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defense were afterwards defined by specific
enumeration, as being matters only of co-rcla
tion between the States themselves, or between"
them and foreign governments, which, because
of their common and genjral nature, couid not
be left to the separate cdntrol of each Stats.
Os the circumstances of local condition, in
terest, and rights, in which a portion of the
States, constituting on» great section of tlie
Union differed from t’ e rest, and from another
section, the most important was the peculiarity
of a larger relative colored population in ',’ne
northern States.
A population of this class, held in subjection
existed in nearly all the States, but was more
numerous and of more serious concernment in
South than in the North, on account of natu
ral differences of climate and production ; and
it was foreseen that, fcr the same reasons, while
this population would diminish, and, sooner or
later, cease to exist, in some States, it might
increase in others. Thepuculiar character and
magnitude of this question of local rights, not
in material relations only, but, still more in
social ones, caused it to enter into the special
stipulations of the Constitution.
Hence, while the general government, as well
by the enumerated powers granted to it, as by
those not enumerated, and therefore refused to
it, was forbidden to touch this mutter in the
sense of attack or offence, it was placed under
the general safeguard of the Union, in the sense
of defence against either invasion or domestic
violence, like all other local interests of the sev
eral States. Each State expressly stipulated
as well for itself as for each and all of its citi
zens, and every citizen of each State became
solemnly bound by his allegiance to the Con
stitution, that any person, held to service or la
bor in one State, escaping into another, should
not, in consequence of any law or reglation
thereof, be discharged from such service or la
bor, but should be delivered up on claim of the
party to whom such service or labor might be
due by the laws of his State.
Thus, and thus o Iv, by the reciprocal guar
anty of the rights of every State against in
terference on the part of another, was the pres
ent form of government established by our
fathers, and transmitted to exist. If one State
ceases to respect the rights of another, and
obtrusively intermeddles with its local inter
ests—if a portion of the States assume to im.
pose their institutions on the others, or refuse
to fulfil their obligations to them—we are no
longer united friendly States, but distracted,
hostile ones, with little capacity left of common
advantage, but abundant means of reciprocal
injury and mischi f.
What is the voicq of history? When the
ordinal ce. which' provided for the. goyernmr n
of the territory northwest of the river Ohio
and its eventual subdivision into ec'w Stalls,
was adopted in the Congress of the confcrdeia
tien. it ts rot to nq j end tltat tlequestien o
future relative pcveis, as l etwrcn tip State
which retained, and those which did not retain,
or fitted to be considered. And yet the con
cession of that vast terribly to the interests
and opinions of the Mort cm States, a territo
ry now the seat of five among the largest mem
bers of the Union, was, In a groat measure, the
act of the State of Virginia and the South,
Practically, it Is 1 immaterial weth r aggessive
interference between the State*;' or deliberate
refusal ontbt part of any one of them to com
ply with ajji'. iiutlonal obligations, arise from
erroneous tttatlJtionor blind prejudice, whether
it be perpetriibtd by direction or indirection.—
In either ease, it is full of threats and of danger
to the dinar,,t;iy of the Union.
qONSTH'. .1 relations of slavery.
Placed in . ioe of Chief Magistrate as
the tit of the whole country, bound
to take oar* i the law’s be faithfully executed
and specially enjoined by the Constitution to
give iijformal jou to Congress on the state of the
Union, it would Ik pa'panle neglect of,duty on
my part to pass over a subject like thia, which,
beyond alj things at the present time, vitally
concerns individual and public security.
It has been a matter of painful regret
to seo States, conspicuous tor their ser
vices in founding this Republic, and
equally sharing its advantages, disregard
their constitutional obligations to it. Al
though concious of their inability to heql
admitted and p ilpabli social evils of tlu ir
own, and which are completely within
their jurisdiction they engage in the of
fensive and hopeless undertaking of re
forming the domestic institutions of other
States wholly beyond their control and
authority. Jn the vain purspit of ends,
by them entirely unattainable, and which
they may not leg illy attempt to comp.as,
the very existence of the Constitution,
and all the benefits which it has
conferred. While the people of the
Southern States confiine their attention
to their own affairs, not presuming offi
ciously to intermeddle with the speiul in
stitutions of Northern States, too many
of the inhabitants of the latter place are
permanently organized in associations to
inflict injury on the former, by wrongful
acta, which because of war as between
foreign power, and only fail to be such in
our system, because perpetrated under
cover of the Union.
The patriotic mid just men, who participated
bi that act, were Influenced by motives fur
above all sectional jealousies. It wasio truth
the great event which, by completing stir us the
pmsemiou of the valley of tho Mississippi, with
commercial access to the GjuJf of Mexico, im
ported unity and strength to the whole confed
eration, and attached together by indissoluble
ties the East and the West, as well as the
North and the South.
As to -Florida, was bnt the transfer by Spain
tn the United States, of territory on the east
aide of the river Mississippi, in exchange tor
large territory, which the United States trans
ferred to Spain on the west si-lj of that river
qs the entire diplomatic history of the trans
action serves to demonstrate. Moreover, i
w*s an acquisition demanded by the commer
cial interests and the security of the whole
Union.
In the meantime, the people of the U. S. bad
grown up to a proper couseiousness of their
strength, and in a brief contest with France
aud iu a second serious war with Great Brit
ain, they had shaken off all which remained
of undue reverence for Europe, aud emerged
from the atmosphere of those transatlantic in
fluencl's which surrounded the infant Repub
lic, -nd had begun to turn their attention to the
full and systematic developement of the inter
ual resources of the Union.
Among the evanescent controversial oi
that per oil' the most conspicuous was the
question of regulation by Congress of the so
cial condition of the future States to be found
cd in the Territory of Louisian.
It is impossible to present this subject as
truth and be occattotfrdlihure. Without noticing
the reiterated, but groundless allegation, that
the South has persistently asserted claims and
obtained advantages iu the practical adininis
Iration of tlie general government, to the preju
dice qf the North, and in which the latter ba
acquiesci'd. That is, tty? States, which either
promote or tolerate attacks on the rights ol
persons and of properly in other States, to dis
.linguist) their own injustice, pretender imagine,
and constantly aver, that they, whose constitu
tional rights are thus systematically assailed,
are themselves the aggressors. At the present
time, this imputed aggression, renting, as it does,
only iu the vague, declamatory charges of po
litical agitators, resolves itself into misappre
htuwion. or misinterpretation, of the principles
and facts of the political organization of the
new Territories of the United States.
When Lonwiua was acquired by the United
State*, it was an acquisition not less to the
North dian to the south; for while it was im
portant to the oomitry at the month of the
-s. river to become the emporium of
tie country above it, so also it was even more
to the whole Union to have that
emporium -.■ and ulihungh the new province, bv
ot iu impcrm seitiemeut, wus uuiui’v I
-awarded i« on theUu.t o! ifcsieA yrt.in fact
to the op]MMt« boumWws of u u
pastas, with tar gnavter ureadih above
Ute* W«*. aud was in territory, M j a wvw . y .
thing else, equally at least, an accession to the
Northern States. It is mere delusion and
prejudice, therefore, speak of Louisiana as
acquisition tn the special interest of the South.
The ordinanqjj for the government of the ter
ritory DOTth-Treet-of tha river Ohio had contain
™ a . p ?* v * ,, ~ 4 ‘ on which prohibited the use of sere
vne laK, r there, sublet to the condition of the
p xtr»,d l tion fugittyrafroni service due in an oth
er p rt of tho United States SObsrquently to the
adoption of the constitution, this provision ceased
to remain as a law ; for its operation ns such was
absolutely superceded by the constitution. But
the recollection of the fact excited tho zeal of so
cial propagandisni in some sections of the con
tederatt-n ; and, when a second State, mat of
Missouri, came to be formed in the territory of
Louisiana, proposition was made to extend to
the ’alter territory the restrinction originally ap
plied to the country situated between,tho rivers
Ohio and Mississippi.
In all this, if any aggression there were, any
innovation upon pre-existing rights, to which
portion of the Union are they iustlv chargea
ble? '
This controversy passed away with the oc
casion, nothing surviving it save the dormant
letter of the statute.
When, more recently, it became requisite to
organize the Territories of Nebraska and Kan
sas, it was the natural and legitimate, if not
the inevitable, consequence of previous events
and legislation, that the same great and sound
principles, which had already been applied to-
Utah and New Mexico, should be applied to
them—that they should stand exempt from the
restrictions proposed in the act relative to the
State of Missouri.
These restrictions were, in the estimation of
many thoughtful men, null from the beginning,
unauthorized by the constitution, contrary to
the treaty stipulations for the cession of Louis
iana, and inconsistent with the equality of the
States.
They had been stripped of all moral author
ity, by persistent efforts to procure their indirect
repeal through contradictory enactments.—
They had been practically abrogated by the leg
islation attending the organization of Utah.
New Mexico, and Washington If any vitali
ty remained in them, It would have hen taken
away, in effect, by the new territorial acts, in
the form originally proposed to the Senate at
t e fl st session of the last Congress.
It was manly and ingenious "as well as patri
otic and just, to do this directly and plainly,
and thus relieve the statute-book of an act,
which migirt be of future injury, butofuo possi
ble future benefit; and the measure of its re
peal wus the final consummation and complete
recognition of the principle, that no portion of
the United States shall undertake, through as
sumptions of the powers of the general govern
ment. to dictate the social institutions of any
other portion.
The scope and effect of the language of re
peal wi re not left in doubt. It was declared in
V-ruis to be “the true intent and meaning oi
this act not to legislate slavery into any Ter
ritory or State, nor to exclude it therefrom,
but to leave the people thereof perfectly free
to form and regulate their domestic institutions
in toeir own way, subject only to the constitu
tion of the U. 8.
The measure could not be withstood upon its
merits alone. It was attacked with violence,
on the false or delusive pertext, that it cons
tituted a breach-of faith. Never was objection
more utterly destitute of substantial justifica
tion. When, before, was it imagined by sen
sible men, that a regulative or declarative
statute, whether enacted ten or forty years ago,
is irrepealable,—that an act ofUongress is above
the constitution ? If indeed, there were in the
facts any cause to impute bad faith , it wotad
4 attach to those only, who have never ceased,
■* from the time of the enactment of the restrictive
- provision to the present day, to denounce and
1 condemn it; who have constantly refused to
' complete it by needful supplementary legisla
’ tion; who have spared no exertion to deprive in
of moral force: who have themselves again
’ attempted its repeal by the enactment ofiucout
. patibje provisions : and who, by the inevitable
| reactionary effi-ct of.their own violence o» the
1 subject, awakened the country to pereer)tion 0 (
the true constitutional principle, of leaving the
matter involved o the discretion of the people
of the respective existing or inei/ ien t States.
But long afterwards, when b» the proposed
accession of the Republic of Texas, the United
S a'es were to take their next steps in territo
r"i h similar contingency occurred,
and became the occasion for systematized at
tempts to intervene in the domestic affairs of
one section of the Union, in defiance of their
rights as States, and of the stipulations of the
constitution. These attempts assumed a prac
tical direction, in the shape of persevering en
deavors, by some of the representatives, in both
houses of Congress, to deprive the Southern
States of the supposed lx nefit of the provisions
of the act authorizing the organization of the
State of Missouri.
But, the good sense of the people, and the
vital force of the constitution, triumphed over
sectional prejudice and the political errors of
the day, and the State of Texas returned to the
Union as she was, with social institutions which
her people had chosen for themselves, and with
express agreement, by the re-annexing act, that
she should he susceptible o f subdivision into a
plurality of States.
Whatever advantage the interests of th<
Southern States, as such, gained l,y this, were
I'iut inferior in results as they unfolded in the
progress of time, to those which sprang from
previous concessions made by the South.
14 is necessary to speak thus plainly t>f pro
jects. the offspring of that, sectional agitatiou
now. prevailing in some of the States which ar e
tW impracticable as they are nntonstitutional,
and which, if persevered in, must and will end
ealamintously. It it eUber .jisnnion and civil
war, or it is more angry, idle, aimless distur
bances of public peace and tranquility. Dissn
ion for what? If the passionate rage of fanati
cism and partisan spirit did not force the fact
upon our attention, it would be difficult to be
lieve, tl at any considerable portion of the peo
pie of thia enlightened country could bend to
the supposed interests of the resistively few
Africans in the United States, as totallv to
abandon and disregard the interests of tlx
twenty-five millions of Americaus, to trample
uuder foot the ujunc ions ofmoral and consti
tutional obligation—and to engage in plans of
vindictive hostility against those who was as
sociated with them in the enjoyment of th<
common heritage of our national institutions.
Nor is it hostilty agaist their fellow citizns
of one section of the Union alone. The inter
eats, the honor the duty, the peace,and tlx
proape ity of the people of all sect ioox an
equally involved and imperilled in this vocation
And are patriotic men in any part of the Un
ion prepared, 011 such an issue, thus madlv t>
invite all the consequence of the forfeiture ol
Uieir constitutioual engagements?
It >• ifoposible The storm of phrensy'and lac
lion rnuit invaritaMy dash itself in vain against
the unaimlo u rock of the c mititutiau. I shat
never uoubt *t. I know that the Union is stiongl
era thousand times than ail tho wild, and ch:-
niercial schemes ot sm’ial change, which arc gen
erated 0110 after another; in the unstable minds o
visionary sophists and int< rested agita ors. Ire
iy confidently on th. pairiottsrn of the people, on
tic dignity and self-respect ot the Mtate. on th<
wisdom ot Congress, and above all, on tho con
tinued gracious tavor rghty God, to niai -
tain; againt till enemies wne>tHrat home or abroad
the sanctity or the const.tution and tho imegrttv
of ths Union.
FRANKLIN PIERCE.
ii aaHixsTtiir. Dec 3 , Us 6&.
Trkatkned Disclosirrs —lt is said that the
family of the late Robert Schuyler are deter
m'ned to make such disckaurcs as bis death
enables them to, and which, it is asserted, will
relieve his memory from a large share of tl.e
obloquy that now rests upon it in connection
with hi&enormous defalcations. We learn tl at
this threat causes a goad deal fluterring in cer.
tain quarters, and it is supposed that parties
hitherto ui suspected.-will be held up iu no
unenviable liglit. if a full statement is made.
RrvEm—Tjg UMuabut
Eaqtorer, of Thursday last, ;
’ Wffklq tominrr.
r ATLANTA, JANUARY 10, 1856.
Democratic Meeting.
1 The Democrats cf Fulton County are request
, ed to meet at the City Hall on Thursday next
nt 10 o'clock, A. M., for the purpose of select
ing Delegates to the State Convention, which
meets in Milledgeville on the 15th inst.
It is sincerely hoped that the attendance will
be full. Our opponents are vigilant, and the
' Democracy should not slumber. Come out,
every body I
The Democracy of DeKalb
Are upon the alert, as will be seen by refer
ence to the proceedings of a meeting held by
them at Stone Mountain, on the 7th hist.—
The Resolutions evince the right spirit, and are
models for the emulation of the Democracy
everywhere. We like the spirit of the meeting
and commend the interesting account of it to
the attention of the reader, be he Democrat or
American.
We have received two marriage notices
from Fayette county, (post office not recollect
ed) and would be pleased to insert them, but
unfortunately the chirograpy is of a character
decidedly too hieroglyphical for our prowess in
the art of decyphering Chinese, If the parties
will send up their names in a legible hand, we
will publish them with pleasure.
Miss Logan
Is announced to appear at tho Savannah
Atheneam on Monday night next. Her recent
brilliant succetscs in the East have increased
the flattering interest excited by her undisputed
talents, in the minds of discriminating Savan
nah audiences, and her reception will be one
worthy the gifted actress, and an amiable and
accomplished lady.
The Initiated
Are informed that those diposed to “ smile ”
will find Messrs. Paul & Hitchcock at their
post in the Trout House, ready to “ wood and
water ” all whose “ schedules ’’ have exhausted
their “steam.” Their “material aid” is said,
by the knowing ones, to equal anything in the
way of “ spiritual manifestations ” extant in
our city. Drop in as ypu go “bobbin, round.”
The front House Opened.
The traveling public will be gratified to learn
that the IVcnt House is again opened under
the proprietorship of Dr. Thompson, and the
superintendence of Mr-. Gage, both so long a»d
favorably known travelers. We wish the
Doctor every Success. May his shadow and
his huqjtii; never grow less!
Fire.
The floor of the back room of a store in the
Atlanta Hotel building, on Decatur Street, oc
cupied by Mr. Jones as a Jewelry establish
ment, was discovered to be on fire last Friday
night about 10 o’clock. No alarm wfts raisud,
bnt a number of citizens were promptly collact"
e<l, and extinguished it in a short time. No
further injury was done than the cutting out of
a few planks, and breaking the telegraph wires
—tlie room being occupied as a telegraph office
also. Origin of the fire in the imperfect Ikying
of the hearth.
Augusta Rice'.
The races over the La Fayette Cuurse, at Au
gusta, commence to-day. We learn that the
stables in attendance arc of the best blood, aud
we haws no doubt there will be much report
upon the occasion. Charley Ball, Mary Blue'
skin, Philo, and Nannie Lewis, are entered, aud
many others of high repute amongst patrons of
the turf. The track is said to be in fine order.
Fire in Cassville.
We regret to learn that the Baptist Viale Col
teg 0 edifice, in Cassville, Ga. was enti rely des
troyed by fire on the night of the 4» h inst.—
The building had been but reccntl’y errected,
and was not entirely finished at the time of the
accident. We 1 are bower®, that but little
delay will attend the opening of tfoe institution,
ou account of the fire, and. while we sympa
thise with the sufferers by the conflagration, we
, hope the citizens of .Cassville will promptly re
build what was an honor ami ornament to their
town.
Post Office Printing.
We received on Tuesday night last, from tho
Post Master ii» this place, a formal announce
ment that we had been challenged for the pub
-1 lication of the “LETTER LIST."
Our Postrrfcster wifi please receive this a*
our answer to his note. The priating of the
•• Letter List ” of the Post Office in this City,
not being worth its cost to the publisher of this
paper, and its insertion always depriving our
readers of more valuable matter, we have con
cluded to decline it* insertion in the “ Exami
ner,” until the one cent per name, which is paid
for it. is increased to n fair compensation for
the composition and expense otherwise, conse
quent upon its publication. SOur sympathies,
therefore, will be with the unfortunate press
that secures the “ Letter Lfet,”' white our con
gratulations will be with that one, whoee efforts
to secure it have proved unsua ressful.
The Election on T oesday,
Os course, went all one re ay. The Awwri
ean ticket bad no opposition, except for the
office of Clerk of the Superior Cpurfj. for
which the old incumbent. Dr. Botnar, (Demo
crat) gave Mr. Venabb t . the American nomi
nee, a very close race. reducing the American
majority of over 400 to 47. Tlie American'
were thoroughly orgr mixed and drilled for U, v
occasion, having the week before met in sol
emn convention, a: id with al! the pomp cf a
nominating t>allot, put forth two candidatas
for tlie distiogiis! >ed position of Builiffa u<d
triumphantly ele< rted them on Monday hu t.
Flushed with the fr brilliant Street** of the drey
before, they bcre down upon the Doctor on
Tuerday. with overwhelming force, and after a
h rd fought battle succeeded in beating Lam
47 votes. Free la wild chase 1
Difs.®matic Change.—lt is stated iu a left
ter tnxn London, from a responsible source, tha, I
the British Government, anticipating the de :
maud of our Government for the recall of Mr-
Crampton, meditate trausferreng him to rnir
other D<plomatiaatatioß, as in the case of mij.
mg of Sir Henry Bulwer hitbar from Spuiar—
Sir Gore Vuseiqr 1* *am*«t as Mr. Cfrauij«(»-s
The Joint Committee,
Consisting of Messrs. Murphy, of DeKalb,
and Sims, of Decatur, from tha S :nato; and
Messrs. Phillips, of Habersham, Terhune, of
Floyd, and Hill, of Troup, from tho House of
Representatives, to whom was referred the in
vestigation of the affairs of the Western & At
lantic Railroad, reached this place on Tuesday,
and forthwith commenced the discharge of their
numerous, and, we may add, onerous duties.—
They have been extended every possible facili
ty for the prosecution of their business, and will
no doubt, fiiul that the raw-heads and bloodv
bones, of which they have so often hea. d as
haunting the State Road Depot, exist only in
the imaginations of those whose own misdeeds
have shut them out from its walls.
Interesting Curiosities.
Through the politeness of our friend Dr.
Newton R. Flemming, we, on yesterday, had
placed in our hand, several interesting curiosi
ties—interesting because of the localities from
which they were taken, and because of the
veneration with which every Christian or Isra
elite regards those localities.
Ist. A rock from the top of Mount Sinai*.
2d. A vial containing water from the river
Jordan.
3d. A vial containing water from the Dead
Sea.
4th. A paper containing flowers from the
Valley of Jehosophat.
sth. A paper containing flowers, from the
Garden of Eden.
These curiosities were brought to this coun
try, by “Sam Parish,” a most worthy, intelli
gent mulatto man, well known in Nashville,
Tennessee, and who now resides ia that city.
In MacGavock’s interesting work, entitled
“A Tennesseean Abroad,” “Bam” is favorably
noticed. It appears that he was the servant
who attended the Hon. Mr. Ewing during his
tour in Europe aud tho Em . He is noticed
in the work referred to as having on one occa
sion displayed great i ntrepidity and bravery.—
In a fight in the village of Embarbeh, in
Egypt, with the Arabs, while bravely defend
ing his master, he received a shot in the neck,
which laid bitn up at Cairo for some time.—
“Sam,” in other respects, as well as prowess in
times of peril, was a man to be relied upon.-
Tlie t aste which he displayed in his collections,
and his veneration for all that concerns the Ho
ly Land, are much to be commended. To us’
through the kindness of Dr Flemming, he has
imparted a gratification which we shall long re
member. We have tasted of the water of the
Dead Sea, and that of the River Jordan ; we
have touched a portion of Mount Sinai; we
have inhaled the perfume of flowers from the
Valley of Jehosophat, and from the Garden of
Eden; and although these last were withered
and had lost most of their original sweetness,
still imagination and our teachings from child
hood to the present hour, mad“ them to i.s as
“the rose of the ralley and the lily of the vale,”
while Sinai’s rock, and tho waters of Jordan
aud the Dead Sea, revived many a lesson taught
in days gone by.
The President!Message.
Fraxkun Pierce won for himself fame as a
patriot and statesman of the highest order
when be submitted his Message to the present
Congress. A document of more intense inter
est has emanated from no President of these
United States, since the days of him whose re
mains are now mouldering at the Hermitage
in our adjoining sister State. It displays a
firmness of purpose, and expresses views, in re
gard both to our Foreign and Domestic Rela
tions. that all conservative parties, and particu
larly the people of the South, regard with ap
probation and delight, and will rally ns one
man to maintain, when the day of trial comes
We care not now, who it is that overbiwdenid
with party spleen sneers at this document, or I
who it is that, similarly influenoed, withhold]
hig hearty approval, playing the part of ‘ Mum,"
in regard to it, lest he may be found guilty of u
sin, unpardonable with some, of doing justice
to an adversary—of “rendering unto Caesar thu
which is Csesar's.” We care not, we reit
erate, for all this, believing as we do that ere
many moons shall wane, but rme purpose in the
South shall actuate us all, and that purpose
will be to stand by, protect, and defend, to tlie
utmost of our ability, Franki.ix Pierce, or
some other good and true man, in the mainten
ance of the principles embodied in the document
to which we refer.
We pass over, in tills notice, the narrative
portions of the Message—all that refers to our
Foreign Relatione—Central America. Recruil
ment by the British service in the United States
with comffler.difig them specially to the readers
of the “Examiner,” satisfied that whenever
they are read, the impression made will be a
decidedly favorable one. and that eve -y true
American will feel that there is at the head ol
our National Government, one who knows his
duty to tlie people, and knowing, “dare perform
it.” Neither British arrogance, nor British
presumption, nor Britisu eucioachment upon
our right’, will be tolerated longer ; and come
what may, the British Government is now
plainly advised that white Franklin Pierce
administers the affairs of this Government, thus
far they may go, but one stride farther, and no
calculation of con equctices will deter him from
maintaining the rights and honor of this union
of free aud iudependeut States I y a trial of t bei
might.
Bat to that portion of the Message which
ireatg of the Constitutional Theory of this Gov
ernment, the attention of every Southern man
should be directed. Here is a brief, but able
expedition of this confederacy of Sovereign
State l and of our Congress of Sovereignties,
which, to use the language of the Presi 'ent
“good ihen in the Old World have sought for.
but c< »uld never attain." In so many words,
we lia ve never seen a more impressive aud con
clusive exposition of the origin aud nature of
this Gioveninreut, and of the Rights of the States
One of the L’resident's conclusion cannot but
gratify every State Rights man iu Georgia, be
he of the old panel of Whigs, or a true blue
Democrat. O’ur balance of power, he savg.
•Is in the sepal ate. reserved rights of the Statn>,
and their equal representation in the Senate.
That- mdopendi ut sovereignty in every one of
the States, wi»h’ <* reserved rights of local
gelf-gov.-rnment. assured in each by their co
equal power in the Senate, was the fundament 1
condition of tin ■ Const itutien. Without it. the
■ Union would sset'er hare existed.” Again, be
sayst “In a word, the original States, went’
into this-pennant »t league on the agreed pre '
raises, of exertion tlieir common strength for i
the defense of the whole, and of al! its parts; ■
bnt of hng all espabihy of recip- [
rocal aggression. ’.Each solemnly bound itself
to all the others, neit, her to undertake, nor per
mil, emnf enanaekMti t tgpon, or
with, another's reserved rights.” On the subject
of the institution of slavery, the President is
equally forcible and clear. No interference
with the tights of the States brenthee in every
line of this part of Lis Message, and no rejec
tion of a Territory applying for admission into
the Union, as a State, slavery being recognized
as one of its domestic institutions, arc impress
ed upon the Congress to which the Message is
directed. Tn a word, take this document aS a
wliole, it cannot be considered otherwise than a
patriotic and able paper—one that commends
itself to the unqalified approbation of every
conservative Democrat, every Whig or
“■dmanagn” whose opinion is worth a straw.
Peace Prospects.
When it is considered that the only oppor
tunity we have of judging the situation of Eu
ropean affairs is through the medium of a spec
illative press this side of the waters, or from
partizan, transatlantic papers and correspon
dents, it will readily be seen that our opinion
of the diction of popular sentiment, with
countries immediately interest! d, upon the sub
ject of the termination of the Eastern war must
necessarily be anything but positive, and can
not be of sufficient reliability to assume the
shape of a settled conviction, since it is neces
sarily subject to the vacilating character of its
predicates. For this reason, and in view of
the imperative duty resting upon us to furnish
■ our readers with the most reliable intelligence
possible, we have refrained until now from ex
pressing any opinion upon the peace rumors
which are ot so much interest the country
and contented ourselves with simply publishing
the accounts, from time to time, as we found
them. These, however, are so conflicting that
the casual reader may have despaired of reach
ing a correct judgment from them, and our
opinion, from-the lights before us, while it may
not be of weight in establishing conviction, is
demanded by the uncertain light in which the
subject, in our columns, has been placed.
There are many reasons why the peace ru
mors should be correct, (we Use the term In
its obligatory se-’se) but there are also many
facts which go far to prove they are not. —
The cramped position into which this war has
forced the entire commercial interest of the
world—for it. is too near the heart of that in"
trest not to be felt with every puteatiou of trade*
no matter how remote from the seat of war—
would seem to demand an immediate termina’
tiou of a war so destructive to that interest,
were it not that other interests are regarded
by the parties engaged in*»the conflict, as of
more moment, and as sufficient justification
for their direct agency in bringing upon other
natious uot interested in the issues of tlie de
pute the pressure upon business which is nat
urally increased by each day's prolonging the
war. It is not our purpose here to speak of
the folly of which we have been guilty iu en
tangling ourselves so completely with England,
as to be so mudh, and so disastrously, affected
by any war in which she may be engaged, thus
placing so great, an interest subject to the un
certain clmnces of an ambitions, and not over
honest ministry’s action, or to urge how much
consideration should be given those interest by
that ministry in the determination of the ques
tion of peace. The discussion"-of this branch
of the subject, may form the basis of another
article. At present wc shall merely suggest
a few considerations which go to foim our opin
ion th?t a peace is impossible for some time
to come—at least, that it will require one more
vigorous campaign to reduce the parties to the
necessity for a peace—for it is beyond doubt
that nothing but sheer necessity will opt rate
to affect that desideratum. The direction
already given to the war, is of such a character
as to forbid the supposition that either party
will yie’d to the terms of the other until cone
; pelled to do so by their necessitious situation.—
I The conditions of peace demanded of Russia
by the allied forces are such as she will never
submit to, so long as there Is the remotest prob
ability of keeping her position of effectual de
fuse. This of course is evident to every one;
and it is equally evident that the position of
England and France are such us to preclude the
possibility of a compromise for anything less
than they have demanded, or any oilier condi
tions of peace thnn the acceptance of their
terms by Russia, or their abandonment by
themselves, which latter can only be effected
by the total overthrow of their army or their
own inability to carry on the war. As neither
one of these Contingencies are at all- likely, for
the present, we think it safe to say that we
shall hear of no peace this year. Russia has
not exhausted hi r resources yet, and until she
does nothing in the way nf concessions need be
expected of her. France,” from financial em
barrassments cons quent upon the war, is in
clined te peace, if there is any reliance to be
placed in the representations of popular arnti
meut made by the press, and Would be content
with the re-establishment of tlx: prestige of her
arms were the power to oorwlude the war in
her hands; but that power does not rest with
her aloue. Englund, wtnle she is not quite so
much embarrussed, is still -heavily pressed by
the war, and would joyfully accept peace could
she do so with any credit to herself; but, so
far, her investments have yielded no returns^ —
The glory of taking Sebastopol, a single city,
is the sum total of the profits, and the share of
England iu that is qp meagre that her people
would not be as easily appeased by a termina
tion of the war, unless the objects for which it
was entered into were, at least-in part, accom
p ished, as would the better satisfied French
men be.
Russia is fast and effectually increasing the
defences on the Baltic coast; her attention to
the Crimea is by no means less watchful—on
tlie contrary the visit of tl.e Emperor to that sec
tion. and the active preparations going forward
there, indicate nothing like intention to aban
don it ; the Petersburg Council of War is in
Session, engaged iu provision for another cam
paign ; and, indeed, a thousand other circum
stances. equally significant, go to show that tlie
war is fcr Inxn being ut an end. so far as the
intentions of Russia are concerned. Where
then are we to 1 >ok fcr peace fr Not, certainly,
from France or England, for preparations for
their spring campaign! are being made with
unexampled activity, and of an extraordinary
character —the press of both countries going
so far as to intimate an intention, in the words
of the Constitutioiieljto “dictate terms of peace
, to Russia iu St. Petersburg itself.” ,
i It would seem, from th“se facts, that none of
the parties arc compelled to terminate the war. j |
' aud we think it reasonable to discredit any ru-' 1
■ mor of a peace upon any basis yet proposed.
until one s>de or the other see po alternatives 1
but those suggested —which, we imagine, will I
J pot tea urtj after another actiw «amjM.igß. ,
Hon. Howell Cobb.
The Washington Correspondence of tlx> '
Philadelphia American Gazette speaks in the
following complimentary terms of the Hon. i
Howell Cobb and his late speech on the or
ganization or the House of Represtatives:
“By far the most important, as well as the
most, decided demonstration, of the whole de
bate on the issues connected with the Speaker
ship, was made yesterday by Mr. Cobb, of
Georgia, who, from his large political exper
ience, consummate skill as a tactician, acknowl
edged ability as a statesman aud parliatm ntar
ian. together with high personal qualities as a
man, as a bold but honorable adversary, may
well be pronounced, without disparagement of
others, the acknowledged leader of his party,
and standing in the v ry first rank of tlie whole
House. Oliserving with his astute discrimina
tion, that a large portion of the Southern
America's only desired a plausible pretext for
abandoning their own organizationnnd coming
to the Democratic candidate, if they could not
procure concentration upon some man proposed
by themselves, he took occasion to inform those
gentlemen that no concession of principle would
be made, nor one feature of tho caucus plat
form modified to suit their convenience. Re
cognizing at once the embarrassment of such a
political alliance in the fu’uro, however advant
ageous might be the result of a temporary co
alition now, he told them there could be no
possible accommodation between them, until
the whole Democratic doctrine was fully re
cognized and approved. He was willing to
co-opcrate on these terms, but on none other.
■ that might, even by indirection, compromise
bis party relationI’, 1 ’,
“The enterprising patriots who have been
endeavoring to negotiate an alliance upon one
of tfacir own set, or failing that, a transfer to
; the oth“r side, must have been ’stunned with
the suddenness anti directness of this blow from
such a quarter. Mr Cobb certainly challen
ged the admiration of all Impatfal men in the
H all by the fearless and powerful manner in
which he repudiated affiliation with this move
ment, and disclaimed every disposition to
achieve succeM through such asency. In clos
ing, he discargcd a well-barbed arrow at Mr.
Fuller, by expressing his regard for all that
1 gentlemen had conceded to Democratic princi.
pies, but assuring him tha he had yet to un
' dergo a probation of trial and duty before he
could consent to yield that consideration to
. him which was due to older service and better
soldiers. Mr. Cobb has long been recognized
1 us one of the strongest and most self-possessed
debaters in Congress, and he fully vindicated
that reputation yesterday, in tho presence of
, many of those who had occasion to fe 1 the
. force of his talents in cars gone by. nnd who,
while differing from him on many public ques
tions, yet are glad to hail bis return to a body.
" the character of which he so long contributed
to elevate by his individual worth and emment
ability.”
Democratic Meeting in DeKalb.
I At a meeting of the Democratic party of
the County of DeKalb, held ut Stone Mountain,
1 on the 7th of January, 1856, Judge Simeon
j Smith was called to the Chair, and W. W-
Diamond requested to act as Secretary. The
object of the meeting was explained by George
■ K. Smith Esq., when a Committee, consisting
of George K. Smith. Janies Millican, John 0.
Ragsdale, Phillip Burford, Jas. J. Diamond,
James Crockett. and John W. Scruggs. Esqs.,
was appointed to report business for the con
sideration of the meeting. The Committee re.
tired, and after a few minutes, reported the fol-
■ lowing :
Whereas, the time has again arrived when it
behooves the Democratic party of Georgia to
organize, by appointing delegates in the seve
ral Counties, to attend a Convention to be held
in the City of Milledgeville on the 15th inst,
the object of which is to appoint delegates to
the National Democratic Convention to be
held at Cincinnati, to nominate Candidates for
President and Vice-President of the United
States, in the approaching election—nnd, where
as, it is a party whose principles we are not
ashamed to own, or afraid to advocate and
publish to the world, on an open banner unfurl
ed to the breeze, so that “he who runs may
read" and n< tbe deceived. Therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Democratic party is, in
truth, the only party now in this Republic thst
can claim any nationality of character—that
the doctrines taught and the principles advoca
ted, spring from the Constitution, and are iden
tical with those which formed the creed of the
early fathers of the Republic, explained and
amplified by the Virginia and Kentucky Reso
lutions of 1799, and have been reiterated time
and again by the great National Conventions
of the party. These platforms embrace nur
political faith—by them we are prepared to
stand or fall.
Resolved. That wc believe our prow nt Chief
Magistrate stands patriotically and fearlessly on
this platform of principles—that in the main
we highly approve of his administration of the
goveruinent[—-that his whole course has been
characterized by firmness, wisdom, justice anti
moderation—that it is admired by the unpreju
diced at home, and respected abroad—that we
approve of the sentiments contained in his late
Messagt to Congress, in the course he pursued
in its delivery, and especially do we commend
to the South those portions of the Messa >e in
reference to Central America; the Constitu
tional theory of Government, and the Constitu
tional relations of Slavery. Under these heads
may be found sentiments worthy of the man
who presides over the government of our glori-
ous Republic. It will be a blessing to our
country if he, or one like him, should be our
next standard-bearer for President.
Resolved. That we hail with proud satisfac
tion the firm, bold, and patriotic stand taken
by our Democratic members in Congress, in
reference to an election for Speaker of the House
of Representative. We say to them still “stand
by your colors—never give up the ehip.” The
responsibility will not rest upon you. but on
the fact ion ista and fusionista who, for the sake
of the spoils of office, would violate any princi
ple of the Constitution and uproot the very
foundations of this happy Republic.
Resolved, That in the effort to organize the
House of Representatives, the Hon. Howell
Cobb of Georgia is entitled to the thanks of
the whole country.
Resolved, That in reference to foreign influ
ence or action on this continent, we reiterate as
correct the Monroe doctrine, as a part of our
sentiments.
Resolved, That the sentiments contained in
the opening Message of the Executive of Geor
gia meets our cordial approval—that Georgia
need fear no disgrace with Herschel V. John
son as her Governor.
Resolved. That we believe the present Gene
ral Assembly of Georgia to be one of marked
ability—that up to the recess, we witnaes-d
with pride the talent, industry, vigilance and
energy, jxerctad by that body—that the laws
will be greatly amended, and the whole people
benefltted by their action. Georgia may be
proud of her present General Assembly.
Received. That the Hon. Charles Murphy,
the Hon. P. F. Hoyle. Daniel Johnson. P. K
Smith, J. W. Fowler, f. H. Gay and M. fj.
i4r l l 7r
County of DeKalb in the approaching Con
vention at Milledgeville.
On motion of James Crockett, the proceed
ings of the meeting were reques ed to be for
warded to the “Atlanta Examiner” for publica
tion ; when, on motion, the meeting adjourned
SIMEON SMITH, President.
W. W. Diamond, Secretary. _
Public Documents.
We copy the following abstracts of the re
forts of the Heads of Departments from the
Baltimore Sun:
REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF THE NAVY.
The report of the Secretary of the Navy.
iHan. James C. Dobbin.) recommends the
construction of ddiiionnl steam sloops of war;
expresses entire satisfaction with the resnlf of
the apprenticeship »yst< m. and the legislation
of the last Congress for tho Navy? maitrfafajH
the abolition of corporal punishment; and re
commends nn increase of the Marine corps
and the increase of seamen to ten thousand
men. He sustains the general action of the
Naval Retiring Board, but intimates his readi
ness to aid in restoring any officers in s]Kcial
cases who have been unjustly treated.
The remarks of the Secretary on the action
of the Board will be looked for with so much
anxiety by a large class of readers, that we
transmit them in full.
“ The report of the Naval Board of fifteen
officers of the highest grades, assembled under
the ‘act to promote the 1 fficiency of the Navy,'
having been approved by you. I have, in pur
suance of your direction, carried the same into
execution, according to the provisions of the
law. After a careful examination. 201 officers
were, in their jndgdment. found incapable of
performing, promptly and efficiently, all their
duty both ashore and afloat; and of those 71
were reserved ou ‘leave of ab cnee pay,’ 81 on
furlough pay, mid 49 recommended to be strick
en Irom tlie rolls.
The vacancies have been filled according to
the Act by regular promotion in the cyder of
rank or seniority. 4 lllmuch there arc now on
this reserved list one hundred and forty-seven
eflicers. the expemes of lie Navy, as appears
from-calculations accurately made, are not in
creased. for the reason that they are not only
on reduced pay, but the officers promoted to
their vacancies do lot receive the full pny qf
the grade to which they are thus promoted
They obtain the higher rank and secure more
respons'ble and important commands, but are
not to enjo full pny until the vacancies they
fill are made complete either by resignation,
death, or removal. And the law judiciously
administered by no means involves an increase
of tho aggregate number of officers; for it is
the crowding of the service with the lower grade
of Passed Midshipmen, to linger there until the
prime of file, without rank, and comparatively
without useful service, which has really done
sad mischief.
Perhaps no event, either legislative or exec
■ afire, touching the history of the Navy, has
attracted more earnest attention or created a
more profound sensajion, than the action
of the late Naval Board, with a view
to a just and wise consideration of this grave
and delicate subject. The unexcited mind will
not merely puss in cnlm nnd scrutinizing review
the proceedings of the Bun rd and the Execu
five, but naturally recurs to tl e history of the
law itself and with especial care to the condi
tion of the Navy, which occasioned its fiassage
with such remarkable unanimity.
The peculiar nature of the law did nnt esenpe
the scrutiny of those who pas ed it. The alle
gation that, it partook somewhat of the odi us
character of the star-chamber proceeding, was
even then presen foil with ardent anil warning
eloquence. The feature providing for dropping
entirely from the service, which was not in the
original bill, wus inserted in the House by an
overwhelming majority, and after elaborate and
thorough debate in the Senate was ptissed al
most unanimously. There wasstill on the stat
ute book and in daily enforcement, the law of
courts martial, surrounding their proceedings
with tho solemnity of a sworn court, a sworn
Judge-Advocate, nnd sworn witnesses, subject
to penalties for non-appearance; and yet such
wns the condition of the Navy, as urged by
Secretaries ant) concetletl by stutesmi-n. officers,
and citizens ; such the lontl cry for prompt re
form echoed and re-echoed through the country,
the Congress in its wisdom, failing to pass the
general and comprehensive bills originally re
ported by the ccinmittcca. instituted this sum
mary tribunal with signal majorities.
The offieeis selected to compose this Board
were in terms highly laudatory pronounced fit
men for the delicate task. Indeed, when their
names were •■nnouHced. there was a warm nnd
general expression of favor and gratification
rarely exhibited. B‘>forc prescribing regula
tions ns authorized, the opinion of the Attor
ney-General wns asked on the true interpreta
tion of the following provision of the act:
• Provided tha* no officers upon said Board
shall examine into a report upon the efficiency
of officers of a gratle above them.' Hisopin
ion was that tho entire body will sit together,
deliberate anti determine, nnd by proper nu ans
authenticate their conclusion as *o lieutenants,
masters anil passed midshipmen. After that
the litmtenants will have to retire, and tlie cup
tains and commanders will act in regard to all
officers of th“ rank of commander, when the
commanders must retire, anil the captains will
net us the officers of that runk. All of tl.e ex
aminations having thus been made, and tlie
proper Judgments reached in the manner con
template) by tlie law, the sum total ot-the opin
ions will be certifi-tl to the Secretary iu such
form of authentieution us lie iu his regulations
shall see fit to prescribe.
The few regulations prescrilwid were chiefly
based on this opinion, with the purpose of pro
tecting the 1 dicers whose < fficiency was thus to
be examined into from the slightest danger of
being prejudiced by the influence of the pres
ence of judges below them in gratin. Lieuten
ants were not allowed even to lie present at the
proceeding in d deliberations in regard to com
manders, and therefore coultl uot aid to effect
their own promotion ; and in accordance with
tlie same regulation, a commander could not
have the opportunity, by his presence, to exert
influence to secure hi* promotion to a captain
cy ; and thus it whs designed, that if by the
execution of the law, officers of the Board
should happen to be promoted, their proceedings
should not, he stained with I lie blighting sus
picion that they labored for their own advance
ment mid not the public good.
“The Department, therefore, by filling the
board with men of high reputation, and ac
ceptable to the cou try and the Navy, by shy
rounding them with wileguar, bund restrictions,
to secure partiality anil justice, and to remove
the opportunity aud the temptation for indul
gence in action for personal gain, by spreading
before them the entire flies and records of the
Department, hoped that a successful effort had
been made to insure the fathful and satisfac
tory execution of a law pinned with every in
dication of earnest solicitude to promote the
efficiency of the Navy.
“The order notifying the officers of their ap
pointment. issued on the sth of June; they
commenced their joint labors on the 20th of
June, and reported the result on the 26tit of
July.
“And now, sir, while the operation of this
law is by some hailed with enthusiasm, as a
salutary and indispensable corrective of admit
ted ill, which depressed the service, by others
it is received with undisguised discontent and
dissatisfaction. This can hardly he regarded
as unnatural. The provisions of the law are
generous—indeed, strikingly liberal; but thev
are at the same time exacting and sternly
just It provides for the careful support of
some and the prompt removal of others: and
however fathfnlly, honestly, ai d car. fulfly eX
ecutxd. it is a measure of reform, and no meas
ure of that character isever executed without
more or l<*s inconveniences, disappointments,
and discontent.
“Actuated, no doubt, by a desire to seek
truth and justice as nearly as possible, Con
gress thought it safest to entrust the reform
not merely to the President and the Secretary,
whose requaintauO' with the officers, both pci
sona ly and officially, must necessa. ily l»e very I
Uaiwd, but ctafly to tbs offim of ths throe I
t“. ’ - ■' J' *.
liigher grades, whoso knt.wkdgc of their broth*
er <ffict rs catorally erutblis them to perform
theduty more thoroughly, and with leres lia
bility to err. Tlie task was delicate, and in-
Tolvetl sttuggks betwen dnty and irelit gs
They were ini n lot infa'lible. It w< u!d lie
strange, itidetd, if tleir wmk were pcifut ntd
entirely free from error, Tlicie mors, il ti ey
exist, will soon and surely lie discovend Ly the
<h ve|< p-trieiita of time, by continued inquiry,
w,il by calm. di.-|.aa iotmte oLw rvatfous
••'J lie officers of the Navy as a class arc
prondn>ravc, sensitive, patriotic and seif-sac
rificing ; and if tlicswoid of any one of these
gallant men has been incautii usly taken from
him, all right inindtd nun wifi say. let his coun
try rtStore it to him with all the honors and
reparation due to injund merit; and while I
cun by no mentis recommend the adoption of
any measure of repeal or any course of proceed
ing in conflict, with lite general action of tlie
board I have no doubt that there should Ims
will be'found u nmeily for any mistake or
rorror of judgement, if the servi-e lias thus liccn
deprived of a meritorious and capable officer,
either by reservation or dropping. Facts which
have eoih/td fWMhtlge. ufuiv inc that it
would be but reasonable to provide, a
year's pay for the officers who have been sud
denly dropped from a service upon which they
had heretofore so exclusively depen<]< d with
out any consiileration fur ftitnre self-reliance.
"But, sir, I cannot conclude this brunch of
my report without doing justice to the < ffici rs
of the Board From the spirit aud temper
with which they entered upon a prinful and
unsought duty, nnd from the caretslness and
diligence with which they st arched the records
, ol the ilcpartmcnt, I det tn it but an net of sim
ple just ce to exprees my convicton that they
were actuated by elevated considerations, and
that‘heir atm was truth, impartiality, and the
cood of the service; and although.’ from the
lialiility of man to err, there may be discov
ered here and there a mistake of judgement, I
have an abiding conviction that history will
prove that this work reinvigorated the Navy,
imparted to it n robust and active health, in
' spired the hearts of the young ami gallant, of
ficers hitherto drooping with hopeless t'eipon
doncy, with fresh energy anti coutenlmti t with
the service: warend the thoughtless uml tho
indolent to quit the haunts of idleness uml seek
the path of duty leading to honor ; and caused
the country to repose with the more pride and
■ confidence in the belief of the invincibility of
this right arm of defence. 1 have no hesita-
' tion, and 1 take much pleasure in saying, tlait
. I have already witnessed its happy eff-cts in
the hew impulse and readiness for duty seen
ribd felt at the department.
" And. sir, though the number reported in
competent seems large, nnd may wi ll attract,
1 attention, is that a circumstance of its If snffi-
■ cient to justify reflection upon a Board who
1 were bound under the law to make a careful
examination,’aud report the names of al) whom
: they adjudge incompetent, of every grade, to
do their whole duty promptly and < fficiently,
. ashore aud afloat? If but a small number of
1 officers hail become inefficient, would the Se
-1 c‘claries of the Navy for tlie last fifteen years
have again and again urged, with almost’ per
tinacious zeal, that some stringent measure of
. reform was indispensable Io save the navy
I from impending ruin? Would committees,
session after session, have report'd uml pressed
such measures? Wonttl grave members havo
- arisen as they did in Congiess and have seri
ously moved t> abolish the navy, and Itegin
1 again, if bit a small defect existed? Would
the Senate, every stssioti for some years, have
1 almost with unanimity pa sed the measure for
relieving the service of the inefficient, and far
1 iniparting vigor aud health bv promoting al le
and brave officers before age liad crippled their
energies and itnpairtd their usefulness? Would
the press in almost every town and village have
fulminated its thunders for reform, nud havo
teemed with articles of laudation anil approval
when the measure prevailed, if but n smal
number of the incapable blocked up the |iath
of promotion? Or had it become manifest to
all, to statesman and citizen, that some hing
; radical, thorough and searching must lie admin
istrated to secure the navy from the duugers
which imperiled it. aud emancipate it, if possi
ble. from the weight which seorred so surely to
be burdening uml pressing it down?”
The regulations prescribed—which have
heretofore been published the correspondence
with and the report of the Board accompany
this report,
Report of the Secretary of War.
The Secretary of War (Hon. Jefferson Davis)
urges increased coiupeuratioii to army officers,
and a revision of the law respectiug tlatlr allow*
ences. Also, that the provision of the last Don*
gross, increasing the pny of the rank anti file,
lie extended to all enlisted men. Also, an in
crease of medical corps, aud the addition of
live military slqre-kei pera. He recommends a
judicious coutiuuaiiec of sea coast deltuc.-s, and
especially renews the suggestion for the fortify
ing of Ship Island to d fend the approaches to
New Orleans. He presents, also, a ue.it and
forcible argument in favor of the Pacific Ru 1-
road, us u means of national defence, but. avoid*
ruutuuuMudiuK La coustruettion by Government
lion although he distinctly intimates u disposi- (
and to favor such aid. lie shows the actual \
strength ol the army to lie fifteen thousand |
seven liundrei) und fifty-two tin n. Enlistment* ?
during the hi t twelve mouths, ten thousand liver*
Itundrisl and forty six; enlistments reliiMsy)
twenty thousand live hundred und 1 weiily-t«jfa>
number of casualties, five thousand live hand Ad.
Dispoa'.tiou of the troops reuiuim pretty lu/uch
us s'titid iu last annual report.
Report ok the Postmaster GrnrKav).
Tlie Postmaster Gvncrid (Jmlge t.'umlphell)
snggtsbt that the franking privilege be rtalriet
od to public documents and letters oil'public
busitieas tiierely; also, the charge of li»ll rate*
upon no spop rs in all cases, instea<| of half
rates, when paid quartorly in advance.—He
recommends Compulsory pre]mymentri>y a amps
of postage on books, pauiphteiH, aid
all other tiansieut muvt<>rs. He agpiu urges
the six months' notice to the Collins stcuniers
in discontinuance of tlie extra pay voted them
in July, 1852. He presses thissubj octal some
length."
Macon and Western Kail Road-
The tenth annul report'of tins road up|iear<
in the last Georgia Cititen. The gross earings,
over previous year were 837 (>23,17, and net
profits 8196.104 51. After paying 'or exten
sion of road, track, &c., 8109.387,27 were left
fur a dividend fund The entire debt of the
Company is but 8129.000. The road is re
ported to be in good order: several new engines
have been oidehd; they have eight first ela s
and six second class cars; aud one hundred and
seventy one freight cart. The increase from
passengers was 815,627.90 less than in c inc
ipience of the heavy crops of the pastyear.—
The roud appears to be doing a good business
bu subject to Insert for cattle killed, damages
of goods in transd, tc, as all other rolls
are. ■
Dkmocsatic Cavers.—The following pro
ceding* wore bad at the Democatic caucus
held m Washington on Saturday night.
A democratic caucus was held of Hie House
Mr. Taylor of Lot isiuna opened the ball. He
took no distinct ground. Uol. R clurdson
then withdrew his name as a candidate for
Speaker, but it was not acceph-d by the caucus.
Mr.,Cobb of Georgia followed, and took decid
ad ground in favor of continuing
til a speaker was chosen. S epln ns of Georgia
also took the same ground. Shorter of Ala
bama favored taking a new man. and U'gtd
them to support Fuller. Uadwaliad-rof Peim- •
Sylvania was oppos'd to all fusion. Orr, of
Sot th Carollniu «as for standing by their nom
inee and platform, and not snrreA'rning one
iota., .Q'lilutnn. of Mississippi, off red a reso
l iliouti at they continue bdlotingumil We lies
day and if uobp' uker be elected, then adopt
the plurality rule. This was hmt by two votes.
Alter considerable discussion, the following
resolution was unanimou- y adopted: 6
That we win adhere to onr plat
form and nominee, and that we recomend that
no Democratic member offer any position with
reference to p aker without previous cnwsola
tion io caucus, aud that the Chairman be re
queu ed to call them together.
After this they adjourned.
as> & e£ m«•£ ''