Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1853-12-06
WASHINGTON NEWS AND GOSSIP

sincerity, its manly expression OF opinions
its recommendation of measures, its rcicc-
tions upon the past, its perceptions of the
present and moro than all and above all its
bold and comprehensive annuneiation Of the
future it is up to the occasion, the time, the
man. and the great National Congress, to
which it is addressed. In very many respects
it has marked peculiarities. Every paragraph
bears the unmistakable characteristics of its
distinguished author Great principles of
public policy are announced with explicit
ness and precision, and with beauty of Ian
guage and eloquence of diction. altogether
unusual in state papers of similar nature
There are some passages we could quote did
our limited columns allow, which, for Tajestic
elOquence, have seldom, if ever been equalled
We refer to what he says Of those who worked
out American independence. and the dispo-
sition they, who knew what Independence cost.
made of the disturbing question of slavery.
which are written with great power and force,
The predominant feature Of the Message.
however, as a state paper, is its exposition Of
the strict construction doctrines Of Jefferson
and Madison, and the application of these
doctrines to great questions, now occupying
the public miEd. The President withholds
estimates for appropriations for works Of in
ternal improvement, in twenty seven of the
thirty one States, for many reasons, which
seriously involve the question Of the power Of
Congress under the Constitution 10 make such
Int al; Il
pendenty Of the grounds which have so often
been urged against the application Of the fed
eral revenue for works of this character, i'll
equality with consequent injustice is inherent
in the nature of the proposition, and because
the plan has proved entirely inadequate to the
accomplishment of the objects sought.
The question Of the Pacific Railroad, which
now appropriatc5 TO itself such universal dis
cussion, the President meets with even more
of poSitivencss and cxpIictness than that of
internal improvements. as being. perhaps,
more entirely removed from the constitutional
advertisements suggested by the conflicting
opinions of eminent men i'll past times. 10
the claim set up for Congress of the power
'
! roads and protect harbors of refuge when
indispensably necessary - for common de
fence" no objection is intcrposed. But ac-
cOrdng to the message. ii is believed that our
present peaceful policy, and the energy and
patriotism of our citizens who arc fast filing
up the vacan, spots between the Atlantic and
tie Pacific shores, neither suggest, nor does
sound judgment, in view of the whole aspect
of our domestic and foreign affairs demand
any such urgent preparation for military de
fence, as the construction, By the General
government by appropriation Of money from
the Federal Treasury, of such a work rs a
railroad to the Pacific. The message docs not
intimate that the President would. on the
other hand, give his sanction to any bill au-
propriating alternate sections IF the public
lands for such Il purpose, unless under Gil
cumstanccs which would induce prudent
individual proprietor to make Il like DISPOSE
ton. But while these controlling and i'm
Portant objections are interposcd, the prcsi-
dent does not fail to appreciate the great and
almost incalculabIe advantages which would
accru, to the nation, if the Atlantic ana
Pacific shores Of America were bound together
by some such tic Of speedy and safe commit
nicaton.
In relation to the Slavery question and lie
Compromise measures zen. Pierce ro-&:iirius
the doctrines Of his inaugural il a manner
which leaves little room for unprinciplcd fac
tlonistS even. to doubt lis sincere and earnest
devotion to those great principles of con4ti-
tutional Justice towards the institutions of
each and all the States of the Union. which
have marked every political act Of Iitc not
entirely removed from active participation in
all the great questions OF the day.
In regard to our foreign policy. the scnti-
ments of the message frankly accept all the
contingencies Of national expansion as tie
inherent quality of our public life. 1t hopes
for, and IorSccs- It's Il necessary consequence.
If what our forotathers accomplished and VIC.
their children by the blessin. of Providence.
have rresoryed-that the future is to gather
new soil and other people beneath the pro-
tecting shade of the American Union
We need not urge the perusai ot this fr.t
message Of Franklin Pierce Il will be read
by or to every inhahitant of our America,
and wherever else there is mind enough to
appreciate or fear the advancing greatness ,r
the - RcpHhLic Of tie Fe,t."
ORDNANCE MEN 50 ESLlarrD-It is held at
tie War and Treasury Departments that nut
Hance 0tCls on constant labor, having been en-
listed Is competent mechanics al higher pay
than ordinary soldiers. are not entitled tothc
extra Fer diem provided 10y the act Of March
FL, 1919. The regulations Of the War Pc
rartment of 1888 and lS4I made in com,Ii-
ancc with the law Of March ), 1913. positively
forbid it, and no officer is justified in maxim,
an illegal payment Of the kind on the ground
that he was not forcwarrcd Of its illcgality:
that he was ignorant Of the regulations. or
that his predecessor had violated them with
IMMUNITY.
The HERALD LAST Ro0RBACH-Wc per
eeiye that the UeraN yesterday b ticks out OF
its falsehood in that paper Of the 18th of
November, wherein it declared that Mr.. Bu
chanan had mali gncd the Administration TO
ITS edltor-Gennett-n the presence of Sena-
"a No r.; F.,I,