Weekly Reveille, Volume 1, Number 26, Vevay, Switzerland County, 15 December 1853 — Page 2

but in coniequecce of 'the provisions of limitation in the existing laws; From the nature of. these claims, the remoteness of the tribunals to pass upon them, and (he raodt! in which the prpof is. of. necessity, furnished, temptations‘to crime have been greatly simulated by the obvious difficulties of detection.. The defects tn the law upon this subject arejo fatal to the ends of justice, that your early action relating to it is most desirable. ’

During the last fiscal year, nine million eight hundred mid nineteen, thousand fuur hundred and eleven acres of the’ public lands have been surveyed, and ten million three hundred and sixty three thousand eight hundred and ninety one acres brought into market. Within the same period, tt)e sales by public purchase qnd private- entry amounted tq one million eighty three thouaand fpur hundred am) ninety five acres; located under military faopnty land warrants, six million one hundred and forty : two thousand three hundred and sixty acres; located tinder other certificates^nine thousand four hun* dfed and twenty seven acres; ceded to the States as swamp lands, sixteen million six hundred apd eighty four, thousand two hundred and fifty three acres; selected fur raHrpad and, other objects, under acts of Qtmgress, one million 'four.hundred and twenty seven thousand four hundred and fifty seven sprea. ■; Total amount of lands disposed of with* jn the Cecal year* twenty five million three Jmpdred and forty six thousand, nine him? tired and ninety two apres; which is,an increase in quantity sold, and, located poder land warrants and grants, of twelve, million two hundred and thirty qne IhpHsand eight hundred atul eighty acres oyer the fiscal year immediately, preceding. The quantity of land sold during the second and third quartern pf J652, was three hundred and thirty four thousand and fifty one acres. The amount, received therefor, was six hundred and twenty three thousand six hundred and eighty seven dollars. The quantity sold the second and third quarters of the year IPs 3 . was one million six. hundred slid' nine thousand pine hundred and nineteen acres; anti the amount received therefor, iwq millions two hundred and. twenty six thousand eight hundred and seventy six dollars. The whole number qf (apd warrants issued unde resisting laws, prior tq the.'tpth September last, was two hundred and six-, ty six thousand apd (prly twp; of which thertf were outstanding at dial datp sixty six thousand niue hundred and forty seven. The quantity, of land required to satisfy these outstanding warrants is four million seven hundred and seventy eight thousaqd one hundred and twenty acres.

Warrants have been issued to 30th of September last, under the act or 11th February, 1817, catling for twelve trillion eight hundred ami seventy nine thousand two hundred and eighty-acres; under acw< of September 38,' 1850. and March 33. 1852, calling for twelve million-five hundred and five thousand three hundred snd sixty acres; making a total of twenty five million three liu.».l l ed- „ml ■ four thousand six hundred and forty acres.'. It is believed that experience has verified the wisdom and justice of the present system with regard to the public domain. In mbst essential particulars. You will; perceive,. tram the report of the Secretary ol the Interior, that opinions wbtoh have often been expressed-in relation to the operation of iha.land system, as not being a source of revenue to 1 the federal treasury,-n ere erroneous.The net profits from.tlur sale of the public lands to done the 30. 1853, amounted to the sum of fifty three million' twb hundred and eighty nine tboniand four hundred and eighty nine thousand four hundred and sixty five dollars, I recommend the extension of the land system over (hd Territories of Utah and New Mexico, with such modifications'as their peculiarities may require.

Regaiding our public domain as chiefly valuable to provide homes fur the industrious and enterprising,Ta tn.not prepared to recommend any essential change in the land ay step, .except by modifications in favor of (be actual settler, and an extension of the pre-emption principle in'certain cases, for reasons, and on grounds, which will be fully developed in;ihe reports to be laid before you. Congress, representing the proprietors of’the territorial domain, and charged especially with power to dispose of territory belonging to the United Stales,'has for a long course of .years, beginning.with die administration of Mr. Jefferson, exercised the power to construct roads within the territories; and there are so many and obvious distinctions between this exercise of power and that of making rands within the States, that the former has never beeir considered subject ta such objections as apply to the latter; and such may now be considered the settled construction of the federal government upon tbc subject. Numerous applications have been, and no doubt will continue to be, made for grants of land, in aid of the construction of railways. It is not believed to be, within the intent and meaning of the constitution, that the power to dispose of the public domain, should be used otherwise ihsb might be expected from a prudent proprietor, and. therefore, that grants of land to aid it) the construction of roads should be resit icicd in cases, where It would be for the interest of. a proprietor, under like circumstances, thus to contribute to the construction of these works. For the practical operation of such grants thus far, in advancing iho interests of die Stales to which the works are located, and.al the same time the substantial interests oi all the other States, by enhancing the. value and proninlutg tbc rapid sale of the public domain, I refer you to the report of the Secretary of* the Interior. A careful exatninatioo, ; however, wilt show dial this experience in, die result of n just discrimination, and wilt be far. from affording encouragement m a reckless ur indiscriminate extention of the principle. ; ' 1 commend to your favorable considers. Mon the tjimt■•of'genius of our country,

who by their inventions and discoveries to science and an. have contributed lajgelf to itiea improvements of the age, without. In many instances, securing for themselves anything like an adequate reward. For many interesting details upon the subject I refer you to the appropriate reports, and especially urge upon your'early attention the appaiemty slight, but really important modifications of existing Uwa therein suggested. . The liberal spirit which has; an long market) the action of Congress in relation to Ihe District of Columbia will, 1 have no doubt, continue. Iu be manifested.

The erection of an asylum fof.the insqipe of thp District qf. Columbia, apd of the army and navy of the United States, has been somewhat retarded by the great demand for materials and labor during the past summer; but full-preparations for the reception of patients, before the return of another winter, is anticipated; and there is ihebeaVreason to believe, from the plan and contemplated arrangements which have been devised with the large experience furnished within the last few years in relation'u> the nature and treatment of the disease, (hat it wilt prove an asylum indeed tq the most helpless and afflicted class of sufferers, and stand as a noble monument of wisdom and mercy. ’ Under the act of Congress of August lst, 1853, and of March 3d, 1533, designed insecure fur the cities of Washingiogtun and Georgetown an abundant supply of good and wholesome supply of good and wholesome water, (t became my duty to examine the report and plans of )he engineers who had charge of the surveys under thp act first named—The best if not the only plan, calculated to secure permanently the object song lit, w'qs that which contemplates taking the waterfront the Qreqt Falls of the Fotomac, and consequently, I gqve tq it my.approval. ■ For the progress and present condition of this important work, and for its demands, so faras appmpt rations are concerned, 1 refer you to the report of the Secretary of War. The present judicial system of the United States has been in operation for so long a period, of time, and has, in its general theory, and much of its details, become so familliar to the country, and acquired so entirely the ( publjc confidence that if modified in any respect, it should only be tq rims*) particulars which may adapt it in the increased extent, populatipq, and legal business of the United Stales In this relation the organization of the courts is now confessedly inadequate to the duties to be performed by them; in consequence of which the Stales of Florida, Wisconsin.'lowa, Texas, and California, ami districts of other States, are in effect excluded from the full benefits of the general system, by the functions .'of the circuit court being devolved on the district judges in all those Stales, or parts »of States.

The spirit of the constitution and a due regard to justice reqyire that all the States nf the Union should be placed oh lltC same fnotiui in regard to (he judicial tribunals, llh ere fore commend in your cousidt ration ibis important subject, which in my. judgement, demands the speedy action of-Congres?. 1 will present to you, if desirable, a plan, which lam prepared to recommend, for the enlargement and modification of lire present judicial system.

The act of Congress establishing the Smithsonian Institution, provided that (he President of (he United Stales, and other persons therein designated, should con' stitute- an ‘'establishment by that name, and that (lie members should hold slated and special meetings fur the supervision of the affairs of the Institution, . The organization not having taken place, it seem* ed to me proper that it should be effected without delay. This has been done; and an occasion was (hereby presented for in* specting the condition of the Institution, and appreciating its successful progress thus fur, and its high promise of great and general usefulness. 1 have omitted to ask your favorable consideration for the estimates of works of a local character in twenty seven of the thirty one Slates amounting, to one mil* lion seven hundred and fifty four thousand five hundred dollars, because, independently nl the grounds which have so often been urged against the application of the federal revenue for works of this character, inequality with consequent injustice is inherent hi the nature of (he proposition, and because (he plan has proved entirely inadequate to the accomplishment of the objects sought. The subject of iiuernatimprovemeitts, claiming alike the interest and good will of all, has, nevertheless, been the basis of much political discussion, and has stood as a deep graven line of division between statesmen : of eminent ability and patriotism. The rule of strict construction of all powers delegated by the Stales to the general government has arrayed itself, from time to time, against the rapid progress of expenditures from the. national treasury on works of a local character within the States. Memorable as an epoch in the history of this subject is the message of President Jackson, of the 27tlt of May* 1830, which met the system of internal improvements in its comparative infancy; but so npid'liad been its growth, | that the projected appropriations in that year for works of this character had risen to the alarming amount of more (hap one hundred million dollars.

In that message I ho President ad mil led the difficulty of bringing back the operations of ihe government to the construction of the constitution set up in 1798. ami marked it as an admonitory proof of the necessity of guarding- that instrument with sleepless vigilance against the authority of precedents, which had not the sancf its in nil plainly defined powers. Our government exists under a written compact between sovereign Stales, uniting for ; specific objects, and with specific grants to.their..genera} agent. If, then, jo the progress of its administration there tiave beeii depaftutes from the terms and intent of the compact, it is, and wilt ever he.-proper to rc-'n I.kV to tin fisc:!

standard which our fathers foft ju9,tnd(o make a Hero effort to conform our action, (o it. It would seem that the fact df'a| principle haring been resisted uniformly (rora the first by many of the wisest and most patriotic men of (he republic, and a policy haring- provoked constant-strife, without arming at a conclusion which can be regarded as satisfactory to' its moat earnest- advocates', should suggest the inquiry whether thfic rosy hot be a plan likely to be crowned by the happier ret suits, Without perceiving -any ammd distinction, or intending to assert.any principle as opposed to improvements needed for the protection of internal commerce, which does nut equally apply to improvements upon the seaboard for the protection of foreign commerce, I submit to you, whether it may not be safely anticipated that, it the policy were nnce settled against the general government for local improvements for the benefit of commeice, localities requiring expenditures would' not, by modes and means clearly legitimate and proper, raise the fond necessary for such constructions as the safety or other interests of their commerce might requite. If that can be regarded as a system, which, in ifie experience of more than thirty years, has at no lime so commanded the public judgement as to give it the character a settled pnlicy,—which, though it has produced some works of conceded-importance, has been attended with an expenditure quite disproportionate to their value,—rand has resulted in squandering large sums upon objects which have answered no valuable purpose —the interests of all the States require it to be abandoned, unipss hopes may be in-? tlutgpS fpr the future which find no warrant in the past,' -With an anxious desire for the cnro|de(ion of the works which are regarded by alt good citizens with sincere . interest, | have deemed, it my duty m ask at ynur hands a deliberate rpco ns [deration of. the question, with a hope that, animated by a desire to promote the permanent and substantial interests of the country, your wisdom may prove equal to the task of devising and'maturing a plan, which applied, to this subject, may promise something better than constant strife, the suspension of the’powera of local enterprise, the exciting of,vain hopes, and the disappointment of cherished expectations.

In expending ihe appropriations made by Ihd last Congress, several cases have arisen in relation to. works fur the improvements, of harbors, which:, involve questions as to the right of soil anil jurisdiction, and have threatened conflict be-, tween the authority- of the Stale ami general governments.—TbtCright to construct a breakwater, jetty, or dam, would seem, necessarily, to carry with it (he power to protect ami preserve such constructions. This can only be effectually done by having jurisdiction, over the soil. But.no ciau&d *>f (tie constitution is.found, on which to rest the claim of i!se United Slates to exercise jurisdiction over thr soil of a State, except that conferred by the eighth section of the first article of the constitution, Ills then,ftbmi(tei),. whether, in all cases where contractions are to be' erected by the general government, the right ot aoit should not lirsi.be obtained, and legislative provision be made to cover all such cases, . • ' . .

For the progress made in the construe, lion of roads' within the territories, as provided for in the appropriations of the last Contrrss, I. refer you to reyort of the Si«* retary of JVar. * There is one subject of a domestic na* lure which, from its intrinsic importance, and the many interesting questions of future policy,which it involves, cannot fail to receive your early attention. I allude to the means of communication, by which different parts cd the wide expanse of oiir country are to be placed in closer connection for purposes both of defence and commercial intercourse, and more especially such as appertain* to the: communication of those great divisions of the Union, which lie on the opposite sides of;the Ilorky Mountains. v That the government has not been mimindfuljof this heretofore, is apparent from the aid it has afforded, through appropriations for mail faeililie and other purposes. But the general subject will now present itself under aspects mure impoai ng and more purely national, by reason of the surveys ordered by Congress, and now in the process of completion, for communication by railway across the continent, and wholly within the limits of the United Stales. 1

The power to declare war, lit raise and support armies, to provide and maintain a Navy, and to call forth the militia to execute the laws, suppress insurrections, and repel invasions, was conferred upon Congress. as means to provide for the common defence, and to protect a territory and a population now widespread and vastly multiplied, As incidental to and indispensable for the exercise of this power, it must sometimes be necesary id construct military roads and protect barbate of refuge. To appropriations by Congness for such objects, no sound objections can be raised. Happily for our court try, its peaceful policy and rapidly increasing population impose upon tin no urgent necessity for preparation, and leave but few trackless des* erts between assailable points and a patriotic people ever ready and generally able to protect them. These necessary links, the enterprise and energy, of nur people are steadily and boldly struggling to supply- All experience adirtns that, whereever private enterprise wilt avail, it is most wise for the general government to leave to that and individual watchfulness the location and execution of all means of communication.

The surveys before alluded to were designed to ascertain the most practicable and economical route for a railroad from the Mississippi to the Pacific ocean.— Parties are now -in the. field miking ex. plorations, where previous examinations had not supplied sufficient data, and'where there was the best reason to hope the object sought might be found. The means b:th limited, it boot to bo

expected that all the accurate knowledge ] desired will be obtained, hot it is hoped ! that much and important information will I be added to the stock previously, possess-j ed, and that partial, if not full reports of the surveys ordered wilt be reccivedi in time for transmission to the two houses of Congress, on or before the first Monday in February next, as required by the act of appropriation.* The magnitude of the enteiprize contemplated has aroused, and will continue to excite, a very general interest throughout the country. : In its political, its commercial, and in military bearings, it hat varied, great, and increasing claims to consideration. The heavy expense, the great , delay, and, at limes, fatality attending travel .by either of the isthmus routes, have demonstrated die advantage which would result from interior turial communication by such safe and rapid mejns as a railroad would supply. • These difficulties, which hare been en countered in a period of peace, would be magnified and still further increased in time of war. But whilst the embarrassments already encountered, and others Under new contingencies to be anticipated, may serve strikingly to exhibit the importance of sqch a work, neither there, nor all considerations combined, cm have ah appreciable value, when weighed against the obligation- strictly to adhere to the constitution, and fq fitfully to execute the powers it confers. Within (fits litqii and ta the extent of the interest qf the government involved, it would seem both expedient and proper, if qn economical aqd practicable route shall be found, to aid, by all constitutional means, iq thn construction ql q road, which wjll unite; by speedy transit, the population °f >h e - pacific qnfi Atlantic Stqtes. Tp guard agqiqsl misconception, it should be remarked that, although ifie power lo construct, of aid in the construction of, a roafi within the limits of q territory is not embarrassed by . that question of jurisdiction which, would .arise within the limits of a State, |t is nevertheless held-to be of doubtful power, and mqrc than doubtful propriety, within ifie. limits of a territory, for the general government to undertake* to qdtninisie'r the affairs of a rail: road, a can*), pr other similar construction;'and therefore that its connection with a work qf this character should be incidental rather than primary. 1 will only add, at present, that fully appreciating the magnitude of the subject, and solicitous that the Atlantic and Pacific shores of the republic may ,be bound together by inseparable tics of common interest, as well as of common fealty and attachment to the Union, 1 shall be disposed, so far 'as my own action is concerned, to follow the lights of: the constitution, as expounded and illustrated by those, whose opinions and. expositions constitute the standard of my political faith in regard to the. powers of the federal government..,,lt is, I trust, not necessary to grandeur of enterprise, and no, present‘urgcnt induce meat promising popular f|vor, will iead me ’to disregard ihose lighiyror to depart from that path. which experience has proved, to be safe, and which Is. now radiant with the glow of prosperjty. and legitimate constitutional, progress, We can ifford to wait, but we cannot afford to ovCrlookthe ark of our security. ‘ : . / It ia no pari of roy purpose to give prominence to,any subject, which may properly be regarded as set at rest, by the deliberate jndgmerir.of (be people. Bui while the present is bright]with promise, and the future full of demandVnd.inducement for the exercise of active intelligence, the past can never be without useful lessons of admonitions arid instruction. 1C its dangers serve not as beacons, they will evidently fail to .fulfil ihe qbjeci qf a wise design.: When the grave'shill have closed over all] who are now endeavoring to meet (he obligations .of duty, the year 1850 will be recurred to u a period filled with anxious apprehension. .. ~ A successful war had just'terminated. Peace brought with.it a vast augmentation lof territory. Dialurbing questions arose; bearing upon the domestic institutions of one-portion of the confederacy* and involving the constitutional rights of the States. Bui, notwithstanding differences of opinion and sentiment, which then existed in relation to details and specific provisions, the acquiescence of distinguished citizens, whose devotion lo the Union can never be doubted, has given renewed vigor to our institutions, and restored a sense of repose and security to the public mind throughout the confederacy. That this repose is to suffer no shock during my official term, if 1 have power to avert it, those who placed me here may be assured.

The wisdom of men, who knew what independence cost, who had pul all at stake upon the Issue of the revolutionary struggle,—disposed of the subject to which I refer, in the only way consistent with the union of these States, and with the march of power and prosperity which has made us what we are. It is a significant fact, that from the adoption of the constitution, until the officers and soldiers of the revolution hud passed to their graves, or, through the infirmities of age and wounds, had ceased to participate actively in public affairs, there was nut merely a quiet acquiescence in, but « prompt vindication of, the constitutional rights of the States.- The reserved powers were scrupulously respected. No statesman put forth the narrow views of casuists to justify Interference- and agitation, but the spirit of the compact was regarded as sacred in the eye of honor, and indispensable for the great experiment of civil liberty, which, environed by inherent difficulties, was yet home forward in apparent weakness by a power superior to all obstacles. Thera is no great condemnation, which the voice of freedom will not pronounce upon us, should we prove faithless to this great trust. While men inhabiting different parts of this vast continent can no more be expected to hold the same opinions, or entertain the same sentiments, than every variety of climate or soil run bo expected to furnish the

same agricultural products, (hey can.uoite in a common object and sustain common principles essential to the maintenance of that object. The 'gallant men of the south and. the north could stand together during the struggle of the; Revolution; they could stand together in the more trying period which succeeded the.clangor of arms. As their united valor was adequate to all the trials of the camp and dangers of the held, so their united wisdom proved equal to the -gt eater task of founding, upon a deep and broaiT basts, institutions, which it lias been our .privilege to enjoy, and will ever be our most sacred duly, to susUin.

It is but the feeble expression of a faith strong and universal, lossy that their sons, whose blond mingled so often .upon the same Geld, during the war of .1812, and who have more recently borne in triumph' the flagol the country upon a foreign soil, will never permit alienation of feeling to weaken the power of-their united efforts, nor internal dissentioas to paralyze the great arm of freedom, uplifted for the vindication of self-government, 1 have thus briefly presented such suggestions as seem to me especially worthy of your consideration. In providing for the present you can bardly'fail (6 avail yourselves of the light, which the experience of the past casts upon the future. The growth of our population has now brought us, in the destined career of our national history, to a point at which it well behooves os to expand our vision over the vast prospective. The successive decennial returns of the census since the adoption of the constitution have reveqled a law of steady progressive development, which may be staled, in general terms, as a duplication every quarter century. Carried forward, from the point already reached, for only a dfiort period qf time as apticabtc to the existence of a qqtinn, this (aw of progress, if Unchecked, will bring tts to almost incredible results. 1 \ Iqrge allowance for a diminished proportional effect of emigration would not very materially reduce the'estimate, while , the increased average of human life* known to fiuve already resulted from the scientific and hygenjc improvements of the past fi ftp years, will tend to keep up through the next fifty, dr perhaps hundred, the same ratio of growth, which has been thus revealed in our prOgress;and to the influence of these causes maybe added the influx of laboring masses from eastern Asia to the Pacific side of our possessions, together with the probable accession of the populations' existing iri other parts of our hemisphere, which, withm the period in question, will feet, with] yearly increasing force, the natnral anynciton so vast, powerful, and prosperous a confederation of self-governing republics, and will seek the privilege oi being admitted within its safe and happy bosom, transfering with themselves, by a peaceful and healthy process of incorporation., spacious regions of virgin and exuberant soil, which are destined to swarm with the .fast growing and fast spreading millions of our race. These coosidrations seem fully to justify the presumption! that the law of pupula-' tion above stated will continue lb act .with umliminibhed effect, through at least the next half-century; and that thousands of persons who have already arrived at maturity, and are now exercising the rights of freemen, will close their eyes on the spectacle of more than one hundred millions of population embraced within'the majestic proportions of the American Union. It is not merely as an interesting topic of speculation that I present these views for your consideration. . They have important prat deal bearings upon all the political duties we ire called upon to perfom. Heretofore, our system of government has worked qn what may be termed a miniature scale, in comparison with the ' development, which it roust .thus assume, within a future so near at hand, as scarcely to be beyond the presence of the existing generation; *. It is evident that a confcralion so vast and so varied, both innumbers and tentorial extent, in habits afad in[ interests,could only be kept in national cohesion by the wildest fidelity to the principles of the constitution, as understood by those who have adhered lo thßrnosiresirictedconsirticiiop of the. powers granted by the people and the elates. Interpreted and applied iccordiog to those principles, the great compact adapts itself with healthy ease 4* freedom to an unlimited extension of that benign system oi federative self-government, of which it is our glorious end, 1 trust, immortal charter. Let us then, with redoubled vigilance, be on our guard against yielding to the temptation of the exercise of doubtful powers, even under the pressure of the motives of conceded temporary advantage and apparent temporary expediency-

The minimum of federal government, compatible with the maintenance of national unity efficient action in mir relations with the rest of the world, should afford the rule and measure of construction of our powers under the genera) clausea of the consiiiulinn. A spirit of strict deference to the sovereign rights and duty of every state, rather than a disposition to subordinate the states into a provincial relation to the central authority, should characterise allour exercise of the respective powers temporality vested in us as a sacred trust from the generous confidence of our constituents. In like manner, as a manifestly indispensable condition of the perpetuation of the Union, and of the realization - of that magnificent national future advened to, docs the duty become yearly stronger and clearer upon u«, as citizens of the several states, to cultivate a fraternal and affectionate spirit, language, and conduct, in regard to other statea, and in relation to the varied interests, institutions, and habits of sentiment and opinion, which may tespeclively characterise them. Mutual forbearance, respect and noninterference in our personal action ai citizens, and an enlarged exercise of liberal principles of comity in the public dealings of State, with. State, whether in legislation or in the execution of laws, are the means to perpetuate that confidence and fraternity, the decay of which a mere political union, on so vail a scale, could not long survive.

In atiU another point of view. Is an im* poruttt practical duly suggested by tliii consideration of the. magnitude of dimen 1 aioos, to whir It our political system, will! iu coresponding’machinery of government, ts to rapidly expanding. With increased vigilance does it require us id cultivate the cardinal virtues of public frugality and official integrity and purity. Public affairs ought lo be so conducted that a settled conviction shall pervade the entire Union* that nothing short of the highest tone and standard of public 'morality marks every part of the administration and legislation of the general government.. Thus will thtf federal system, whatever expansion lime and progress may give it, continue more and more deeply rooted in the love and confidence of the people. - That wise economy, which is as' far removed from parsimony as from corrupt and corrupting extrvagsnce.—that single regard for the public good, which will frown upon all attempts to approach the treasury with insidious projects of priVawf interest cloaked under public pretexts: tbaf sound fiscal administration, .which in the legislative department, guards against the dangerous temptations incident to overflow* ing revenue, ,and, in the executive, maintains an unsleeping watchfulness agams* the tendency of all national expenditure? to extravagance,—while'they are admitted elementary political duties, may, 1 trust be deemed as • properly : advened in and urged, in view uf the more impressive tense of that necessity, which is directly sugges--ted by the considerations now presented. Since the adjournment of Congress, the 1 Vice President of the United States has passed from the scenes of earth, without having entered upon the duties of the station to which he had been- called by the voice of his coun rymen Having occupied, almost .continuously, fnt more* than thirty yeats, a scat in one or the oth' er of the (wo Houses of Congress, and having, by his singular purity anti wisdom, secured unbounded confidence and universal respect, his failing health wa* watched by the nation with painful solicitude. His lots lo the cuuntiy, under ail (he circumstances, has been justly regard* ed as irreparable.

In compliance with the act of Congress, of March *4, 1853, (he oath of office was administered to him on the 24th of that month, at Ariadne estate, near. Malanias, in the island of Cuha; but his strength gradual? declined, and was hardly sufficient to enable him to return tu his home in Alabama, where, on the eighteenth day of April ip die most calm and peaceful way, his long and eminently useful career was terminated.

Entertaining unlimited confidence ‘in yotitimel yem ami patriotic dcroiiowtn the public interest, and being conscious of no motives on my part which are not inseparable from the honor and advancement of my country, | hope it may be my privilege to deserve am) secure, uni only your cordial co-operation in great public measores.hul also I hose relations of mutual confidence and regard, which jt is always so desirable to cultivate between members of co-ordinate branches of tie government, KUANKUN PIERCE. Washington, . D. U., Dec. 6, 1n53,

[For the Weekly Reveille. Commencement ol fire TVouv,

There will be addresses delivered upon ilie subject of Temperance, at the fcUuwing places and times;— ' Vcvay, Thursday, January 12, at 7 P. Jf.— John Dumont. :

Mt. Sterling, January 12, at 7 P. >l.—Ret. J. B. Sparks. Jacksonville, Thursday, Jan. 13, at 7 P. MV —Rev. I). Wason.'

Salem M. K. Church, Thursday, Jan. 13th,. 7 P. M.-R. N. Lamb.

Sc hoonorer’s School House, Friday, January 13th, 7 P. Ml—Rev. A. Atkinson.

- Jefferson Churth, Saturday, Jan. Hth, 7 P. M.—Reson Barns.

Square, Monday, Jan 15th, at 7 P. M.—Rev. F. D. Bland.

Nashville, .Monday, Jan. 16, 7 P. M.—Rev,. J-B, Lathrop. j Predonla Baptist Church, Jan. 16, 7 P. M,. —John Q. McCallum. , Stone School House, Thursday, Jan. 19, 7. P; M.—Geo. McCullough.'

Let (tie people turn out. The late de*. ciaion of the Supreme Conn leta looseupon ui the deadly traffic. Lei every friend of humanity be at his post, and secure a lav that wjll be effectual and con*, atiluiional, for. the-.extermination of the nefarious and murderous trade.-

Methodist Church Cm.—The matter of depute between' the' Northern and Southern Church, which has been in the Courts for so long a lime, appears now to have been settled. The Southern section is to receive the regular dividend, with interest since, the year 1345, 870,000, and the press at Richmond. Nashville and Charleston, valued at 8I3.0Q0; all dues from Snuihem- States estimated at s3o,' 000, and cash $121,000. The Trustees of the Book Concern, at Cincinnati, have not assented, but it is thought probable that they will.

OiT A meeting was held at Ft. Wayne, Ind., on last Tuesday night, for the discussion of the propriety and necessity lor the enactment of a prohtbiltry liquor law. Judge Hanna, an old and influential citN zen of that place, made a speech in favor of such a law. The editor of thn 77mes is of opinion that a majority of the people of Allen couniy will rote for a candidate for (he Legislature who will go for it.

OCT The Aurora Banner states that a married lady, a native of Switzerland couniy, can sol type at the tale 10,000 ems per day, besides attending to hep household duties 1