OORE’S RURAL NEW-YO RKER.' AN AGRICULTURAL AND FAMILY JOURNAL. 
toyed within 
been 
tion of the number of persons 
the smallest limits, consistent with the safety of 
those engaged in the service, and the prompt and 
efficient execution of their important duties. 
CENSUS RETURNS. 
Returns have been received from all the officers 
engaged in taking the census in the States and 
Territories, except California. The superinten¬ 
dent employed to make the enumeration in that 
State has not yet made his full report, from cau¬ 
ses, as he alleges, beyond his control. This fail¬ 
ure is much to be regretted, as it has prevented 
the Secretary of the Interior from making the de¬ 
cennial apportionment of 1 epresentatives among 
the States, as required by the act approved May 
23, 1850. It is hoped, however, that the returns 
will soon be received, and no time will then be 
lost in making the necessary apportionment, and 
in transmitting the certificates required by law. 
The Superintendent of the Seventh Census is 
diligently employed, under the direction of the 
Secretary of the Interior, in.classyfying and ar¬ 
ranging in tabular form, all the statistical inform¬ 
ation derived from the returns of the Marshals, 
and it is believed that when the work shall be 
completed, it will exhibit a more perfect view of 
the population, wealth, occupations; and social 
conditions of a great country, than has ever been’ 
presented to the world. The value of such a 
work, ns the basis of enlightened legislation, can 
hardly be over-estimated; and I earnestly hope 
that Congress will lose no time in making the ap¬ 
propriations necessary to comp), te the classifica¬ 
tions, and to publish the results m a style worthy 
of the subjoct and of our national character. 
attorney's fees. 
The want of a uniform fee bill, prescribing the 
compensation to be allowed district attorneys, 
clerks, marshals, and camruissioners in civil and 
crimidal cases, is the cause of much vexation in¬ 
justice and complaint. I would recommend a 
thorough revision of the laws on the whole sub¬ 
ject, add the adoption of a tariff of fees, which, 
as far as practicable, should be uniform, and pres¬ 
cribe a pecific compensation for every service 
which the officer may bo required to perform.— 
This subject wi.l be fully presented in the report 
of the Secretary of the Interior. 
RIVERS AND HARBORS. 
In my last annual message I gave briefly my 
reasons for believing that you possessed the con¬ 
stitutional power to improve the harbors of our 
great lakes and sea coast, and the navigati >n of 
our principal rivers, and recommended that ap¬ 
propriations should be made for completing such 
works as had already been commenced, and for 
commencing such others as might seem to the 
wisdom of Congress to be of public and getier- 
ARMY AND NAVY. 
The appropriations for the support of the army 
during the ciurent fiscal year ending 30th June 
next, were reduced far below the estimate sub¬ 
mitted by the Department. The consequence of 
this reduction is a considerable deficiency, to 
which I invite your early attention. 
The expenditures of that Department, for the 
year ending 30th June last, were $9,060,268 58. 
The estimates for the year commencing 1st July 
next and ending June 30, 1853, are $7,898,77:'. 
83; showing a reduction of $1,161,492 75. 
The Board of Commissioners, to whom the 
management of the affairs of the Military Asy¬ 
lum created by the act of the 3d March last was 
entrusted, have selected a site for the establish¬ 
ment of an Asylum in the vicinity of this city, 
which has been approved by me, subject to the 
production of satisfactory title. 
The report of the Secretary of the Navy will 
exhibit the condition of the public service under 
the supervision of that Department. Onr naval 
force alloat during the present year has been ac¬ 
tively and usefully employed in giving protection 
lo our widely-extended and increasing commerce 
and interests in various quarters of the globe^nd 
our flag lias everywhere afforded the security and 
received the respect inspired by the justice and 
liberality of our intercourse, and the dignity and 
power of the nation. 
FRANKLIN EXPEDITION. 
The expedition commanded by Lieutenant Dc 
Haven, despatched in search of the British com¬ 
mander, Sir John Franklin, and bis companions 
to the Arctic Seas, returned to New York in the 
month of October, after having undergone great 
peril and suffering from an unknown and dan¬ 
gerous navigation and the rigors of the northern 
climate, without any satisfactory information of 
the objects of their search, but with new contri¬ 
butions to science and navigation from the un- i 
frequented polar regions. Tne officers and men 
of the expedition, having all been volunteers for 
this service, and having to eonduct it as to meet 
an entire approbation of the Government, it is 
suggested, as an act of grace and generosity,that 
the same allowances of extra pay and emolu¬ 
ment be extended to them.that were made to the 
officers and men of like rating in the late explo¬ 
ring expedition to the South Seas. 
NAVAL AFFAIRS. 
I earnestly recommend to your attention the 
necessity of reorganizing the Naval Establish¬ 
ment, apportioning and fixing the number of of¬ 
ficers in each grade, providing some mode of 
promotion to the higher grades of the navy, hav¬ 
ing reference lo merit and capacity, rather than 
seniority or date of entry into service, and for 
retiring from the effective list upon reduced pay 
those who may be incompetent to the perform¬ 
ance of active duty. As a measure of economy 
as well as efficiency in this arm of the service, 
the provision last mentioned is eminently wor¬ 
thy of your consideration. 
The determination of the questions of relative 
al importance. Without repeating the reasons [ rank between the sea officers and civil officers of 
then urged, I deem it my duty again to call your i the navy, in the various grades of each, will also 
<■„ itio tv,., .i.„ 
attention to this important subject. The works 
on many of the harbors were left in an unfinish¬ 
ed state, and consequently exposed to the action 
of the elements, which is fast destroying thern.- 
Great numbers of lives and vast amounts of pro¬ 
perty are annually lost for want of safe and con¬ 
venient harbors on the lakes. None but those 
who have been exposed to that dangerous navi¬ 
gation can fully appreciate the importance of 
this subject. The whole northwest appeals to 
you for relief, and I trust the appeal will receive 
due consideration at your hands. 
The same is in a measure true in regard to some of the 
harbors and inlets on the sea eoast. 
The unobstructed navigation of our large rivers is of 
equal importance. Our settlements are now extending to 
the sources of the great rivers which empty into, and form 
) a part of the Mississippi, and the value oi the public lands 
/ in those regions would be greatly enhanced by freeing the 
' navigation of those waters from obstructions. In view, 
' therefore, of this great interest, I deem it my duty again 
( to urge upon Congress to make such appropriations lor 
( those improvements as they may deem necessary. 
( The survey of the Delta of the Mississippi, with a view 
i to the prevention of the oversows that have proved so 
i disastrous to that region of t^mutry, have been nearly 
) completed, anc the reports thereof are now in course of 
! • preparation, and will shortly he laid before you. 
PROTECTION OF THE MEXICAN FRONTIER. 
The protection of our southwestern frontier, and of the 
adjacent Mexican States, against the Indian tribes within 
/ our border, has claimed my earnest and constant atten- 
t ti n. Congress having failed, at the last session, to adopt 
( ray recommendation r hat an additional regiment of moun- 
( ted men specially adapted to that service should be raised, 
all that remained to he done was to make the best use of 
1 the means at my disposal. Accordingly, all the troops 
( adapted to that service that could properly be spared from 
> other quarters have been concentrated on that frontier, 
) and office’s of high reputation selected to command them 
) A new arrangement of the military posts has also been 
> made, whereby the troops are brought nearer to the Mex- 
) ican frontier and to the tribes they are intended to over- 
> awe. 
| Sufficient time has not yet elapsed to realize ali the be¬ 
nefits that are expected to result from these arrangements, 
but I have every reason to hope that they will effectually 
check their marauding expeditions. The nature of the 
country, which furnishes little for the support of an army 
and abounds in places of refuge and concealment, is re¬ 
markably well adapted to this predatory warfare; and we 
can scarcely hope that any military force, combined with 
the greatest vigilance, can entirely suppress it. 
By the treaty of tuadaloupe Hidalgo we are bound to 
protect the territory of Mexico against the incursions of 
the savage tribes within our border ‘‘with equal diligence 
and energy’’ as if the same were made within our territo¬ 
ry or against our citizens. I have endeavored to comply, 
as far as possible, with this provision of the treaty. Or¬ 
ders have been given to the officers commanding on that 
frontier to consider the Mexican territory and its inhabit¬ 
ants as equally with our own entitled to their pr itection; 
aud to make all their plans and arrangements with a view 
to tlie attainment of this object. Instructions have also 
been given to the Indian commissioners and agents among 
these tribes, in all treaties, to make the clauses designed 
for the protection of our own citizens apply also to those 
of Mexico. I have no reason to doubt that these instruc¬ 
tions have been fully carried into effect. Nevertheless, it 
is probable that, in spite of all our efforts, some of the 
neighboring states of Mexico may have suffered, as our 
own have, from depredations by the Indians. 
To the lirficuities of defending our own terri- 
torp, as above mentioned, ate superadded, in de¬ 
fending that of Mexico, those that arise from its 
remoteness, from the fact that we have no right 
to station our troops within her limits, and that 
there is no efficient military force on the Mexi¬ 
can side to co-operate with our own. So long as 
this shall continue to be the case, the number 
and activity of our troops will rather increase 
than diminish the evil, as the Indians will natu¬ 
rally turn towards that country where they en¬ 
counter the least resistance. Yet these troops 
are necessary to subdue them, aud compel them 
to make and observe treaties. Until this shall 
have been done, neither country will enjoy any 
security from their attacks. 
The Indians in California, who had previously 
appeared of a peaceable character, ana disposed 
to cultivate the friendship of the whiti s, have re¬ 
cently committed several acts of hostii ty. As a 
large portion of the reinforcements sent to the 
Mexican frontier were drawn from the Pacific, 
the military force now stationed there is consid- 
ed entirely inadequate to its defonce. It cannot 
Be increased, however, without an increase of 
the army; and I again recommend that meas¬ 
ure us indispensable to the protection of the fron¬ 
tier. 
I invite your attention to the suggestions on 
this subject, and on otheis connected with his 
Department, in the report of the Secretary of 
War. 
merit your attention 
The failure to provide any substitute, when 
corporal punishment was abolished for of¬ 
fences in the navy, has occasioned the con¬ 
vening of numerous courts-martial upon the 
arrival of vessels in port, and is believed to have 
had an injurious effect upon the discipline and 
efficiency of the service. To moderate punish¬ 
ment from one grade to another is among the 
humane reforms of the age ; but to abolish one 
of severity, which applied so generally to offen¬ 
ces on ship-board, and provide nothing in its 
stead, is to suppose a progress of improvement 
in every individual among seamen which is not 
assumed by the Legislature in respect to any 
other class of men. 
It is hoped that Congress, in the ample oppor¬ 
tunity afforded by the present session, will tho¬ 
rn ’ghly investigate this important subject, and 
establish such modes of determining guilt, and 
such gradations of punishment as are consistent 
with humanity and the personal lights of indi¬ 
viduals, and at the same time shall ensure the 
most energetic and efficient performance of duty 
and the suppression of crime in our ships of war. 
The stone dock in the navy yard at New 
York, which was ten years in process of con¬ 
struction, has been so far finished as to be sur¬ 
rendered up to the authorities of the yard. The 
dry dock at Philadelphia is reported as complet¬ 
ed, and is expected soon to be tested and deliv¬ 
ered over to the agents of the Government.— 
That at Portsmouth, New Hampshire, is also 
nearly ready for delivery; and a contract has 
been concluded, agreeably to the act of Con¬ 
gress at its last session, for a floating sectional 
dock on the Bay of San Francisco. 
I invite your attention to the recommendation of the 
Department touching tne establishment of a navy yard in 
conjunction with this dock on the Pacific. Such a station 
is highly necessary to the convenience of the effectiveness 
of our fleet in thatocean, which must be expected to in¬ 
crease with the growili of commerce, and the rapid ex¬ 
tension of our whale fisheries over its borders. 
The Naval Academy at Annapolis, under a re¬ 
vised and improved system of regulations, now 
affords opportunities of education and instruction 
to the pupils quite equal, it is believed, for pro¬ 
fessional improvement to those enjoyed by the 
Cadets at the Military Academy. A kirge class 
of acting Midshipmen was received at the com¬ 
mencement of the last academic term, and a 
practice ship has been attached to the institution, 
to afford the amplest means for regular instruction 
in seamanship, as well as for cruises during the 
vacations of three or four months in each year. 
The advantages of science in nautical affairs have rarely 
been more strikingly illustrated than in the fact stated in 
the report of the Navy Department, that, by means of the 
wind and current charts, projected and prepared by 
Lieutenant Maury, the Superintendent of the Naval Ob¬ 
servatory, the passage from the Atlantic to the Pacific 
ports of our country has been shortened by about forty 
days. 
The estimates for the support of the Navy and Marine 
Corps the ensuing fiscal year will he found to be ©5,856,- 
472 19, the estimates for the present year being $5,900,621. 
The estimates for special objects under the 
control of this Department amount to $2,684,- 
220 89, against $2,210,980 for the present year, 
the increase being occasioned by the additional 
mail service on the Pacific coast and the construc¬ 
tion of the dock in California, authorized at the 
last session of Congress, and some slight addi¬ 
tions under the head of improvements and repairs 
in navy yards, buildings and machinery. 
I deem it of much importance to a just econo¬ 
my, and a correct understanding of naval expen¬ 
ditures, that there should be an entire separation 
of the appropriations for the support of the na¬ 
val service proper from those for permanent im¬ 
provements at navy yards and stations, and from 
ocean steam-mail service, and other special ob¬ 
jects assigned to the supervision of this Depart¬ 
ment. 
POST OFFICE. 
The report of the Postmaster General, here¬ 
with communicated, presents an interesting view 
of the progress, operations, and condition of the 
Department. 
At the close of the last fiscal year, the length 
of mail routes within the United States was 
196,290 miles; and the annual transportation 
thereon 53,272,252 miles; and the annual cost oi j 
such transportation $3,421,754. 
The length of the foreign mail routes is estim¬ 
ated at 18,349 miles: and the annual transporta- 
lion thereon at 615,206 miles. The annual cost 
of this service is $1, 472,c-87, of which $448,937 
is paid by the Post Office department, and $1,- 
023,250 is paid through the Navy Department 
The annual transportation within the United 
States, (excluding the service in California and 
Oregon, which is now, for the first time, report- 
• d and embraced in the tabular statements of the 
Department,) exceeds that of the precedingyear. 
li,162,855 miles, at an increased cost of $547,110 
The whole number of post offices in the Unit¬ 
ed States, on the 30th day of June last, was 19,- 
196. There were 1,698 post offices established, 
and 256 discontinued, during the year. 
The gross revenues of the Department for the 
fiscal year, including the appropriations for the 
Iranked matters of Congress, of the Departments; 
and officers of Government, and excluding the 
foreign postages, collected for and payable to 
"he Br.tish post office, amounted to $6,727,886- 
/ 8 . 
The expenditures for the same period (exclu¬ 
ding $20,599 49, paid under an award of the 
Auditor, in pursuance of a resolution of the last 
Congress, for mail service on the Ohio and Mis¬ 
sissippi rivers in 1832 and 1833, and the amount 
paid to the British post office for for foreign pos- 
lages collected for and payable to that office) 
amounted to $6,024,566 79; leaving a balance of 
revenue over the propel expenditures of the year 
of $703,299 99. 
The receipts for postages during the year (ex¬ 
cluding the foreign postages collected for and 
payable to the British postoffice) amounted to 
$6,345,747 21, being an increase of $997,610 79 
or 18.65-100 per cent over the like receipts for 
the preceding year. 
The reduction of postage, under the act of 
March last, did not take effect until the com 
mencement of the fiscal year. The accounts for 
t .e first quarter, under the operation of the re 
duced rates, will not be settled before January 
next, and no reliable estimate of the receipts can 
yet be made. It is believed, however, that they 
will fall far short of those of the last year. 
The surplus of the revenues now on hand is, however, 
so large that no further appropriation from the treasury! 
in aid of the revenues of the Department, is required for 
' he current fiscal year; but an additional appropriation for 
flie year ending June 30, 1853, will probably be found ne¬ 
cessary when Lite receipts of the first two quarters of the 
fiscal year are fully ascertained. 
In his last annual report the Postmaster Gen 
oral recommended a reduction of postage to rates 
which he deemed as low as could be prudently 
adopted, unless Congress was prepared to appro¬ 
priate from the treasury, for the support of the 
Department, a sum more than equivalent to the 
mail services performed by it for the Govern¬ 
ment. The recommendations of the Postmaster 
General, in respect to letter postage, except on 
letters to and from California and Oregon, were 
substantially adopted by the last Congress. 
He now recommends adherence to the present 
letter rates, and advises against a further reduc¬ 
tion until justified by the revenue of the De¬ 
partment. 
He also recommends that the Fates of postage 
on printed matter be so revised as to render them 
more simple, and more uniform in their opera- 
lion upon all classes of printed matter. I sub¬ 
mit the recommendations of the report to your 
favorable consideration. 
REVISION OF THE STATUTES. 
The public statutes of the United States have 
now been accumulating for more than sixty years, 
and, interspersed with private acts, are scattered 
through numerous volumes, and, from the cost of 
the whole, have become almost inaccessible to the 
great mass of the community. They also exhibit 
much of the incongruity and imperfection of hasty 
legislation. As it seems to be generally conceded 
that there is no “common law” of the United 
States to supply the defects of their legislation, it 
is most important that that legislation should be as 
perfect as possible, defining every power intended 
to be conferred, every crime intended to he made 
punishable, and prescribing the punishment to be 
inflicted. In addition to some particular cases spo¬ 
ken of more at length, the whole criminal code is 
now lamentably defective. Some offences are im 
perfectly described, and others are entirely omit¬ 
ted: so that flagrant crimes may be committed with 
impunity. The scale of punishment is notin all 
cases graduated to the degree and nature of the of¬ 
fence, and is often rendered more unequal by the 
different modes of imprisonment, or penitentiary 
coufinement, in the different States. 
Many laws of a permanent character have been 
introduced into appropriation bills, and it is often 
difficult to determine whether the particular clause 
expires with the temporary act of which it is a part 
or continues in force. It has also frequently hap¬ 
pened that enactments and provisions of law have 
been introduced into bills, with the title or gene- 
lal subject of which they have little or no connex¬ 
ion or relation. In this mode of legislation so 
many enactments have been heaped upon each 
olher, and often with but little consideration, that, 
in many instances, it is difficult to search out and 
determine what is the law. 
The Government of the United States is em¬ 
phatically a government of written laws. The 
statutes should, therefore, as far as practicable,not 
only be made accessible to all, but be expressed 
in language so plain and simple as to be under¬ 
stood by all, and arranged in such method as to 
give perspicuity to every subject. Many of the 
Stales have revised their public acts with great 
and manifest benefit; and 1 recommend that pro¬ 
vision be made by law for the appointment of a 
commission to revise the public statutes of the U. 
Slates, arranging them in order, supplying defi¬ 
ciencies, correcting incongruities, simplifying 
their language, and reporting them to Congress 
for its action. 
EXTENSION OF THE CAPTIOI.. 
An act of Congre s approved 30th September, 
1850,contained a provision for the extension of the 
Capitol, according to such a plan as might be ap¬ 
proved by the President, and appropriated one 
inmdred thousand dollars to be expended under 
his direction, by which architect as he should ap¬ 
point to execute the same. On examining the va 
rious plans which had been submitted by ditler- 
ont architects, in pursuance of an advertisement 
by a committee of the Senate, no one was found 
to he entirely satisfactory, and it was therefore 
deemed advisable to combine and adopt the ad¬ 
vantages of several. 
The great object to be acccomplished was to 
make such an addition as would afford ample and 
convenient halls for the deliberation of the two 
Houses of Congress, with sufficient accommoda¬ 
tions for spectators, and suitable apartments for 
the committees and officers of the two branches of 
fho Legislature. It was also desirable not to mar 
the harmony and beauty of the present structure, 
which, as a specimen of architecture, is so uni¬ 
versally admired. 
Keeping these objects in view, I concluded to 
make the addition by wings, detached from the 
present building, yet connected with it by corridors. 
This mode of enlargement will leave the present 
Capitol uninjured, and afford great advantages for 
ventilation and the admission of light, and will en¬ 
able the work to progress without interrupting the 
deliberations of Congress. To carry this plan into 
effect, I have appointed an experienced and com¬ 
petent architect. The corner stone was laid on , 
the 4th day of July lost, with suitable ceremonies, 
since which time the work has advanced with com¬ 
mendable rapidity, and the foundations of both 
wings are now nearly complete. 
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. 
I again commend to your favorable regard the interests 
of the District of Columbia, and deem it only necessary to 
remind you, that although its inhabitants have no voice in 
the choice of representatives in Congress, they are not the 
Jess entitled to a just and liberal consideration in your leg¬ 
islation. My opinions on this subject were more fully ex¬ 
pressed in my last annual communication. 
COMMISSION OF PRIVATE CLAIMS. 
Other subjects we're brought to the attention of Con¬ 
gress in my last annual message, to which I would respect¬ 
fully refer. But there was one of more than ordinary in¬ 
terest to which I again invite your special attention. I al¬ 
lude to the recommendation for the appointment of a com¬ 
mission to settle private claims against the United States.— 
Justiee to individuals as well as to the Government, de¬ 
mands that some more convenient and expeditious mode 
than an appeal to Congress should be adopted. 
THE COMPROMISE MEASURES, 
It is deeply to be regretted that in several instances offi¬ 
cers of the Government, in attempting to execute tire law 
for the return of fugitives from labor, have been openly re¬ 
sisted, and their efforts frustrated and defeated by lawless 
and violent mobs; that in one ense such resistance resulted 
in the death of an estimable citizens, and in others serious 
injury ensued to those officers and to individuals who were 
using their endeavors to sustain the laws. Prosecutions 
have been instituted against tlie alledged offenders, so far 
as they could be identified, and are still pending, I have 
regarded it as my duty, in these cases, to give all aid legal¬ 
ly in my power to tlie enforcement of tlie Jaws, and I shall 
continue to do so wherever aud whenever their execution 
may be resisted. 
The act of Congress for the return of fugitives from la¬ 
bor is one required and demanded by tlie express words of 
tlie Constitution. 
The Constitution declares, “ That no person held to ser- 
‘ vice or labor in one State, under the laws thereof, esca- 
‘ping into another, shall, in consequence of any law or 
‘ regulation therein, be discharged from such service or la- 
‘ bor may be due.” This constitutional provision is equal¬ 
ly obligatory upon tlie Legislative, tlie Executive, and Ju¬ 
dicial Departments of the Government, and upon every 
citizen of tlie United States. 
Congress, however, must, from necessity, first 
act upon the subject, by prescribing the proofed 
ings necessary to ascertain that the person is a 
fugitive, and the means to be used for his restora¬ 
tion to the claimant. This was done by an ao- 
passed during the first term of President Washing¬ 
ton, which was amended by that enacted by the 
last Congress, and it now remains for the Execu¬ 
tive and Judicial Departments to take care that, 
these lows be faithfully executed. This injunc¬ 
tion of the Constitution is as peremptory and as 
binding as any other; it stands exactly on the same 
foundation as that clause which provides for the 
return of fugitives from justice, or that which de¬ 
clares that vo bill of attainder or ex post facto law 
shall be passed, or that which provides for an 
equality of taxation, according to the census, or 
the clause declaring that all dulies shall be uni¬ 
form throughout. tlie United States, or the impor¬ 
tant provision that the trial of all dimes shall be 
by jury. These several ariieles and clauses of 
the Constitution, all resting on the same author 
ity, must stand or fall together. Some objections 
have been urged against the details of the act for 
the return of fugitives from labor; but it is vw rthy 
of remark that, the main opposition is aimed against 
the Constitution itself, and proceeds from persons 
and classes of persons, many of whom declare 
their wish to see that Constitution overturned. 
They avow their hostility to any law which shall 
give full and practical effect to this requirement of 
the Constitution. Fortunately, the number of 
these persons is comparatively small and dimin¬ 
ishing, but the issue which they present is one 
which involves the supremacy and even the exis¬ 
tence of the Constitution. 
Causes nave heretofore arisen in which individ 
als have denied the binding authority of acts of 
Congress, and even States have proposed to nul¬ 
lify such acts, upon the ground that the Constitu- 
ton was the supreme law of the land, and that 
those acts of Congress were repugnant to that in¬ 
strument; but nullification is now aimed, not so 
much against particular laws as being inconsist¬ 
ent with the Constitution, as against tho Consti¬ 
tution itself, and it is not lo be disguised that t 
spirit exists and has been actively at work to rend 
asunder this Union, which is cur cherished inheri¬ 
tance from our revolutionary fathers. 
•n my last annual message I stated that I con¬ 
sidered the series of measures, which had been 
adopted at the previous session, in reference to 
the agitation growing out of the Territorial and 
slavery questions, as a final settlement in princi¬ 
ple and substance if the dangerous and exciting 
subjects which they embraced; ‘and I recommend¬ 
ed adherence to the adjustment estab islied by 
those measures, until tin e and experience should 
demonstrate the necessity if further legislation to 
guard against evasion or abuse. 1 was not induced 
to make this recommendation because I thought 
those measures perfect, for no human legislation 
can he perfect. 
Wide differences and jarring opinions can 
only be reconciled by yielding something on 
all sides, and this result has been reached 
after an angry conflict of many months, in 
which one part of this country was arrayed 
against another, and violent convulsion seem¬ 
ed to be imminent. Looking at the inter¬ 
ests of the whole country, I felt it to be my 
duty to seize upon this Compromise as the 
best that could be obtained amid conflicting 
interests, and to insist upon it as a final set¬ 
tlement, to be adhered to by all who value 
the peace and welfare of the country. A 
year has now elapsed since that recommen¬ 
dation was made. 
To that recommendation I still adhere, and 
I congratulate you and the country upon tlie 
general acquiescence in these measures of 
peace, which has been exhibited in all parts 
of the Republic. And not only is there this 
general acquiescence in these measures, but 
the spirit of conciliation which has been man¬ 
ifested in regard to them in all parts of the 
country, has removed doubts and uncertain¬ 
ties in the minds of thousands of good men 
concerning the durability of our popular in¬ 
stitutions, and given renewed assurance that 
our Liberty and our Union may subsist to¬ 
gether, for the benefit of this and all succeed¬ 
ing generations. 
MILLAllD FILLMORE. 
Washington, December 2 ,1851. 
ROCHESTER, DECEMBER 11, 1351. 
the President’s Message- 
In order to give this document entire, we omit 
our usual variety of Miscellany, News, &c. As 
many of our readers preserve the Rural, the pub¬ 
lication of the Message will be acceptable and 
valuable for future reference, even to those who 
may have given it a perusal. We have endcavoTed 
to give it correctly, and so arranged by headings 
to different topics, that the reader can easily refer 
to any particular subject discussed. 
Arrival of Kossuth, 
Kossuth, the hero and statesman, and late Gov¬ 
ernor of Hungary, arrived at New York, in the 
Ilumlroldt, on Friday last. His reception upon 
our-soil has been appropriate—most welcome and 
triumphant. The newspapers are teeming with 
descriptions of the occasion and its incidents—his 
appearance, manner, speeches, &c. At this mo¬ 
ment, Kossuth is the most popular and distin¬ 
guished friend and martyr of Freedom living— 
and his acts and character entitle him to the hon¬ 
or bestowed. 
For a Portrait and Biography of Kossuth, see 
Rural of March 27, 1851,— No. 13, page 101. 
Currency Items. 
The Superintendent of the Bank Department, 
has advertised the securities of the James Bank 
for sale. The notes are selling at 75 cents. The 
Receiver of the Patterson Bank, N. J., gives no¬ 
tice that all notes must be presented before July 
1, 1852, or be excluded from the dividends. Sell¬ 
ing at 15 cents. The Receivers of Commercial 
Bank of Perth, Amboy, N. J., designate 22d of 
April nexl, as the latest day to present the notes 
of that Bank. Bills worth 37 cents. The Toledo, 
Cuyahoga and Lecking Branches of the Ohio 
State Bank, have been taken possession of by the 
agents of the Board of Control, and their notes 
should he refused. 
A letter from the foreign money clerk of tlie 
Suffolk Bank, Boston, says:—“ I find, on examin¬ 
ation of the hills received at the Suffolk Bank this 
day, that the following New England Banks have 
$5 notes in circulation, of the plate of which the 
recent counterfeit of the Clarmont Bank is a good I 
imitation. < 
< 
Massachusetts —Leicester Bank, Northamp- < 
ton; Union Bank of Weymouth and Brain tree; J 
Warren,(Danvers); Andover; Farmington Bank; < 
Blackslone, (Uxoridge); Danvers; Marine; Quin- j 
sigamond; Beverly. : 
Vermont —Bank of Montpelier; Clarmont b’k. ) 
New Hampshire —Ashuelet B’k; New Ipswich, ) 
Mechanics’ and Traders’. ( 
Maine —Bank of Cumberland. j 
Rhode Island —Centreville; Warwick; New / 
England Pacific Railroad; R. I. Central; Village.” i 
Too much care cannot be exercised in taking S 
bills of these, or other N. E. Banks, as other siin- ( 
ilar counterfeits may be expected. It is due to / 
the banks to issue new billsof these denominations. 
The following list of new counterfeits have j 
been noticed: t 
New York —3’s on Essex B’k, Keesville; 5’s ( 
N. Y. Traders’ B’k—no genuiue 5’s on this bank. ( 
Mass. —5’s on Cochituale B’k, Boston; 5’s Bay ( 
State B’k, Lawrenceville. 
Vermont— 10’s on Stark B’k, Bennington, al¬ 
tered from l’s; 3’s B’k of Orleans, Irasburg, cor- ) 
reel imitation; 5’s White River B’k, good imiia- ; 
tion. ( 
l’s on Lancaster B’k, Lancaster, Pa. 
2’s “ Bank of Kentucky, Ky. 
10's Bank of Augusta, Georgia. 
The Black Swan. —This new prodigy in the 
musical world, will give a Concert in Corinthian 
Hall, on Thursday evening of this week. Miss 
Greenfield has a voice of extraordinary compass 
and depth—and, as she sings i n plain English, we 
presume both her language and music will be un¬ 
derstood and appreciated. 
To Advertisers. —We cannot consistently ac¬ 
commodate, to the extent desired, all who wish to 
avail themselves of the advantages of our columns 
as an advertising medium. Hence wo again re¬ 
quest our friends to make their notices brief— 
especially such as they wish continued more than 
two or three weeks. 
Collision on the Hudson River 11. R. —As the 
Newburg train on the 5th,was coming from N. Y. 
the conductor stopped to put out two laborers who 
would not pay ten cents additional fare, and was 
run into by a locomotive—following close behind, 
of which the conducior was aware. It rushed 
through the car, crushing the passengers with 
which it was filled. The Peekskill and Albany 
trains also came up, tlie locomotive of the Peeks¬ 
kill running into the cars of the latter, completely 
demolishing two of them. It is miraculous that 
no more were killed than is reported. Six persons 
have since died, and sixty or seventy were more 
or less injured, many of them severely. Comment 
is unnecessary. 
Monroe County Agricultural Society. 
Stages to Albion. —Since the close of naviga¬ 
tion we notice Messrs. Platt & Hubbard, run a 
six day line to Albion, leaving the Eagle Hotel 
in this city, at 8 o’clock, A. M. Friend Platt is 
at home in the passenger business, and the public 
are sure to be accommodated in good shape. 
We find in the December number of the Gen¬ 
esee Farmer, a notice that, 
“ The Annual Meeting of the Monroe County 
Agricultural Society will be held at the City Hall’, 
in Rochester, on the 14th day of December.” 
It may be that our worthy friend designs to have 
tho mee ting held on Sunday, but we have always 
entertained a better opinion of his morals. Will 
not sonic other day answer the Constitutional re¬ 
quirement ? V 
We learn, incidentally, that the meeting will be 
held on Saturday of this week, 13th inst., at 11 A. 
M., at the City Iiall. A full attendance is desir¬ 
ed, as it is expected business of importance will 
bo discussed. t 
The Knickerbocker. —In onr notices of Mag¬ 
azines last week, we did not mention tho Knick¬ 
erbocker—to our notion, the first among them— 
now to be had at $3 a year or 25 cents a number. 
“Ik. Marvel” will contribute to each number 
for 1852, in addition to other attractions. McMa¬ 
hon, of tho Waverly News Room will supply sub¬ 
scribers in this city. Our country friends can send 
their names and money to the publisher, S, IIeus- 
ton, 137 Nassau St., New Yoik. 
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