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BY JAMES GARDNER. ♦ * MANUFACTURERS AND DEALERS IN mmm mu ©wnaara®, HATS, CAPS, TRUNKS, CARPET BAGS, VALISES. SHIRTS, CRAVATS, GLOVES, STOCKS, Ac. BOYS’ AND CHILDRENS’ CLOTHING, Wholesale and Retail, No. 215 Broad Street, T"'o doors above Messrs. John J' Thtmm* A. Boncss Hardware Store AUGUSTA, GEORGIA. ‘ ’ W * ’ E HAVE always on hand, a stock of CLOTHING, superior in quality aud make, which we w w will sell at the lowest cricks. Dealers in the City and Country will find il ut their advantage to call and examine, before purchas ing elsewhere. N. B. —Always on hand, a good assortment of CLOTHING, suitable for Servants. oc!3 ly JUST RECEIVED, Warp FLANNELS; Saxony do ; Welch ; do ; Real Welch do; Union do ; Low priced and super Red FLANNELS ; Green and Red Twilled do; Salsbury Flannel*, assorted colored for Sacks; English and domestic Canton FLANNELS, novlf _ J .P. SETZE. JUST RECEIVED, ANEW supply of Rich Cassimerea and Mus . liu DkLAINEs ; Real French M EH 1 NOES • Plain and Figured black SILKS ; French and Scotch (II NO HA MS, fancy col’d ; Lates styles French, English and Domestic PRINTS; Alexander's and other quality Kid CLOVES ; Ladies’ CORSETS ; Velvet and Galoon TRIMMINGS ; Moire Antique and Cloth CLOAKS. norlS ,1. P. SETZE. MORE it LACK SILK.- Just received, ut if M T. DUNHAM’S, successor to J. K. Bancroft, Extra Oil Boiled, for 75 cents per yard ; Fine Portintur make, for #1 to sl.l‘2.V£; Super. heav\ Gro do Rhine, for $1,115: Also, another lot of Moire Antiques, in black and ■ colors, for Cloaks, Ac. decl4 CIHRIST.II AS AND NEW YEAR’S V PRESENTS. -The subscribers have just re ceived a large assortment of beautiful Goods, snit ■ able for presents for the approaching season, viz : Cabas, or Reticules, i'ortfolios, Pearl and Silver Card Cases, Silver and Pearl Portmonaies, Wax Fruit, Satchels, Odor Boxes, of various styles. Jewel Boxes, Rosewood and Mahogany Writing Desks, Segar Cases, China an Papier Mache Ink stands, small China Tea and Dinner Setts, for Chil dren, and a variety of articles too numerous to mention. For sale at dec2,» GEO. A. OATES A BRO S., Broat-si. rjNIIE ESCAPED NOV ICE, from the Sis ■- terliood of St. Joseph, Enmiettsburg, Mary land the Mother-house ot the Sisters of CJiaritv In the United States ; hv Miss Bunklev. A Child's History of the United Stntea; by John Bonner, in 2 small volumes. Napoleon at St. Helena; by Abbott. Literal Translations of Caesar, Xenophon, Ana basis and Memorabilia, and Cicero’s Offices and Moral Works, for salebv decls TIIOS. RICHARDS A SON. fBNIIE ESCAPED NOVICE, from the Sis- M. terliood of St. Joseph, Enmiettsburg, Mary land the Mother-house of the Sisters of Charity in the United States; by Miss Bunklev. A Child’s History of the United State*; by John Bonner, in two small volumes. Napoleon at St. Helena ; by Abbott. Literary Translations of Caesar, Xenophon, Ana basis and Memorabilia, and Cicero’s Officers and Moral Works, for sale by deciO GEO. A. OATES A BRO. V RICHMOND COUNTY EIRE AND WA TER PROOF PAINT COMPANY. OFEER respectfully, to the public, their vari ous FI KEand WATER -PROOF PAIFTS, suit able for all kinds of Paintings, front the roughest to the most elaborate, such as all out-door buildings on Plantation, where it will be found a great sav ing to the owner, to finest use in the hands of the artist. They have taken the premiums at the late Fairs in Charleston, Augusta and Atlanta, and have the certificates of scientific men, for the un questionable superiority of these Paints. They have now a stock of the various colont of Paints on hand, and orders will he promptly atte ud ed to, by addressing W. R. SCHIRJIER. General Agent, August! i. Agents in the principal cities wanted. Augusta, Ga.,29th Sept. ts sepCO Beautiful holiday goods;.— WARD, BURCH ARD A CO. have recently received many beautiful Goods, suitable for the present and approaching gift season, such as J cwel t’ASKKTS. Odor STANDS, Cigar STAND S, Jet BRACELETS, Decorated GLASS, Toilet VKTI t'LES. BISQUE FIGURES, elegant CLOAK,S and TALMAS. Dress SILKS, beautiful Enibri tidered COLLARS. HANDKERCHIEFS and SETTS, in Lace and Needlework. To which they resj leefullv ask attention. de els GARDEN SEED, 1855. CROP [11855. OUR SUPPLY of warranted fresh SEED. has just come to hand. They are from the most reliable Seed grown in the country, and are all fresh, not a paper of old Seed being on Hand. nov37 I). 1L PLUMB & CO. HV Rl’l’R’S >1 YGAZINE, for Ja mmry, . leaves cut; and Harper’s Story Book, No. i-1 English History. For sale bv ■'••••-’. ' THOS. RICHARDS A. son. ■>Ht SH US. A "large assortment of Fine I . 9 Hair, Tooth, Nail and Shaving BIfcUSHES, just received. decl6 _ HAYILAND, RISLE Y A CO. f IRYMTK MILLS I LOUR. -1500 bags 7" Superfine-, Son barrels do. flat hoop, in tine shipping order. For sale by <feci ’’ _ LEWIS A. ALLEN. -t" boxes Ot good medium TO ■ BA( tO, just received, and for sale at , ~ O. VOLGER’S decll Segaj- and T abacco Store. RHETT & ROBSON IN ACTORS AND COMMISSION V tFV CHANTS. No.’s hxjti Anui VHarlettm, -V C. Liberal advances made on f,,n signments. Special attention given to the sals of Wheat Flour. Corn, Ac., ana from our long experience in *> the business, we feel confident of giving satisfae tion. 'l Refhmxchs.— Hon. J. P. King, Augusta, Hon. M. A. Cooper, Etowah, Georgia; Ftund, Williams A \( ilcox, Wiley Banks & Co., Charleston, jyl 6 m tlQl OKs, W INE AND ( ORDIALS.— A 50 bbls. Gibson's Superfine Eagle WHISKY; So bbls. Gibson's superfine Old Rre 50 *• Rectified " “ SO “ Rose GIN; 2<t •• New England RUM; lo •• Santa Crox ami Jamaica RUM; 15 . and h casks of Cognac BRANDY; 10 bbls. Malaga WINE; 1" “ Port, Madeira and Tenneriffe WINE. UTsale ty dec-16 A. STEVENS. fIjSEGARS AND TOBACCO. v sEGARS, of different brands ; 70 boxes of choice TOBACCO. For sale ' v A. STEVENS. 15" boxes extra Old Nectar WHISKY ; 7.', '* ’’ " Cognac BRANDY; 7 assorted CORDIALS ; u ’’ Port aud Madeira WINES; \ it t op,,,™" 1011 PEPPER. Ground GINGER GUiV nwvvv 4 ,;!’ with “ ™ r >etr of TEAS. SU n?' S PICKLES, (’AT **lebv U > PEPPER-SAUCE, Ac. •For A. STEVENS. O* bXuBUTTER; • bbls prime Eating po T ntTi -> - ONIONS; ‘AHfriS; 5 '0 bushels Stock PE A.S ■ . . “ White BEANS % b - T J- A. ANSLEY dee'* and Produce M«-ehaiu_ In cfbc £la l lij Constitutionalist. J. N. FREEMAN, OPPOSITE PLANTERS HOTEL. AUGUSTA GA RESPECT Fl’ LLYinvites theatten- gfSf Hon of bis friends, and the public in W7h general, to bis new stock of fine GOLDcfe..S» and SIL\ ER WATCH MS ; elegant and laknutmT ole Jewelry ; a lull assortment of Silver SPOONS FORKS, GOBLETS, CUPS, Ac. The quality of the Stiver warranted as pure as any sold. Fine Plated Goods ; GUNS, and'PISTOLS • all descriptions of ( LOCKS, Gold, Silver, Steef and Plated SPECTACLES, to .suit all ages and sights • a large assortment of Gold PENS ami CASES* Great inducements offered to cash mu-chasers CLOCKS, WATCHES and JEWELRY repaired with the utmost care aud attention. 6m sept 23 THE SIGN OP THE two LARGE WATCHES 0! WATCHES, CLOCKS, i r \\ AN '' > At .Vu c ) orlc prices, far Cash. and Dealers will do well to Jfß call and examine the stock of WATCHES CLOCKS and JEWELRY, at 24!i King street, be fore they purchase elsewhere. Every article war ranted. A stock alway* on hand peculiarly adapted to country dealers. Save twenty per cent, bv calling on \VM. MASTERMAN, 249 King street, Charleston, _ _____ four doors from Wentworth-st. OSBORNE & WHITLOCK, J f;.5 E I,E R S A.V D O PTIC IA X S ‘ n^er f - s - Hotel, Augusta, Ga. IS Inconstantly on hand a fine assort- HH men tof WATCHES; (’LO<’KS • JEWELRY . SILVER and PJ,ATEI)d&; J| \\.\lvE; bA S ( GOODS and PERFUM jyk \ . Just received, some very tine Watches, manufac tured to order, and some of T. F. Cooper’s superior tune keepers, in Magic Cases. Fine Diamond 1 ms of beautiful designs; Fob and Vest [Chains, oi new patters, and a general assortment of the finest and and .most fashionable Fins, Ear-rings, i>t acelets, Ac., which we offer at the lowest prices possible, wholesale < r retail. In the Optical line, \vc are well supplied with whatever kind of Class the defects of vision may require, and we are pre pared to tit them with as much accuracy as’anv me chanical art can be executed. Come and teat, the fact. WATCH AND .UJWKLRY REPAIRING. V e siil have the services of two superior Work men—a Watchmaker and Jeweller all of whose work we warrant. febi-t FINE WATCHES AND RICH JEW KIVRV. r ■ 113 I! luidersigued respectful!v requests iSSI -M. the public to give him a call and ex amine his stock of tine WATCHES, < LOCKS, rich DIAMONDS and other JEW l.t.Ki in great variety, feeling satisfied that thev must be pleased with his goods and prices. F. A. BRAHE B.—He gives his own personal attention to tlie repairing of Watches and Jewelry. declS FASHIONABLE MILLINERY. HISS MAT 1 HEWS begs to inform the Ladies’ of Augusta and Hamburg that she has returned from New York, a select stock of Paris Mll. LI .VERY; also, CLOAKS DRESS TRIMMINGS, FANCY GOODS VICTO RIANS’and CUFFS, FIRMIN', SWANS DOWNS Ac., Ac. Miss M. has spent three months at the North, and secured the latest and most desirable Patterns, and is therefore prepared to make to order Bonnets and Head Dresses, at the old stand, opposite the Planters’ Hotel, and next to Beall A Stovall’s. 15.--Miss MATTHEWS has Wreaths for the Hair, worth from fifty cents to ten dollars each. _»«'! ‘ ' 3m* COPARTNERSHIP NOTICE. UHTII E undersigned have entered into a copart , net-shin, tinder the name and style of REEI) A O’DONOItOE, for the purpose of transacting a GENERAL GROCERY AND PROVISION BUSI XESS in all its branches, and respectfully solicit the patronage ot their friends and public generally, at tin* stand, on the North side of Broad street, two doors above the Planters’ Hotel. JERRY REEI), JAMES O’DONOIIOE. Augn ta, Get, , . 855. 3m oc2 NOTICE. fg 1151' undersigned respectfully informs the B public, that he G prepared to do all kinds of CARPENTERS, W ORK, in good style, and on fa vorable terms. All orders left at the store of J. P. SETZE, will he promptly attended to. march* C. E- CHARLTON.. NEW MARBLE YARD, BROAD-STREET, A T IUSTA, GA., .1 jew dtXfr* above the Hr vs liank Building. 1811111 subscriber has i ned a new Marble B Yard m this city, whet' every description of MARBLE WORK will be neatly executed to order, principally Sepulcheral Monument s, from the plain est to the most elaborate in style. Particular at tention given to correct Lettering, and Sculpture in the highest style of the art. A tine selection of TOMBSTONES will always be kept on hand, as also a fine collection of Draw ings, which will enable him to suit the wishes of customers. Orders are solicited from the city and country, which will tie promptly tilled, and at reasonable prices. ‘ T. MAKKVALTER. HATS, STRAW GOODS AND BON NETS AT WHOLESALE. BIHI2 subscriber would respectfully call the at- B tent ion of merchants to his large and well i I selected -took of HATS, STRAW GOODS and BONNETS, comprising every variety that can he toitud at auy house at the north, and at prices that caunot fail to please. As his Goods are purchased t-im the manufacturers, and no second profits paid, . as we ask to convince merchants visiting our mar s »t .or that lfavo contemplated going further, is to can and examine the stock, which w ill be freely '.D'-wu, at WM. M. NICHOLS, 1 Qpposite Bank of Augusta. j ; MACHINE AND BLACKSMITH SHOP, ! • fr ‘. r ‘, j gs ll 'atkins Streets. At GL’STA. GEORGIA Am *' l I-H, ManufacturerofSteam MDI< ‘ i i BOIU:KS ' MILLS. Grist I .MIL!,. Ac., tty now- prepared to manufacture or repair any article ». hi* line.« short notice, and ! of .superior workmanship. Fr„m Ins long experi- I ence andpract. el knoul-dge. us well as to his in- ! creased facilities for doing work with neatness and ! dispatch, he lech- eon idem m mvmg satisfaction I to all who may favor him with their orders novl4 ' ts ! : if i:i>H IXECUKSTS. - A xTJi. ful assortment for Plantations, Family or i Physician’s use. nov27 D. 15. PLUMB & (•'(> YD II TO filil)UK. Fliave thm davTe- , if B ueived a new supply of Bovs’ blue colored j and black (Toth JACKET'S and PANTS, besides ■ j many other kinds of Fashionable Ready made Gar \ ! meats, for Gentlemen’s wear, which 1 still offer for sale on the most reasonable terms. . ! »0v27 _ J. J. CLAYTON. ONi COIV’SKINMENT—IOO barrels fresh Ro sendale Hydraulic CEMENT, for sale. Apply J to ' JOHN CASHIN, ' | decl4 General Commission Merchant. OX CONSIGNMENT—I ,tXK) pounds choice VENISON H A MS, for sale. Apply to JOHN CASHIN, | dec!4 General Commission Merchant. bbls. Irish POTATOES, will be sold low. to close consignment.' j docli THOS. P. STOVALL A CO. AUGUSTA, GA., THURSDAY MOItX 1 N(;. ,! .VNIAKV 3, 1856. Business Curbs, J. J. MARTIN, ATTORNEY AT LAW, Augusta, Ga. Of fice corner of Campbell and Greene-streets. M ill attend to the collection of claims in Edgefield, Abbeville and Barnwell Districts, South Carolina. dec2B dacly LUTHER C. ROLL. Attorney at law, office on Wash . ington street, between Broad and Ellis streets, Augusta, Ga. ly oc7 COL. JOS’ LAWTON SINGLETON, ATTORNEY AT LAW, Sylvania, Scriven county, Georgia. apS ly WILLIAM R. McLAWS, Attorney at law, ( ' nnrnissioner of . New York, Virginia, North and South Caro lina. Office, Clayton’s new building, opposite his old office, Washington street, will attend promptly to applications for Bounty Laud under the late acts of Congress. apt J. B. HAYNE. Attorney and counsellor at . Law, Waynseboro’, Burke county, Georgia. Practices in the Middle Circuit. Jeb‘23 ly GEORGE T. BARNES, ATTORNEY AT LAW, Augusta, Geor gia, may be found, for the present, at the of fieof Col. John Milledge, over (I. \Y. Lewis’Store. feb‘2s ly UNDERWOOD & SMITH, ATTORNEYS AT LAW, Rome, Georgia, will practice in Cherokee Georgia and North Alabama. ly jan2l HENRY J. LANG, ATTORNEY AT LAW, Lincolnton, Geor gia, will practice in Lincoln, Wilkes und Co lumbia Counties. All business entrusted to him will receive prompt attention. feb2 JOHN S. SALE, ATTORNEY AT LAW, Augusta, Georgia. . Office one door above State Bank. feb2 J.V KING & SWINT, ATTORNEYS AT LAW,BarnesrilleGeor gia. Having associated themselves in the practice of LAW, will attend punctually to all bu siness entrusted to their professional management. THOS. D. KINO. | SOSEI'I SWINT. janly ly WILLIAM A. REID. Attorney at law, Eatonton Geor- I . gia. Refers to Hon. F. 11. Conk, Greensboro’, septs ts WAItCI'S A. BELL. MARGKXIUS A. BELL. j BELL & BRO., ATTORNEY AT LAW, Atlanta, Geor- ! . gia, w ill give strict attention to business en-I trusted to their professional care. Conveyancing i and Collecting done with correctness, vigilance and i fidelity. Office in Granite Front Building, opposite ! the Holland House. Cm nov29 WILLIAM J. WILCHER, Attorney at law, w arrenton, Geor- | . gia, will practice in the Northern Circuit of ; Georgia, and in the couuties of Burke, Columbia, j Jefferson, Richmond and Washington, of the Mid- j die Circuit. nov22 6in MACKENZIE & LAWSON, ATTORNEY AT LAW, Waynesboro’, . Burke county, Georgia, will practice in Burke, iScriven, Jefferson, Washington, Tattnall, Mont gomery, Emanual ami Richmond counties. AI.KAANDKR MACENZIE, JOHN F. LAWSON. OCo LAW NOTICE. SUAVE taken the office on Broad street, over Dr*. Barry & Butter's Drug Store, w here I will 1 be found in future, and practice on my own account. decU ly GARLAND A. SNEAD. SAMUEL P. THURMOND, ATTORNEY AT LAW, Jefferson, Geor- j gia, will practice in the Western Circuit. All j business confided to his cure w ill meet with prompt j attention. febl7 j PHINIZY & CLAYTON, «rAßi:nousi; and commission i w w MERCHANTS, Augusta, Georgia. A CARD. POULLAIN, JENNINGS A CO. -GRO CERS AND COMMISSION MERCHANTS.! A ugusfa, Georgia. ANTOINE foru.A IN, | THOM AS S. JENNINGS, j ISAIAH fUH.SE. J. J. JACOBUS, Attorney at law, Augusta, g«. of fice on Broad street, over Chew’s Store. uov2s lv ALEXANDER POPE, Jit. 1 JOHN U. WEEMS. POPE & WEEMS, Attorneys at law, Washington, ■ . Ga., will practice in the counties of the North- : era Circuit, and in Columbia of the Middle Circuit, j All business entrusted to them will receive prompt | ; attention. ly jy29 SLOAN & CALWELL, IMPORTERS AND WHOLESALE DEAL ; 1 HRS in BRANDIES, WINES, GIN, SHGABS, ; Ac., AW. 17 and 19 C'haipside, Baltimore. Chas. A. Dennis. ly jyl2 WM. M. DAVIDSON, IMPORTER AND DEALER in BRANDIES, JL GIN, ALBANY ALE, CHAMPAGNE, and oth- ; er Wines and Liquors, Teas, Segars, Ac., Aon. 188 j Congress and s7 St. dulien-stSavannah Ga. mv23 die LAW NOTICE. rarilE undersigned will practice LAW and ! 8 EQUITY, in Co-partnership, from this dute using the firm name of Wage Kit a Rogers. In j criminal business, their practice will remain sepn- j rate, as heretorfore. Office, north west corner of Broad and Washing- j ton streets. EDWARD J. WALKER, | ALPHEUS M. RODGERS. Augusta, Sept. Bth, 1855. ts sept 9 EDWARD F. KINCHLEY, PRODUCE AND COMMISSION HER CHANT, and dealers in CORN, WHEAT, ; BACON, FLOCK, O Cl’S. Ac., Ao. 7 Warren Block, \ 1 Augusta, Ga. Particular ateention given to the sale of all | consignments. sept". LAMBETH HOPKINS, 117AREIIOUSE AND COMMISSION MKR- j V w CHANT, Augusta Georgia., Continue* the business in all its departments, i sep3o 6m j. W. GOSS, W A REHOUSE AND COMMISSION MER- W CHANT, Augusta, Georgia., Will be found at the extensive Fire-Proof Ware- I house of L. Hopkins. die jyl-3 LINTON 9TBPHENS. R. M. JOHNSTON. STEPHENS & JOHNSTON, ATTORNEYS AT LAW, Sparta, Georgia, J will practice in the counties of Hancock, ; Warren, Taliaferro, Oglethore and Wilkes, of the ! Northern ; Greene, Putnam and Morgan, of the I Oglethorpe; and Washington and Richmond, of the ; Middle Circuits. decl D. R. STANFORD & CO,. Manufacturers of the stodart ; PIANO FORTE. 501 Broadway, New York, j ADAM STODART, I G. A. MOEBIS, i t>. R. STANFORD, | G. H. GRIB. Manufactories, Nos. 15, 17, 19 and 21 Tenth st., : between sth and Bth A vs., and 34th and 35th sts., 1 ’ between Bth and 9th Avs. se Pts d&cßm ANDREWS & JESUP, 1 COMMISSION MERCHANTS—COTTON i V AND WOOLEN MACHINERY. Steam En gines and Boilers, Machinists’ Tools Belting, . ; Importer* and dealers in Manufacturers' Ar tv r‘ ty i 67 Pin * Sireet ' j for the "Woodruff & Beach Iron ; \V orks Meam Engines and Boilers. Exclusiye Agency in New York for “ Lowell ; Machine Shcqi' Machiniats' Tools oeß \ Y President’s Message. | Felloic citizens of the Senate and of the House of Representatives : | The constitution of the United States provides I that Congress shall assemble annually on the first | Monday of December, and it has been usual for the I President to make no communication of a public ; character to trie Senate and House of Representa | fives until advised of their readiness to receive it. ! ! bane deferred to this usage until the close of the first month ot the session, but my convictions of duty will not permit me longer to postpone the discharge of the obligation enjoined by the consti tution upon the President “to give to the Congress information of the state of the Union, and recom mend to their consideration such measures as he j shall judge necessary and expedient.” It is matter of congratulation that the Republic is tranquilly advancing in a career of prosperity and peace. FOREIGN' RELATION'S. —CENTRAL AMERICA* Whilst relations’'of amity continue to exist be tween the United States and all foreign powers, with some of them grave questions are depending’ which may require the consideration of Congress. Os such questions, the most important is that, | which has arisen out of the negotiations with Great 1 Britain in reference to Central America. By the convention concluded between the two governments on the 19th of April, 1850, both par ties coyenented, that “neither will ever’’ “occupy, or fortify, or colonize, or assume or exercise any dominion over, Nicaragua, Costa Itica, the Mosqui to coast, or any part of Central America.” It was the undoubted understanding of the Uni ted States, in making this treaty, that all the pre sent States of the former republic of Central Ame rica, and the entire territory of each, would thenceforth enjoy complete independence; and j that both contracting parties engaged equally, and to the same extent, for the present and for the fu ture ; that if either then had any claim of right in Central America, such claim, and all occupation or authority under it, were unreservedly relinquished by the stipulations of the Convention ; and that no dominion was thereafter to be exercised or as sumed in any part of Central America, by Great Britain or the United States. This government consented to restrictions in re gard to a region of country, wherein we had spe citie and peculiar interests, only upon the convic tion that the like restrictions were in the same sense obligatory on Great Britain. But for this un ; derstanding of the force and effect of the Conven j tion, it would never have been concluded by us. j So clear was this understanding on the part of i the United States, that in correspondence content i poraueous with the ratification of the convention, it | was distinctly expressed, that the mutual r'we nants of non-oecupation were not intended to ap- j ply to the British establishment at the Bali/e. j This qualification is to be ascribed to the fact, that, in virtue of successive treaties with previous sov ereigns of the country, Great Britain had obtained a concession of the right to cut mahogany or dye woods at the Balize, but with positive exclusion of all domain or sovereignty; and thus it confirms the natural construction and understood import of ! the trcatv as to all the rest of the region to which j the stipulations applied. It, however, became apparent, at an early day | after entering upon the discharge of my present functions, that Great Britain still continued in the | exercise or assertion of large authority in all that j part of Central America commonly called the j Musquito coast, and covering the entire length of ; the State of Nicaragua, and a part of Costa Rica; that she regarded the Balize as her absolute do main, and was gradually extending its limits at the expense of the State of Honduras ; and that she had formally colonized a considerable insular group known as the Bay Islands, and belonging, of right to that State. All these acts or pretensions of Great Britain, being contrary to the rights of the States of Cen tral America, and to the manifest tenor of her stip ulations with the United States, as understood by this government, have been made the subject of negotiation through the American Minister in Lon don. 1 transmit herewith the instructions to him on the subject, and the correspondence betweeu him and the British Secretary for Foreign Affairs, by which you will perceive that the two govern- j meets differ widely and irreconcileably as to the j construction of the convection, and its effects on : their respective relations to Central America. Great Britain so construes the Convention, as to i maintain unchanged all her previous pretensions J over the Mosquito coast, and in different parts of : Central America. These pretensions, as to the | Mosquito coast, are founded on the assumption of I political relation between Great Britain and the j remnant of a tribe of Indians on that coast, enter- j ed into at a time when the whole country was a j • colonial possession of Spain. It cannot be success- ! fullv controverted, that, bv the public law of Eu rope and America, no possible act of such Indians j or their predecessors could confer on Great Britain any political rights. Great Britain does not allege the assent of Spain j as the origin of her claims on the Mosquito coast. She hits, on the contrary, by repeated and succes sive treaties, renounced and relinquished all pre tensions of her own, and recognized the full sov ereign rights of Spain in the most unequivocal terms. Vet these pretensions, so without solid ( foundation in the beginning, and thus repeatedly abjured, were, at a recent period, revived by Great J Britain against the Central American States, the ; legitimate successors to till the ancient jurisdiction of Spain in that region. They were first applied only to a defined part of t lie coast of Nicaragua, afterwards to the whole of its Atlantic coast, and last 1v to a part of the coast of Costa Rica; and , they are now reasserted to this extent, notwith standing engagements To the United States. On the eastern coast of Nicaragua and Costa Rica, the interference of Great Britain, though ex- j erted at one time in the form of military occupa tion of the port of Situ Juan del Norte, then in the peaceful possession of the appropriate authorities j of the Central American States, is now presented , by her as the rightful exercise of a protectorship over the Mosquito tribe of Indians. But the establishment at the Balize, now reach- • ing far beyond its treaty limits into the State of ' f Honduras, and that of the Bay Islands, appertain- ! iug of right to the same State, are us distinctly co- , ionial governments as those of Jamaica or Canada, and therefore contrary to the very letter as well as ■ the spirit of the Convention with the United States, , as it was at the time of ratification, and now is, ’ understood by this government. The interpretation which the British government, thus in assertion and act, persists in ascribing to the Convention, entirely changes its character. While it holds us to all obligations, it in a great measure releases Great Britain from those, which constituted the consideration of this government for entering into the Convention. It is impossible, \ in tnv judgment, for the United States to acquiesce in such a construction of the respective relations of the two governments to Central America. To a renewed call by this government upon Great Britain, to abide by, and carry into effect, the stip ulations of the convention according to its obvious import, by withdrawing from the possession or I colonization of portions of the Central American j States of Honduras, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica, j the British government has at length replied, as- j tinning that the operation of the treaty is prospec- j tive only, and did not require Great Britain to aban don or contract any possessions held by her in ; Central America at the date of its conclusion. This reply substitutes a partial issue, in the place of the general one presented by the United j States. The British government passes over the i question of the rights of Great Britain, real or ! supposed, in Central America, and assumes that ! she had such rights at the date of the treaty, and | that those rights comprehended the protectorship i of the Mosquito Indian-, the extended jurisdiction i and limits of the Balize, and the colony of the Bay ! Islands, and thereupon proceeds by implication to I infer, that, if the stipulations of the treaty be mere- j ]y future in effect, Great Britain may still continue : to hold the contested portions of Central America. : The United States cannot admit either the infer- i ence or the premises. We steadily deny, that, at: the date of£the treaty. Great Britain lmJ any pos sessions there other than the limited and peculiar j establishment at the Balize, and maintain that, if : she had any, they were surrendered by the conven- j tion. This government, recognizing the obligations of i the treaty, has of course, desired to set' it executed i in good faith by both parties, and in the discussion, I therefore, has not looked to rights, which we might | assert, independently of the treaty, in considera- I i tion of our geographical position and of other cir- | ; eumstances, which create for us relations to the j Central American States, different from those of! any government of Europe. The British government, in its last communiea ’ tion, although well knowing the views of the 1 : United States, still declares that it sees no reason j whv a conciliatory spirit may not enable the two governments to overcome all obstacles to a satis factory adjustment of the subject. Assured of the correctness of the construction i of the treaty constantly adhered to by this govern ment, and resolved to insist on the rights of the j United States, yet actuated also by the same desire, : which is avowed by the British government, to re - move all causes of’ serious misunderstanding be tween two nations associated by so many ties of 1 interest and kindred, it has appeared to me proper I not to consider an amicable solution of the con troversy hopeless. ; There is, however, reason to apprehend, that, with Great Britain in the actual occupation of the disputed territories, and the treaty therefore prac tically null, so far as regards our rights, this inter national difficulty cannot long remain undeterm ined, without involving in serious danger the friendly relations, which it is the interest as well as the duty of both countries to cherish and preserve, i It will afford me sincere gratification, if future es- ; forts shall result in the success, anticipated hereto- j fore with more confidence than the aspect of the i case permits nte now to entertain. RECRUITMENT. j One other subject of discussion between the 1 United States and Great Britain has grown out of j the attempt, which the exigencies of the war in which she is engaged with Russia induced her to make, to draw recruits from the United States. I *• 1 j 1 »• .1 lt is the traditional and settled policy of the United States to maintain impartial neutrality du ring the wars, which from time to time occur among the great powers of the world. Perform ing all the duties of neutrality towards the respec tive belligerent states, we may reasonably expect them not to interfere with our lawful enjoyment of its benefits. Notwithstanding the existence of such hostilities, our citizens retain the individual right to continue all their accustomed pursuits, by land or by sea, at home or abroad, subject only to such restrictions in this relation, us the laws of war, the usage of nations, or special treaties, may impose; and it is our sovereign right that our territory and jurisdiction shall not be invaded by either of the belligerent parties, for the transit of their armies, the operations of their fleets, the levy of troops for their service, the fitting out of cruisers by or against either, or any other act or incident of war. And these undeniable rights of neutrality, individ ual and national, the United States will under no circumstances surrender. In pursuance of this policy, the laws of the United States do not forbid their citizens to sell to either of the belligerent powers articles, contra band of war, or to take munitions of war or sol diers on board their private ships for transporta tion ; and although, in so doing, the individual citizen exposes his property or person to some of the hazards of war, his acts do not involve any breach of national neutrality, nor of them selves implicate the government. Thus, during the progress of the present war in Europe, our cit izens, without national responsibility therefor, sold gunpowder and arms to all buyers, regardless of the destination of those articles. Our merchant men have been, and still continue to be, largely employed by Great Britain and by France, in ; transporting troops, provisions and munitions of j war to the principal seat of military operations, I and in bringing home their sick and wounded sol |diers; but such use of our mercantile marine is j not interdicted either bv the international, or by our municipal law, and therefore does not com prornit our neutral relations with Russia. But our municipal law, in accordance with the law of nations, peremptorily forbids, not only for ; eigners, but our own citizens, to fit out, within the ; limits of the United Suites, a vessel to commit hos j tilities against any state with which the United [ States are at peace, or to increase the force of any foreign armed vessel intended for such hostilities against a friendly state. Whatever concern may have been felt by either of the belligerent powers lest private armed crui sers, or other vessels, in the service of one, might be tilted out in the ports of this country to depre date on die property of the other, all such fears have proved to be utterly groundless. Our citizens have been withheld from any such act or purpose by good faith, and by respect for the law. While the laws of the Union are thus perempto ry in their prohibition of the equipment or arma ment of belligerent cruisers in our ports, tliev pro vide not less absolutely that no person shall, with in the territorv or jurisdiction of the United States, enlist or enter himself, or hire or retain another person to enlist or enter himself, or to go beyond the limits of jurisdiction of the United States with intent to be enlisted or entered, in the service of any foreign state, either as a soldier, or as a marine or seamen on board of any vcssel-of-war, letter of marque, or privateer. And these enactments are ulso in strict conformity with the law of nations, which declares, that no slate has the right to raise troops for land or sea service in another state with out its consent, and that, whether forbidden by llie municipal law or not, the verv attempt to do it, without such consent, is an attack on the national sovereignty. Such being the public rights and the municipal law of the United Slates, no solicitude on the sub ject was entertained by this government, when a year since, the British Parliament passed an act to provide for the enlistment of foreigners in the mil itary service of Great Britain. Nothing on the face of the act, or in its public history, indicated that the British government proposed to attempt recruitment in the United States ; nor did it ever give intimation of such intention to this govern ment. It was matter of surprise, therefore, to and subsequently, that the engagement of persons within the United States to proceed to Halifax, in the British province of Nova Scotia, and there en list in the service of Great Britain, was going on extensively, with little or no disguise. Ordinary legal steps were immediately taken to arrest and , punish parties concerned, and so put an end to acts infringing the municipal law and derogatory to our sovereignty. Meanwhile suitable representa tions on the subject were addressed to the British government. Thereupon it became known, by the admission of the British government itself, that the attempt t to draw recruits from this country originated with it, or at least had its approval and sanction ; but it ' also appeared that the public agents engaged in it had "stringent instructions” not to violate the J municipal law of the United States. It is difficult to understand how it should have been supposed that troops could be raised by Great Britain, without violation of the municipal law. The unmistakable object of the law was to prevent every such uot. which, if performed, must be either in violation of the law, or in studied evasion of it; and, in either alternative, the act done would be alike injurious to the sovereignty of the United ■ States. ( In the meantime, the matter acquired additional t importance, by the recruitments in the United States not being discontinued, and the disclosure of the fact that they were prosecuted upon a sys tematic plan devised by official authority ; that re- ! eruiting rendezvous had been opened in our prin cipal cities, and depots for the reception of recruits established on our frontier; and the whole busi ness conducted under the supervision and by the ! regular co-operation of British officers, civil and ‘ military, some in the North American provinces, and some in the United States. The complicity of those officers in an undertak ing, which could only be accomplished by defying our laws, throwing suspicion over our attitude of neutrality, and disregarding our territorial rights, is conclusively proved by the evidence elicited on the trial of such of their agents as have been ap prehended and convicted Some of the officers thus implicated are of high official position, and many of them beyond our jurisdiction, so that le gal proceedings could not reach the source of the j mischief. : These considerations, and the fact, that the cause | of complaint was not a mere casual occurrence, but | a deliberate design, entered upon with full knowl : edge of our laws and national policy, and conduct j ed by responsible public functionaries, impelled 1 me to present the case to the British government, I in order to secure, not only a cessation of the l wrong, but its reparation. The subject is still un j der discussion, the result of which will he commu | nicated to you in due time. j I repeat the recommendation submitted to the I last Congress, that provision be made for the ap ! pointmeni of a commissioner, in connexion with ; Great Britain, to survey and establish the bounda- t ! rv line, which divides the Territory of Washington j : from the contiguous British possessions. By rea- j ! son of the extent and importance of the country in : 1 dispute, there has been imminent danger of co'His -1 ion between the subjects of Great Britain and the ! citizens of the Inited States, including their res i pective authorities in that quarter. The prospect j of a speedy arrangement has contributed hitherto j to induce on both sides forbearance to assert bv I force what each claims as a right. Con ■ tinuance of delay on the part of the two govern- i 1 ments to act in the matter will increase the dangers j ! and difficulties of the controversy. Misunderstanding exists as to the extent, chardc : ter, and value of the possessory rights of the Hud- j I son’s Bay Company and the property of the Pu- ; ■ get’s Sound Agricultural Company, reserved in our . : treaty with Great Britain relative to the Territory > !of Oregon. I have reason to believe that a cession j of the rights of both companies to the United I States, which would he the readiest means ofter- j minuting all questions, can he obtained on reason- | : able terms; and, with a view to this end, I pre- i sent the subject to the attention of Congress. i The colony of Newfoundland, having enacted ; i the laws required by the treaty of the sth of June, j | 1854, is now placed on the same footing, in respect | : to commercial intercourse with the United States, : as the other British North American provinces. The commission, which that treaty contempla ted. for determining the rights of fishery in rivers and mouths of rivers on the coasts of the United ; States and the British North American provinces, j has been organized and has commenced its labors; I to complete which there is needed further appro priations for the service of another season. SOUS'D DUES. In pursuance of the authority, conferred bv a ! resolution of the Senate of the United States pass ed on the 3d of March last, notice was given to | on the 14th day of April, of the inten | tion of th'is government to avail itself of the stipu i lation of the subsisting Convention of friendship, | commerce, and navigation between that Kingdom ; and the United States, whereby either party might, i after ten years, terminate the same at the expira ! tion of one year from the data of notice for that ■ purpose. The considerations, which led me to call the at- ! tention of Congress to that Convention, and in duced the Seuate to adopt the resolution referred to, still continue in full force. The Convention contains an article, which, although it does not di | rectly engage the United States to submit to the imposition of toils on the vessels and cargoes of Americans passing into and from th.) Baltic sea, during the continuance of the treaty, yet may, by possibility, be construed us implying such sub mission. The exaction of those tolls not being justified by any principle of international law, it became the right and the duty of the United States to relieve themselves from the implication of en gagement on the subject, so as to be perfectly free to act in the premises in such way as their public interests and honor shall demand. I remain of the opinion that the United States ought not to submit to the payment of the Sound dues, not so much because of their amount, which is a secondary matter, hut because it is in effect the recognition of the right of Denmark to treat one of the great maritime highways of nations as a closed sea, and the navigation of it as a privilege for which tribute may he imposed upon those who have occasion to use it. This government, on a former occasion not un like the present, signalized its determination to maintain the freedom of the seas, and of the great natural channels of navigation. The Barbary States had, for a long time, coerced the payment of tribute from all nations, whose ships frequented the Mediterranean. To the last demand of such { payment made by them, the United States, al though suffering less by their depredations than many other nations, returned the explicit answer, that we preferred war to tribute, amt thus opened the way to the relief of the commerce of the world from an ignominious tax, so long submitted to by the more powerful nations of Europe. If the manner of payment of the Sound dues differ from that of the tribute formerly conceded to the Barbary States, still their exaction" by Denmark has no better foundation in right. Each was, in its origin, nothing hut a tax on a commdh natural right, extorted by those who were at that time able to obstruct the free and secure enjoyment of it, hut who no longer possess that power. Denmark, while resisting our assertion of the freedom of the Baltic Sound and Belts, has indi cated a readiness to make some new arrangement on the subject, and has invited the governments interested, including the United States, to he re presented in a convention to assemble for the pur pose of receiving and considering a proposition, i which she intends to submit, for the capitalization of the Sound dues, and the distribution of the sum < to he paid as commutation among the govern- t merits, according to the respective proportions of < their maritime commerce to and from the Baltic. ] I have declined, in behalf of the United States, to I accept this invitation for the most cogent reasons. ] One is, that Denmark does not offer to submit to the convention the question of her right to levy the Sound dues. A second is, that, if the convention i were allowed to take cognizance of that particular question, still it would not he competent to deal i with the great international principle involved : which affects the right in other cases of navigation < and commercial freedom, as well as that of access i to the Baltic. Above all, by the express terms of the proposition it is contemplated, that the consid eration of the Sound dues shall he commingled with, aud made subordinate to a matter wholly - extraneous, the balance of power among the gov ernments of Europe. While, 1 unvever, rejecting this proposition, and ! i insisting on the right of free transit into aud from i the Baltic, l have expressed to Denmark a willing- ] ness, on the part ot the United States, to share i liberally with other powers in compensating her i for any advantages, which commerce shall hereaf- ( ter derive from expenditures made by her for the t improvement and sufety of the navigation of the s Sound or Belts. ] 1 lay before you, herewith, sundry documents on t the subject, in which mv views are more fully dis- i closed. Should no satisfactory arrangement be i soon concluded, 1 shall again call your attention to > the subject, with recommendation of such mca- j stires as may appear to be required, in order to as sert and secure the rights of the United States, so far as they are effected by the pretensions of Den- ] mark. prance. . 1 announce with much gratification, that, since ’ the adjournment of the last Congress, the question ( then.existing between this government and that of | France, respecting the French consul at San Fran- t cisco, has been satisfactorily determined, and that ; the relations of the two governments continue to t he of the most friendly nature. GREECE. I A question, also, which has been pending for j c several years between the United States and the v Kingdom of Greece, growing out of the sequestra- t tion, by public authorities of that country, of re- t perty belonging to the present American consul at , Athens, and which had been the subject of very c earnest discussion heretofore, lias recently been set- <j tied to the satisfaction of the party interested and l of both governments. j t SPAIN. s With Spain, peaceful relations are still maintain- \ t ed, and some progress has been made in securing f the redress of wrongs complained of by this gov- ; j eminent. Spain has not on 1 y disavowed and dis- ] approved the conduct of the officers, who illegally j i seized and detained the steamer Black Warrior lit ■ c Havana, but has also paid the sum claimed as in- ! ,- delimitv for the loss thereby inflicted on citizens of ! j the United States. In consequence of a destructive hurricane, which ' j visited Cuba in 1844, the supreme authority of that ! r island issued a decree, permitting the importation, | t for the period of six months, of certain building j t materials and provisions, free of duty, but re- j e yoked it when about half the period only had ! s elapsed, to the injury of citizens of the t'nited j 1, States, who had proceeded to act on the faith of | n that decree. The Spanish government refused in- j b denmitication to the parties aggrieved until re- I f, cently, when it was assented to, payment being i t promised to be made so soon as the amount due s can be ascertained. v Satisfaction claimed for the arrest and search of t the steamer El Dorado has not yet been accorded, v but there is reason to believe that it will he, and v the case, with others, continues to be urged on the t attention of ihe Spanish government. Ido not j a abandon the hope of concluding with Spain some ) c general arrangement, which, if' it do not wholly • ( prevent the recurrence of difficulties in Cuba, will ! , render them less frequent, and whenever they shall j | occur facilitate their more speedy settlement. ! c MEXICO. | ‘ The interposition of this government has been ! t invoked by many of its citizens, on account of in- i t juries doue to their persons and property, for which j i the Mexican republic is responsible. The unhappy ; situation of that country, for some time past, lias j not allowed its government to give due considers- , , tion to claims of private reparation, and has an- j i peared to call for and justify some forbearance in j , such matters on the part of this government. But, i , if the revolutionary movements, which have lately ! j occurred in that republic, end in the organization j of a stable government, urgent appeals to iis jus- j . tice will then be made, and, it may he hoped, with ( success, for the redress of all complaints of our j , citizens. 1 ; CENTRAL AMERICA. ' , In regard to the American republics, which, from 1 , their proximity and other considerations, have pe- , culiar relations to this government, while it has ' - been my constant aim strictly to observe all the ! - obligations of political friendship and of good , neighborhood, obstacles to this have arisen in i some of them, from their own insufficient power to | check lawless irruptions which, in effect, throws j . most of the task on the United States. Thus it is . that the distracted internal condition of the State j | of Nicaragua has made it incumber. on me to ap- , , peal to the good faith of our ciiiz ns to abstain ! , from unlawful intervention in its affairs, and to 1 adopt preventive measures to the same end, which, ' ; on a similar occasion, had the best results in re-as- ' suring the peace of the Mexican States of Sonora i and Lower California. , TREATIES. i Since the last session of Congress a treaty of amity, commerce, and navigation, and for the sur render of fugitive criminals, with the kingdom of i the Two Sicilies ; a treaty of friendship, commerce i I and navigation with Nicaragua; and a convention ' I of commercial reciprocity with the Iluwaiiti king- ‘ < dom, have been negotiated. Th» latter kingdom < VOL. 11-NO. 2. | mid the State of Nicaragua have also acceded to a declaration, recognising as international rights the , principles contained in the convention between the ■ United States and Russia, of the 22d of July, 1854 These treaties and conventions will be laid before the Senate for ratification. TREASURT. The statements made, in my last annuel mes sage, respecting the anticipated receipts and ex penditures of the Treasury, have been substantially verified. It appears from the report of the Secretary of the Treasury, that the receipts during the last fiscal year ending June ffO, 1855, from all sources, were sixty-five million three thousand nine hundred and thirty dollars; and that the pub lic expenditures for the same period, exclusive of jiav ments on account of the public debt, amounted to fifty-six million three hundred and sixty-five thousand three hundred and ninety-three dollars During the same period, the payments made in re demption of the public debt, including interest ant' premium, amounted to nine million eight hundred and forty-four thousand five hundred and twenfv eight dollars. The balance in the Treasury at the beginning of the present fiscal year, July 1, 1855, was eighteen million nine hundred and thirty-one thousand nine hundred and seventy-six dollars ; the re ceipts for the first quarter, and the estimated re ceipts for the remaining three-quarters, amount, together, to sixty-seven million nine hundred and eighteen thousand seven hundred and thirty-four dollars ; thus affording in all, as the available re sources of the current fiscal year, the sum of eighty-six million eight hundred and fifty-six thou sand seven hundred and ten dollars. If, to the actual expenditure of the first quarter of the current fiscal year, he added the probable expenditures for the remaining three-quarters as estimated by the Secretary of the Treasury, the sum total will be seventy-one million two hun dred and twenty-six thousand eight hundred and forty-six dollars, thereby leaving an estimated bal ance ill the treasury on July 1, Isst> of fifteen mil lion six hundred and twenty-three thousand eight hundred and sixty-three dollars and forty-one cents. In the above estimated expenditures of the pres ent fiscal rear are included three million dollars to meet the last instalment of the ten millions provi j ded for in the late treaty with .Mexico, and seven million seven hundred and fifty thousand dollars appropriated on account of the debt due to Texas, which two sums make an aggregate amount often million seven hundred and fifty thousand dollars, and reduce the expenditures, actual or estimated! for ordinary objects of the year, to the sum of sixty million four hundred and seventy-six thousand dol lnr-<. The amount of the public debt, at the commence meut of the present fiscal year, was forty million five hundred and eighty-three thousand "six hun dred and thirty-one dollars, and, deduction being made of subsequent payments, the whole public debt of the Federal Government remaining at this time is less than forty million dollars. The remnant of certain other government stock amounting to two hundred and forty three thou' sand dollars, referred to in my last message as out standing, has since been paid. i am fully persuaded that ii would be difficult t-> devise a system superior to that, by which the fi.-: cal business of the government is "now conducted. Notwithstanding the great number of public agents of collection and disbursement, it is believed tha' the checks and guards provided, including the re quirement of monthly returns, render it scarcely possible for any considerable fraud on the part o: those agents, or neglect involving hazard of serious public loss, to escape detection. 1 renew, however the recommendation, heretofore made by me, of the enactment of a law declaring it felony on the part of public officers to insert false entries in their books of record or account, or make false returns and also requiring them on the termination of then service to deliver to their successors all books,,re cords, and other objects of a public nature in their custody. Derived as our public revenue is, in chief pari, from duties on imports, its magnitude affords m at’ >f> m g evidence ol the prosperity, not only of our commerce, but of the other great interests upon which that depends. The principle that all moneys not required fo the current expenses of the government should re main for active employment in the hands of flic people, and the conspicuous fact that the annual revenue from all sources exceeds, bvrnany millions of dollars, tho amount needed for a prudent and economical administration of public affairs, cannot fail to suggest the propriety of an early revision and reduction of the tariff of duties on imports. It is now so generally conceded that the purpose of revenue alone can justify the imposition of duties on imports, that, in re-adjusting the impost tables and schedules, which unquestionably require es sential modifications, a departure from the princi ples of the present tariff' is not anticipated. ARMY. The army, during the past year, has been active ly engaged in defending the Indian frontier, the state of the service permitting but few and small garrisons in our permanent fortifications. The ad ditional regiments authorized at the last session of Congress have been recruited and organized, and a large portion of the troops have already been sent to the field. All the duties, which devolve cm the mil itary establishment, have been satisfactorily per formed, and the dangers and privations incident to the character of the service required of our troops have furnished additional evidence of their courage, zeal, and capacity to meet any requisition, which their country may make upon them. For the details of the military operations, the distribu tion of the troops, and additional provisions re quired for the military service. I refer to the report of the Secretary of War and the accompanying documents. Experience, gathered from events which have transpired since my last annual message, has but served to confirm the opinion then expressed of the propriety of making provision, bv a retired list, for disabled officers, and for increased compensa tion to the officers retained on the list for active duty. All the reasons which existed, when these measures were recommended on former occasions, continue without mollification, except so far as circumstanceS have given to some of them addi tional force. The recommendations, heretofore made for a partial reorganization of the army, ate also re newed. The thorough elementary education given to those officers, who commence tlier service with the grade of cadet, qualifies them, to a considerable extent, to perform the duties of every arm of the service ; but to give the highest efficiency to artil lery requires the practice and special study of many years ; and it is not, therefore, believed to be advisable to maintain, in time of peace, a larger force of that arm than can be usually employed in the duties appertaining to the service of field and siege artillery. The duties of the staff in all its various branches belong to the movements of troops, and the efficiency of an army in the field would materially depend upon the ability with which those duties are discharged. It is not, as in the case of the artillery, a speciality, but requires, also, an intimate knowledge of the duties of an offi cer of the line, and it is not doubted that, to com plete the education of an officer for either the line or the general stuff', it is desirable that lie shall have served in both. With this view, it was re commended on a former occasion that the duties of the staff should be mainly performed by details from the line ; and, yvith conviction of the advau tages which would result from such a change, it is again presented for the consideration of Congress. NAVY. The report of the Secretary of the Navy, here with submitted, exhibits in full the naval opera tions of tiie past year, together yvith the present condition of tile service, and it makes suggestion-, of further legislation, to which your attention is invited. The construction of the six steam frigates, for which appropriations were made by the last Con gress, has proceeded in the most satisfactory man ner, and with such expedition, as to warrant the belief that they will he ready for service early in the coming spring. Important as this addition to our naval force is, it still remains inadequate to the contingent exigencies of the protection of the ex tensile sea coast and vast commercial interests of the United States. In view of this fact, und of the acknowledged wisdom of the policy of a gradual and systematic increase of the navy, an appropriaj tion is recommended for the construction of six steam sloops-of-war. In regard to the steps taken in execution of the act of Congress to promote the efficiency of the navy, it is unnecessary for me to say more than to express entire concurrence in the observations on that subject presented by the Secretary in his re port. PO*T OFFICE. It will be perceived, by the report ot the Post master General, that the gross expenditures of the department for the lust fiscal year was nine mil - lion nine hundred and sixty-eight thousand three hundred and forty-two’ dollars, and the gross receipts seven million three hundred and forty-two thousand one hundred and thirty-six dol lars* making an excess of expenditure over receipts of two million six hundred aud twenty-six thou sand two hundred end six dollars ; and that the