The Sun.
London, England, 1853-12-20 00:00:00

who have more recently borne in triumph the gag of the
countryupon a foreign soil, will never permit alienation
of feeling to weaken the power of their united efforts, nor
internal dissensions to paralyse the great arm of freedom,
uplifted for the vindication of self-government.
I have thus briefly presented such suggestions as seem
to me especially worthy of your consideration. In pro-
viding for the present, you can hardly fail to avail your-
selves of the light which the experience of the past casts
upon the future.
The growth of our population has now brought us, in the
destined career of our national history, to a point at whi h
c
it well behoves us to expand our vision over the vast per-
spective.
The successive decennial returns of the census since the
adoption of the constitution have revealed a law of steady
progressive development, which may be stated, in general
terms, as a duplication every quarter-century. Carried
forward, from the point already reached, for only a short
period of time as applicable to the existence of a nation,
this law of progress, if unchecked, will bring us to almost
incredible results. A large allowance for a diminished pro-
portional effect of emigration would not very materially re-
duce the estimate, while the increased average of human
life known to have already resulted from the scientific and
hygienic improvements of the past 50 years will tend to
keep up through the next 50, or perhaps 100, the same
ratio of growth which has been thus revealed in our past
progress; and to the influence of these causes may.be added
the influx of labouring masses from Eastern Asia to the
Pacific side of our possessions, together with the prob able
accession of the populations already existing in other parts
of our hemisphere, which, within the period in question,
will feel, with yearly increasing force, the natural attrac-
tion of so vast, powerful, and prosperous a. confe
od ra. ion eof
self-governing republics, and seek the privilege f being ad-
mitted within its safe and happy bosom, transferring with
themselves by a peaceful and healthy process of incorpora-
tion spacious regions of virgin and exuberant soil, which
are destined to swarm with the fast-growing and fast-
spreading millions of our race.
These considerations seem fully to justify the presump-
tion that the law of population above stated will continue
to act with undiminished effect through at least the next
half-century ; and that thousands of persons who have
already arrived at maturity, and are now exercising the
rights of free men, will close their eyes on the spectacle of
100,000,000 of population embraced within the majestic
proportions of the American Union.
It is not merely as an interesting topic of speculation
that I. present these views for your consideration. They
have important practical bearings upon all the political
duties we are called upon to perform. Heretofore our
system of government has worked upon what may be
termed a miniature scale, in comparison with the develop-
ment which it must thus assume within a future so near at
hand as scarcely to be beyond the present of the existing
generation.
It is evident that a confederation so vast and so varied,
both in numbers and in territorial extent, in habits and in
interests, could only be kept in natural cohesion by the
strictest fidelity to tho principles of the'constitution. as un-
derstood by those who have adhered to the most restricted
constructed of the powers granted by the people and the
States. Interpreted and applied according to those prin-
ciples, the great compact adapts itself with healthy ease
and freedom to an unlimited extension of that benign sys-
tem of federative self-government, of whichitis our glorious
and I trust immortal charter. Let us, then, with re-
doubled vigilance be on our guard against yielding to the
temptation of the exercise of doubtful powers, even under
the pressure of the motives of conceded temporary advan-
tage and apparent temporary expediency.
The minimum of federal government compatible with
the maintenance of national unity and efficient action in
our relations with the rest of the world should afford the
rule and measure of construction of our powers under the
general clauses of the constitution. A spirit of strict de-
ference to the sovereign rights and dignity of every State,
rather than a disposition to subordinate the States into a
provincial relation to the central authority should charac-
terise all our exercise of the respective powers temporarily
vested in us as a sacred trust from the generous confidence
of our constituents.
In like manner, as a manifestly indispensable condition
of the perpetuation of our Union, and of the realisation of
that magnificent national future alluded to, does the duty
become yearly stronger and clearer upon us, as citizens of
the several States, to cultivate a fraternal and affectionate
spirit, language, and conduct in regard to other States and
in relation to the various interests, institutions, and habits
of sentiment and opinion which may respectively character-
ise them. Mutual forbearance, respect, and. non-interference
in our personal action as citizens, and an enlarged exercise
of the most liberal principles of comity in the public deal-
ing of State with State, whether in legislation or the exe-
cution of laws, are the moans to perpetuate the confidence
and fraternity, the decay of which a mere political union
on so vast a scale could not long survive.
In still another point of view is an important practical
duty suggested by this consideration of the magnitude of
dimensions to which our political system, with its corre-
sponding machinery of government, is so rapidly expand-
ing. With increased vigilance does it require us to culti-
vate the cardinal virtues of public frugality and official in-
tegrity and purity. Public affairs ought to be so con-
ducted that a settled conviction shall pervade the entire
union that nothing short of the highest tone and standard of
public morality marks every part of the administration
and legislation of the Government. Thus will the federal
system, whatever expansion time and progress may give
it, continue and more deeply rooted in the love and con-
fidence of the people.
That wise economy which is as far removed from parsi-
mony as from corrupt and corrupting extravagance—that
single regard for the public good which will frown upon
all attempts to approach the Treasury with insidious pro-
jects of private interests cloaked under public pretexts—
that sound fiscal administration which in the legislative
department guards against the dangerous temptations in-
cident to overflowing revenue, and in the executive main-
tains an unsleeping watchfulness against the tendency of
all national expenditure to extravagance—while they are
admitted elementary political duties, may, I trust, be
deemed as properly adverted to and urged, in view of the
more impressive sense of that necessity which is directly
suggested by the considerations now presented.
Since the adjournment of Congress the Vice-President
of the United States has passed from the scenes of earth,
without having entered upon the duties of the station to
which he had been called by the voice of his countrymen.
Having occupied almost continuously for more than 30
years a seat in one or the other of the two houses of Con-
gress, and having, by his singular purity and wisdom,
secured unbounded confidence and universal respect, his
failing health was watched by the nation with painful
solicitude. His loss to the country, under all the circum-
stances, has been justly regarded as irreparable.
In compliance with the act of Congress of March 2,
1853, the oath of office was administered to him on the
24th of that month at Ariadne estate, near Matanzas, in
the island of Cuba ; but his strength gradually declined,
and was hardly sufficient to enable him to return to his
home in Alabama, where, on the 18th day of April, in the
most calm and peaceful way, his long and eminently useful
career was terminated.
Entertaining unlimited confidence in your intelligent
and patriotic devotion to the public interest, and being con-
scious of no motives on my part which are not inseparable
from the honour and advancement of my country, I hope
it may be my privilege to deserve and secure, not only your
cordial co-operation in great public measures, but also those
relations of mutual confidence and regard whigje it is al-
ways so desirable to cultivate between mum ers of co-
ordinate branches of the Government.
FRANKLIN PIERCE.
Washington, D.C., DeC. 5, 1853.
After the Message was read, the usual number
of copies and the accompanying documents were
ordered to be printed, and also 10,000 additional
copies.

BRITLSII AMERICAN LAND COMPANY.

A meeting of this company took place yesterday, when
Mr. A. K. Barber was elected an auditor to fill the va -
caney occasioned by the death of Mr. J. Do wie. In
referring to the general prospects of the undertaking,
the governor (Mr. Gillespie) stated that the latest accounts
were of a most satisfactory nature. The facilities
opened with the districts in which their land was situated
by the construction of railways had already exercised a
beneficial influence on the value of the property. An
advance, inado some few years ago to one of the lines,
with the view of providing means to carry on the works,
and the amount of which it had been thought would
never be recovered, bad latterly been in great part re-
paid, with arrears of interest. The Grand Trunk of
Canada Railway, with its branches now in active for-
mation, would also add greatly to their prosperity. The
progress of Sherbrooke were very
reports regarding the
encouraging, and the water power was such as to be
extensively available for manufacturing purposes. An
additional outlay to promote arrangements for estab-
li.hing a manufacturing community was recommended,
as the advantages of the locality were equal to those
enjoyed at Lowell, or in any manufacturing district in
the United States, while the security for the expendi-
ture would be undoubted. A. market for the timber on
a portion of their property, which had not before been
considered valuable, had been found among persons who
were engaged in the lumber trade, which promised to be-
come extended at remunerative prices. In fact, from the
whole of the accounts received, together with the per-
sonal inspection of their solicitor, who bad paid a visit
to their Canadian establishments, the directors were
convinced that the company is in a sound and rapidly
improving position. With respect to mineral deposits,
it was stated by the deputy-governor (Mr. Cummins)
that, under the preliminary agreement made in the
early part of the year with other persons for_Uecarrry.
ing out an 'investigation of their property,ll
captain, with six miners, was despatched to effectthat object. After having been engaged some
time they returned, since, although indications of
gold were discovered, they were not regarded as suffi-
ciently rich to warrant their being worked. Specimens
of copper were, however, traced, which were considered
valuable, and the captain, before leaving the country,
scarcely satisfied with the search he had made, thought
it would be advisable to renew it in the spring. Subse-
quently a discovery had taken place about 40 miles from
Sherbrooke, not ma the nroperty of the company, but
in a lake connected with the river, the waters of which
passed through a portion of their land, and the gold
and quartz taken thence indicated, it was believed, the
presence of valuable deposits. Mr. Galt, finding that
the Cornish captain bad left Montreal, secured specimens
and forwarded them to London, making at the same time
an arrangement with the discoverers for 'their interest
should the returns prove favourable. These specimens
had arrived, and competent persons had compared them
with the best produce of California, but the results of an
assay, proceeding under Messrs. Johnson and Matthey,
had not yet been received. Of the presence of mineral
deposits there could be no doubt, and, with the view
of
testing their value, further researches would take
theplac
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asomepdiscussiondt ht
toe ghoi
mv e
ar governorh
eackno
wledged
meeting,
and Mr. M. Clark then gave notice of a motion to the
effect that 2501. be appropriated to the purchase of plate
for presentation to the deputy-governor.

NAVAL OFFICERS ABROAD.--We are happy to an-
nounce that the hardship to which we have so repeatedly
called at tepnatyioroi
friega
naval officers
the
lg seriousse
rvingdeodoucftoiroonigs
omsatadefroth .
til:lediseounting their bills, is about to be removed.
-Arrangements will shortly be- completed by which offi-
cers will have the option of receiving their pay in cash
at par, or of having a bill, as heretofore, upon the Pay-
raaster-General.—United swrive Gazette.