Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1856-01-04
THE ANNUAL MESSAGE OF TIE PRESl-
DENT

The annual message of the President Of the United
States has become an event Of international sgnil-
The rupldlty of our advancement IN all the
arts of peace and of war; and the successful applIca-
ton of the republican principle to tue science of gov
eminent in this country, render every such message
interesting to al the powers of the earth, and OF I'M
mediate Importance 10 our own citizens. Tie State
paper communicated to Congress by Prcsi lent Pierce
OH tho 3ls day of December 1857 derives signal
consequence from this state Of facts bu. there are
points of interest in his message, growing out Z" our
domestic and foreign relations, which entlc It to pc
cuIiar considerations The prosperity and progress OF
our country are described with MYSTERY fidelity
The condition OF the Treasury Department, III all it,
vast and complicated details, presents picture that
will suggest universal desire 10 obtain the report vi
Secretary Guthrie, which, when laid before the peo.
pie, will show not on V distinguished ability III the
management Of thu, important branch Of the gov
eminent, but will phunily vindcatc the opera
ton of the great principle of the independent trcasu-
~, now daily proving It's efficacy. The Secretary
suggestions the subject of the tariff are n!luded to
by the President; hut their value aud their impor-
tance will he best appreciated when presented in de-
ta to the scrutiny and the Judgment Of the public
The reports of the Secretary of War and the Secreta-
y of the Navy the report of the Secretary OF the In
terror, the annual statement of the Postmaster Ten
eral each referred to in brieand appropriate terms
by the Executive, and will shortly b. laid before our
readers g. length
That portion OF the message, however, which is de-
voted 10 the State Department, and to our relations
with foreign governments, has commanded unusual
attention. With all the nations at the earth, nclu-
ding SPAIN We are amicabic terms, excepting "uly
Great britain; and the grave differences between that
monarchy aud the American republic constitute the
leading topic of the message. lccHtra"r'iInHry and
startling position Of Great Britain on the Central
American question will no doubt arouse the same feel
ins among the American people which II excited in
the Senate of the United States after the reading ot
the lucid statement Of the President. Senators of nil
parties came forward 10 applaud the tone aud temper
Of his argument; and Mr.. CLAYTON, who bore so pro-
Ininent part in the very convention under which
Great Britain sets up her arrngan, assumptions,
was among the most emphatic III bearing testimony
the strength Of the Presidents positions, ana 10 the
rank III stice Of the new claims Al! the English gov
eminent. Mr.. Seward, also An opposition member,
took nearly the sHme grouul and Gvuwed his deter
mDation 10 stand by the President in - declarations
on tho subject Of our rights under the Clayton Bu
wer treaty. MIR. Seward decidedly declared hin'sc
in favor of the Monroe doctrine. The patriotic speech
of Senator Weller was in keeping with the drrara-
,iuns of these distinguished senators; and the irIica
tons Of the veteran statesman Genera! lass on he
tributes paid the noble attitude oi the President
and 10 the Monroe doctrine, will he shared by the
American people in every part of the Union. lhls
ic;,nt episode in the Senate is the best c"un"n;
that could be made um that portion at the Prcs"cnt
message which relates to Central American questions
The Executive could desire more satisfactory tro-
py of the Justice 1" his policy and the wsdon OF his
efforts. Foreign nations will see that, however we
nav be divided land this only temporarily on dolncs-
tic measures, when the honor OF our country Is assa!'
ell we are of mind and of one purpose and that III
snch n cause rs that which has called forth these
frank and unrescrved hVoWns III lie St.htr, we 'aH
take no step bacSwarGs.
But the President has not only met III cain anu
nosivc terms these threatening troubles witt! II To-
reign power; he has grapped with certain home qlra-
tiun. in manner that leaves nothing 10 hitrence-
y. sule TO those divisions vi the message III winch
Inc treats of the constitutional theory o the govern.
ment" and "the constitutional relations OF slavery.
There is so much material for amplIicGtlon under
these two heads, that we hrbcar my lengthy com
mrnls in the present state of our columns. The whole
doctrine il laid down with simplicity and at energy
of STYLE that must carry conviction to every unprd-
JUDGED mind. Our present attitude on the question
n State Rights is traced from our early troubles with
Great Notwithstanding 4 cham NJ sympathy De-
tween that resistance 10 foreign power and III: pre-
sent oppnsou To congressional domination, Mt once
romplcc and unurs werabc; and whenever has there
been stated more overwhelming contrast than thut
in the message between the recurring efforts o Kings
and urinciIcs Ia establish their balance OF power and
the well-reCulaied aud wel-buaICcd edlilcc OF our
own political system! On the issues in the Kansas
discussion and those which lie in the future OH the
proposed resistance TO the admission OF new STATES
into the Union, tuness upon compliance with the ar
rogaut demands of sectional ngitHturs there Is slch
nm accumulation of truth and force, in words so few
and 40 Apostle, that even those who may not Oe
confirmed IN the argument will be cnptivated by the
manner in which it is stated. But our limits adinoh
ish lie 10 iorD6ar.
Such, then, is the message, while it was being read
in the Senate, and while some of tile most eminent
statesmen Of orr country were There endorsing us
stylu and it, sentiments and honorins the Chief Ma
who sent IT, was received in the House with
language nj reIroach. Faction may rail against IT,.
Abolition may hawk at il. But. III IL; Ihchn"H!'e' II
has zone to the country with hcaEas on 'tS "!h%S'
and +, I'm. world as anaher evidence that TIE Anc-
rican people are advancing in their career "i pence
and power with gigantic strides ana crowned WIN
the enblrlns Of enduring prosperity and national IL
hcr;y-[ IFaShiHgtOn LH,Uh.