Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1857-12-16
President,s Message.

this paper the Presidents Message entire, and
also furnish to our readers a large number OF ex-
ira copies for gratuitous circulation among their
ueighbors and friends who are not subscribers
to the spectator" This we are enabled to DO
By the kindness of our attentive Representative
whose favor was received after we had put the
Message in type.
The Message will be read with pleasure and
profit by every one who feels al interest IN the
affairs of the nation. 1t is plainly but finely
written. succinct in its statements and brief IN
its discussious-not wearisome, but Interesting.
The positions and recommendations OF the Mes
sage will, sin the main" meet with the appro
baton of the people. In his discussion ot the
causes of the financial difficulties that now en-
barrass the country, We think Mr.. buchanan
puts the cart before the horse, and assigns as
cause that which is in reality the effect. Excess
siye importations, wild speculations and stock
gambling are not the effect of bank expansions
On the contrary, the banks have been induced
to expand by the demand of the people for mon
ey to engage in these very operations. Low du'
ties upon foreign goods have invited the mer
chants to heavy investments, and merchants
have successfully implored the Banks for en-
larged accommodation. A spirit of speculation
AN unwise haste to be rich on the part OF the
people-has been, in great measure, the cause
not the effect of expansion on the part OF tne
Banks. Low duties on importations, and not
the present system OF banking, has produced IN
a great measure, this spirit of speculation and
disastrous over.trading on the part OF the
people. Gov. Wise is most correct IN n's
views upon this point, when he says that 'ne
oyerissues of the banks was an effect at first ana
then re-acting cause of more and more e4pan'
sion.n 1t is useless to expect to cure the evils
that now cripple the country in all departments
of trade and industry by continual tinkering
with the banking system of the States while the
great prime cause of the trouble is overlooked
and disregarded. Let the axe be laid at the
root of the evil, in the first place, and then, no
doubt, our banking. systems may be so amended
as to contribute largely to the general prosper
~. Just so long, however, as our merchants
and business men can buy abroad cheaper than
they can buy or make at home, just so long VIII
they be induced to buy too much, and more than
thew can pay for without enlarged accommoda
tons and longer indulgencles from the oanks'
Just so long, too, will the banks expand to meet
the demands of the people, and the specie How
from our own into foreign treasures to meet
the liabilities of an over-tradipg people. Nell
Their the banks nor the people can long stand up
under such state of affairs. Contractioas ana
suspensions by the banks and failures among the
people are the inevitable consequences.
me views or the rresIueuJ IN regard 20 Fiih
libuster expeditions from this country meet with
our most cordial appreciation. MIR. Buchanans
sentiments have, apparently undergone mar
veIous change since he figured with Soule and
Mason in the Ostend Conference. Soule was
the man who entered as bail for Walker at New
Orleans recently, in the insufficient sum OF
81. OOO," and it is pleasant to see the President
give his old companion in error such s'gnit-
cant rap over the knuckles.
We are also gratiied to notice the trm and
decided language of the President in reference
to the rebelous "Saints" of Utah, whose high
crimes against the Government no less than a.
gainst common decency, cry aloud for severe
punishment. tits to be hoped that Congress will
cooperate heartily in every effort to bring this
refractory portion of our fellow citizens to just
sense of their oblations to the Government.
The remarks of the President upon Kansas az
fairs certainly cannot prove satisfactory to that
portion of the Democracy South, who have SO
vigorously assaulted Gov. Walker. So far as we
can understand the difference between Gov.
Walker and Mr. Buchanan is but trivial. The
President is willing to aoquiesce in the action OF
the Kansas Convention upon the ground that
the question of Slavery is submitted to the peo-
pie. 1t seems, however, that up to this point,
Gov. Walker has acted in accordance with the
instructions of the President, of the 28th of
March last, shat when the Constitution shall be
"su6mitted to the people Of the Territory, they
"must be protected in their right of voting for
'or against that instrument, and the fair express
"sion of the popular will must not be interrupt.
led By fraud or violence"
The President has no censures for Governor
Walker, makes no objection to his official con
duct in any particular, and the fair inference is
that they agree in sentiment.
1t will be seen that Mr.. Buchanan avows him
self in favor of the construction OF the Pacific
Railroad-one of the most gigantic schemes of
Internal Improvement by the General Govern.
ment ever proposed. So far as the constitution
ality of the thing is concerned it is not objec-
tionable to US, but how the strict construction
lists of the Democratic party can swallow it is
truly wonderful. All that will be necessary
hereafter to secure Democratic cooperation in
any scheme of Internal Improvement, will be to
put the military" label on it, and point to the
war-making power granted in the Constitution.
eidea of new State out of the Indian Ter
ritory West of Arkansas, is new and interesting.
We had not supposed that the Cherokees, Choc-
taws, &c., were progressing so rapidly in civil
cation. We hope the Red Skins will not be
troubled with the "nigger" question.
Congressional Chaplains.
1t will be seen by our synopsis of Congression-
al proceedings that the Senate and House of Re-
representatives., instead of electing Chaplains as
heretofore, have invited the clergymen of the
District of Columbia to ofciate alternately. All
persons who respect the sacred office will be
gratiied at this course. For some years past
the dignity of the ministry has been impaired
by the disrepretable electioneering of certain
nreanhers for the place of CHAPLAIN. and thosel