Newspaper Page Text
the various branch’ • >i the pool c service cuunecUn
th rewith. I refer you <n the report of the S* retaw o
the Treasury; from which it will appear, that the amour
of revenue during tbe last fiscal year, font all source#
was seventy-three million tire hundred and forty-nit
thousand seven hundred and tire dollar*; and that th
public expenditure* fur the aam# period. exclusive
faymenl* on account of the public debt, amounted t.
ftv-one million eighteen thouaand two hundred an
forty-nine dollar*. During the sameqieriod. , ?!*’
men** ma<le in redemption of the public debt. me‘
interest and premium, amounted to t **J , v-wiMr <>
three hundred and tbirtv-si* thousand three taundre
and eight, d.4l*ra To the sum total of the ‘
that rear is to be added a balance remaining in th
Treasure at the commencement thereof, amounting t
twenv-.oe m.Uion nine hundred and forty two tb<>’
aaud eight hundred and ninetv-two dollar*; and at „
Close of the same e *r. a owiwajmnding bajance amoun
ing to twentr million one hundred h f ;
tho'taand oine hundred and sixty-sevenddto”
above exoenditures. also remained in *4*
Although, in tbeopinimi
the receipt, of the current fical year are not likely 1
. T ,,l „ .miH.nl those of the last, vet .hey w ill undo,, ,
edly exc-ed the amount ot expeuditu.es by at least l>
teen'nillio <• of <tolli*. .... ,
I shall therefore continue to direct that the surplus f
venue he applied. *o far as it can he judiciouslv and ec.
Boiuicatlr done, to the reduction of .he public deb', tl
umo'i it of which, at the commencement of the la
fiscal rear, was sixt,-seven million ttyiec hundred at
f >rtv ihousand six hundred and twentv eight di-llars:
which there had been paid on the ‘Weinieih <l\v ot N
t über, 1854, the sum of twenty-,wo million three hu
deed and sixiv-fire thousand o ie hundred and seyeni •
two 101 l r*; leavinga bthiiioeof ieitstamiiOK publ’cd-;
of on! v forte-four million nine hundred and seventy fi
thou-and four hundred aud tifty six dollars, redeetnab
•t and Hermit period* within fourteen veer*. Tb-re *t
el> remnants of o her government stock, most of whic :
alrwtdy due, and ou which, he interest has sensed, hu
which have not vet been pre-ented fur payment, amou>
ting to two hundred and thirty-throe tV-iwaiid’ pi,
him lr-d and seventy mne dollars. This atutrtnent e>
bib ts the fact tht the annual income ot the governiuei
grtatlv exceeds b-* amount of its public deb., which la
ter rein,ins unpaid ou'y because the time of ;my met*
has not matured, and it cannot be discharged at one.
except at the option of public creditors, who prefer to r,
tain the -Clarities of the United Slates; and the othr
foe'. not less str king, that the annual revenue from &’
* -urco* exceed#, bv nitnv million-ot dollar*, theamou •
needed fM- a org lent sal —s..:- r
Ti,e e-timates preaao'ed to Congress frotr. the di
ferao Ex ecu ive Department* at the last session amount
ed to hirty eight million four hundred and six thou
•and five hundred and eighty one dollars; and he |
t ro .riatious made, to the sum ot lift ,-eight mill on. on
huud.d and sixfee.i thousand nine hundred and fifty
eighi dollars. Ot this excess of appropriations nvei e
tiinate*. however, more than twenty millions was hj -
pi .Cable to ex’raordina.v objects, having no reference i<
the iisuuJ annual expeudnu es. Among these oi-j -c
was embraced teu millions to meet the third article t>
the treatv between the United S ate* and Mexico; *■
that, in fact, lor objects of ordinary expenditure, the a|
prop nations were liuii'ed o considerably less than for,
million* ot dollars. 1 thei efore renew my recommends
thin tor a reduction of the duties on imports. The re
port of i be Secretary of the Treasury prveents a series o
tablet, showing the*operation of ihe revenue system f,.
several successive year*, and as the general princible o
reduction of duties’ wrh a view to revenue and not pro
tectum may now be regarded as the *v I ed policy i f
the country, I trust that little difficulty w II be enc,„u>
tered in settling the details ofs measure to that effect.
In connexion With bis subject, I recommend a cluing,
in the laws, which recent experience has shown to b
essential ,<’he protection of the government. Then
is no eX|we*a pn>rmi of law, requiring the record
and paper# of * puM>c ch i-*r - er, nl the several office,
o the gnvemrae.t ,1 e fin tl eirjotbee# for the us*
of their successors, uorau v pi or isiou declaring it felon;
on their |N*rt tn make false entries in the books, or re
turn talse accounts. In the absence of such express
provision bv law, the nog-ting officers, in many ins,art ’
C ■, h ive claimed ami exercised the right to take int<
their <>wn |h,-session, important b,s>ks, and pajs-rs, o.
the ground that these were their private property ; an
have placed them beyond the reach of the govetumen
Conduct of this character, brought in aeveial instance
to the notice of the prest it Secretary of the Trea-ur,
na‘u allv awakei ed b su-picion, and re-ulted in th
di-closure tl at at four pons. naineli, O-wego, Tided’’
Sinduskv, and M Iw.iukie, the trei ■ try had, by fl*
entries, been defrauded, within the tour yea's nex
preceding Marc'i, 153, of <be sum of one bundled an.
ninetv-eight tbou-and dollars The great difficult. .
with which the de'ec'ion of these fraud* ha* been a
te ided, <n conae ju nee of the abstract o i ot b#ik* an
paper* by the retiring officer-, and the facility wit 1
which similir frauds in the public service may be pe
pe,rated, render the nece-sitv of new legal enactment
In ,be r-spects above referred o quite obvi. u*. F<
other material modification# of the revenue laws whir
seem to me desirable, i refer you to the report of ih
Secretary of the Treasurv. The report, and the tabl.
wh’ch it, furnish ample pr<v>U of the soil
foundation on which the financial security of the can
trv rests, and of the salutary influence of ihe indepei
and •** - -.iry sy-tein ujmhi co.nmerce and all uiouetai
opera ions.
tHe e., erience of the last Tear furnish#* addition
reasons. I regret to sev. of a painful character, for ,1
recommend iiiou heretofore made, to pro, idefor iticn
sing ’he military force etnploved in the teni'on inh.il
ited bv the Indians. The settlers on the frontier hav
suffered much from the incur-ious ot preplans - , ban.’
and large parties of emigrants ,<> our Pacific pcsseaaioi
have been ma-sacrerl wih imptini,.*. The recunen.
of * i h seem a can o i jh* prevented bv ie chi g I e
wild trita-s the is.wer of. and their responsibility 10. ti
Uni ed S a’es From he garrison- of our !r mt e. js>s’
it is onlv |si--ible to detach ttoop-in srnall bodies; ai
though ,he-e have on all occ t-ions d<-p!a\ ed a gallant
and a stein devotion to duty, which on a larger fi.
w uld have commanded universal admiral on, tl
h ive n-uallv suffered a verelv in there mifict wi
aonerior numbers, and have some: inter been entin
aacrihed.
All the disposaWe force of the arm v is nlrendv etnrl.
ed on this *erv : ce. aid *k< own to be whollt ii a equ ,
to he pn.tectir nwh eh should be afforded The pub
loind of the Country has been recently sh<K-ked bv s’
age atrocities cnrnmitied m-.ti defenceless eniigrai.’
and bolder seMlemeiits, and hardlv less by'the unti
ce-sarv de-truciioii ot va'u ible live*, where inadeqii'. .
detachmertg of iiisips have undertaken to turn *b tb
needel aid. - Without increase ot ihe military fore,
these scene* 1 be <e|>ea!ed. it is to be feail. on
larger scale, and with mn>e disastrous con-equenc,
Cong' es*. I am sure, will pen-erie that the plaine
duties and ‘cs|sm*ibiiities ot government are involv*
in this quest on. and 1 doubt not that prompt acii.
mav la* confi. lent I v a"iicii>M'ed when deav must be a
te'd dbv such tea if..l hay r Is.
The bill of the la.-, -e.-snn , providing for an increa
of the pay of the rank and file ol the armv ha- h
benencial result*, not onlv in ftcilita'ing enlis'inent
bur in obvious improvement in the class of men w I
enter the service I regret that correspond ng consi.
era,ion was not bestowed on the officers, who. in vw,
of their character and service*, and the expense# t
which thev are nece--ar Iv subject, receive at preset
what is in my judgment inadequate oinpen aiion.
The ralnab e service# constantly rendered bv tl
Armr, and i * inestimab-e inifwirtance, as the nuclei.-
around which the volunteer force* of the na*i.n ca
promptly ga'her in the hour of langer, suffiewn I
a'test he wisdom ot maintaining a mil taiy ja-act estal
I ahment; but ihe theory of our system and lie wi
practice wider it. require that any prop**, and augtnei.-
ta i-.n. in time of peace, be only cinnmi B-n t r wit’
our eX'ended Hini's and frontier relattor* Whi!
• .'o ulously adhering to thia’ r i ciple, I tind, iaexistlo
Ctrcttn.S'anoea. a necessity for increase of our miluai
force, and i, is believed iba four new regiments, two <
i ifantrv and two of mounted men, will be sufficient t -
meet the ptesen exigency. If it werr necessary car.
hilly ‘o weigh the cost in a cae of such urgei cv, i •
wou'd be shown ’hat the additional ex) euse would L
eotnjMxmtivelv light.
With ‘he increase of the numerical force of the arn
should, I think, be combined certain measures oi lOtnu. ‘
in its organic arrangement and administration. Ti
presen’ organiiation is the re-ult if |iartial legi-lafio
often diiected to ol.j.cls and interests tb
laws regulating rank and Command having been a<|opte
many years ago from the Brili-h code, are no* ulway
applicable to our service. It is not surprising theh
fore, that the svstem should b deticient in the .-yn
nietrv and simplicity essential io ‘heharmonious woik
ing of ita several pans, and require a care ul revtsioi.
The present organization, y maintaining large slat
corps or de|>art,nen,s, separates many office, s from tha
close connexion with troops, and those active duties i
the field, which are deemed reqtiisi'e to quality thei.
for the varied re-ponaibilitiesot high command. Wet- j
the duties of he army staff mainly discharged b
ortic r* detached Imm their regiments, it is believ**
that the special service would be equally well fwifoi
med. and tkf disciplinend instrttctiotisof tl.e army I.
imptnyed. While due regard to the security of tlu
righ •d’ officer*, sod to the nice sense of honor which
should be eultiva'ed among hem. would seem ‘o exac
compliance with the es'ahlislod rule of promotion ti
ordinal y case*, stiff i* can hardly be doubted that tb
range of promotion bv *lect n, wh ch is now t r .cticull
confined to the grade of general officer*, tnighi be so > e
what extended with benefit to the | uh'l’C service.-
Ohservance ot the tu! of seniority so. cine- lead*
especially’ in the tine < f peace, to the pi on m ion o
officer* who, after and ev. n distingtuii e.
service, nist hive been tendered by age or intinnit
iuCiiahlc*f ncrfitniiingactivedutv.and tvho-c advai-ct
n ent, thetif re, would tend to Impair the t fiice c .
of the :trmv Suitible proviskm for tht* c’a-s ot i*lli
Ce*hv thecteation ofa refiretl 11-. would iviucii. tip
sI w hout wont ding the jn-t p-ide of nen, wholy
pa*, -ervices, have established a claim to nigh or ii-i-i
----eration. In swain comn'etidirg this weasu.e to tli
f.ivonhle consideration of ,'ongie-s. I would -ugge-
the powet .f placing officers on the retired list b
liniited to one year. Tlie p'ractical oj erarauiid tl.
tresure would ’bn- Ite tes’ed and it, after the luj *e<
▼cats. there should be occasion tv renew the i P v*i"t
it cun be repniduoed with anv impiovemen * whic
experience na’ ind cate Ihe present organiza io, 0
the srtil en into regiment*, i* liab'e to ob< i*it- ohje -
t ons The -ervice of artillery is ‘h it of banc ie- ra
an r janiza on ot ha tetie* in'o a ft tp o, t’ I'er
wouldlj ■! < reconaistetit with tl > na’i rent he rdu it .
A large psn o* the troops now call—t artillery a>e. am
h*’ s le*, on dntv asii f.intry ; thed : s'ipcn ,• Ms.e
th“ tw. arms beirg nseul non inal. lb s n “ in*
grtil rv iD our service i gn irely di-p-o|or ; o ste ,<
tha w ho’e fort ,*nd grsatei thaii tbe w H i tsof th c* nn
tv and. msnd I therefore con n., nd the disci nttm am
of a dlstit ction. which has no foundation ii eitb’ r the
a—., awt or the character ot the service expeewd .u b
performed.
In connection with the proposition for the increa** of
the army. I have presented these sugge-tions with ir
gard to certain measures of reform, .* the c.m| Icmeui
of a ars'etn, which would produce the Imppie.-t result?
from a g v n exp* nditure, and which I'hoje may at
tract the S irlv stfeiittßffj Ulsi Ui doeUMAI WUfOt I*MT
the t scutnim n<U <i u oi the secrets.y ui the
.yum reieteuee o uwjte ample provisions l*>r
inline and general improvement in ihe character of
£„._ n ito d tor ihe re-o, ganiz.ition and gradual increase
f the Navv, I deem .eminently worth- f tour tav*
ril ble consideration. The principl* *. which have con
oiled oar policy in relation to the jieimanent military
rce bv sea and land, ate sound, consistent wnb the ,
ieerv of our svstem. aad should by no meHns be dts- (
garded. Buti limiting the force to the object* par.
cularlv set forth in the preceding part of tuts message,
e should not overlook the pra-ent magnitude and
ro-iicc'ive extension of our commercial marine, nor
■il fogivedue weight to the fact that, beside* two tnou- I
uid mile* of Atlantic seaboard, .we have . ow a Pacific
.*t stretching from Mexic-i to the Uriti-h | o-essmns
i the North, teeming with wealth and enterprise, and
* -roaudine the constant presence'of -hip* of war. The
iguteuUtiou of the Navy has not kept pace with the
ities projeriy and pmlitahlv assigned ,• i, in ‘tme ot
eace, and i i* inadequate for the large held of Its op
al ion*. not merely in the present bu, still more in the
ogn-ssivelv increasing exigencies of the wealth and
“iiinerce of the United States. I cordially app,‘*c
e proposed apprentice system tor our national ‘es
s recommended bv the Secretary ot the Navv.
Ttieoccirreuee, during Ihe las, few mont hs, of marine
-a-ter- of,he most tragic nr.’u-e, involving great ‘'>**
human life ha- produced intense emotions ol svmpa
iv and sorrow ihroughout the c. untrv. It may well
doubted yy he her uil the-e calamitous . TeOts are
holly at tr.bufable to the necessary and inevitable dan
r- of the -e The iiierehants, mariners, and shi|-
. iders of the United S atr-a e, it is tiu-. unsur|-sed
fkr-reaehingeuterp: ise, skill, inielligei c and courage,
.y anv others in thewi*ild. But wjih die me,easing
nount of our commercial tonnage ip th? agg'eg'e
and the Un ger *ixe and improved ecfifippient’of i lie-nips
-w con t ucted, a deficie'.’.cy in tut* {f ly .of reluxole
• aiaen begins to be seriously telt. The inConveulence
av perhaps be met in part,'by due regulation lor tbe
-trv-iaction, into our merchant ships, of iudenti'd ap
-enrices; which, while it woutd afford useful and e't
ibie occupation to numerous young men, would have
tendency to ra ae the character ot seamen as a class,
nd it is deserving of serious reflec ion. whether it may
ot be ‘desirable to revie the exis:ing- laws, for the
, taintenance m discipline at sea, upon yvlnch the-ecu
j.v of life and projietfy on tl* iean must to a> gre**
-m extent dei*hd.’ Although much attention has *l
- been giveh by Uongtess to the proper wmstiiic
on and atrangemenf of steam vessel ’and ail passenger
Vos still it is believed ,h*t tlreachiercwientsol scieocy
..A *—-x-.l jtdl in ibis direr t**n Vw-V no rv en ev
mst'-d Vo good reason <*xisie fiw'fhe ‘wsrteo and *•"*
ion which appest' upon pur statuo • b tween the I iw>
•r protecting life and property at ?e , a <1 ho-e pn*
-cling them mi fe -d- In severe
etialues are provided to pu,n>h condttcfors ol t-ain-,
iginecrs, and others employed hi the tra- s;s>r a,ion ol
-erson* bv railway, or b\ steainboats on riveis. Why
Sould not the same principle be applied to ac-s ot in
übordiiiation, cowardiee. or o h r m sconduc, on the
art ol masters and manners, producing injur’ or death
passengers on the high seas, beyond the jurisdiction
•f any of the State , and where such delinquencies can
>* reached only bv the power of Congress? 1 lie whole
•tbject is earnestly commended to your consideration.
The re|>rt of the Postmaster General, to which you
re referred for many interesting details in relation to
hi* important and rapidly extending branch of the pul -
c service, shows tha, he expenditure of the year end
i? June Jt", IS.'>4, including one hundred and thirty
hree thousand lour hundred and eighty-three dollars
,f balance due to foivign otfice-, anu-u trd to eight mil
ion seven hundred and ten ihousand nine bundled and
even dollars. The gro-s receipts during the same
■(hi amounted to six millions nine hundretl and hfty
ve thousand hve hundred and eightv-six dollars: ex
-ibitingan ex|>endi,ureovn incctu.eof one million seven
undred and fifty-five thousand three hundred and
.ventv-one and -liars, and a diminu ion of deficiency. as
omp-red with the l*t year,ofthre*-hundred and sixty
ne ,h"U*and seven hundred and fifty six dollars. The
>icre*s- of the revenue of tbe depai tmeiit, lor ihe year
-nding June 18-Vs, over the preceding year, was
tine hundred and seventy thousand three bundled and
linety-nine dollars. No projtor,innate increase, limy
ver. can !e anticipa'ed for the current year, in cons.-
uence of the act of Congress of June I>M, provid
>g for increuse*i conijs-nsaiion to all po,mas r-.
•Vom ihe-e statements, it is apparent that ihe Post Oi
ce Department, instead ol defray ing it- exi-en-es, hi
ording to the design at the time of its creation, is un\y .
nd under exis'ing laws must continue to be, to t
null extent, a chaige U|sin the general treasury'. The
ost of mail trana|ortatinn. dui ing the y<*at endii-g Junt
*, ‘ h.'-4, exceeds the cost of the preceding yea, by trail
undred and ninety-hve thousand and seventy-Iran dol
ira. 1 again call yrait attention to the subj’-ci < f mail
ansportation by ocean steamers, and commend the
... of the Postmaster General to your earl*
attend- o.
, rt ’he last fiscal year eleven million seventy
■oiisund nine hundred and thirty five acre*of the pub
c land- nave be* n surveyed, and eight iniliirai one i.ui
-ed and ninety Im-u-and and seventeen acte- brought
to market. The number of acte- sold is seven million.
(irtv-five thousand seven hundred and ihiity -five;
dih amount received thereforn>re million twohuu-
Iri and and eighty -five tl o n.nd five hundted and hirty -
tree d<-Hats. The aggiega'e an ount of latids sold, lo
Ped u ider military scrip and land war ants, st-lec ed
•t swamp land- byF'As.xntt bv locating umler%rai.*
•r roads, t- upwards m twenty-three millions ol acre*.
! ic increase of land- sold over the present year, is
■rap *:* mi sot acie-; and the sa'es during the
vn tii at qu irtet-a of the current y e r present the ex ra
dinatv i esult of five and a halt million sold, exceeding
nearly four millions of acres he -ales of ihe Cones
v ding'qnartei-of'he last i>nr. thus iocresainr to an
■ion, un .atalle ed rtu lug any like period ii our pa-t
‘ lo?amount of rev emit- j rovidtU from -hia souice
r he Federal rrei.surv.
The commendable p- liev of the gorernment. ill r ln
•ii to setting ’ipart puhl'c domain mr iho-e who have
rved their enuntiy ill tiineof w:>r. is illu-tra'ed hy the
•■t. that since 7t’o no less that) ibiny unlliousof aCieV
ve been pplied *o this objec'.
The suggestions, which I submitted in my annual
--age la-* year, in relerei ce to grant- of land in aid
•h crai-triK-'io of ra lwa's. -ere les- full Hnd ex
ci, than tin- magni'u ’e of I e ul-j-ct and -üb-equ n,
e‘o men,* w ould -eem to render po el aud desin -
e. tM the soundness of the principle then a-seited,
h leg-ir-l to the limitation of the pi er of Congress,
•milrain no doubt; Ltit in its appl>ati<n i, s no,
ough that the value of land- in a pai'icnlar locality
iv be enhanced: that, in fact, a larger aii-ram, ot
- ni-v mav oiobablv be received, in a given time, for
t rna'e ‘ection-, than could have been lenlized finr all
e sections, without the iuipul-e am, intiiience of he
o;M*sed improve'-ent*. A prudent p-oj r - e,< r looks
- ond limi,al sections of his domain, beyond presei ,
--ill's ,o the ndirrmte effect w hich a particula, line ot
■licv is llketv to ptv ducc upon all his possessiens and
‘ere-r.-. The gore'nine'll, which is tro-iee, in this
after, fra- ‘be people of ‘he States.i- bound to tike
‘ie rame wise and coup • -etisive view.
Prior to and during tin- la-t s -sjon of Congre-s, iifi
srd-ot ,h >tv ini Hint's of acre* of land were wi-hdraw n
hid 'iiLlic site with a view ‘<> applications tor gran's
f ih : cbaiac'er penrtii g b'l<>re Cra-giv-s A cm,etui
•view ol the wholesubj'-C’ lt-1 metodltec, that all such
dera be abrogated, and the l.tud* restore-1 to mat kef;
•and in-'nic ions were inimedia etv given to tin, effect,
heapp waiiotis a’ the la, session con'emplated the
instruction of more than live tho.isand miles ot road,
1 grants to the amount of nearly twenty millions ot
-’res of public domain. Even ad uitting the right on
ie part of Congress ,n be unqnes ionahle, it is quite
ear that the proposed grants would be productive ot
md and not evil ? The different proje--, are confi-.ed.
r present, to eleven State’ ot this Union, ami one
etritorT- The reasons assigned lor the giants, sh--w
ntt it i- protsi-ed to put the wo: ks -peedily in piocess
,’ const met win. When we reflec'. tha, since the com
ii.n<vmrnt of the construction of railway in the Unt
-d Stats* stimu i *l as die* have been b’ the large
videud* tealif-d troiii the earlier win ks over the grat
mronghtares. and between the most important jaiinis
f commerce and population, encouraged by State legi--
.’ion. and pressed forward v the amazing energy of
riva'e enterprise, only seveuteeu thousand miles have
•en completed in all the State* in a qn-yrter of a cen-
when we see ‘be crippled condition of many
v rks commenced and prosecuted upon what were
•>e-ned to he sound principles,, nnd safe ca culattons:
vhen We contempla'e tfe < n >riiira,- ahsorptirai oi capi
il wi’hdrawn from the ordinal v channels of husines
he extravagant rates ot interest a, this moment paid
• continue operations, the bankruptcies not meieb in
tonev bu, in character, and the inevitable effect upon
nances gen- rally can it be doubted that the tendency
-to run to excess in thi* matter ? Is it wise to ang
lent thi’ excess bv encouiaffinff hojies of sudden wealth 1
•xf*c’iog to flow from magnificent scheme# de| ennent
-nn the ictn of Orgies#? Doe# the spirit.which
is produced ‘uch result*, need to be stimulated ot
•he ked? I* it.not the bettei rule to leu'e all the-e I
rorks to private en'erprise, regulated, and when ex; e
i .ni. aided -J&v the co-operation of State*? If con- -
-true ed b- private oupital, the stimulant and the clo-ok
ru together, and furnish a salivary restraint agtios,
iP’CiitaMve scheme# and extravagance. But it is mini
fen, that, with the most effective gnmds, there i# dun
rer of going t'-o fast and ‘<#> far.
We-ni*’ well pause bef< re a proposit'on con'er.’plat
->g a simul anemis movement for H e construction of
lilroade, wh ch in extvot, will equal, exclusive of he
t—*’ P.ic fie mud and all its br.o dies, nenrlv one-,bird
tli- entire length of such work*. no.v co ti leted in
the Un ; *•’ State- and which cann ‘ c •* . w th equip
net,ls less thsr one hundred ad t f>v mil ions ot dol
lar*. The dangers likelv to re-ult from combination*
• interests of thi* ebarac ei, ch birdli be orer-esii
-lated. Bn', iiid.|*-ndeitlv ot these considerations,
v here is the accur.ite k nwhdge, th- comprehensive
ifelligetie*. which *h ill discriminate between tin- rcla
ee cl ii” * of ihe-e twehti- igltt proj#.#e’i road*, in
■lerert.State* and one T m'orv ? Where will ion l.e
-in, #nd where ed* If to en ible these comp-mie* “•
•won'* ’heir prnjtosed wot ks i, i# ncre*s’ir that the
i ‘ of L. general gov.niiiiei t be primarily given, the
oli. v vs ill pre- n’ a problem so com; relict!*;i o Jtt i's
waring#, and m iiupurUul to our politico! an-1 social
reP-heing. a* to claim, in anticipation, the -evete#:
milt #i*. Entertaining the** views. I recur wnb siitis
ic'uai to the experience and ar ion of the Us, *esion
f f'ongre*# a* finmshing assurance tha, the subtect
’ fail to elicit a careful ri-examinati. n and rigid
rt'iny.
it Wes mr intention to presen*, ort thiso-casion. sot ie
*u esti ns regarding nt.tn 1 improvement* by ihe
g tier# 1 government, hicli whip or time nt-ilte ohme of
the Li# #• * sion prevented nu submitting on the return I
to t'-e Hott-e of Kep'eseniM’it es, with objec ions, of ’he
h'll -nti led “an act making appropriation*’ for the re
"■•ir. prose,vit’Oii and completion of ccruin ] nhlic
work- heretofore commenced under autlioriti of law*
but fl'e space hi this c mmunication theali nrfeupi and
with o'her matter cif immediate public exigency eon
train# m*,o reserve that subject so m snecial mea#gr.
wh c‘- will be transmi'teil to the two b-ma- a of Con
g-e # at an e-trlv dav. -
The ,u ! cial estiibl shtnsn, of the l nit si S’a'e# re
quir * mi* ihca'i’-n and certain refiwin# i > the manner
*"c ’i-d-ictnig the leg#l business ol the g< vernmen’ are
n.-l*h mu'-ii nreded . tmt a* I ItiiV-tdd. e- --d yeti
loth f>Cxheee’raitfijioia at length befoifei U)
xi v inner recomuieniiations, m relation to sUllabte
pniT s'on hw various objects of deep interest to the m
habitants of the District of Columbia are renewed
Many of these objects partake of a
araer and are important, independently of their reiaiH’i
u lb# WrSv of the only considerable organized
iUnion entirely unrepresented . Con
!^Thavethus presented suggestions on such subjects*’
1 aDi-ear to me to be of pai ticular interest or tmp^*
and therefore most woribv of consideration during t
“hoH ronSng period allotted to the hibot* of the pre-
foivVat hers of the thirteen United Colonies in ao
,.Hiring their independence.and in founding,his Rep -
?c of die United k,a,es o, America, have devolved uo
us. their descendants, the greatest and my* „e
tru m ever commi'ied to the hand-* of man, im i •
mon all and especialv wich as ihe public will ma>
SSti fi” the time being, with political the
nm-t -acred olbigalmna. We have to mainUin in
olate the great d*trine of tht* inherent i-g FJ | (f
ular self-government; to reconcile the la K „f the
the individual citizens, with complete ec ■ .
pub’ c order; to rei der cheertul obedient* and
|ot the land, to unite in enfo.cing ‘
to fiown indign-nlly on all combine ton. > ; n sti’
‘o h u nionize a sincere and ardent dev<> o
giousto era,ion; to P r '^ t e ,„ carrv f„ r ward every
fc-M”'.’ KLSISta rs “aSk I.
b ’ ara * itv iuaid the limitation ol our
uphold the integrity at K all u, uc h of w*t
organic 0 f our political salvation,
pat ion, as the f State* and of the
the toval fe*ltv and devoted affectum,
iev and the domestic repose of other government*, an
o re pell it from our own; never to shrink from war whe
th.- ughts and tbe l ooorofthe country call u* to arms,
bu, to cultivate in “ref eree the arts of Pf**? 1 ‘ ,
I -Igemei.t of .be i h sos neutral ly, and eleraie an
iheralizeihe* inter,--ur-e ot nations; aud bv such ju-i
ami honorable means, ai-d such only, whilat exsl’tng
he ennditon of the Rejaiblic. to „*-ure to i, the legt
-ima'e influence ahd ,h? benign authority of a grea ex
n-nr* *>'• P 0” CTl'•‘ ! s'wd'-Ort -
Under the-olenimityral theae conviction*, the b ca
ff of Almightv God i cameatly invoked to attend
ut* n vo(ir deliberation*, and upon all the counsel and
,cu ol the government, to the end that, with common
z.-al and common effort*, we may, in humble submission
in the Divine will, co operate lor the promotion ol the
supreme good of these p , ERCE
Report of the Secretary of the Treasury.
The Secretary of the Tri as,try in hi* annual report,
-rate- the receipt# of the fiscal year ending on the B",h
•f lune, lsn4, from all sources, to be $( 3,541*, 705, which
vith the balance in the Treasury on the Ist of July,
>3, + 21,01V,89V, give a total for the year ot +i*s,
4-*S,W7. The receipt* last year were” ffi 1,387,574.
The expenditure# f>r the year have been $75,854,080,
•avitiga balance in the Treasury- on the Ist of July, of
V0,187.9d7. The expenditures last year weress4,>2ti,
1. The receipts for the qnarter ending September
oth, 1*54, are f2l,s27,3o2— against $21,858,378. The
-limates for the remaining three quarter# of the fi-cal
ear are $42,500,0n0. The eatimated receipts fi>r the
luee corresponding quar'era of las, year were $4",800,-
■oo. The amount of public a- b’ outstanding un the Ist
-f July, wa5 547,1*0,508. Showing a payment of $25,.
<o, ’ 7 9 w ithiu the fiscal year. The Sec retarv anticipate#
i falling off in the customs, owing to the Reciprocity
Treaty and short crops. The tonnage of the United
states exhibit# an increase tor the year of 395,892 ton*,
i'he import* for the year are $28,321,217, in excess of
tie export*. The flaitering state of the revenue induces
he Secretary again to call the attention of Congress to
he propriety of reducing the revenue from customs.
Ie recommends hut three rates of duty, 100, 40, and 25
>er cent., in place of the eight schedules at present in
ise. The recommendation for the repeal of the fi-hing
-ounlies is reviewed. Ihe subject of drawback du'ies
n retincil sugar is also recommended to the considera
mn of Congress. The Secretary gi'es a statement of
he currency, whichmakes the total amount of gold
nd silver coin in cnculation on the Smh of September,
- 4. at $2,1,000,000, against which there is a total
ank circulation of sgo4.t>'9,2<>9. He expre*-es an op
<--i,ion to the citculation of notes of small denoiuina
tion.
Iguorance in Georgia.
The statement has been made more than once, in ,hi
nd other Journals, that, upon the unquestionabl au
imrity of the census of 1850, there were at the time
hut census was taken, forty-one thousand white adults
11 Georgia unable to read or write. This is a reproach
o our legislation —a mortification to our State pride;
Mod ought to awaken our svmpa hie* tor these our un
ortunate fellow citizen*. Ii is, at first view, astonish
ing that a fact of such magnitude should make 110 deep
er impression upon the public mind. When the truth
>ll ‘his point hist stood out among the revelations of the
cen-u-. i’ nrght have been supposed hat from ‘he mo
i’ iii ot it* coming to light, it would loom up übove all
other topic- in our newspaper discussion*—be the bur
et. of a host of s|>reches iu the Legislature—the sub
|ect of sev-ra 1 Kv c Hive Messages—form the body of
various report*, biiis and statutes, until, by the estab
:i-hnient ”fa general system of elementary education,
1 rational hope should exist of the extinction of igno
rance among mir people. But, in reality au organ
grimier with h # monkey traversing the ritaie, would
itoiv fully catch the public eve than this fact, so ull of
eproach to Georgia patriotism and benevolence and
- ate-man-hip. .-emis to have done It is not believed
hal we as a people are wantiug iu the disjai-ition or
ibilitv to remove this evil, wet* it at All realized. The
ruth is, that the immensity of a fact represented by
iuures .-o large a- 4doe- no, fW#>en itself upon the
niiid unless the hgures he dwelt upon, their sigmhca-ice
I nn 1 gin >ut cleerly by llistia ion. he u- dwell a lit
•Ie ii|#Mi the ’acts stateu in the census. Georgia ha* a
erritorv, al! her own, of B.',ihmi miles—more than the
ie other Sate# with which she was compared in a
nrevi us number of the Journal. It this very respecta
ble por io 1 of h- surface • f she globe were thrown into
the form of a circle, and our grown-up population of
I -5-1 unable to read and write were placed on its cir
cumference a, a distance of forty yards from each other
(quite near enough for evc-iy man to hear what the one
ex’ to him might wish to would mrround
o r Grt ,t St-i f.
We have *elegra| he lines in Georgia more than a thou
sand miles in length, altogether. This i- wire enough
o reach nne-third of,he way across the Atlantic. That
i- doing tolerably well tor a single one of the noble sis
terhood ot thirty-one States. But (hear it editor# spea
kers, writers, whoaoof-eu become “ lapped iu Elysium ’
in dwelling upon our internal improvement#.) tor eve
ry | tost tli.it sustain# our telegraphic wires we have,wo
grown up citizens - reckoning both sexes—who aantiot
take a pen and write “hurrah for the Empire State,”
and. worse than that, who cannot read the same sen
tence after it has been plainly printed iu a glow iug edi
"fial. , , .
We have a Sta'e Railroad also; a very creditable in
dication of wh it we can do when we are determined to
trv. Suppose we have a passenger train, capable of car
ving three hundred passengers, made readv next
spring at Atlanta to give our 41,000 unlettered adults a
r ile an this gieat road which has coat millions. It will
•.ike from tiit itgihn rvj of Spring until ft*- * moltum
nrr to carry them all to Cbatianooga, at the rate ot 800
per day.
\gain, there ia the S ate House at Milledgeville—a
irycapacou# edithe. Lotus suppose the time for a
session of the beg-slatiire to have come. The preluni
mries to legislation being over, lei six hundred of these
grown up. entirely uneducated people of our Sra'e
warm the lobbies and aisle# of the Senate Chamber and
tie Representative U ill on the day that the tirsl bill i#
n’reduced. For ins'ance, let them stare with aston
ishment at Mr. A. of B. county as he introduces a bill
vith all the flourishes ol “ Be it enacted Ac.,’ to allow
.Jr. C. to establish a terry on his own lurid. Let these
as* on home to get somebody to write the next ticket
nv of them may tie entitled to vo'e, and on the next
lav let another six hundred of the same class throng
he Capitol with their twelve hundred eyes looking eai
ne-tl\ down upon the “Assembled Wiadom” as ‘he
Jle'k reads the bill introduced bv Mr. D. to prevent the
utroduetton of diseased cat'le among the cattle of his
constituents. We may express in passing our cordial
hank-tor that system of legislation which, if it does
nothing towards cultivating an immense means of ma
uling mind, watche* with sleepless vigilance over the
health of our calves and the purity of rat- buttermilk. —
1„ t tin- six hundred also go home “<0 make their murk,”
and on -he nex, day let another six hundred pay their
respect a to the Legislature by listening to the eloquent
appeal- on behalf ol Mr. Somtbodv or other, who has
l*iweifully excited the warm sympathies ot our patriot
ic statesmen “ 111 General Assembly met,” by having
m mined ihe slight indiscretion ot introducing a bowie
*n£- or a hal •< mice bull among the heart si ring# of a
,ellow citizen. Let another six bundled come up and
look at the Legislature when they are busily and sol
-mnlv a, work bringing ihe whole Legislative power
o the Empire rita'e to bear in changing the name of
lolm A. Smith lo John B. Something LI e. We miglr
oou inue the process t ■rough a Iwo nr ?it-n‘ ne*gi>n, and
tiave six hundted new visitors every day swarming the
*iate House from the vast host of grow n up citizens
nale a id female- in Geo'gi* who cannot read and write!
vV hat a biting sarcasm would the pt e-enc- ol -ui h a com
mit in the Legislate Hall, new every day ot ihe -e--
-ion, be upon the “State Glorification’’ speeihesof J e
g:sla or.-. Twelve hundred new eyes every day, lookit g
on the w.n king-of Legi.-iai ii e wisdom, that never ti* k
e-t intelligently into,he spelling book as far a a Baker!
We wish to cry a!.-nd in behalf ot the untaught and
negl end -or.a and daughns of Grorg a. We beg
teue to tut 1 o tu.-e this 41. mm unlettered citizens, unit
lie sill I latger number of children and rou-h who can
u„t read a word ol their mother tongue, to the Iu ure
. gislattire of Georgia, and to all the intelligent aud be-
U'-v-’leiP ci,‘Zen* ol rtie ritate. Weask, — weduot-tn-:, —
ii the iaue of pnlriotiam and re igion, that the educa
oiiol ueci ssi ie# of these g>eat multitude* of our own
im-” 1 th dl be heeded- that the pulpit, the bench, the
-at,’ toe pies#, the *tuuip. shall ring with ,bio
o| ic, until ihe publ c heurt siiall beat truly and getter
-u.-lv tor tbe bumble, the nublest the uneducated of
-mi own great .Sta'e, and shall compel a legislation
equal to the necessity, aud worthy if Geotga.
Southiru irhoo Journal.
work on tbe Washington National Monu
ment is How nearly suspended lot want offund# ’lheie
ne onlv eight pet son- engaged on it, aud they are lik
elv *ooii to be discharged. The shaft has uow risen to
one hundred and seventy feet.
California is the living wonder of the world.
Governor Bigler ssv# that during the past seusi’Hi, Cali
fornia lims produced ,?■*astonishing.?'ii Id, in one instun
pv, at
‘id Gw *x
journal ft Jllessfnger.
J\ME T. KISMET AND SIXRI ROSE,
fcUITORS.
M
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 13, 1854^
Municipal Election.
At the election, in this city, on Saturday last, for a
Mavor, etght Aldermen, and Clerk and Treasurer, the
following, headed “ The People’s Ticket,” was elected
without opjmsition, the several gentlemen upon it re
ceiving the number of votes placed opposite their
name*:
far Mayor ,
B. F. Rom 301
For Aldtrmtn,
John 1.,
A. J. Write 296
W. S WJliford 294
R. B. Clayton 294
Geo. W. Adams 293
Henry M. North 293
James B. Ayres 29^
Wax. C. Bandy 297
For Clerk and Treasurer,
A. R. Frtwaan 299
XU vote pqt-4 it will be observed, is unusually
.wwAi owing o the feet that there was no opposition,
and that msuy who were not disposed to vote the
ticket, from at impression that it was a Know Nothing
affair, did not vote at aU. Still, Captain R&ss is elected
Mayor by a 1 ir majority of the legal voters of the city,
the vote of tie city in municipal election# never having
exoeeded 800, and has received more votes than any
other candidste for the office, except Dr. E. L. Stro
hecker, who it December, 1852, when opposed by Mr.
Hardaway, recqved 3'3 vote*. At the last election Dr t
Strohecker receited 299 votes, and the lowest Alderman
elected, 305 Votes.
The voting on Saturday proceeded very quietly, and
vorv little interes*. was nanifested in tho result, because
it was very well knownwhat that result would be, soon
after the opening of thepollS. All excitement npon the
subject of our city elettion had subsided before it had
taken place, a* soon a* it wax understood that the De
mocracy had subside!, and with a dread of things nut
seen before them, had concluded it was inexpedient to
nominate a Candida®. . .
A* to the politicalcomplexion of the new Board, we |
only know that eightnut of the ten members composing !
it lue Democrats. Vhether a majority of this Demo- .
cratic Board are, as otr contemporaries of the Telegraph.
seem to think. Know Nothings in disguise, and conse
quently embraced in its classification of “stupid and
soft-Leaded,” we arealtogether at a loss to determine.
The Board will orgatize to-night, and elect the subor
dinate officer# of tberity, and if the Know Nothing ele
ment is the strongat in it, we suppose that the for
eigners who fill the offices of Sexton, Bridge Keeper,
and Clerk of the Murtet, will be guillotined. But inde
pendent of tbe politic of its members, about which we
know very little, and care infinitely less, tbe Board is
an excellent one, oonposed ot practical, sagacious busi
ness men, who will doubtless manage the affairs of the
city t>> the satisfaction of all who are interested in ita
property or its proiperity.
The Message.
We devote a larg* portion of our space to-day to the
exclusion of our u-uil variety of reading matter, to the
second annual Message of President Pierce, transmitted
to Cougress and rexd in both Houses on Monday the
4lt iust. 11 is a reiiarkublv plain, unambitious docu
meut, just such au me a* political opponents are dis
posed contemptuously to characterize, as “full of empty
platitudes,” but in which, after a careful perusal, we
tind much to approve, nothing to condemn and little
from which we ate disposed to dissent. This follows
necessarily from the character of the Message, which is
haruly any thing else but a naked statement of facts,
giving a clear and concise exhibit of the oonditiou o
our affairs, and of our relations with other Govern
ments. General Pierce has contented hitnsell with this,
going into detail upon no subject except the bombard
ment of Grevlown, aod carefully avoiding every ques
tion in our son ign policy or domestic affuirs upon
which the public mind is agitated, and which, accord
ing tothe revelations of newspujier correspondents, and
news monger#, would be tbe salient point# of prominent
interest in this annual commcnicution of the Executive-
It has no salient points—it is as smooth as oil, and a*
peaceful as a mitt {Kind —it contain# no revelations ot
any moment—it has no prominent point of interest,
there is nothing brilliant, novel, extravagant, or pecu
liarlv able or statesmanlike about it, and yet, it will he
received with very general favor and satisfaction, oy al,
classes of people in all sectionsof this wide spend Uniov.
Something wore ambitions in style, and more demon
strative upon certain questions of absorbing interest in
our foreign policy, was certainly expected by a large
portion of the Democracy, and their stomachs always
craving stimulant, would probably reject this disgust
ingly mild portion which the President offers them,
but tha, their lips are hermetically seuled upon it, and
they must swallow The culm and deliberate tone of
the Message upon the subjects of which it treats, and its
guarded silence upon other subjects of delicacy and of
importance, have disappointed them, and yet, these are
the characteristics of the document which will par,ice.
larly commend it to the people.
Tbe President in view of the disturbed oonditiou of
Europe, takes occasion in the opening of his Message,
to declare that tbe policy of this Government in respect
to foreign nations, is now as it always has been, peace,
neutrality and non-intervention, and that, as we stand
aloof from the dynastic struggles of Europe, and have
no part iu the adjustment of it# ballances of power, and
no intimate connexion with any member or part of it*
political ystem, we have a right to claim exemption
from European interference. And in farther illustra
tion of this pacific policy, he asserts that the United
ritutes government provide* no means of aggression,
and that the army and navy establishments wh'ch it
sustains, are designed only for protection, ond to se
cure from other nations, a strict observance of the obli
gation* of international law—thus recognising the fact
of the existence of such a system ns the law of nations.
This is all very proper, very wise and very commenda
ble, and yet in reading, it we are obliged to remember
that the Bouthern Democracy are distinctly at issue
with their President, upon the question of the foreign
policy of the Government, that many of its organs deny
tbe existence of any law of nations, ridicule it# obligtt
tions, and denounce the opinions which President
Pierce announces, whenever they are urged by Whig
opponents against their views of “ manifest destiny,”
and their schemes of lawless aggression, as the disgust
ing “Cant of Conservatism.” This is the language habit
ually employed by our Democratic Administration con
temporary, the Ttlegraph, whenever we have ventured
to say what the Democratic President of the United
States ha# said to Congress in his Message. W’e quote
the President against his organs, and we quote the
sotihd conservative views which he announces upon the
subject of the foreign policy of this Government, against
himself, aud in condemnation of his own conduct, in
sending abroad such men as Sickles, Sanders, Soule and
Sjwnce, and placing them m positions where they are
enabled to create, or have created, and altogether differ
ent impression of the policy and designs of the United
State*. We have referred particularly to this portion
of the President’s Message, upon the subject of our for*
eign policy, because it is a matter just now of unusual
interest and solicitude, because we can entirely approve
of the doctriues announced by the President, and be
cause they are directly opposed to the views of a large
majority of the Southern Democracy upon this subject,
and pointedly condemnatory of the conduct of the Pres
ident himself, in the matter of his foreign appoint
ments. He is “a Daniel oome to judgment” to pro
nrainee against himself and bis own Party.
The President a# he has avoided every question of
leltcacv in our foreign relations, has also wisely omit
ted to say any thing of tbe repeal of the Missouri Com
promise, of the NeUaka Bill, or of the recent and violent
renewal of slavery agitation throughout the Northern
State*. He probably seated that any defence of the
Nebraska Bill, might have led to a vote of formal con
demnation of that part of hi# Message in the House, bu
be this as it mav, it wu politic and wise to ignore the
whole subject of slavery, and iu thi* the President ha#
se, an example which should be followed bv Member#
of Congress and conductors of tbe Press. The enlight.
ened public opinion of the Union, notwithstanding eve
ry thing which i# said or appears to the contrary, sus
tains the position of the pro-slavery Party of this coun
try. Free Soil and Abolition is a chronic sore upon the
boily politic—discussion of the subject of slavery, now
that the argument ia exhausted, only serves to irritate
and furnishes material for the agitation in which I ree
Suiters and Abolitionists live and move and have their
being.
Ou the whole, we like this Message of President
P—-vr i -mi mol j— *
Fatal Accideut.
Thomas J. Sims, a youth of this city, of 17 or 18 yeatt
of age, while hunting in the vicinity on the 11th inst.,
was killed by the occidental dischajge of his gun whilst
loading it
A few days previous, another young man was very
severlv wounded in the head by the discharge of a pis
tol. It wus aimed at him by a frieud in sport, suppos
ing it uot to be loaded.
Samuel D. Scovill, who absconded from this
city on the 29th of October, with SIO,OOO of the funds
of the Agency in this place, of the Marine Sank of Sav
annah, was brought back from > s t. Louis, where he wav
arrested under a requisition from the Governor, and
lodged in our county jail on Sunday night. About
$ a ,600 of the amount stolen, has been restored to the
Bank.
Columbus Municipal Election.
An election was held in the city of Columbus, on
Saturday the 9th inst., for city officers, when \V. Wil
hams was elected Mayor, \V. Vahaffev, Marshal, 11. P.
Robinson Deputy Marshal, I. H. Mitchell Treasurer,
C. Stratton Clerk, and T. Nix Sexton. The following
gentlemen were also elected Aldermen from the several
wards of the city :
From the Ist Ward, Ruse and McKendrie,
*• 2d “ Hall and Bedell,
“ ?d “ Wynne and Douglass,
4th “ Andrews and Rtdgway,
• sth “ Jepson and Brown,
“ 6th “ Daniel and ilattbesoa.
The vote between the candidates lor tlxe Mayoralty
was as follows:
For W. Williams ‘ 683
“ P. A. Clayton..... 180
The Fair which was held at Augusta, during the
last week, was from the accounts received, a more cred
itable exhibition than was anticipated by the membei>
of the State Agricultural Society, or by the citizens ol
Augusta. We shall publish as soon as it is issued, a
complete list of the premiums awarded to exhibitors.—
There were but few exhibitors from Macon, but we be
lieve that almost every one from this city was reward
ed with a premium. Among others, Mrs. P. E. Bowdre
received a premium lor two supeib pieces of needlt
work, Mrs. S. Rose for the largest variety, und beet
! wines from native grapes, offered, the Misses Conuer
for specimens of Crotchet work, and the Macou Manu
i facturing Company, for the best bale of shirtings,
j The largest piece of needle work exhibited by Mrs.
j Bowdre, representing “The Surrender of Mary Queer
1 ofScotts, to the confederate Lords at Carberry Hill,”
1 was the principal object of attraction and interest in the
j Ladies Department, and will be sent, as we understand,
to the World’s Fair at Paris, at the expense of the So
ciety.
We have received through Mr. J. M. Boardmar.
from the publisher, Rediield a copy of ihe Autobiogn
phy of P. T. Barnum. It can be found at Board mans,
and as this will gooff like all the other humbugs which
Barnum has imposed upon the public, we advise thos.
who would secure copies, to apply at once.
Congress.
The Senate was called to order at o’clock oi
Monday the 4th inst., thirty-seven Senators being pre
sent. Alter prayer bv the Chaplain, a letter was rem
from Mr Atchison, of Missouri, resigning his post a
President of the Senate, and stating as the reasou, hi
unavoidable absence from Washington City for sonn
time after the beginning ol the session. His resignn
ion was accepted, the Hon. Lewis Cass was chosei
President pro tempore of the Senate for the day—tin
credentials of Mr. Braiimrd, the new Senator from Ver
mont, were presented, Mr Brainard appeared and was
sworn in, and a committee was appointed to notify tb
President and the House of the organization of the Set.
ate. At In minutes past 2 o'clock the Message was it*
ceived and r* ad. and the Senate adjourned to Tuesday.
On Tuesday the Senate proceeded to the election by
ballot of a Presideut pro tempore, when Mr. Bright, o’
lidiana. was elected, the vot^being for Bright, f<*
Wm. C. Dawson, of Georgia, 2, Solomon Foote, of \ tt
muut, 2, and Geo. E. Badger, of North Carolina, I.
Hie committees of the last session were re appointed,
md the special committee on the Pacific Railroad was
continued.
Ou Wednesday among the most important business
>f the Senate, was the introduction by Mr. Brodhead, ol
a bill to establish a Commission to settle private claiin
igainst the Government, and the announcement by Mr.
Vdains, of Mississippi, of his intention to irUroduc■ a
all amendatory of the XoturaLzation late* of th* Unitea
‘itate*.
lu the House of Representatives on Monday the 4th
nst., Hon. Lynn Boyd, Speaker, took the Chair at 12
VL, the roll was called, aud a committee appointed to
nform the President and the Senate of the organization
•f the House. Mr. Dawson, of Pennsylvania, introduced
i Homestead Bill, similar to the one of the last sessiotu
aid Mr. Ingersoll a resolution, calling for the corres
•ondence between this Government and France, rela
ive to the refusal of the latter to permit Mr. Soule to
pass through its territory. The Message wus received
ind read, and the House adjourned to Tuesday.
In the House on Tuesday the standing Committees
very little altered from those of the lust session) were
tnnouuced. Notices were given by Mr. Taylor, of Ten
nessee, of a B’U to rtpntl the Xaturalization lows, and
by Mr. Boiler-, of Maryland, of a Bill to prevent the en
listnont of Foreigners in the Army or Xavy, and also,
of a bill toprevent the immigration of foreign j-iupert
i/id convicts to the Uuited States. A resolution of Mr.
Boilers, of Maryland, offered on Monday, calliu ▼ upon
he President for information with regard to the Con
gre.-s of American Ministers at Ostend, being called up
by that gentleman, led to a long and interesting debate,
in the course of which, several prominent Democratic
members of the House, (among others, Messrs. Bavlv
and Letcher, of Virginia,) took occasion hfexpresa their
disapproval of the nomination of Mr. Soule as Minister
to Madrid, and their conviction that this conntry should
he repreeu nted at foreign C>urt* hy Xatice-born Ameri
can*. A motion to refer the resolution to the Commit
tee on Foreign Affairs was lost, and the House adjourn
ed without disposing of it. On Wednesday the matter
again coming up, the motion to refer it prevailed. The
River and Harbor Bill of the last session, was finally
disposed of. This Bid it will be remembered, passed
the House by a vote of 96 to 76, but was vetoed bv the
President. The veto message not having beeu acted
upon at the last session, came up on Wednesday, when
upon the question—Will the House, on reconsideration
uass the Bill ? two thirds not voting iu favor of it, the
Bill was finally lost.
On Thursday the death of he Hon. P. Ewing wa
announced in both Houses, and fer b passage of the
customary resolutions, they adjourned to Monday, the
11th inst.
The developments of Native American feeling in the
introduction of bills to modify, or repeal the naturaliza
lion laws, and : n the denunciation of the appointments
of foreign res to offices abroad, are thus far a noticeable
feature in the proceedings of Congress. It is not at all
probable, however, that during the present session, any
modification of the naturalization laws wilt be effected.
To give some idea of the ptominet measures which will
probably engage the attention of Congress, we extract
the following from an article in the Xitional Intelligen
cer of the 4th inst:
It is impossible to fort el I, beyond the ordinary annu
al provision for the suppoit of the Government, what
legislation will characterize the present session. But
we anticipate that necessary and reasonable additions
to the present organization of the military and mtvai
defences of the country, aud other measures of deferred
justice and demonstrable expediency, will be found
among its final labors. Upon the tables of the two
Houses, as before stated, then- is a large amount of bu
siness, left incomplete at the close f the last session,
much of which lias alreadv received the sanction of ei
ther one or the o.ber H, u t and which will of ctm se
be amongst the first business that will now cluim con
sideration. Os business of this de-cripltou we find i;
convenient to enumerate, with a vi wto refresh the
minds of inquiring readers, the subjoined tneasuies:
The homestead bill, which is now before the House
; with Mr. Hunter’* substitute as an amendment.
The Texas debt bill, as passed by the Senate
I The Senate bill to provide payment lor French spoli
| ati-ais prior Vo 1 ‘on.
The ocean mail steamer bill, with the amendment ol
; the House ditect.ng notice to be given lor the terutiua
| lion of the contract.
The bill to establish & mail line to SUueguai by way
of the Sandwich Island*.
The bill establishing the Itamsav mail route from
New Orleans by way of Vera Cruz to Acapulco.
The bill lu establish a aubterraueau Itucol telegraph
to the Pacific.
The hill to provide a weekly mail to California.
The bill to increase (he rates ot jioaUge umi require
1 pryiavment of letters.
The Senate bill to provide fur half-pay to revolution
ary officers or their legal repienentatives.
The bill to extend the benetitsol the bounty land sys
tem to the officer* und solutes, seauieu, Ac., of the war
of 1812.
Various bills granting lauds for the construction of
railroads; and
Mr Bennett’s land bill, granting lands equally to the
several States to aid iu the coßrttTUKtmflof railroads tfcd
Urn ito m mhwto
Sales'of Bonds and Stock*.
The Savannah Republican of the 6th inst., notice*
the sales in that city on the sth inst., of 13,500 worth
of 7 per cent. City Bonds, at 90 a 98, of teo shares of
rock in the Bank of the State of Georgia, at 109 a 110)£,
of Central Rail Road *tock, at 105, and $5,000 of con
vertible Bonds of the South-Western Rail Road Com
pany at 88.
Kansas aud Slavery.
The election of a delegate to Congress, from the new
ly-organized territory of Kansas, which took place on
the 2ath ult., resulted in the ehoice of Gen. \Y bitfield,
the pro-slavery candidate, over Robt. P. Flentiiken, his
anti-slavery opponent, by a large majority. The elec
tion did not pass off quietly, two men having been kill
ed at the polls during the day, one at Kansas City, aud
the other at the town of Boston.
*£3?” At a meeting of the Chamber of Commerce of the
city of Charleston, held on Thursday last, to consider the
subject of the trasportation of the mails, to and from
that city, after the Ist of January next, when the existing
arrangement of the Department, with the So. Ca. Rail
road Company will cease, the following resolutions
were adopted. For the interior of Georgia, it will be
fortunate if the Department acts upon th* recommenda
tion contained in the first resolultou. There was less
delay and irregularity in the reception of our Northern
mads, wh*a they were carried by to* Wilmington stea
mers, than there ha* been since the service ha* been
performed by the Manchester Road. Let the Depart
ment go back to the Steamer*, or to slow coaches, rath
er than yield to the unreasonable demand* of ihe S. C.
Railroad Company:
Reeolveed, That this Chamber respectfully, but ear
nestly, recommend to the Postmaster General the c-i-o
----veyance of the great Non hen and Western Mails, after
the first of January, by a line of steamers between Wil
mington and Charleston, and also by *t*amers between
Charleston and Savannah.
Resolved, That the Chambers of Commerce of Savan
nah, Mobile and New Orleaus, be forthwith respecfullv
invited to unite with this body in the foregoing recom
mendation.
Re*deed, That the Postmaster General be earnestly
requested to provide tor the conveyance of the mail be
tween Charleston and the interior of the state of South
Carolina aud points connecting therewith.
Removed, That the alvove Resolutions be published,
and that they be telegraphed to the Honorable Post
master General and the Chambers of Commerce named.
Bank Dividends.
The Marino Batik ot Savannah, and the Planters’
Bank of the same city, on the sth inst., each, declared
a semi-annual dividend of 5 pet- cent. At a meeting of
<he Boatd of Directors of the Central Railroad and
Banking Company, on the same day, a mixed dividend
of stock and money equivalent to four per cent, upon
•he profits of the preceding six months was declared,
ind the following resolutions, which we find in our
Savannah exchanges, were passed :
Resolved, That, in lieu and stead of a Cash Dividend
m the General Stock of the Company, there is now de
dared a dividend of Ten Dollar* per share of the Gen
eral Stock, payable in Stock of the Company at One
Hundred Dollars per share, to be issued on and alter
he fifteenth day of January next, and charged to Road.
Resolved, That the holders of Guaranteed Stock be
mid their regular semi annual dividend of Four Dollars
>er share, on and after the fifteenth instant, unless they
shall prefer (which they are at liberty to do until the
srh day of January next) to merge their stock into the
leneral Stock, and, relinquishing their December divi
lend as guaranteed, to receive, in lieu thereof, the sutd
-took dividend of Ten Dollars per share.
Remixed, That in cases where such Stock Dividend
■ Itall amount to a sum lower than One Hundred Do!-
irs, and in cases where after issuing stock for dividend
in shares of One Hundr ed Dollars, there shall be afrac
tonal part of a share remaining. Certificate*, under the
and of the Cashier, shall be issued, showing the
mount due, w hich certificate shall (until the first day
•f June, 1855.) when presented in amounts of Gne Iltiti
red Dollars, be received in payment of stock to be is
sued at par. And when any lawful holder of any such
ertiticate shall, before the first day of June next, j.re
ent the same and pav, in cash, the difference between
he amount specified in the certificate pre-ented and
hie Hundred Dollars, such holder shuil receive one
share of Mock. All stock issued under the present ac
.;iin, at any time before the first day of June next, shall
rank with the present General Stock of the Company,
and receive the next June and subsequent dividends.
Bv order.
’ GEORGE A. CUVLER, Cashier.
Columbus and nett Rail Roads Wefind in the C
olumbus Times and .Seutinel, the following particulars of
■he action of the voters and of the City Council in rela
tion to the subscriptions io the Mobile and Girard aud
iqieitka Roads.
On Monday morning, the 4th inst., the polls were
opened at. the Court House to test the sense of the peo
ple of Columbus as to the propriety of making a fur
her subscription of one hundred and fifty thousand
dollars to the Mobile and Girard Railroad, and of fifty
thousand dollars to the Montgomery and West Point
Railroad. The immense interests involved created
very unnecessary apprehensions in the minds of the
friends of the subscriptions, as the result demonstra
ted. The voters came boldlv to the polls, and, with
open tickets, voted for the subscriptions in a continu
ous atre*m until the polls were closed. The unanimi
ty very soon cooled the ardor of the friends of subscrip
tint); the result was considered certain; and tbia, doubt
less, will account for the fact that though the vote was
a large one. it is not such an one as is usually polled in
■xciting political contests. However, both subscrip
ions were sustained by more than a majority of the le
gal voters of the city. For the Montgomery and Wesf
ooint Ru lroad subscription there were 411 yeas and on
ly 24 nays ; for the Mobile and Girard Railroad sub
scription there were 397 yeas and only 35 nays. We,
therefore, regard the subscriptions to both Roads as
sanctioned by the almost unanimous voice of the people
of Columbus.
At night the Council met and the return of the elec
tion was reported by the managers.
Alderman Morton moved that the further considera
tion of the subscription be postponed for the present,
aid supported his motion bv a speech, in w hich be
urged delay. Aldermen Hall, Foster, and Matheson
opposed the motion, and upon taking the vote, the mo
tion was lost: —ayes 2, nays 7.
The question was then taken upon the adoption ottlie
resolution* making a subscription of $150,000 to the
Mobile and Girard Railroad.: aves 7, navs 2. Adopt
ed.
The question was then taken upon the resolutions
making a subscription of 50,000 to the Montgomery A
West Point Railroad : ayes 8, nays 1. Adopted.
We are happy, therefore, to announce that the city of
Columbus has made a further subscription of $150,000
to the Mobile A Girard Railroad, and of $50,000 to the
Montgomery A West Point Railroad.
The result of this action will be, that in 12 months
from date, the cities of Columbus and Montgomery will
connect bv railway, and that the nex> crop of Chenun
nugee and Union Springs, and the regions round about,
will be brought to Columbus. The future prosperity
of our city is secured.
Washington, December 4. 1*54.
Tub Body oy Sik John Franklin Found by Dr.
Kank. — The Lake Superior Miniug News, of Xovem
ber 9, contains the following:
“By private letters we learn that the bodie* of Sir
John Franklin and his men have been found by Dr.
Kane’s party, frozen, perfectly preserved.
“In our last number we gave the report of the intel
ligence derived from soma of the Esquimaux Indians,
of the discovery of some of the silver used bv Franklin’s
expedition, and marked with his initials The later re
port is of the discovery of the bodies, and from our au
thority we have the right to believe it to be true.”
The editor makes no menrion of the source of his in
formation, nor of the direction whence it came.
The Chfrokve Insurance Bank at Dalton.—We
are authorized to state that this Bank continues to do
buisness at Dalton, and that it ha* not failed, but is
prepared to m it* issues in current note* or coin
whenever presented at the counter of the Bank. The
holders of its notes, therefore, tte*d not submit to loss,
when such is the state of things at the Bank.— Atlan
ta Examiner 7th mutant.
’ •&’ An exciting scene occurred at the Chaileston
post office a few nights since Several hundred persons
were there, crowding, squeezing, pulling and hauling,
each eager to get io the window one moment sooner
then his neighbor—a modest matt stood no chance—on
K those who understood how to use the elbow could
get ne.tr. Suddenly a dog seemed to snap, growl and
b-irk, in our midst. Several gentlemen cried, “get out.
get out, you brute’ —but all seemed to hug the closer to
the window. Then was heard a voice shouti-g, gentle
men, the dog i* mad, the dog is mad! take cure, or he
will bite some of >ou ! The entire mass jumped, leaped,
and scattered from theveslibule, a* a litHe man in black
stepped to the window and asked it there was any let
ter for Wyman the ventriloquist. —Savannah Repuh.
The Tallahassee Journal, of Satuday, announces
the death of Gen. John Scott Broome, of Madison
county, b’ oth-r of Gov. B booh k, of Florida. He died
ou Wednesday evening, after an illness of about a week.
XW H is said that a number of workmen ate about
to embark front various ports of Massachusetts to cu
live oak iu the Georgia A. rests this winter, for ship
building.
{.'jjT* The Supreme Court of Indiana has just decided
that all rail roans, with their cost of construction, roll
ing stock and buildings are taxable property- The ag
gregate amount of revenue which will accrue to foe
State will be from $50,000 to slnt*,ooo.
The American schooner seized by the Cuban
government, at Baracna, has been searched in presence
of the United States Commercial Agent, aud a large
quantity of antis were found aboard, false partitions
having been custructod frr better stowage.
The city of Memphis has sent a delegate to
Washington, for the pur|H>*e of endeavoring to induce
Congress to continue the navy yard established there
some years ago. and ceded at the last session to the city
of Memphis. ‘ B F. Dill, Esq. the editor of the Memphis
Appeal, is the delegate appointed.
The Synod of South Carolina assembled at Col
umbia on the 7th instant, and confirmed Dr. Thom well’s
election to the Theological Seminary by a vote of 38 to
4 The Synod then adjourned to meet a* before retffiv ed,
LITER FROM EUROPE.
ARRIVAL OF THE MAH STEAM SHIP UNION
Cotton is dull iu the Liverpool market, with an eighth
decline at the close. Sales tor the thr*e Java iiact
16,0''U bales, of which 4,tXX’ were taken bv sjaculator
and exporters. Manchester trade has declined slightly*
The oombardment of Sebastopol is Continued without
success. •Reintorcements for the allied force, c<>titis, u ,
to arrive rapidly. Preparation* t i a general a * u n
were complete, and were only awaiting ihe expected re.
infbrcemeuts, which were pouring in at the rate of*
thousand per dav. *
T’ue Russians were also being largely reinforced
The English government have called on the milim*
for volunteers, thereby indicating their deiermiitatioo ui
carry on a winter cuttipaigu.
The official details of the battle of the sth show the
English .oss to have been four generals and fifty-three
other officers killed, niuetv-six officers wounded aud
two thousand three hundred und fifty privates killed
wounded and missing. Among the wounded general*
were I.iprandi, and the Duke ol Cambridge.
Lord Raglan has been promoted to field marshal
It is suia Prince Gtu tschakoff has intimated to the
Austrian Cabinet a w illtngness on the part of Russia to
□ogotiate a peace on the basis formerly guaranteed
Despatches dated Sebastopol, 14th Nov., sta e that
both parties have completed their thud parallels ot a*,
sault and defence.
A Russian despatch says the allies have made a de
monstration against their lett Hank, under which the
Russians retreated.
Prince Napoleon left the camp, owing to continued ill
health.
Lord Palmerston was holding daily interviews with
the Fttuch Emperor toueniug foe progress ot affairs.
Lord I)udly htew&rt died at Stockholm on the 17th.
It i* reported that fourteen Russian war steamer*
recently made a reconnotsauce as tar as Dagoe, without
however, encountering any of the allied force*.
The steamer Union, with Havre dates to the 23d, ha*
arrived. Her advice* at e interesting, though of no very
great importance.
Elbot;om Returns op Illinois Complete,—The
Chicago Journal gives the following as the result of the
complete returu* trom the Senatorial and Kepi e*entativ
districts:
Senate. House. Joint ballot.
Whig and Anti-Nebraska... 14 48 6 1 )
Nebraska Democrats 11 29 40
Whigand Anti-Nebraska maj.3 17 20
W-o are the OtrtCE Holders.—ls the fo/Jow'ing
statement is correct, it will account, in some measure,
for the movements bung mode in different parts of the
country at this time:
\Ya*h 1 r-gton, Ik C. Amiricant. Fortiyner a
State Department 12 17
Treasury Depart incut 188 278
Department of the Interior... 339 500
Officers and agents in the ser
vice of the House of Rep*.. 10 40
Post Office Department 11 80
510 914
• Ministers and Consuls 151 103
(hast Survey 15 20
United state* Mint 25 12
Light House Board Inspectors 81 392
U. ti. Revenue Mariue Service 85 30
764 1484
The list of Custom House officers in the different
States, show 215 Americans, lso7 Foteiguers.— U,nu
i pint Eag.e.
\ Movements of Specie.—The following is an official
i report of vpecte exported from the district of New York
j from November le to Nov en.ber 25, ls>s4, inclusive.
Brig Marta, Aux Caves, specie $250 00
| Schooner Meutoia, jacmel, specie 9 9 <:6
j Brig Rebecca, Jacutel, A met Scan gold 1,964 00
1 Steamer Atlantic, Liverpool,
Cal. gold bars 61,6n7 90
Do do Pbila gold burs 138,528 10
Do do Cal. SSO pieces 60,000 00
L'o do English silver 2,693 40
| Total for the week $265,957 £7
j Previously reported in 1854 85,856,598 92
I Total for the year $85,922,566 2!)
I Oaring Robbery by Means of C'hiororortn.
The Augusta Constitutionalist of Saturday savs:
“We have read and heard of many daring robberies,
1 but we think none ot them will even bear a comparison
jto one which took place on the Georgia Rail load cars
[on Friday moriiing, between Canute aud Berzelia. As
j we leant. Col. J. W. M. Bern run, of Rome, and a portii a
of his faintly, were in the cars, on their w ay to thiscifr.
lie hail a large amount of money about iiis person, lie
was seated on the bock seat, his daughter and mother,
voting lady, a relative, were on the seat in front, slid
his son, an intelligent lad <d twelve or thirteen vesrsof
age, and a servant, occupied the third se.it. Belwttn
the two points abov e designated, the lamp near the Col
onel was extiitgushed. IJi> sin took notice of it, but
though it was done by the Conductor, or someone con
nect -d well the train. Shortly alter a s ranger took
b..-.se.t I y Colonel Berrien, and afier one convert-. •
lion, succeeded in administering 10 him Chloroform ut -
til he became insensible. He then cut the buttons olf
hts over coat extracted from his side pockt t a package
of bills, amounting to five thousand one hunured and
six'y dollars. Not content vvi.h ibis, he took from tb*
pamaloons pocket the Colonel's wallet, containing about
on.- tbonsand dollars.
Had he knowu that in the o.ber pocket of the pants
loon* there was a package coniairig S2OOO, he might
have taken thut also. The money stolen was mostly
South Carolina bills In the iurge package there wet*
twenty one hundred dollar bills aud some fifties.
Up to lost evening. Col. Berrien was laboring under
the effects of the chlorforin admins e ed. and was cou
tinned to hts bed all day As soon as he i- able, be
wiil publish a list of the bills stolen, aud be requests
us to state that he will pay a hundson t lewtttd tor the
recovtry of the money, or toe detection of the bold tob
ber.”
Financial Joking.—ln the range of financial joking
there are few better things than the tollowing.
“The Lafayette 1 Indiana 1 American is quae glorious
at the success of one of their shavingshopa, in legally
avoiding Ihe payment of its obligations. AMr Smith,
of this city, carpet-bag in hand culled down ou out of
these concerns with tfS.OoO of its patei, and asked for
the gold. The cashier assured hint that it wouid aflotd
the directory and hitnselt the greatest pleaauie imagin
able to accommodate the hill boldetsof theii institution
as far ae the law at out if, whereupon he opened the vault
and exhibited u very respectable pile ol gold, which he
said was I2j-j’ per cent, on their circulate.n, the precise
amount the law required them to kelp. He could not,
iheietoiv, spare any portion of it to Mr. riint h ni.hcut
violating the law, which plainly auu uuiquivocaily re
quired them to keep it.”
The Good Old Times !
The Connecticut paper (.the Middletown News) of the
17th inst., iu copying troni one ot the 7-by-9 journals of
“ye ancient times,” notices the difference between the
mail arrangements of 1786 aud those of the present
day ; than which uo oilier brancti of lucilities Seem to
convey a better idea of the projrese we are making, us a
fast people.
In September, 1786—little more than sixty-eight
years back the Bostmastei General ottered proposals tor
carrying the mails tot tiiey ear 17e7 Iroui Foi :lumi, (lie,)
io Savannah to the Siute ol Georgia. “ tu stage-cat 1 tages
if practicable.” This was the ouly post route then
established in this Country, except a tew “cross road”
routes leading from the ma.ti one to a tew of the prnui
meiK towrus —such as Concord, \N. H./ .Pittsburg, (Pa.;
Ac.
in those times Savannah wu> the town ol the South,
the terminus of all travel, by land or ocean, toward
these part*. _Tfie P. M. Genetal thought the iucoine
to his “ institution” would hardly be snduienl to defray
the expense of a mail ofieoer ttiau twice a w eek, bui Hie
“growing wants” ol the age set -tiled to require it to be
put through three rimes in stven days, tor ai leas: six
mom Its tu the year—aud it was so otleted in the pio
posals.
Now-a days, if Uncle Sam fails to dump his canvas
(•ouches at the door ol the Suv an nab post office entry
iiventy-funr hou/ t, we see the ueu- hei aided in the next
morning's papers, “No mail north ot C'harlei-ton yes
terday,” with some crusty remark about the “repeated
mail failures.” Ae.
Aud uow-a-duys, too, the mail route does not end at
Savannah ; that town is not now the stopping place
for all the stage-carriages that t u the mail. Its 11
were dinner house on the route to Caliiointu, a iuucu
house for the tiaveller to Ot egon, and hardly iu g"d
breakfast-time for the emigrant to Kansas or Ne**
Mexico I
And finally, to show that “ the g<od old times,” even
in Connecticut, ute not now us once they vvete. we dtp
tiie foil.,wing tiom among . e advertiseii ent* f V
it will show, among other thum*. whose lon fat bet*
were among the lire; iu tips country to introduce Ait,
can slavery—an institution which some of their (■-
t/liii>’ posterity now legat'd w.th indiguast hoiroi !
be sold, tor want of emplov, a Negro Man and
Woman, about So years of age, who cun be well rt com
mended. Also, a Negro Girl, about two and a half
years of age, and a Bov üboUi six months old. Cash,
Public Securities, or any Kind of Grain, will be recei
ved iu Payment. For further particulars enquire of
the l’ritilets ol this Paper.
Middletown, May 6ih, 17t>6.”
Alas aud alack! the good old times, and their good
old forefather*. — Caiuinuu* Enquirer.
X3T The following exe cii.ngh beau tit and piece of po
etrv we find iu an oid number of the Dublin University
Magazine:
Genius.
Far out at sea the sun wus high
Y 4 bile veer'd the w ind that happed the suil,
We saw a snow -white bullet tiv
Dauciug before the htiul gale—
Fur out at sea.
The little stranger, who bud lost
Hi* way, of danger nothing knew,
Settled awhile upon the masts
That fluttered o’er the waters blue—
Far out at sea.
Above there gleamed the boundless sky,
Beneath, the boundless ocean sheeu.
Between them danced the butteitiy,
The spirit life ia this vast scene—
Far cut al sta.
Away he sped, with skimmering glee,
Dim, indistinct, now seen, u<>w gone—
Night comes with wind and rain, und he
No more shall dance before the moon —
Far out at sea.
He dies unlike his mates 1 ween,
Perhaps uot sootier nor worse crossed;
Aud he hath felt, and known, und seen,
A huger iu* aud hope, though lost—
)twm
