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an ti LOUIS D. COWAN',] VOLUME XVI. "ETERNAL 1! OSTILITY TO EVERY FORM OF OPPRESSION OYER THE MIND OR BODY OF MAN."—Jefferson. [Editor and Proprietor. lilDDEFORD, ME., FRIDAY MORNING, JANUARYS, 18.59. NUMBER 2. ftjjc pinion £ Journal PI BUSHED EVERY FRIDAY MORNING, Office—IIooprrN Ilrlck I) lock, up Htalra, Liberty Street. Blddeford, Me. TERM8: Two Dollar* Pkk A**iii—orOn I>oli ar axt Kirrr t'R*T*. If paid within J mouths from time ol subscribing. Single copies, I cents. Advertising Rate*. One square or 1cm, fi Insertions) .... fl.o# Each subsequent insertion. id A square la 13 line* Nonpareil tvp«. Special Notice*—one week—six line* or less, M eenta ; exceeding ail llne\ *> cenu a line. The word "Advertisement" will be placed evei all uotloca. In the nature of an advertisement, in serted In the reading columns. Yearly a<lvertiser* will be charged $1200, (paper Included; and limited to average one (di*pta» ed, •quart, weekly; exeea■ to tw paid for In proportion. rjTNo notice taken of an»n>oioua couiuiunlca 11m*. JOB PRINTING OF ALL KINDS, Such *i Pamphlet*. Town Report*. School Re* ports, Hand-bill*, PiMters,Showbill*, Insurance Pol foiea, L*l>« I* of every description, • aril*, of all kind*, pr!ut«*d in a *uperior manner ; Concert Tick ets, Auction bill*. Jlc., Jto., executed at thia office with n»*tne«* ami di»p*tch,an4 on the most reason able term*. Order** for printing are respectfully solicited. aa every ttentiou will be paid to meet the want* an<l wishes of customers. JAMES T. CLEAVES. .Printer. IS IT COME f The following'» the poem that attracted the at tention oftho Marquis of Landsdownc, and induced him to make a present of £10) to the authoress, Miss Franco* llrown—fKdinbur» Ladies Owu. Is it come? they said on the banks of the Nile Who look'd for the world'* Ion); promised day. All mw but the strife of Egypt'* toil With the desert's sands and ihe granitegrey. From the pyramid temple, and treasured dead W« vainly v«W for her wisdom'* plan; They tell us of che slave and tyrant'* dread— Yet there was hope when that day began. Tho Chaldee cttne with his starry lore. That built up Uahylon'a crown and creed; * And brick* were stainpe I on the Tigris shore With sign* which our mscs scarce can read. From Ninus' Temple and Ximrod's Tower The rule of the old East's empire spread. Unreasoning faith and unquestioned power— But still, I* it oomef the Watoher said. The li^ht of the I'crtiin'j wonhijtjtol Uame, The ancient bondage its splendor threw; An<l once on the West a sunrise came. When (ircece to her freedom's trust wu true. With dreams to the utmost aires dear. With human go-U and with god-like men. No marvel the hr-off day seemed near To eyes that looked through her Uurela then. The Romans conquered and revelled, too. Till honor and faith and |Htwer were gone. And deeper old Enropt'i darkness grew As wave after wave the Goth caine on. The gown was learning, the sword was law. The people served in the oxen's stead, But ever some gleam the Watcher saw. And evermore, Li it come? they said. Poet and Seer that question caught Above the din of life's fears and frets; It marched with letter*—it toiled with though Thro' schools and creeds which the earth for g*ta; The statesmen trifle, and priests deceive, And tradesmen barter our world away; Yet hearts to that golden promise cleave. And still, at times. Is it come? they say. The days of the nation t>ear no trace Of all the sunshine so far foretold ! The cs.nnon speaks in the teacher's place— The age is weary with work and gold; And higher hopes wither, and memories wane— On hearths an l altars the fires arc dead; But that brave faith hath not lived in vain; Aud this is all that our Watcher sai<L COUSIN JONATHAN. _ # Before a bright fire, in a hmdsoniely fur nished drawing-room, two u-rsons Mikm! one evening—A Toung uud lovely girl, with a inerrv, bewitching glunco and smile. She wa* dressed in something soft and whito that floated round her like a mist, and in her nut-brown hair nestled a half-blown row. Her companion w.i< a uian juist the prime of young manhood ; and, perlups, the lirst impression hia itmKxtrAnw rw wm that ol awkwardnew* on It. Short andungnuvfully, yet powerfully undo, with feature* fur froiu regular, it would h.« difficult to diwerihe him as other than a pluin man, of some tivn and forty years ol age. Yet he hud one charm —a voice of wonderful riehnem and depth ; nit r.nd gentle, too, when shaking to hit lair companion. *'I hope vou wil enjor it aS much a* vou eiprvt, A lie*." "I hope 1 shall; hut, cousin, why are you not going with us?" ••Vou will not miss me, and I have letten to write thin evening. Uoside*. wrhat should an old fello* like me do at a lull?" Alice turned round and g.w • him a vorjt saucv look out of her hrowu vy<m. •• U'hat a silly thing you are, Cousin Jona than." At that moment a tall, h'-urty-looking old IpnUomtn entrrtho room, evidently enjoying pome much to hu own satisfaction.— Ileoanal a jiureel in his hand. •'See, Miaa WUt, here's a queer sort of a thing come for jou. you imagine what it is ! I m sun-1 «««v* * She unfolded the «tW*r ,,™,and brought to light an CKjuisito hu,luet uf hol.houJh, flowers. "0, how lovely! how r«*j , jjut who can hare sent thorn?" She glanced at her cousin as «poket laughing. ♦•Not Jonathan, I'm sure." said her feu*, er ; "he's old enough to hare more sense.'' 41 Did you send them?" persisted Alice moving nearer to him, and her voice faltering a very littls. '• I, no. Is it likely? See, here is a cani in the paper." She took it up and read aloud: "With Captain Ray'a compliments." * "Venr polito—verr proper—very kind," —-said her Esther, rubbing his hands—"ran much so iodoc*J." Cousin Jonathan moved away. Wr. Braybrooke took his daughter's hand, and turning her deliberate!? round, examin ed her with apparent satisfaction. "Not atnim, in it, Jonathan ?" said ho ap pealing to their <|uiet coinjmnion. ' That gentleman was reading a letter, and looking up for a moment, replied—"Certain ly not, sir." He bent over the |iuper again,but any one near might have seen it tremble iu hut hand. Alice grew very rosy, and drew up her slender figure to its full lieight. "l*ray, I«J«. dun't ask Mr. Waring to ad miae me;you disturb him from his letter; ami, besides—i—I'm sure it dxien't—I don't"— "My opinion can Iw of no value, I know," said her cousin, with another glance from his occupation. "Never uiind him, I*uss," added Mr. Ilrajbrooke, a" he thought ho saw Alice'i lip quiwT; "these old Uichelors always are crtiss and ill-tempered." "The carriage is at the door," cried tho footman, entering very opportunely. Mr. Hnijhrooke left thu room, and Alice's maid c.ime in with a warm cloak of white and cherry-colored silk. "(i-Kjd-night," Mid the little lady. Then ttiir* was charmingly put on, and a black veil thrown over her head. Mr. Waring looked up. She stood beside him, holding out a tiny white gloved hand. He took it, saying—"(.tood ni^ht: I hope your 'tint Inill' will In.* a merry one, Alice." The hand lingered in his. "If you were only coming, Cousin Jona than"— He interrupted her quickly, almost harsh* "Hut I'in not; s » good night." She went away silently, but turning at the door to nay "Good night" once more, ho fancied he saw tenr« glistening through the shadowy black veil over her faco. lie started to his feet, but a thought seem ed to strike him and ho sat d »wn to his pa |»er* again, muttering—"She'll make me make a fool of myself, whether I will or no, with that voice and those pleading eyes. IVhaw ! a man at my age—ridiculous '" And his jien went Cuter than ever. Hour after hour |>as*ed on, and still he was busily at work. One—two—three o'clock struck. There was a hustle in the hall below. He heard Alice's clear ringing laugh—that laugh that was liko no other, Mr. Hrayhrooko's hearty voice, and another —a voice he did not know. They cauie up stairs—Alice, her father, and a tall, elegant looking young man in uniform. "Mr. Waring, Captain Ituy"? mid Mr. Hr.ivltrttokfl: arni then the three liegun to tulle over the lull, und appparently forgot the very existeneo of the writer at the soiu tuhle. Jonathnn Wuring's heart grew full of bit ternew. Alice glanced once towanla him, saw him pale and with compressed lijw*. Ilcr eye grew brighter, ner laugn more joyous. Captain Ituy thought her each mo rn! more and ruorv lovely. were brought in, and soon after the captain took leuve—not, however,: before he hud promised to call on tho mor-1 row, and bring Alice a book he felt sure she would like. ••I am sorrv you sat up for us," said Al ic«, us Mr. Waring wu* leuving the room, letter* in bund ; "you look quite tired out." "Thank you, but I do not feci no." "It must have been a lonely evening for yo»." "Not at all; I was too busy to find it bo. (i«»kI night." "(h*hI night, cousin. How do you like Captain Knv!" "I think liim a vcrv elegant man." ,'So do I; very fascinating, too." "I can well fancy it." "liood ni|»ht." She ran up the stair* half-way, then turn ed and ran down to hiiu again. "Cousin Jonathan, will you tell mo if you think I looked nico to-night? Keully, 1 mean"'— "To me you looked just as usual." "Well, many peoplo told me I"— "I<ooked lovely, no doubt; mid as plenty of other* told you so, there is all tho 1m iknhI for me to do it. Now, good night. <i 1 up stairs ; you will ho quite tired out to morrow, if you do not." Alice, when in her own room, wept bitter ly. "He sees you cure for him, and shun.« you. Hp wants to guard you froinvouwolf," whispered pride. Some weeks had (tanked sinco Alico's first ttall. It wax the height of the season, and of all the beauties that lluttoroil nightly from one scene of piioty to another, nono was nrnre admired, more ceurted than tlio loveljr Alico llrayhrooke. People Mid sho wan a "bit of a flirt"—and perhaps people were not very wrong; certainly it seemed so. "I^egion " was the name of bor lovers, and nhe ap|>.ir ntly enjoyed their admiration i to no small degree*?. Soiue time* "that ouiet Mr. Waring" w:is seen with herself and Iter father,hut not often. No one took much notice of liiiu, and he did 1 not keep with Miss Bray brookc much, unless nhe happened to tire herself with dancing too I h»ng or routing where there w:w u chill draught; then Cousin Sonathan w-.m pure to he near with a kind won! of warning, or her : scurf ready to put on. One morning , an nhe lay huri<>d in the cushions ot a luxurious sofu, trying to read a newly-published novel, Mr. Waring came into the room, and struck with the wcuried, listless expression oi her face, stopped, and , asked her if she had a headache. "No, not much, thank you. What time I is it?" "Nearly two. May 1 sit withyoua little, | Alice ? I have a great deal to say to you." The weary look wax gone in a moment; it > was a very unusual thing for him to ask t«Y stay with her, and it only make her color j come. ••Who sent you thia, Alice! Which of the adoring swains?" "Mr. Craven sent it to me." "Did yon ever bear an old song, •Heigh ho, ho • I'm afraid too many" '— "Hush !"cried Alice rather pettishly. "If you talk in that war I shall send you away." He took her hand and held it in both his own. "My dear little cousin, will you take a word of advice from one who rmlly has ! y»ur good'at heart ?" Sbe neither spoke nor withdrew her hand. I "Yo*» hare no mother to watch over you, 'kar Alico, aud are placed in what I know ; j must b« a vert trying position. I am sure : *ou w'lsh to do right; hut it is Tery "*rd to ro,^p,> frum unfcjnj remarks of the world. You are very Toung, very lovo ly ; many envy you—many censure you "— He paused a moment, and Alico "hid her mce upon the arm of th« sofa. "Do not think me presuming, dear Alioo, in speaking thus ; we Qiu friends—we shall alwajs be friends, shall we not ?" Her fingers dosed upon his. "Remember that you have much to answer lor, many responsibilities. Above all, Uilcc care that you do not make other* unhappy, or tritle with affection, which, if true, in more priceless than all tho wealth of the worhl. You know what I mean , Alice!" "Yes." "Do not raise hope* unless you mean to fulfill them." Sho wan sobbing in a low, subdued manner, thut went to his heart. "You are not angry with me, Alice?" Angry with him ? If lie could only read her heart. "Wo old bachelors aro privileged person*, you know. Nay, you must not sob in this way. 1 only wanted to give you a word of caution before I go. "<io!" cried Alice, springing to her feet. "0, aro you going to leave me?" lie was not prewired for this. lie hardly dared trust himself to look on her, as she sto> h1 there with daipod hands and quivering lifts. "Ye*, lam going back to Leaoombe. I have Ihvii here too long !" ho added to him self—but she heard tho words. "Too long! Then you havo been dull, lonely, with us—and now you are going! 0, what shall I—what shall we do without you?" "Nay, Alice, you will hardly miss me. It is not as though I were a young man, and could bo moro com]mnionable to you. Besides, my people at Lescotubo want mo; and—but, Alice, do not cry, I cannot bear it, dear child." That wnrd recalled her to herself. It was better to hear it from him. Yes, he thought of her as a child ; and she—she had d ired to love him, not as a child loves, but as a wo man. She had poured out her whole heart at his feet, und perhaps ho knew that it was so—perhaps he scorned her for it! She <'ashed tho tear-dro|«i from her eyes, struggled to stay tho sjbs that nearly choked her, and sat down by his sido. "Tell me about Lescombe." Leecomhe was his home—the manor-houso of a country village. Ho told of his tenant ry, and how js>or some of them were; of the efTorts ho hud mode, und was making to improve their condition ; of the schools ho bad built, and the pew parsonage in progress; of how he visited among them, and tried to win their confidence and love; und, as ho spoke so earnestly and truthfully of ull this, his homely face to her seemed beautiful, with a higher beauty than that of mere form, and sho felt, as she had often felt before, that to bo his wife would bo tho happiest lot on earth, and one of which she was un worthy. Mr. Waring was in reality but a distant connection of her father's; but Alico had known him since sho was a little child, and the name of "Cousin Jonathan" given to him then was retained in ufter years. She hud always looked upon him as her friend, unconsciously hud learnt to lovo him us wo man love* but once. The very fact of his being so many years older than herself had, for a time, blinded her us to the real nature of her feelings ; but when she met with that lovo from others, which she would then have given all tho world to possess, she knew how it was, and bitter, very hitter, were the juings of wounded prldo in her young heart. "When do you leave us?" asked Alico, as sho rose to quit the room. "To-morrow,"he replied, without looking at her. That night they had an engagement, Al ico made tea for them in tho dmwing room, j "My darling, are you not well?" said Mr. Braybrooko, taking her hnnd in his. Mr. Woriug looked oarne«tly at her for a moment. A bright crimson spot burnt on cuch cheek, but there was a livid circle round her eye*, and her li|« were almost colorless. A strange thought camo over him—a thought that tnudo his pulse bound wildly, und his hand tremble. Could it tie so? He tried to put tho thought from him. lie dared not dwell up on it. The footman entered. "Captain Hay is in tho library." "Why did you not show him inhere?" asked old llruyhrooko sharply. • lie asked to see you alone, sir.' Alico had risen and walked to tho firo placo, when* she stood holding tho mantlo % shelf with both hands, hut Mr. Waring had caught a glim)*' of her face as sho passed— ' it was deathly jule. Her father left the ' room. • Thcro was a dead silence. •She knew of this, hence her agitation,' I thought Mr. Waring, as ho covered his eyes | with his hands, to shut out tho sight of her from before hiui. The sileneo continued unbroken, and he felt his self-control deserting him. 'Alice, 1 shall go to my room. I have letters to see to—und—1 might Ito in the way. She turned to him—such a mute express ion of anguish on her foco that ho uttered an exclamation of horror and surprise. She rin'tchcd out her hands to him, a* though in wild entreaty. lie ^rang to her, clamp ing her hands, liko death, so cold, bo lilo less. •Alloc, darling, do not look in that way ; nil will Ihj well. You will 1x5 happy—you niunt. (iod blew you and him !' lie hurried from her presence, feeling un able to Imir it a moment longer. The morning camo—the morning of a day fmught with fearful interest to Alice llray brooke—the day that must part her from Mr. U'aring, and decide the fate of Captain Hay, for Alico had petitioned time to think. Shu camo down to the breaklaot-room look ing almost liko a living statuo, mo calm, so pale. Mr. Hruyhrooke wan m>t yet down, But a figure stood in the deep bay win dow. •Good morning, Cousin Jonathan." lie started ami turned at her voice. 'I have a beautiful morning for my jour ney.' , •Very. What tirno do you go?' (In an hour.' •Then I must give you your breakfast.* •You shall; but first I have a word to say to you. N ay, Alice, do not look afraid; it is no lecture this time—only to tell you how ilivply, how fervently, I pray that the lot in life you have chosen may bo a hanpy one.' lie had meant to bo very culm, but his voice fultcml, and, unknowingly, he alraoat crushed the delicate hand*, as ho held them in his own. She raised her calm, sad eye* to his face •I And tou caro this much about me, Cous in Jonathan ?' •Care, Alice?' •I did not think you cared so much. I am very, very glad. She spoke so low, that it was almost a whisper ; but suddenly clasping her hands, and holding ono of his to her huart, sho went on to speak vehemently, passionately—all her assumed calmness gone. •I know that to you, so noble, so ture, so good, 1 soem but as a weak and erring child; hut tin not think that all your kindness can lx» by mo forgotten, or that my hcurt is not full of gratitude for every gentlo word you xp<rkc; and, inorw than all, for telling mo when I was wrong, which noonoclso beside has ever done." She would have spoken more, hut some thing in his face arreted her. Hid voice Hounded hoarse and unnatural. 'Alico, hush ! you know not what you do.' A change came over In-r. She drop|>ed his hand, and with both her own printed tightly down h|H>n her breast, oh though to stay its Inciting, stood gazing on him with wondering eyes and parted lips, from which all shade of color had (aded. 'Alice, leave me! in mercv leave me !' - Hut she stood as thougfi rooted to the ground. •Would to CJod I loved her less !' burst from him like a groan. She heard it, and her lips moved, her arm* were stretched out to him; one uncertain step forward, and she fell senseless at hid feet. Cousin Jonathan did not lcavo town that dav, Captain Hay did. \Vlicn tho winter wuu coming, Lcsconibo had its master luck again, but ho did not coiiif alone. Alico lived a happy woman, for sho had ono ever with her who could guide her ri^lit, ami sometimes she used to cull him 'Cousin Jonathan.'—lilackxcooiVs Magazine. IBM Fellow Citinni of the Senate and Uuuie of Repreeentaticet: Our deep and heart-folt gratitude i* du0 to that Almighty Power which has bestowed upon uk such varied and numerous blessings throughout the past year. The general health of tho country ha* been excellent; our har vests have been unusually plentiful, and pros pcrity smiles throughout tho land. Indeed, notwithstanding our demerits, we have much reason to beliove, frotn tho past events in our history, that we hitvo enjoyed the special pro tection of Divine Providence ever since our origin as a nation. We have been exposed to many threatening and alarming dililculties in our progress ; but on each successive oc casion tho impending cloud has been dissi pated at tho moment it appeared ready to burst upon our head, and the danger to our institutions has passed away. May wo ever bo under tho diviuo guidance and protection. The Harper't Ferry Affair. Whilst it u tho duty of thcl'rcsidcnt "from time to time to give to Congress information of the stato of tho Union," I shall not refer in detail to the reccnt sad und bloody occur* rences at Harper's Ferry. Still, it is proper to observe that these events, however bad nnd cruel in themselves, derive their chief importance from tho apprehension that they are but symptoms of an incurable disease in tho publio mind, which may break out in still more dangerous outrages, and terminato at lant in an open war by tho North to abol ish slaveiv in the South. Whilst, for myself, I entertain no such apprehension, they ought to afford a solemn warning to us all to beware of tho approach of danger. Our Union is a stako of such inestimable valuo as to do* maud our constant and watchful vigilanco for its preservation. In this view let me imp*ore my countrymen, North and South, to pulti vnto the ancient feeling of mutual forbearance and good will towards each other, and strive to allay the demon spirit of sectional hatred and strife now alive in the land. This advice proceeds from the heart of an old public func* lionary whose services commenced in tho last generation, among tho wiso and conservative statesmen of that day, now nearly all passed away, and whoso tirst and dearest earthly wish is to leave his country tranquil, prosper* ous, united and powerful. Wo ought to reflect that in this ago, and especially in this country, there is an iiices sant llux and reflux of public opii ion. (Juea Urns which, in their day, assumed a most threatening aspect, have now nearly gone from the memory of men. They are "vol* canos burnt out, and on the lava and ashes, and squalid scoriae of old eruptions, grow the peaceful olive, the cheering vine, and tho sus* taming corn." Such, in my opinion, will prove to bo tho fate of tho proscnt sectional excitement, should thoso who wisely seek to apply the remedy, continue always to confine their effort* within tho pule of the Constitu* tion. If this course be pursued, the existing agitation on tho subject of domestic slavery, liko everything human, will huvo its day, and give place to other and less threatening con* trorersiet. Public opinion in this country is all powerful, and when it reaches a dangerous excess upon any question, tho good scn*o of the peoplo will furnish the corrective, and bring it back within safe limits. Still, to hasten tho auspicious result, at the present crisis, we ought to remember that every ra* tional creaturo must bo presumed to intend the natural consequences of his own teachings. I noao who announce ausiraci uocmncs subversive of tho Constitution nml the Union must not bo surprised should their heuted partisans advance one step further, and nt teinpt by vi<rtenco to carry these doctrincs in to practical effect. In this view of the sub ject it ought never to bo forgotten that, how ever great may have been the political advan tages resulting from the Union to every por tion of our common country, theso will all prove to be as nothing should the time ever arrive when they cannot bo enjoyed without serious danger to tho personal safrty of tho people of lilteen members of the confederacy. If the peace of the domestic iircaide through out these States should ever be iuvaded—if the inothcra ol families within this extensive region should not be able to retire to rest at night without sulkiing dreadful apprehen sions of what iniy bj their own laie and that of their children before morning—it would be vain to recount to such a people tho political benefits which result to them front the Union. Self-preservation is the first instinct of na tuie; and therefore any stato of society in which the sword is all the time suspended over the heads of the people, must at lust be come intolerable. Hut 1 indulge in no such gloomlr forebodings. On the contrary, 1 lirinly bolieve that tho eventa at Harper's Ferry, by causing the people to pause and re fleet upon the pouible peril to their cherish i-d institution*, will bo the means, under Providence, of allaying the existing excite-* mcnt, and preventing futuro outbreaks of a •imilar character. They will resolve that the Constitution and the Union shall not t en dangered by rash counsels, knowing that, khoutd "the silver cord be loosed or the gold sn bowl be broken • • at the fountain," human power could never reunite the scat tered-and hostile fragment*. Siarery in the Ttrritorut. I cordially congratulate you upon the final lettelment by the Supreme Court of the United States of the question of slavery in the Terri tories,which had preeented an aspect ao truly lor tnidable at the commencement of my ad ainutration. The right has been established >f every citisen to take his property of sny tind,Including alsves,into the common Territ » iee belonging equally to sll the 8tates of the H>nfsdsracy,and to have it protected there un ler tho federal constitution. Neither Congress nor a Territorial Legislature nor any human power has any authority to annul or impair this vetted right. The supreme judical trib« unal of the country, which is a co-ordinatt branch of the government, has sanctioned and affirmed these principles of constitutional law, so msnifestly just in themselves, and so well calculated to promote peace and harmony among the States. It is a striking proof ol the sense of justice which is inherent in out Kple, that the property in slaves has nevei n disturbed, to my knowliedge, in any ol I the Territories. Even throughout the late ! troubles tn Kansas there has not been any at | tempt, as I am credibly informed to interfere, in a single instance, with the right of the mas* i trr. llad any such attempt been made, th« judiciary would doubtless have afforded an . adequate remedy. 8hould they fail to do I this heieafter, it will then be time enough to I strengthen their hands by further legislation, i 11 ml it been decided that either Congress oi f the Territorial Legislature possess the power to snnul or impair the right to properly in •laves, the evil would be intolerable. In the latter event there would be a struggle for a majority of the members of the Legislature at e iclt successive election, and the sacred rights of pro) erty held under tho Federal constitu tion would depend for the time being on the result. The agitation would thus bo render cd incessant whilst tho Territorial condition remained, and its baneful influence would keep alive a dangerous excitement among the peojile of the several States. Thus lias tho status of a territory,during tho intermediate period from its first settlement until it shall become a State, bocn irrevocably fixed hy the final decision of the Supreme Court. Foitunatc has been .this for the prosperity of the territories,ns well as the tran quility of the States. Now, emigrants from the North and tho South,tho Knst and the West, will meet in the Territories on a com mon platform, having brought with them that species of property best adapted in their own opinion, to promoto their welfare. From nat ural causes the slavery question will in each ca»e soon virtually settle itself; and beforo tho Territory is prepared for admission as a State into the Union, this decision, one way or the other, will have been a foregono con clusion. Meanwhile tho settlement of the new Territory will proceed without serious inter ruption, and its progress and prosperity will not ho endangered or retarded by violent po litical •truggle*. ,1ilmitsion af^tio Staltl. When in the progress of events tho inhab itants of any Territory shall have rcachod the number required to form a .State, they will then proceed, in a regular manner, and in the exercise of the rights of popular sovereignty, fo form a constitution preparatory to admis sion into the Union. After this has been done, to employ tho languago of the Kansus and Nebraska act, they ••ahull be recieved in to tho Union with or without slavery, as their constitution may prcscribo at tho time of their admission." This sound principlo has happi ly btcn recognizud, in some form or other, by an almost unanimous voto'of both houses [ ot the last Congress. The African Slave Trade. All lnwful means nt my command have been employed, and ahaH continue to be cm ploy ed, lo cxecuto the lawa Against the Af rienn alavo trade. After a most careful and rigorous examination of our coaata and n thorough investigation of the subject, we have not been able to diacover that any slaves linvo been imported into the United Statea except the cargo by the Wanderer, number ing between three and four hundred. Tlioae engaged in thia unlawful enterprise have been rigorously prosecuted ; but not with aa much aucceas aa their Crimea hnve deserved. A number of them are atill under proaecution. Our history proves that the I'alhera of tho Republic, in advance of all other nationa, condemned tho African alavo trade. It was, nowithstanding deemed expedient by the frumcrs of tho constitution to deprive Con gress of the power to prohibit "the migration or importation of such persona as any of the States now existing shall think proper to ad mit" prior to tho year 0110 thousand eight hun dred and eight." It will be aeon that thia restriction on the power of Congress was conlincd to such States only as might think proper to admit the importation of slaves. It did not extend to oth# Str.tes, or to the trade carried on abroad. Accordingly, we find that ao early as the 22d .March, 1794, Congress passed on act im|>o siisg severe penalties and puni*liments upon citizens and resident of the United States who should engngo in thia trade between for eign nationa. Tho provisiona of thia act of 10th May, 1800. Again : tho States themselves had a clear right to waive the constitutional privilege in tended for their benefit, and to prohibit by I their own laws, this trade at any time they thought proper to previous to 1808. Several of them exercised thia right before that pe riod, and among them aonic containing tho greatest number of slaves. This gave to Con gress the immediate power to act in regard to all such Statea, because they themselves had removed the conatitutional barrier. Con gress accordingly pasted an act on 28th Feb ruary, 1803, "to prevent the importation of certain persona into certain States, where, by the laws thereof, their admission ia prohibit ed." In thia manner the importation of African slaves into the United Statea waa, to a great extent, prohibited aome j ears in ad vaiivo wi iovoi | As the year 180S approached, Congress dc tcruiiued not to suffer tiiia trade to /xist oven for a single <luy alter they had tho power to abolish it. On the 2d of March, 1807, they passed an act to tako etrect "from and after tho 1st day of January, 1808," prohibiting tho importation of African slave* into tho United States. This was followed by suhse quent acta of a aimilar character, to which I need not specially refer. Such were the prin ciples and such the practice of our ancestors more than fifty yeara ago in regard to the African slaro trade. % It did not occur to tho revered patriota , who had been delegates to the Convention, and afterwards became members of Congress, that in passing theso laws they had violated the Constitution which they had framed with ao much caru and deliberation. They sup posed that to prohibit Congress, in expreaa terms, from exercising a specified power be fore an appointed day, necessarily involved tho right to exercise this power after that day hud arrived. If thia wero not the caae, the framera of the Cooatitution had expended much labor in vain. Had they imagined that Congress would poaaese no jtower to prohibit the trado either before or alter 1808, they would not. have taken ao much care to protect the Statea against the exercise of this (tower before that period. Nay more, they would not have at tached auch vaat importance to this provision aa to have excluded it from the |*ossibility of futur* repeal or amendmont to which other portiona of the Cooatitution were exposed. It would then have been wholly unnecaeary to engraft on the fifth article of the Constitu tion, prescribing the mode of ita own future amendment, the proviso, "that no amendment which may be made prior to the year 1808 ahall in any mauner affect" the provision in the Constitution aecuricng to the Sutee the' right to admit the importation of African alaves previous to that period. According to the adverse construction, the clause iuell, on which so much caio and die cussion had been employed by the members of the convention, «aa an absolute nullity from tho beginning, and all that haa sine* been done under it a mere uaurpation. It waa well and wise to confer thia power on Congress, because, had it been left to the States, ita efficient exercise would have been impossible. In that event, any on* State could have effectually continued the trade not only for itself, but for all the other alare State*, though never so much againat their will. And why? Because African alavea, when once brought within the limita of any one State, in accordance with ita lawa, can not practically be excluded from any other State where slavery exists. And even f all the State* had aeparately passed lawa pro hibiting the importation of alavea, theae law* would have failed of effcct for want of a na val force to rapture the alavera and to guard the coaata. Such a force no State can em ploy in time of peace without the consent of Congress. Theso acta of Congress, it is believed, have with very rare and insignificant exceptions, accompliahrd their purpose. For a period of more than half a century, there haa been no perceptible addition to the number of our domeatio slaves. During (his period, their advancement in civilisation haa far aurpaaaed that of any other portion of the African race. The light and the blessing* of Christianity have been extended ti them, and both their moral and physical condition havo been great* ly improved. lto-open the trade, and it would be diffi cult to detormino whether the effect would be moro deleterioua to the interests of the matter or to those of the native-born slave. Of tho cvila to the master, the one moat to bo dreaded would be the introduction of wild, honthen and ignorant barbarians among the sober, orderly and quiet slaves, wlraso an cestors havo been on tho soil for several gen* erations. This might tend to barbarixe and exasperate tho who!o mass, and produce the most deplorablo consequence*. 'Hie effect upon the existing slavo would, if possible, be still more deplorable. At present he is treat ed with kindncsa and humanity. He is well fed, well clothed, and not overworked. His condition is incomparably better than that of the cooliea, which modern nations of high civilization have employed as a Hubstituto lor African slaves, lloth tho philanthropy and tho self-interest of the master havo combined to produco this humane result. Hut let this trado bo re-opened, and what will be tho ef fect ? Tho same, to a considerable extent, as on a neighboring island—tho only spot now on earth where tho African slavo trade ia openly tolerated, and this in defiance of sol* emu treaties with a power abundantly able at any moment to enforce their execution. There tho master, intent upon tho present gain, extorts trom tho alavo as much labor as his physical powers nro capable of enduring —knowing that, when dedtii comes to his re* lief, his placo can be supplied at a price ie duccd to the lowest point by '.ho competition of rival African slave traders. Should this ever bo the case in our country—which I do not deem possiblo— the present useful char* acter of the domestic institution, wherein those too old and too young to work are pro vided for with ctro and humanity, and those capable of labor are not overtasked, would undergo an unfortunate change. Thojfeeling of reciprocal dependence and attachment which now exists between master and alave would bo converted into mutual distrust and hostility. Hut we are obliged a cnriauun ana mor al natiun to consider what would b« the ef fect upon unhappy Africa iuelf if we ahould reopen the slave trade. Thia would the trade an impulso and extenaion which it haa never had even in ita palmiest days. The nuineroua victims required to supply it would convert tho whole alavc coast into a perfect Pandemonium, for which thia country would be held rcapoitsiblo in the cyea both of God and man. Its petty tribos would then be conatantly engaged in predatory wara against cacli other, for the pur(>oae of aeising slaves to supply the American market. All hopca of African civilisation would thua be ended. On tho other hand, when a market for African alaves shall no longer be furnialied in Cuba, and thus all the world be closed a gainst this trade, we may then indulge a rea sonable hop* fur the gradual improvement of Africa. The chief motive of war auiong the tribos will cease whenever there is no longer any demand for alaves. The reaourcea of that fertile hut miserable country might then ho devclo|»ed by the hand of industry and afford subjects tor legitimate foreign and do mestic commerce. J/i thia manner Christi* snity and civilisation may gradually penotrate tho existing gloom. Treaty %tith China. The wisdom of the course pursued by thia government towards China has been vindica ted by the event. Whilst wo auatained a neutral position in the war waged by Great Britain and Franco against the Chinese em pire, our late Minister, in obodiencc to hia instruction!, judiciously co-operated with the Ministers of these Powers in all peaceful measurea to secure by treaty the just con cessions demanded by the interests of foreign commerce. Tho result is that satisfactory treaties have been concluded with China by tho rcapectirc Ministers of the United States, Groat Dritain, and Franco and Russia. Our "treaty, or general convention of peace, amity, and commerce," with that cmpiro was concluded at Tientsin on the 18th June, IS >8, and' was ratified by the President, by and with the advico and consent of tho Senate, on tho 21st December following. Un the loin uect-raocr, isio, <innn i* Wnrd, a distinguished citixeu of Georgia, wan duly commissioned an envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary to China, llo left the United Ktntes for tho place of hia destination on the 5th of February, I8A0, bearing'with him the ratified copy -of thia treaty, and arrived at Shanghao on the 28th May. From thence he proceeded to Pekin, on the l«Uh Juno, but did not arrive at that city until tho 27th July. According to the terms of tho treaty the ratittcationa were to l>e exchanged un or before the 18th June, 1859. This waa rendered impossible by res tons and evenla beyond hia control, not ne» cessary to detail; but still it ia due to the Chinese authorities at Shanghao to atate that they alwaya assured him no advantage should be taken of the delay, and thia pledge has been faithfully redeemed. On the arrival of Mr. Ward at Pekin he requested an audienco of tho Kmperor to pre sent hia letter of credence. This he did not obtain in consequence ot his very pro|>er re* lusal to aubmit to the humiliating ceremon ies required by the etiquette of thia atrange peoplo in approaching their sovereign. Nev ertheleaa the interviews on this subject were conducted in the most friendly spirit snd with all due regard to his personal feelings and the honor of his country. When a pre* aentation to hia Majestf was found to be im possible, the letter of credence from the Pres ident of the United States was received with peculiar honors by Kweiling, "the Emperor's Prime Minister, and the second man in the empire to the Emperor himself," The rati fications of the treaty were afterwards, on the 16th of August, exchanged in proper form at Pei-Uang. As the exchange did not take place until after the day preecribed by"the treaty, it is deemed proper, before ita publi cation, again to aubmit it to tbe Senate. It k but simple justice to tb# Cblneee au thorities to obeerve, that, throughout tho whole transaction they appear to have acted in good faith and in a friendly apirit towarde the United Statee. It ia true thia baa been dene after their own peculiar fashion { but we ought to regard with a lenient eye the ancient euetoma of en empire deling beck for thouaanda of years, en fur »» thia may be eon sistent with oar own national honor. The conduct of our Minister on the occaaion haa received my entire approbation. In order to camr out the enirit of thia tree ty, and to give it full effect, it became necee aary to conclude two aupplemental conven tions—the one lor the adjustment and satie faction of the claima of our citixena, and the other to fix the tariff on importa and exporta, and to regulate the tranait dutiee and trade of our merchanta with China. Thia duty waa satisfactorily performed by our late Min iater. Theae convcntiona bear date at 8han ghae on the 8th of November, 1858. Hav ing been considered in the light of binding agreements aubaidiary to the principal treaty, and to be carried into execution without de lay, they do not provide for any formal rati fication or exchange of ratificationa by the contracting partiea. Thia waa not deemed necessary by the Chinee#, who are already proceeding in good faith to aatlafy the claima of our citixena, and, it la hoped, to carry out the othepproviaiona of the convention. SUU I thought it was proper to aubmit them to the Senate, by which they were ratified on the 3d March, 1859. The ratified copiee, however, did not reach Shanghae until after the departure of our Minister to Pekin, and tlieae conventiona could not, therefore, be ex changed at the eame time with the principal treaty. No doubt is entertained that they will be ratified and exchanged by the Chin* ese government should this bethought advia able ; but, under the circumstancee present ed, I shall conaider them binding engage metita roin their date on both parties, *and cause them lo be published as auch for the information and guidance of our merchants trading with the Chinese empire. P.ilnliont triIh Paraguay. It affords me much attraction to inform you that all our difficulties with the republic of Paraguay have been aatiafactorily adjuat ed. It happily did not become necessary to employ the force for this purpose which Con greaa had iilaced at my command, under their joint resolution of 2d June, 1868. On the contrary, the l'reaident of that republic, in a friendly apirit, acceded promptly to the just and reasonable demands of the govrrnment of the United Stater. Our commissioner ar rived at Aaaumption, the capital of the re public, on the 26th of January, 1859, and left it on the 17th of February, having in three wecka ably and successfully accomplished all the objecta of his mission. The trealiea which he has concluded will be immediately aubmitted to the Senate. * •' • -• - •» « a -# -at.— All IUU TICit Hint hid rmpiw^ wi u.nv, than peaceful means might heroine neceasary to obtain "juat satisfaction" irom Paraguay, a atrong naval forco waa concentrated in tha water* of the I<a Plata to await contingencea, whilat our comiuiaaioner amended the rivers to A«aumptiun. The Navy Department ia entitled to groat credit for tho promptness, cfliciency and economy with whirh this ex« pedition waa tilted out and conducted. It consisted of nineteen armed vessels great and small, carrying 200 guna and 2,60'J men, all under the command of the veteran and gal lant Shubrick. The entire expenses of tha expedition have been defrayed out of the or dinary appropriationa for the naval service, except the aum of $280,000, applied to tha purchaao of seven steamers, constituting a part of it* under the authority of the naval appropriation act of the 3d March last. It ia believed that these ateamera were worth more than ihoiv cost, and they are all now usefully and actively employed l»« tho naval service. The appearance of ao large a tilted out in auch a prompt manner, in the far dia* tant watera of the La Plata, and the admira* ble conduct of the ofHcera and men employed in it, have had a happy effect in favor of our country throughout all that remote portion of tho world. Relation* with the Continental (Jorernmenti of Lurope. Our relations with the greet empire* of France, and Kuuia, aa well aa with all other (jovernmenta on the continent of Europe, un less wo may except that of Spain, happily continue to be of the mo4t friendly character. In my laat annual message 1 presented a statement of the unsatisfactory condition of our rolationa with Spain; and 1 regret to aajr that thi? has not materially improved. With out a|>ecial reference to other claima, even the "Cuban claima," the payment of which haa been ably urged by our ministers, and in which more than a hundred of our eitisena are directly interested, remain unaatisfied, notwithstanding both their justice and their amount (ft 128,035 64) had been recognised and ascertained by the Spanish Government itself. The A miitad Cat?. I again rccommend that an appropriation bo made "to be paid to the Spaniah Govern ment for the purpose of distribution among the claimants in the Amistad case." In com mop with two of my predecessors, I enter tsin no doubt that thia is required by our treaty with Spain of the 27lh October, 1795. The failure to diachargo thia obligation haa been employed by the cabinet of Madrid as a reason against the settlement of our claima. Acqtiintion of Cuba. I need not repeat the argumenta which I urged in my laat annual message in favor of the acquiaition of Cuba by fair purchaae. My opiniona on that measure remain unchanged. 1, therefore, again invite the serious attention of Congress to thia important aubject. With out a recognition of thia policy on their part, it will bo almost impossible to institute ne gotiations with any reasonable prospect of lUCl'NI. lUiaftom ten a ureal jiruam. Until a recent period there wss good res •on to believe that I should be able to an nounce to you on the present occmion that our difficulties with Great Britain, truing out of tho Clayton and Uulwer treaty, had been UnaUy sdjus ted in a manner alike houorsble and sstivisctory to both psrties. Front cau aes, however, which the iiritiah Government had not anticipated, they have not completed the treaty arrangements with the Bepublics of Honduras and Nicaragua, in pursuance of the underatanding between the two govern* in?nU. It ia nevertheless, contldently ex* l»ected that thia good work will ero long be accompliahed. Whilat indulging the hope that no other subject remained which could disturb the good understanding between the two coun* tries, the question arising out of the adverse claima of the parties to the island of San Ju sn, under the Oregon treaty of the lAth of June, 1846, suddenly assumsu a threatening prominence. In order to prevent unfortunate collisions on that remote fsontier, the late Secretary of State, on the 17th July, 1865, addressed a note to Mr. Crainpton, the lirit* iah Minister at Washington, communicating to bim a copy of the instructions which he (Mr. Marry) had given, on the 14th Jolr, to Gov. Stevens, of Washington Territory, hav ing a special reference to an "apprehended conflict between our citiaena end the British anbjects on the Island ot San Juan." To prevent this, the Governor waa instructed, "that the officers of the Territory should ab stain from all acta on the disputed grounds which are calculated to provoke any ooaflicta, eo far aa it can be done without implying the concession to lb* authorities of Greet Britain of an exclusive right over the premises. The title ought to be settled before either party ahould attempt to exclude the ether by foroct