The republic., 1850-12-05
The Presidents Messsge-opinions OF the
Press.
From the Nationai Intelligence.


| The PREsIDEST's MEssAGE.-We sat down TO
the perusal Of the first annual Message of Prcsi-
dent FILLMORE (Which in our last We placed be-
fore our readers) with the intention of enabling
ourselves 10 present such views of its leading
| passages Ii might occur to But we confeis
ourselves at loss to find in the Message any thing
which it is IN our wit TO improve, or whichit would
| not be presumption in us to attempt to enforce or
amplify. The Message is plain, indeed, that he
who runs may read, and comprehend it5 contents
1t expounds itself, and requires no Interpretation.
We shall confne ourselves, therefore, for to-day
at least, to few observations on the general cha
racter of this very able State paper
| The first thing about the Message which must
strike most readers, is its commendable brevity
compared with many of the labored annual com.
muncations of preceding Presdenta With simi.
lar materials before them, some Of his predcces.
sors, whom to name would perhaps be deemed in
! vidious would have spun out tissue which would
instead of six, have covered sixteen columns of the
National h,telligencer But the President has com
pressed into a comparatively small space all the
Information regarding public affairs, all exposi-
tons of principles, and all recommendations OF par
cular Legislation, which seemed requisite and pro-
per; yet all with a perspicuity and distinctncss
which leave no room for either oubt or misappre-
hcnsion. In these respects, as well in the sound
i
Grafton, it deserves to rank with the best (the
atest) of the Messages of that great mediev al
| American statesman, President MADISON.
The parts of the Message which particularly at
tract our admiration are, first, that which incul-
Gates the application to the functions and dues of
] this Government OF those great moral principles
which are taught to individual man. well by di-
| vine authority as by the promptngs of uncorrupt
| nature, and the wisdom Of ages. We are proud to
find, for example, in the Message, such noble SEN
| tmcnts as the following
"The great law of morality ought to have ma.
tional as well as personal and individual appli-
| cation. WE SHOULD ACT TOWARDS OTHER NATIONS
AS WE WISH THEM TO ACT TOWARDS us; and JUS
| tce and conscience should form the rule of con
| duct between Governments, instead of mere
| power sef-interest, or the desire of aggrandize-
| ment."
In the same vein is, from beginning to end, the
| whole OF that part of the message which concerns
| our foreign relations; worthy Of all praise, and
auguring continuance of our existing friendly re-
! lations with the whole world.
And, secondly, what the President says of the
| most important point in the domestic concerns of
l the Union is so entirely in accord with what we
| have always and repeatedly endeavored TO impress
upon our readers, that it would be strange indeed
| did it not command our entire concurrence, and,
L Along Win IL, our respect Tor the moral courage
| with which the President has met the question. Re-
ferrng to the series of measures passed at the last
| session of Congress with the view of healing the
| sectional differences which had sprung from the
slavery and territorial questions, 81 believe those
| measures" says the President, "to hare been
quired by the circumstances and condition Of the
| country. beive they Wae necessary TO allay
| perities and anmosties that were rapidly alien
! ating one section of the country from another,
! and destroying those fraternal sentiments which
| are the strongest supports Of the Constitution"
Regarding these measures as ga settlement in princ
| pie and in substance-A FINAL SETTLEMENT of the
dangerous and exciting subjects which they em-
| braced'-for this reason, he adds, al recommend
your adherence TO the adjustment established by those
measures, until time and experience shall demon
sratc the necessity Of further legislation 10 guard
| against evasion or abuse"
/ No one can doubt, who reads in connexio the
passs ges of the Mesa ge which lear upon this ob
ject, the fixed determination of the President not
only to take that the laws enacted on the sub
| lect shall be faithfully executed but hold 10
hem, with all his might, end with ali his constitu-
ronal authority the sbeet-anchor Of the national
peace and safety. In this patriotic purpose let all
| rue patriots stand by him.
The recommendations in the Message all speak for
themselves, and WILL we believe, almost univer-
ally command the public appreciation.
Upon the Message, a whole, while it loses no.
hing in our opinion by its embracing political
principles which we have for very many years sus-
taincd with our feeble powers, we the more
pleased with il that it is something better than the
embodiment ola particular party creed. Its frank
ness, its justice, its moderation, and above all it,
natonal tone and spirit, are such as to commend it
to men Of all parties who love their country, its
fame, its peace, and its prosperity As platform
Of principles, fit TO be put in practice, though it
| may not be capacious enough 10 take in Disunon-
ists and wiliu agitators, there is other class Of
politicians in our country that might willingly
md even proudly, take their stand upon il.
The Message Of the President, unexccphonablc
as II is, yet does not altogether escape cavi The
| UniOn spaper-claiming 10 be the organ Of the
| Democratic party" in this city-bcstows indeed
| upon the greater portion Of the Message the most
unqualified praise, and pronounces part oft even
TO be "worth its weight in gold" Il finds fault,
| 70 be sure with the Presidents care for domestic
industry and internal Improvements; but that Oh.
lection belonging to the schoolof obsolete abstrac-
dons Of which the Union Editor s the rosiduary
| egatee. was TO have been expected Fortunately,
however, while that school, which disdains to learn
any thing and forgets nothing, continues TO rail.
and shall be left far behind the practical spirit Of the
age and the genius Of our institutions the country,
agreeing with the President will beyond doubt 60
ahead in all the elements which lead 10 national
prosperity and true greatness.
There is one passage Of the Presidents Message
for which VIC almost feel tempted to offer to the
Chief Magistrate our personal thanks; and VIC
might safely tender 10 him for il the thanks Of this
whole community. We alludc to the cordial and
emphatic manner in which the President com.
mends 10 the favorable consideration Of Congress
the interests Of this District and scat Of Govern.
ment. This passage Of the message will be deeply
gratifying TO every citizen Of Washington, and
not less to all its friends and well wishors every
where.
Prom The Baliimorc (lfd Patriot
The message will commend itself to every reader,
by the frsnkncss with which the sentiments and
principles Of the writer avowed, and the clear
meas with which its recommendations set forth.
Il is a sound, republican, and conservative docu-
f.gHs al. I..IN