The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, 1856-12-12


inert law but abrogatcd no restriction which
existed in law or in fact. But to assume that
the effect of such measure would be to pro-
mote the extension of Slavery, would be to
prc.snppoSc that free labor cannot enter into
competition with slave labor and that il needs
an act Of Congress, for its extension. Are the
Frec'soilcrs prepared to admit this conclusion Z
Those groundlcss attacks aud scmsclcss claims
ut the Missouri Compromise, produced that
warrantablc interference, in the affairs of Kan
sns, on the part of the North, which has been
| the great cause Of its troubles.
! Revolutionary disorder in Kansas, according
to the Message had its origin, in plans Of inter
venton, arranged by memb bcrs of the Congress-
which organized the Territory. Both of the
great sections of the Unon have some of these
eXcesses to answer for. But these have been
greatly exaggerated for the purposes of polt.
icnl agitation elsewhere. Imputed irrcgular
tiles in the elections were beyond the sphere Of
Executive action but actual disorder, and or
ganiz:d obstruction to law, have been r-prcs-
scd by the power of the General Government.
| Armed bands have been dislcrscd others have
been prevented from entering the Territory
| That these disorders, did not arise rom any
| thing in the organic law of the Territory, i,
evident, from the fact, that similar law, pro.
duccI such sad effects in Nebraska. The
| Message expresses n hope, that all nnconsttu-
ti"nal laws, upon the Statute books of the Ter
rit"ry, will be removed, either by Congress or
by the Territorial legislature.
The Message refers to the Report Of the Sec
rotary OF the Treasury, for full information con,
ccrning the financial condition of the Gov
crnmcnt The whole revenue during the past
fiscal year, amounted to *73,9lS,l4l, which,
with the balance Oh hand, up to the lst July,
1856, made the total resources Of the year.
*?2,S5o,ll7. The total expenditures, including
sums paid, on account of the public debt and
i'll execution of the treaty with Mexico, a
mounting to sI2,9iS.792.
The public debt has been reduced to $50
737, l2", which might be paid without cmbar-
rassmcnt, in single year but not being vet
due, it cannot be pressed to payment by the
| Government
The expenditures of the pnst five years, cx-
cluding payments on account Of the public
debt, have not exceeded SIS, ,OUoo0oo, per mn
mum; and the expenditures of the ensuing
five years, will probably not exceed that a
mount The President therefore recommends,
| that the rcvcnuc from Customs, be reduced To
| $4,000 900 or $5o,uuoOuo.
The army has been employed actively during
the past year i'll repclliny the attacks Of hostile
Indians, in various quarters, and especially in
the territories of Oregon and Washington. The
e., -
on the best means OF curing defects in the ex-
isting organization of the army and promoting
its efficiency, and refers particularly to the
Report of the Secretary of War;
The Message represents the Navy to bc in II
high state Of efficiency and refers in terms of
comnendation. to the law of 1855, which in
| tro,luccd retiring list; to the law for pro
noting discipline; and TO the apprentice sys
| TEN. Of the frigatcs ordered by Con
l5rcss, two are now in actual service. A fur
thcr increase of force is recommended.
The aggregate sales Of the public lands tlu-
| ring the past year, amounts to 9,227,S7S acres
The amount located under military scrip and
| land warrants, is 3O,lO0,230 acres; making
the whole aggregate 80, ,32s, loS acres
| From the Report of the Postmaster General,
it appears that the expenditures of that dc
partncnt during the last fiscal year. were
sl0.i07 S6S; and its gross receipts. $500, sol
making deficiency of s2,7s7,o46. In view Of
this deficiency, the Postmaster General among
| other suggestions, recommends, that the frank
ing privilege be abolished.
Our relations with foreign powers repre-
sented to Lc in an amicablc condition. With
| Great Britain the enlistment controversy, has
been satisfactorily adjusted and the Central
American question: has been, Mt length settled
by late treaty which will be Immediately
submitted to the Senate for ratification.
The Message presents the main propositions
of Secretary Marcy's celebrated despatch on
the subject Of privateering. Soon after the
commencement of the late war in Europe, our
Government, it seems, submitted two princi-
| pies, for the security of neutral commerce
that the neutral flag should cover enemies
goods, except contraband of war; and that
neutral property board of the merchant
vessels Of belligerants should be exempt from
seizure. These principles not at the time
defnitively acted upon by France and Eng
land but the Peace Congress of Paris, have
set forth a declaration, containing the two
principles; but super-adding other two, "That
Privateering be abolished - and that "Block-
ades to be binding must be effective" The
last principle meets the assent Of this Govern
ment, butte abolish Privateering, without at
the same time exempting the private property
of bellgerents from seizure by the armed crui-
sers of the army, would give an undue advan
tage to the great Naval powers. The United