Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1856-01-09
The Presidents Message.

The message which President Pierce sentt Con
| gress on Monday, 3Ist Dec, but which only ono
half of Congress thought fit to receive was sur
prise in every respect. First, in the mode of its
presentation which violates precedent but, to cur
mind, does not, under the circumstances, violate
common sense. Secondly, it was surprise in the
circumstance that treats of foreign relations and
| the proper subjects of annual message, in a
| concise direct manner somewhat approaching that
| of royal speech. Lastly, it was surprise, in
that its writer, after having gone through with att
the subjects that his offcc requires him to bring
before Congress, goes out Of his way to enlighten
the people on the Constitutional Theory of the
| Government and tbon to make most desperate
bid for the votes of the slave States in essay
the constitutional Relations of Slavery
two captions being so worded and arranged by the
Presidential hand itself. The two last subjects
occupy much more than one-third of the message.
The tone of the message, in the part referring
to our foreign relations is such as are glad to
be able to commend The difficulties with Great
Britain, arising out of the Clayton and Bulwer
treaty, frankly and fairly stated and plain
case is made against Great Britain. Bat there is
nothing offensive il the manner of stating it, such
as we're led TO expect from the predictions of
those who professed to know tho feelings of the
President The recruiting business gives the op-
portunity for little bolder language; but the
Presidential statement Of that case shows that NJ
apprehension is felt of unfavorabIe issue to that
question. The only serious difficulty between the
two governments is plainly the Central American
one, and this subject the President, while he is
firm, is eonciliatory The Danish difficulty is sta
ted in a clear manner, and sufficient reasons are
given for urging the abandonment of the Sound
Dues and for declining TO take part in the conven-
tion proposed to consider the subject One only
embarrassing question with Franee-that relating
to the French Consul at San Francisco-hGs been
settled as the public already aware An e.
qually unimpOrtant matter with the Kingdom of
Greece has also been disposed of. Mexico is made
the subject of brief paragraph, and, in her pres
ent pitiablo condition, forbearance on our part is
recommended in urging claims for private repara-
ton Nicaragua is barely touched upon, the Pres
deat evidently feeling that he had delicate sub
ecf to treat of, and that the fewest words possible
would be tho best
On domestic affairs the statements are generally
satisfactory. The national debt, at the present
time is said to be less than forty millions of dol
lars. The Army, the Navy the Post Office and
Interior Departments are represented to be in
satisfactory condition. On the subject Of the Kan
sas disputes the message states that the President
did not adopt Gov Shannon's views and regard
the federal interposiion as at all necessary This
closes tho massage proper, for we cannot regard
the concluding political disquisitions as at all
called for, appropriate deserving of serious
consideration. The literary style of the message
is net above the average of former documents
from the same source.-PhilaR Bulletin.