Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1860-01-04

alive dangerous excitement among the peo-
pie of the several States.
Thus has the status of a Territory, during
the intermediate period from its first settle
ment until it shall become State, been ire
vocably fixed by the final decision of the Su-
preme Court. Fortunate has this been for
the prosperity of the Territories. as well as
the tranquility of the States. Now. emf
grants from the North and the South, the
East and the West, will meet in the Terrific
ries on common platform, having brought
with them that species of property best adap
ted. in their own opinion, to promote their
welfare. From natural causes the slavery
question will in each case soon virtually settle
itself; and before the Territory is prepared
| for admission a State into the Union, this
decision, one way the other. will have been
foregone conclusion. Meanwhile the settle
ment of the new Territory will proceed with
out serious interruption, and its progress and
| prosperity will not be endangered or retarded
! by violent political struggles
When In the progress of events the inhabi-
tants of any Territory shall have reached the
| number required to form State, they will
hen proceed. in regular manner, and in
| the exercise of the rights of popular sover-
eigrty. to form constitution prepai atory to
admission into the Union. After this has
been done, to employ the language of the
| Kansas and Nebraska act, they .'shall be re-
ceived into the Union with or without slave
| ry. as their constitution may prescribe at the
time of their admission This sound princi-
! pie has happily been recognized. in some
form or other, by an almost unanimous vote of
both houses of the late Congress.
| He then proceeds to state tha. ''all lawful
means at my command have been employed
and shall continue to be employed to execute
the laws against the African slave trade y
He discusses the subject at considerable
length and with much ability We will pub
| lish this portion of the message next week.
He is still in favor of the acquisition of Cuba
principally for the reason that its annexation
to the United States. would close the world
against the Slave trade, aud it would then OF
| course cease entirely
| The difficulty between this country and
Great Britain. growing out of the adverse
claims of the two Governments to the Island Of
San Juan. under the Oregon treaty, is fully
explained. The difficulty has been so araug-
ed that there is no longer any reason to ap-
prehend collision between the forces of the
two Governments. during the pendency OF
existing negotiations Our relations with
! Mexico, ar still IN an unsettled state A
considerable portion of the message is occupi-
Ell by discussion of this important subject.
The following extract concerning the Post
Office department will be read with interest.
The Thirt fifth Congress terminated on
the Sd of March, 1859, without having pass
ed the ''act making appropriations for the
service of the Post Office Department durin ,
the fiscal year euding the 30th June. 1860 y
This act also contained an appropriation Ito
supply de6ences in the revenue of the Posi-
Office Department for the year ending the 80
of June 1859" [ believe this is the first 10
stance since the origin Of the Federal Govern
ment, now more than seventy years ago
when any Congress went out of existence
without having passed all the general appro
priation bills Necessary to carry on the Gov.
, ernment until the regular period for the mee
, iug of a new Congress. This event imposed
on the Executive a grave responsibility
presented choice of evils.
Had this omission of duty occurred at th,
first session of the last Congress the remed,
=, would have been plain. | might then have
, instantly recalled them to complete their worl
and this without expense to Government
But on the 4ih of March last there were fir
! teen of the thirty three States which not elec
ed any representatives to the present Con
gress. Had Congress been called togethe
Immediately, these States would have beel
virtually disfranchised If an intermeiiat,
period had been selected. several of the State
would have been compelled to hold extra ses
sious of their legislatures, at great iucouveni
l. e II.
an earlier day than that previously fixed b
. law In the regular course, ten of these
States would not elect until after the begin
ing of August, and five of these ten not unit
October and November.
= On tie other hand. when | came to exam
inc carefully the condition of the Post Ofic,
Department. | did not meet as many or a
! great difficulties as had apprehended. Ha
toe bill which failed been confined to appro
priations for the fiscal year ending the BOD
, June next, there would have been no reasoi
= of pressing importance for the cali of an ex
ira session Nothing would become due o
f contracts. those with railroad Companies onl
excepted) for carrying the mail for the hr-
quarter of the present fiscal year, commencing
| gu the 1st of july, until the 1st of Deccmbe
less than one week before the meeting O
the present Congress. The reason is that th
i mail contractors for this current year did ID
complete their first quarters service until tb
30th OF September last; aud by the terms O
$ their contracts sixty days more allowc
# for the settlemeet of their accounts befor
: the Department could be called upon for pay
i. | ment
The great difficulty aud the great hardshi
e consisted in the failure to provide for the pa,
> uent of the deficiency in the fiscal year end
o ing the 30th June, 1859. The Department
= had entered into contracts, in obedience
IS Existing laws. for the service of the fsc