The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1854-12-05
WASHINGTON CITY.
TUESDAY MORNING. DEC. 8, 1864.
CONGRESS.

presiding officer will be made to-day The message of the
President read and ten thousand copies with the ac
companying documents, ordered to be printed After
ansacng other business the Senate adjourned until IL
o'clock to-day
HOUSE, OF REPREsENrAmvEs.-The House of Representa-
ves met at IL O'clock and quorum being present pro-
ceeded to business resolution was offered by Mr. Sol
ers calling the President for information in regard to
the diplomatic convention at Osend. motion to suspend
the rules made and uegaved The Presidents message
read and twenty thousand copies with the
ing documents, ordered to be printed After transacng
other business the House adjourned until IL o'clock
to-day
PRESIDENT PIERCE'S SECOND ANNUAL MESSAGE.
Our columns to-day occupied mainly by the second
annual message of President Pierce This document has
been looked for with unusual interest aud will be perused
with eagerness by millions of feemen at home, whilst it
will be sought for and read with less anxiety by the
subjects of European governments Like every other State
paper that has emanated from the high source the
message is pervaded by an elevated moral and political
tone which will be fully appreciated by the viruous and
the patriotic of all nations. The style is simple concise
and unadorncd but forcble, expressive and unambgu
Each successive subject that it discusses is pre-
sented in the ewest number of words and yet COM
prchensive and full the sentiments that nothing is
left implication inference. The sentiments through
out elevated, patriotic, statesmanike, and purely
American. There is In every line of the message tone
of conservative nationality, happily combined with the
spirit of safe progress which will command enthu
sastc response from the American heart and mind Sec
onalism in form receives the least countenance whilst
the great vital principles of democracy reaserted with
energy and earnestness which will impes themselves
strongly upon the popular mind
After appropriate auson to the diseases disasters
and msfpruues which have afflicted the country during
the year. the President proceeds in mastery
discuss foreign policy and to the present
state of foreign relations He reeraes with becoming
earnestness and rmnes the great American doctrine pro-
mugated by Mr. Monroe that further European coloni
cation be tolerated this continent In presenting
the present state of our ore relations lac exhibits sue
cesson of successful diplomatic negotiations which reflect
the highest credit upon his administration Throughout
his discussion of foreign affairs the President manests
deep socude for the preservation and cultivation Of
amcable relations with all governments but there is moth
ing like disposition to curry favor with any government
however powerful He speaks with characteristic plain
ness and frmness, and yet there is q calmness and
earnestness in his language to which no just eycep-
ton be taken He does not hesitate TO censure
when censurc is demanded, does he withhold
his commentator of those governments with which our
negotiations have been successful The long-existing
friendship between our government and the people of
France is appropriately adverted to in connexon with the
Of the amicable adjustment of the late
sa to allow minister to Spain to proceed through
France to the post Of his duties Whilst nothing has oc-
Cured enable the President to with confidence
the early settlement of difficulties with Spain, he
to regard the present Spanish more
favorable amcable and satisfactory adjustment than
that which has lately been superseded But next to the
oupoken franknes with which the President aludes to
the policy of the British government that portion of the
message which discusses the Greytown affair will
attract most attention The whole case is present.
ed with admirable clearness and force; and the
conduct of gallant naval commander in bombarding
the is fully justified The thousand idle rumors and
malicious calumnies to which this affair gave rise blown
the winds by the plain upyarnished statement of the
scts Of the 1t shown unanswerably that the
duct of the government in this matter is fully just6abe
The whole presentation of foreign policy and of the
present condition of our foreign relations will constitute
the ampest vndication of the administration against the
assaults of its enemies.
Passing from this branch of his message the President
enters upon the discussion of the domestic policy of the
government lie adyerts with just pride TO the prosperous
condition the finances and recommends the reduction of
the tariff to the revenue standard This recommendation
rearms the democratic doctrine in regard to the tariff
and will be heartily approved by all true democrats.
The army and navy receive the earnest attention to
which they are so eminently entitled. The President
untes cordially with the Secretaries of War and the
Navy and the Postmaster General in their recommended
tons lie aludes with painful socitude to the late In
dian nassacre frontiers and earnestly appeals to
Congress for increase of military force He
ommends ALSO increase in the pay Of the officers in the
spirit in which the pay Of the rank and file at the
! last session was increased Various important reforms
and improvements in the service urgently discussed.
lie commends earnestly the suggestions of the Secretary of
the Navy reorganization and gradual increase of the
navy and presents powerful in support of these
suggestions His aluson to the late disasters at is
wel-timed, and it is hoped that his remarks will make
He suggests Also revision of the judiciary system, and
discusses the expediency of furnishing aid to railroad enter
prises by alternate sections of land with marked ability
His remarks this subject suggestive Of earnest
sdeaton He comedies the power Of Congress to grant
such MD but he presents strong the expe
diency prosecuting this policy at the present time With
out entering into the discussion ofhs views the river and
harbor improvements the President his nten
ton to transmit at early day special message that
subject
/ The message then closes with most expressive and