The Sun.
London, England, 1853-03-17 00:00:00

where the majority of the ratepayers were favourable to
the act.

BRIBERY AT ELECTIONS.

Lord A. VANE wished to ask Lord J. Russell, whe-
ther there is any intention on the part of her Majesty's
Government, to introduce any measure or resolutions
providing that henceforth in all cases where bribery or
treating in any city, county, or borough, is proved be-
fore a committee of the House of Commons to have taken
place, a commission should issue from the Crown to in-
quite into the state of such borough, city, or county.
Lord J. RUSSELL said thb,t in cases where bribery
bad been proved it would be right to institute a com-
mission of inquiry, but it was not the intention of the
Government to introduce any measure on the subject.
CONSOLIDATION OF THE STATUTES OF
IRELAND.
_ _ _

Mr. V. SCULLY wished to know if it was the in-
tention of the Government to codify the statutes exist-
ing in Ireland ?

The ATTORNEY-GENERAL replied that that
would be included in the general measure proposed by
the Gove.mment.

[LEFT SITTING.]

AMERICA.

THE PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE.

A summary of the following, received by electric
telegraph, appeared in The Sun of yesterday :
The excitement in Washington on the 4th was
excessive. So great was the anxiety to witness
General Pierce's inauguration as President that on
the previous night hundreds of persons, including
ladies, slept in the Rotunda of the Capitol, while
thousands walked the streets, determined to be suffi-
ciently early, or unable to obtain accommodation in
the hotels. Congress adjourned at 12 o'clock. The
members of both houses were in a very unsettled
state, and little or no business was transacted. The
flag on the Senate House was run down, but imme-
diately hoisted again on the assembling of the new
members. Shortly after one o'clock General Pierce
took his seat in a carriage, and was escorted by a
procession to the Senate House, which was reached
at one o'clock. The President elect stood erect in
the carriage, with President Fillmore by his side,
surrounded by marshals, and bowed to constant
cheers and waving handkerchiefs from the windows.
The foreign Ministers followed in carriages. The
proceedings were rather marred by a heavy fall of
snow. On reaching the Senate House the President
and President elect took seats in front of the secre-
tary's table, with the committee of arrangements
on their right and left. The Chief Justice and as-
sociate Justices of the Supreme Court were seated
in front of the eastern lobby. The diplomatic corps
were outside the bar, on the right of the principal
entrance, and the heads of departments and gover-
nors on the left. At a quarter past ono o'clock the
Marshal of the District, with the Judges of the
Supreme Court, followed by the President and Pre-
sident elect, and the entire assemblage in the Se-
nate, started in procession to the eastern front of '
the Capital, where an immense staging was erected
sufficiently large to accommodate all. At half-past
one o'clock, all being arranged, the oath of office was
administered to General Pierce by the Chief Justice
as follows :

" I do solemnly affirm that I will faithfully execute the
office of President of the United States, and will, to the
best of my ability, preserve, protect, and defend the con-
stitution of the United States."
General Pierce in taking the oath, did not, as
had been ordinarily the custom, say, " I solemnly
swear," but " I solemnly affirm ;" and instead of
kissing the book in Southern fashion, he raised his
right hand and held it in that position until the
pledge was read. " Immediately before the ad-
dress," says a describer of the scene—
" When General Pierce took the oath, with head un-
covered, and raising one hand to heaven, while he laid the
other on the holy book, the spectators also uncovered, even
in the snow that was falling at that time, and many of
them lifted up their hands as if in an act of the most fer-
vent devotion. It was a solemn scene. The address, which
the President delivered unfalteringly from memory, and
without a single note, was received with great enthusiasm
by the vast multitude, particularly those portions of it that
asserted the Monroe doctrine, the protection of American
citizens abroad, the firm adherence of the President to the
compromise measures, and his determination to carry out
the Fugitive Slave Law. Cries of good, good,' and other
warm expressions of admiration were elicited from the
crowd. The sentiments, the tone of the address, the earnest
manner in which it was spoken, his beautiful action, his
manly, erect appearance, his pale cast of countenance, in
which intellect and courage were the predominating fea-
tures, and his clear, loud voice, distinctly heard by the re-
motest of his audience, all combined to make a deep im-
pression in favour of General Pierce, and many asserted
that this was the best inaugural address ever delivered from
that spot. He is undoubtedly a very effective speaker. He
remained with his hat off until the close of the proceedings.
The ladies were in ecstacies, and so anxious were some who
happened to be in the rear to see and hear him, that they
climbed upon the pediments of the columns of the Capitol,
to their no small danger. Altogether it was a glorious
spectacle of sublime majesty, casting into the shade thp
idle pomp and unmeaning pageantry of the coronation of
kings and emperors."
After the conclusion of the usual formalities
President Pierce stepped to the front of the plat-
form, and, amid enthusiastic cheers, proceeded to
deliver the inaugural address :

" My countrymen,—lt is a relief to feel that no heart
but my own can know the personal regret and bitter sorrow
over which I have been borne to a position so suitable for
others rather than desirable for myself.
"The circumstances under which I have been called, for
a limited period, to preside over the destinies of the Re-
public, fill me with a profound sense of responsibility, but
with nothing like shrinking apprehension. I repair to the
post assigned me—not to one sought—but in obedience to
the unsolicited expression of your will, answerable only for
a fearless, faithful, and diligent exercise of my best powers.
" I ought to be, and am, truly grateful for the rare ma-
nifestation of the nation's confidence; but this, so far from
lightening my obligations, only adds to their weight.
You have summoned me in my weakness ; you must sus-
tain me by your strength. When looking for the fulfil-
ment of reasonable requirements, you will not be unmind-
ful of the great changes which have occurred, even within
the last quarter of a century, and the consequent augmen-
tation and complexity of duties imposed in the adminis-
tration of both your home and foreign affairs.
" Whether the elements of inherent force in the Repub-
lic have kept pace with its unparalleled progression in ter-
ritory, population, and wealth, has been the subject of ear-
nest thought and discussion on both sides of the ocean.
Less than 63 years ago the father of his country made 'the'
then recent ' accession of the important State of North
Carolina to the constitution of the United States one of
the subjects of his special congratulation. At that mo-
ment, however, when the agitation consequent upon the
revolutionary struggle had hardly subsided, when we were
just emerging from the weakness and embarrassments of
the confederation, there was an evident consciousness of
vigour equal to the great mission so wisely and bravely ful-
filled by our fathers. It was not a presumptuous assur-
ance, but a calm faith, springing from a clear view of the
sources of power in a Government constituted like ours. It
is no paradox to say that, although comparatively weak,
the new-born nation was intrinsically strong. Inconsider-
able in population and apparent resources, it was upheld by
a broad and intelligent comprehension of rights, and an
all-pervading purpose to maintain them, stronger than
armaments. It came from the furnace of? the revolution,
tempered to the necessities of the times. The thoughts of
the men of that day were as practical as their sentiments
were patriotic. They wasted no portion of their energies
upon idle and delusive speculations ; but, with a firm and
fearless step, advanced beyond the governmental landmarks
which had hitherto circumscribed the limits of human free-
dom, and planted their standard where it has stood,
against dangers which have threatened from abroad, and
internal agitation, which has at times fearfully menaced
at home. They approved themselves equal to the solution
of the great problem, to understand which their minds had
been illuminated by the dawning lights of the revolution.
The object sought was not a thing dreamed of—it was a
thing realised. They had exhibited not only the power to
achieve, but what all history affirms to be so much more
unusual, the capacity to maintain. The oppressed
throughout the world, from that day to the present, have
turned their eyes hitherward, not to find those lights ex-
tinguished, or to fear lest they should wane, but to be
constantly cheered by their steady and increasing radiance.
" In this our country has, in myjudgment, thus far ful-
filled its highest duty to suffering humanity. It has
spoken, and will continue to speak, not only by its words
but by its acts, the language of sympathy, encouragement,
and hope to those who earnestly listen to tones which
pronounce for the largest rational liberty. But, after
all, the most animating encouragement and potent appeal
for freedom will be its own history, its trials, and its
triumphs. Pre-eminently, the power of our advocacy re-
poses in our example ; bat no example, be it remembered,
can be powerful for lasting good, whatever apparent ad-
vantages may be gained, which is not based upon eternal
principles of right and justice. Our fathers decided for
themselves, both upon the hour to declare and the
to strike. They were their own judges of the circum-
stances under which it became them to pledge to each other
' their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honour,' for
the acquisition of the priceless inheritance transmitted to
us. The energy with which that great conflict was opened,
and, under the guidance of a manifest and beneficent Pro-
vidence, the uncomplaining endurance with which it was
prosecuted to its consummation, were only surpassed by
the wisdom and patriotic spirit of concession which char-
acterised all the counsels of the early fathers.

"One of the most impressive evidences of that wisdom
is to be found in the fact, that the actual working of our
system has dispelled a degree of solicitude which at the
outset disturbed bold hearts and far-reaching intellects.
The apprehension of dangers from extended territory, mul-
tiplied States, accumulated wealth, and augmented popula-
tion has proved to be unfounded. The stars upon your
banner have become nearly threefold their original num-
ber, your densely populated possessions skirt the shores of
the two great oceans, and yet this vast increase of people
and territory has not only shown itself compatible with the
harmonious action of the States and the Federal Govern-
ment in their respective constitutional spheres, but has
afforded an additional guarantee of the strength and. in-
tegrity of both.
" With an experience thus suggestive aid cheering, the
policy of my administration Will not be controlled by any
timid forebodings of evil from expansion. Indeed, it is not
to be disg,uised that our attitude as a nation, and our
position on the globe, render the acquisition of certain pos-
sessions, not within our jurisdiction, eminently important
for protection, if not, in the future, essential for the
preservation of the rights of commerce and the peace
of the world. Should they be obtained it will
be through no grasping spirit, but with a view to
obvious national interest and security, and in a manner
entirely consistent with the strictest observation of national
faith. We have nothing in our history or position to in-
vite aggression ; we have everything to beckon us to the
cultivation of relations of peace and amity with all na-
iii4ouinutillePanuttrh
9,lpyots
me
marked s
y, th
administration rienfotrhee,acotnodnucithjp,ouifis toiaidepscuoi
foreign fibcl,oawt
affairs.
robs:.