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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«•£ ''