Daily national Democrat., 1859-12-28
9allg 9latlonal Dtmottat.

PRESIDENTS MEssAGE.-The New York
Herald seems to possess strange facilities at
the White House. At any rate in advance OF
the delivery of the message to Congress, and
IN advance of all other cotcmporaries, it gives
the following synopsis of the message. Pos
slbly 1t may be guess work, but it is probable
that some of BENEFITS scriblers looked over
the Presidents shoulders, while he was writ
ing, or ten to one, into his table drawer:
The organization of the House having been
effected, and Congress having appointed
joint committee TO wait upon the President
aud inform him that it is ready to proceed to
business, the Presidents Message will be de-
hvered, The principal points in the forth
coming Message may be thus briefly given;
Recent events in Virginia will bring forth
some emphatic remarks on the danger which
all sections OF the country incur from the
growing tendency TO arrange parties on geo
graphical grounds, and also from the increas
ed disposition III the public mind to hold
nightly the obi ations of loyalty to the Con
stltution. Another point of domestic policy
which 1t will touch upon is the protection 10
slavery in the territories. While the Presi-
dent holds it to be constitutional doctrine. on
this point he deprecates legalization in antic
ipatiun of its being required, and thinks we
should wait until the emergency comes up.
If Congress will follow his advice, the whole
subject will sink quietly down, for in five
years more we shall have no territories on
winch to agitate the question. The condition
OF the Post Office Department, in the absence
appropriations by the last Congress, is a
subject Of earnest comment, with a recon-
mendation of speedy action, in order to re-
HpVa tho Darn md
the evils that accrue in the present state of
affairs. In egard to revenue and finance, the
recommendations of the message will probab.
ly embrace some important considerations.
although the trade ofthe country will exhibit
u vast recovery from the depression of the
last two years There is room TO doubt
whether it would not be prudent to return to
the tariH OF SAG until the whole question can
be arranged on more stable basis Under
the present unwise system every fluctuation
In prices affects the revenue. In speculative
years when the Govern nent should not have
the temptation which large revenue gives
ii to entertain all kinds of schemes. the high
prices of merchandise flood the treasury with
income from duties, and stimulate the general
1ntoxleatlOn. On the other hand, in years of
commercial depression, the low prices of goods |
deplete the revenue and increase the general
uneasiness. In our foreign policy, the Mes
sage will give the first place to the San Juan
question, which is at this moment in an irr- !
tating position. During the last Administra.
tim, an understanding was established be- |
tween us and England that neither Govern
ment should exclusively occupy San Juan Is
land until the pending question of its domin
ION was settled. Gen. Harney, either from
some ambiguity in his Instructions or from
not understanding them clearly, took posses
sion of the island. This step called out from
Lord John Russell dispatch to Lord Lyons,
which was communicated by direction to
Gen. Cass, stating that England held undis-
puted right to the island, and would insist |
upon its recognition 10y this country This |
ill advised dispatch has complicated the ques |
tion m aterially. We cannot Withdraw under |
its implied threat, and the President will set |
forth our rights to the island in the clearest
and most distinct manner, and advise Con-
gress that they may be maintained In re-
gard to the actual position of affairs at the |
Island since the arrival of Gen. Scott the
following are the facts:
On Tuesday last, 29th ult., voluminous dis
patches were received at the War Depart
ment from the General, brought by the last
steamer from the Pacific lie had addressed
a letter 10 Gov Douglas stating that under
his instructions from the President of the
United States, be was authorized to with
draw the forces of the United States and ad-
here to the treaty agreeu to between the two
Governments of joint occupancy until the
points in dispute sare settled. Gov Douglas
replied that he was not authorized to accept
the proposition, and would. therefore, have
to confer with his Government. lie had no
doubt it would be entirely acceptable lie
expressed great satisfaction at the arrival of
Gen. Scott and be had no doubt that the
pending difficulties between the two Gov
ernments would be amicably and satisfacto-
rily adjusted. If the proposition of General
Scott is aeceded to- the island will be occu
pied jointly by a small force of the respee-
tive Governments
In view Of the increasing value of our
trans Isthmus trade and travel, the Message
viii call the attention of Congress to the in
security Of those routes and renew the re-
concentrations Of last years special message
OH this lject
Mexican affairs are to be lightly touched
upon, in view of the pending negotiations;
but the President will recommend that the
present absurd restriction of our neutrality
laws be So far modified as to permit our citi
zens who may desire to DO so, to enlist in de-
Tense of the legitimate Government of that
Republic, without ineurring the penalty OF
fine and a term in the State Prison. The
Message will probably give rise to exciting
and protracted debate"
LAST HoURs OF WAsnINGT0N IRvING.-Ihe