretext of an agitation which was Inherent fc|he|uture of thing!. Cc- by a geographical line, had been repealed the country waa urged to demand ita restoration, and that project also died almost with its birth, Then followod the Cry of J alarm ITOm the North against Imputed Southern encroach ments; which cry sprang In reality ITOm the apirlt or revolutionary attack on the domestio Inititotlons of the South, and, after a troubled existence of a few months, has been rebuked by tbe volce.of a patriotic people. Of thin hut agitation, one lamentable feature was, that it waa carried on at . toe immediate expense or toe peace and hspplness ofthe peo ple ofthe Territory of Kansas. That was made the battle-field,not so much of opposing fac tions or Interest, within, Itself, ator thecon- fllctlng paseloniof toe whole people ofthe United States. Berolationary disorder In Kan- us had Ita origin In projects of intervention, deliberately arranged by certain members of that Congrese, which enacted toe law for toe organization of the Territory. And which the — lgandlet colonization or Kansas had thus undertaken In one- oectlon of.the Union, for the lyutamatlo promotion of its peculiar views of poUey, there ensued, ts a matter of course,, counter-action with the opposite views inotoersectlonioftoe Unson. In consequence of these and other inoldcnts many acts of disorder, It Is. undeniable, have been perpetrated in Kansas, to the occasional interruption, rather then toe permanent sus pension, of regular government. Aggressive and most reprehensible Incursions' Into the Territory were undertaken both iu the North and too South, and entered It on its northern border by the way of Iowa, os well aaonthe eastern by way of Missouri: and there hnsex- Isted within It a state of Insurrection against the constituted authorities, not without counte nance from inconsiderate persona In each of eat sections of the Union. But toe diffi in tost Territory have bcenextrava- exaggerated for purposes of political agitailon elsewhere. The number and gravity of toe acts ol violence have been magnified partly by statements entirely untnie, and partly by reiterated accounta of toe same rumors or facts. Thus toe Territory has been seembiRly filled with extreme violence, when too whole umouot of such acts bas not boon greater than what occasionally possess before us in single cities to too regret of all good citizens, bat without being regarded as of general or perma nent political consequence. Imputed irregularities In the elections in Kan sas, like occasional irregularities of toe same description in the States, were lioyond the sphere af action of the Executlvo. But inci dents of actual violence or of organized ob struction of too law, pertinaciously renewed from time to time, have been met as they oc curred, by such means as wars available and as toe circumstances required; and nothing of this character now remains to affect toe general peace ofthe Union. The attempt of a part of too inhabitants of toe Territory to erect a rev- olutionenr government, through sedulously eu- courugcd and supplied with pecuniary ala from active agents of disorder In some of tho Stabs, hzs completely filled. Bodies of armed men, foreign to toe Territory, have been prevented from entering or compelled to leave it. Preca tory bands, engaged In acts of ranine, under cover of the existing political disturbances, have been arrested or dispersed. And every well disposed person is now enabled once more to devote himself In pence to toe pursuits ol prosperous industry, for toe prosecution of which he undertook to participate in too settle ment of ton Territory. It aflbrds me unmlngled satisfaction thus to announce toe peaceful condition or things in Kansas, especially considering the morns to which It was necessary to have recourse fortke attainment of toe end, nthnely, toe employ ment of a part of toe military Force of the Uni ted Staten. Tbe withdrawal of that force from Its proper doty of defending toe country ■gainst foreign roes or. the savages or toe fron tier, to employ It for toe euppreaslou ol a do mestio Insurrection, la, when toe exigency o; ocean, a matter ofthe most earnest solicitude-' On toll occasion of Imperative necessity It has been done with the beat results, and my satis faction In the attainment of each results by snob means Is greatly enhanced by the consic oration, tout through toe wisdom and energv of too present Executive of Kansas, and toe prunence, firmness and vigilance of too milita ry officers on duty there, tranqnlUty boa been restored without one drop of blood having been •hed in IIb accomplishment by toe forces ofthe United Slates The restoration of comparative tnnxnillity In that Territory furnishes toe means ot ob serving calmly, and appreciating st their Just vain*, the erects which have occurred there and the dlKtuslons of which too government of tho Territory hu been the subject. • Wo poroelyo that controversy concerning Its «* were mpst oonsonstwlS toe priocli popular sovereignty, which underlies on! •Bunsnfc It could not have legislated < wtow wiih<»t doing vtoleuoe to another great principle of oar institutions, tbe impreaenpti- tu wiJU of-equality 1 of the'aeretal Stated. log a more rapid increase or tbe military arma ment For details of these and other subjects “’■‘•“ig to tbe army, I refer 1 to tbe report of cretanr af'Wnr. i The oondltiQU ,pf the navy Is not merely satisfactory, but exhibits tbe most gratifying evidences of increased vigor. As it is com paratively small, It is more important that it should lie as complete as possible in all the elcroenta of strength; that it should be efficient in the character of its officers, In the seal and discipline of ita meh^ln tho reliability of its S ordnance, and In Mro-capacity of its ships. In B yatipni qualities the rtkyy has.made rugreri? wlUiln tho last row years. The on of the Jaw,of (tongre&.pf February M, 1856. A* itoi .promote . the efficiency of tbe vy.HhaaiiNn attendedaby the: most advan* geous results.,Tfae lavr< fbr promoting > dl<w olpline among the tnen Is found convenient and Muntary. The cjitem of granting an honorable dkobarg* to fluthftil seamen oo the expiration I concur in the views expressed by theSecre Ury ofthe DupurUiieiitiii iiivoror a still farther iuereuHo of uttr naval force. , The report ofthe Secretary of the Interior present? facts and view? in rclatlou to Internal ufliiirHOver which the supervision of his de partment I'xtemfa, of much interest and impor tance. Tlie tiggregiite sale? of tlie public lands, during the lust Ifarul year, amount to nine mil lion two hundred and -twenty-seven thousand oisrht hundred and seventy-eight uores: for which lute been received tho sum of eight mil* lions eight hundre 1 ami twonty-one thousand four hundred uud fonrteeu dollars. During the same period there have been located, with militu y scrip und lund-warrants, and for other purjioses, thirty million one huudred thousand two hundred and thirty acres, thus making a total aggregate of thirty-aiue million three hundred and twenty-eight thousand one hun dred and eighty acres. On the 30th of Sep tember lust, surveys had been made of aixteen million eight hundred and seventy-throe thou sand six hundred and ninety—nluo acres, a large proportion ol which if* ready for market. The HUggestio:w in this report in regard to the complication aud progressive expansion of tho business of the different bureaux of the de partment: to the pension system; tu the colon!- cation of Indian tribes, and the recommenda tions in relation to various improvements in tbe District of Columbia, are esi ecially commend ed to your consideration. Tht* report of the Postmaster General pre- sen fa fully the condition of that department of M verument. Its expenditures for the last .rear, were ten miilfou four huudred and seven thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight dollars; und its gross receipts seven million six hundred uud twenty thousand eight hundred and one dollars—making nu excess of expendi ture over receipts of two million seven hundred aud eighty-seven thousand and torty six dol lars. The deficiency of this department is thus seven huudred forty-four thousand dollars greater than for the year ending June 30,1853. Of this deficiency, three hundred and thirty thousand dollars is to bu attributed to the ea- ditiouul compensation allowed postmasters by the act of Congress of June 22, 1864. The mail facilities in every part ofthe country have been very much increased in that period, and the large addition of railroad service, amount ing to seven thousand nine hundred and eight miles, has added largely to the cost of trans portation. The inconsiderable augmentation of the in come ofthe Post Office Department under the reduced rates of postage, ntid its increasing expenditures, must, for tlie present, make it dependent to dome extent upon the treasury for support The recommendations of the Postmaster General, in relation to tho abolition t.f the franking privilego, and his views on the establishment of umil steamship lines, deserve the consideration of Congress. I also call tlie special attention of Congress to the statement of the Postmaster Geueral respecting the sums now paid for the transportation of mails to the Panama Railroad Company, and command to their early and favorable consideration the sug gestions ol thai ..fiber in relation to new con tracts for mail transportation upon that route, and also upon tbcTehauiitepeo and Nicaragua routes. The United State? continues in the enjoy ment of uraicuble relations with all foreign powers. < When my last annual message was transmit ted to Congress, two subjects of controversy, one relating to the enlistment of soldiers intms couutry for foreign service, nnd the other to Central America, threatened to disturb good understanding between the Uuited States and Greut Britain. Of tbe progress and termina tion ofthe former question yon were informed at the time; und the other fa now in the way of satfaf.ic'ory udjustmenl. The object of the convention between the United States and Great Britain of the 10th of April, 1850, was to secure, for the benefit of all nations, tho neutrality and the common use of any transit way, or interoocanic communi cation, across the fatbinu.s of Panama, which might he opened within the limits of Central America. The pretension subsequently assert ed by Great Biitain, the dominion or control over territories, iu or near two of tho routes, those of Nicurugua und Honduras, were deem ed by tho United States, not merely incompatU bJe with tbe main object of the treaty, but op posed even to its express stipulates. Occasion of controversy ou this poiut lias been removed by an additiouul treaty, which our Alinister at Loudon has concluded, aud which will helm- madintely Mibwitted to the Senate for its con sideration. Should the proposed supplemental arrangement be concurred in by all the parties to ho affected by it, the objects contemplated by the original convention will have been fully attained. The treaty between tho United States aud Great Britain, of tho 5th or June, 1854, which went into effective operation in 1855, put an end to couses of irritation between tlie two countries, by securing to the United State-the right of fishery on the coast of the British sub ject?. Besides the signal benefits of this treuty to a large class of our citizens engaged iu a pursuit connected to uo inconsiderable degree witii our national prosperity and strength, it lias hud » favorable effect upou other interests lu tlie provision it made for reciprocal freedom of trade between the United States and the Brit ish provinces in Amuricu. Tuo exports of domestic articles to thoso provinces during tho last year urnouutcd to more than twenty-two million of dollars, ex ceeding those of tlie preceding year by nearly ?evcii tnilliou of dollars; and tho imports therefrom, during the same period, amounted to mure than twenty-one million—an increase of ?iq million upon those ofthe previous year. The improccu condition of this branch of our commerce fa mainly attributable to the above- mentioned treaty. Provision was made, in the first article or the treuty, for a commission to designate tho mouths of rivers to which the common right of fishery, on the couat of the Uuited States aud tho British Provinces, was not to extend. This commission has been omployed a part of two seasons, hut without much progress in ac complishing the ofijeot for which it was insti tuted, in consequence of a serious difference of opinion between tho commissioners, uot only as to the precise point where the rivers termin ate, but in many instances as to what consti tutes a river. These difficulties, however, may he overcome by resort to the umpirage pro- vieed fur by the treaty. The efforts perseveringly prosecuted since since the commencement or my administration to relieve aur trade to the Baltic from tbe exac tion of sound dues by Denmark, have not yet beeu attended with success. Other govern ments have also sought to obtain a liko relief to their commerce, and Denmaik was thus in duced to propose an arrangement to all the European Powers interested in tbe subject; and he manner in which her proposition was re- teived, warranting hea believe that a satisfac tory arrangement with them could soon be con eluded, she made a stroug appeal to this gov* eminent for temporary suspension of definite action on ita part,In consideration of the embar rassment which might result to her European negotiations by an immediate adjustment ofthe questidu with the United Status. This request uas been acceded to, upou the condition that tlie sums collected after tho 10th of June last, and until the 10th of June next, from vessels and curgoes belonging to our merchants, are to be considered as paid under protest and subject t» future adjustment. There Is reason to be lieve that an arrangement, between Denmark aud the maritime powers or Europe on the sub ject, will be soon concluded, and that tho peuding negotiation with the United States may then be resumed and terminated in a sat isfactory manner. With Spain no new difficulties have arisen, nor has much progress been made in the ad justment of pending ones. Negotiations entered into for the purpose of relieving our commercial intercourse with the inland of Cuba of some of Ita burdens, and pro viding for tho more speedy settlement of local disputes growing out of' that iuteroourae, have not yet been attended with any results. Soon, alter the commencement of the late war in Europe, this government submitted to the consideration of all mamtime nations two principle* for the security of noutral commerce: one, that the neutral flag should cover enemies’ goods, except articles contraband of war; and toe other, that neutral property on boar&mere- chant vcAaefa or belligerents ahonld.be exempt from condemnation, with the exception of con traband article!* The .e were not presented ai new rulee of international taw, having been otx-- not al- iT jtfi^Oue or the 10 war—Russia—as well at several .to theso .wo other prttierpaHefa . ,TP9liftR*ty stem id to l* a genera! recognition of them both In Europe aud America. But Great Brititid . and France, in coromor with most ofthe Stretch of Europe, while for. bearing to reject, did notaffirmotively oot unui the overtures of the 'United State?: 1 While the question Was iutbis position, tin representatives of Russia, France, Great Hri- talD,Au»tri*,Pru»sia, Sardinia, and Turkey, assembled at Paris, took into consideration tu •abject of maritime rights, and put forth a de* claration containing the two princinluH wk ch this government had submitted, nearly uva yean before, to the consideration ol rour.tim« powers, and adding thereto tho following pm. positions: "Privateering is utid reiumm abolished.” and "blockades, in ordtr to u binding, must be effective, that is to ray, main- talned by a force, sufficient really to iirtvt i t access to the coast ol tho enemy;" atm to tbe declaration thus composed of lour point? two of which hud already been proposed by Um United States, this government has been nv n d to accede by all the powers represented at Pur« except Great Britain and Turkey. To tho | 0 kt ofthe two additional proposition*—that iu ta xation to blockades—11ic 10cun certainly bo no objection. It is merely the definition of what shall constitute tho effectual investment ou blockaded place, a definition lor which this government has always contended, daiujiyr mdomnlty for losses where a practical violation of the rule thus defined has been Injurious to our commerce. As to tho remaining article of the declaration of tho conference of Paris, "that privateering isand remains abolished,”—I cere talnly cannot ascribe to tlie power* rcpre ci ud in the conference of Paris, any but liuti.d .ud R hilanthropio views in the attempt to ( banco ic unquestionable rule of maritime taw in ic- S ard to privateering. Their proportion \ VlH oubtless intended to imply uppnvulnj tiic principle that private property upon ti,o ocean although it might belong to the oil z. i s of a belligerent Styte, should be exempted lain capture; and bad that proposition beta framed aa to give full effect to the principle, it would have received my ready a.-rant on be half of the United State?. But the meurare proposed is inadequate to that purpose. It is true, that if adopted, private propci ty upou the ocean would be withdrawn from one mode of plunder, but left exposed, meanwhile, to m,oth er mode, which could bo uted with iumuud effectiveness. The aggressive capacity of groat naval poweis would be thereby augmenxd, while tlie dtp-u- sive ability of others would be reduttd. 1 nci.-h the surrender of the means of proicating 10* tilities by employing privateers, us pinnittd by the conference ot Puria, is mutual in turns, yet, in practical effect, it would bs tbe uu,- quisbment of a light of little value tu one ih.va ofSta.es, hut of essential importance ;o un- other, and a far larger clu?s. It uugLt n<-t to have been anticipated that a meabiue ra iluJi- quateto the accomplishment uf the piopo.-td object, and so unequal in ita operatum, would receive the assent of nil maritime power*.— Private property would be»till loll to tm. de predations ofthe public aimed ouhtn. I have expressed a readiness on tlie part of this government, to accide to oil the pj.ui. pies contained in tbe declaration <.t the O r* Terence of Paris, provided that relating to iio abandonment of privateering tun hesj enn tid ed as to effect the object for which, as:»j u- sumed.it was intended, the in.imiiiiiy ot pi* vate property on the ocean from liurtilecrptmo. To effect this olject, it fa proposed to :dn to the declaration that "priv.tuiit g i? ctd ic- mains abolished," tie fill wiig tinu.tnui.tj "And that the private pro! city uf m.i jut-m d citizens of a belligerent on tin! high be exempt from teizurc Jy the public annul vessels of the other belligerent, cmij il: le contraband.” Thfa uuiondnicirt b.».-Lui pie- sented not only to tiro power which have ui,«d onr assent to the deeinrutien to nfab-l pi- vateering, but to all other maritime Stitt*— Thus far it has not been rejected by r.i?y, m d U favorably entertained by nil which Imvi- made any communication in reply. Several ofthe government?, regarding wbh favor the proposition of the Unite d States, ta ve delayed definitive action upon it, only u t 0 purpose of consulting with others, j attic-to the conference of Pari?. I have the rati.-fiuth ti of stating, however. Dint the Emperor of Ru.-ia has entirely and explicitly approved of tint modification, and will co-oprinte in or.dchvi-i- ing'to obtain the assent ol other power?; m.d that assurances of tuhnilur purport have bn 11 received in relation to tho dtapoailiotr u tie Emperor of the French. The present aspect of thfa :mjiortai:t 311IJ ct allows us to cherish the hope that a piiiicj.lo so humane in Its character, >« jot aid iqml in its operation, so essentia! to tin* pros; • my of commercial nations, und consonant to the sentiments of thfa enlightened perkd of the world, will comtnund the npjirotmtirn of all maritime power?, ntid thus lie incorpora ted into the code ofiuternutiom l taw. My views on tbo subject are* more fully set forth in tho reply of fhe Secretary c f State, 0 copy of which fa herewith trammitted, to tho commanicatious on the subject made to tfaa government, especiaily to the communication of France. The government of the United States has ut all times regarded with friendly interest die other State? of America, formerly litre this country. Europcau colonies, and now iidJ- S endent member? of tho great family of nit ons. But the unsettled condition of some of them, distracted by frequent revolutions, in d thus incapablu of regular and linn internal administration, bus tended to embuiiura occa sionally our public intercourse, by reason of wrongs which our citizens sutler at their hnufa and which they are slow to redress. Unfortunately it fa against the Itcpnblio of Mexico, with which it fa our special d< site to maiutain a good understanding, that such com plaints aro most numerous; and allhmph rcr* ncstly urged upon its attention, they have net as yet received thfa conrideraliou which thte government had a right to expect. While re paration for past injuries lias been withheid, others have been added. The pul.ticul condi tion of that country, however, hu? been Mich as to demand forbearance on the pint of tl.o Uuited States. 1 shall continue my 1 flints to S rocnre for the wrong? of our cittern? Unit rc- rcss which fa indispensable to tlie umtinud friendly association of tho two republic*. Tho peculiar condition of affairs in Nicaragua in the early part of tho present year, rendered it important that lh is gov*, rnment should have diplomatic relations with that State. Through ita territory had been opered one of the prin cipal thoroughfares across the Lthums con necting North and South America, ou which a vast amount of property wu? transported, sod to which our citizens resorted in great numb* era, in passing between tho Atlantic and Paci fic coasts of the United State?. The protection of both required that the existing power iu that should be regarded os a responsible gov< rnmci 1} and ita minister was accordingly receive 1 . But ho remained here ouly a short time. h< ou thereafter the political aflair? of Nican.gia underwent unfavorable change, and Uu wo involved in much unceeituinty and con fusion. Diplomatic reprnrantativca trust two ccutendtug parties have been rreeut- ly sent to thfa gnveruinct; hut, with the itii; tr ied information possessed, it not pofsrole to decide which was the government ih Judo; and awaiting tbe further development, 1 Luvu refused to receive either. Questions ot tho moat serious nature arc pen ding between the Uuited State? and tot fie* S ubtle of New Granada. The guv ruiucut of rat republic undertook, a year siuce, to im pose tonnage duties on frreign vetacis ui her ports, hut the purpose was resisted by thfa gov ernment, aa being contrary to existing treaty stipulation with tbe United State?, aud to rights conferred by charter upon the Panama Iteulr- ud Company, and was accordingly reliuqufabcd ut that time, it being admitted that our vcbmH were entitled to bo exempt from tonnage d.!)’ in the free , porta of Panama ui d Aspinwail- But tho purpose has been recently revived, ott the part of Now Granada, by tho enueiRnmt of a law to subject vessels visiting bur peffa ** the tonnage duty of forty cent? per ton; and although tiro taw bus not been put in the right to euforce it i? frill at* c 1 ted lire ui •)’* at ouy time, be acted ou by tlie guvwuhtaht 0* that republic. The Congress of New Granada hts atao ••• acted a law, daring tlie last year, which levies s tax of more three dollars on every pound or mail matter transported uurora tiro i>ti<raui.-- The sum that required to lie paid on the w mu of tbe United Stutes would he nearly two mil lions of dollars annually, in addition to tho Urge snm payable by coutruct to the Paulina Railroad Company. If tho only oljcution to this exnotion were the exoihitaiuy ol m amount, it conld not be tuLuiitted to by tW United Statoa. . ? „ . The imposition of it. however, would obvfa oosly contravene our treaty with New Gran ada, and iufriuge tliu ♦•ontnret of that ri'i»u.iUo .With the.Panama RailroadComp.my. 'I he law providing fiir.thfa tux was, by -tea terms, to taf* •Shot on the first of Sept«mU#r‘*hist, but jus local autboritiw ou the i-thuia? have been fa* duood to suspend Us execution, sad to await kotow hotnotoos m tot saUMt Moth.