grants, show that it is proposed to put the works speedily in process of construction. When we reflect, that since the commencement of the construction of railways in the United States, stimulated as they have been by the large dividends realized from the earlier works over the great thoroughfares, and between the most important points of commerce and population, encouraged by State legislation, and pressed forward by the amazing energy of private enterprise, only seventeen thousand miles have been completed in all the States in a quarter of a century;-when we see the crippled condition of many works commenced and prosecuted upon what were deemed to be sound principles, and safe calculations;-when we contemplate the enormous absorption of capital withdrawn from the ordinary channels of business, the extravagant rates of interest at this moment paid to continue operations, the bankruptcies not merely in money, but in character, and the inevitable effect upon finances generally ;-can it be doubted that the tendency is to run to excess in this matter? Is it wise to augment this excess by encouraging hopes of sudden wealth expected to flow from magnificent schemes dependent upon the action of Congress? Does the spirit which has produced such results need to be stimulated or checked? Is it not the better rule to leave all these works to private enterprise, regulated, and, when expedient, aided, by the co-operation of States? If constructed by private capital, the stimulant and the check go together, and furnish a salutary restraint against speculative schemes and extravagance. But it is manifest that, with the most effective guards, there is danger of going too fast and too far. We may well pause before a proposition contemplating a simultaneous movement for the construction of railroads, which, in extent, will equal, exclusive of the great Pacific road and all its branches, nearly one-third of the entire length of such works, now completed, in the United States, and which cannot cost, with equipments, less than one hundred and fifty millions of dollars. The dangers likely to result from combinations of interests of this character, can hardly be over-estimated. But, independently of these considerations, where is the accurate knowledge, the comprehensive intelligence, which shall discriminate between the relative claims of these twenty-eight proposed roads, in eleven States and one Territory? Where will you begin, and where end? If to enable these companies to execute their proposed works, it is necessary that the aid of the general government be primarily given, the policy will present a problem so comprehensive in its bearings, and so important to our political and social well-being, as to claim, in anticipation, the severest analysis. Entertaining these views, I recur with satisfaction.to the experience and action of the last session of Congress, as furnishing assurance that the subject will not fail to elicit a careful re-examination and rigid scrutiny. It was my intention to present, on this occasion, some suggestions regarding internal improvements by the general government, which want of time at the close of the last session prevented my submitting on the return to the House of Representatives, with objections, of the bill entitled "An act making appropriations for the repair, preser vation and completion of certain public works heretofore commenced under authority of law;" but the space in this communication already occupied with other matter of immediate public exigency constrains me to reserve that subject for a special message, which will be transmitted to the two houses of Congress at an early day. The judicial establishment of the United States requires modification, and certain reforms in the manner of conducting the legal business of the government are also much needed; but as I have addressed you upon both of these subjects at length before, I have only to call your attention to the suggestions then made. My former recommendations in relation to suitable provision for various objects of deep interest to the inhabitants of the District of Columbia, are renewed. Many of these objects partake largely of a national character, and are important, independently of their relation to the prosperity of the only considerable organized community in the Union, entirely unrepresented in Congress. I have thus presented suggestions on such subjects as appear to me to be of particular interest or importance, and therefore most worthy of consideration during the short remaining period allotted to the labors of the present Congress. Our forefathers of the thirteen United Colonies, in acquiring their independence, and in founding this Republic of the United States of America, have devolved upon us, their descendants, the greatest and the most noble trust ever committed to the hands of man, imposing upon all, and especially such as the public will may have invested, for the time being, with political functions, the most sacred obligations. We have to maintain inviolate the great doctrine of the inherent right of popular self-government; to reconcile the largest liberty of the individual citizen, with complete security of the public order; to render cheerful obedience to the laws of the land, to unite in enforcing their execution, and to frown indignantly on all combinations to resist them; to harmonize a sincere and ardent devotion to the institutions of religious faith with the most universal religious toleration; to preserve the rights of all by causing each to respect those of the other; to carry forward every social improvement to the uttermost limit of human perfectibility, by the free action of mind upon mind, not by the obtrusive intervention of misapplied force; to uphold the integrity and guard the limitations of our organic law; to preserve sacred from all touch of usurpation, as the very palladium of our political salvation, the reserved rights and powers of the several States and of the people; to cherish, with loyal fealty and devoted affection, this Union, as the only sure foundation on which the hopes of civil liberty rest; to administer government with vigilant integrity and rigid economy; to cultivate peace and friendship with foreign nations, and to demand and exact equal justice from all, but to do wrong to none; to eschew intermeddling with the national policy and the domestic repose of other governments, and to repel it from our own; never to shrink from war when the rights and the honor of the country call us to arms, but to cultivate in preference the arts of peace, seek enlargement of the rights of neutrality, and elevate and liberalize the intercourse of nations; and by such just and honorable means, and such only, whilst exalting the condition of the Republic, to assure to it the legitimate influence and the benign authority of a great example amongst all the powers of Christendom. Under the solemnity of these convictions, the blessing of Almighty God is earnestly invoked to attend upon your deliberations, and upon all the counsels and acts of the government, to the end that, with common zeal and common efforts, we may, in humble submission to the Divine will, co-operate for the promotion of the supreme good of these United States. WASHINGTON, December 4, 1854. FRANKLIN PIERCE. Mr. Houston moved that the said message and accompanying documents be committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union, and printed; and also that twenty thousand copies extra of the same be printed. Pending which, Mr. Boyce moved to amend the same, by striking out "twenty thousand," and inserting "thirty thousand" in lieu thereof. Pending which, Mr. George W. Jones moved the previous question; which was seconded and the main question ordered, and, under the operation thereof, the said amendment was disagreed to. Under the further operation of the previous question, the motion submitted by Mr. Houston was agreed to. So it was Ordered, That the message and accompanying documents be committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union, and printed; and also that twenty thousand copies extra of the same be printed. By unanimous consent, leave was granted for the withdrawal from the files of the House of papers in the following cases, for the purpose of reference to the executive departments, viz: By Mr. Olds-in the case of Samuel F. Yeoman; By Mr. Hibbard-in the case of Bela Young; By Mr. Bernhisel-in the case of Dimmick B. Huntington; and By Mr. Harlan-in the case of Benjamin Sayre. On motion of Mr. Haven, Ordered, That the Speaker be authorized to appoint the regular standing committees for the present session. And then, On motion of Mr. Sollers, at 3 o'clock and 23 minutes p. m., the House adjourned until to-morrow, at 12 o'clock m. TUESDAY, DECEMBER 5, 1854. Several other members appeared and took their seats, viz: The following petitions, memorials, and other papers, were laid on the Clerk's table, under the 24th rule of the House, to wit: By Mr. Rowe: The petition of William P. Pepper, James Farley, and William A. Bull, route-agents on the Hudson River railroad, for an increase of compensation for their services. By Mr. Ashe: The memorial of the Wilmington and Raleigh Railroad Company of the State of North Carolina, for compensation for damages sustained in transporting the United States mails on said road. Ordered, That said petition and memorial be referred to the Committee on the Post Office and Post Roads. By Mr. Vail: The petition of the heirs of William McFarlan, a soldier of the war of 1812, for bounty land; which was referred to the Committee on Public Lands. By Mr. John Perkins: The petition of Ruhama Whitaker, widow of Aquilla Whitaker, and Rebecca Whitaker, her daughter, for confirmation of title to two tracts of land in the State of Louisiana; which was referred to the Committee on Private Land Claims. By Mr. May: The petition of Jonas W. Nye, assignee of Peter Bargy, jr., for compensation for work done and material furnished upon a contract to grade and pave Pennsylvania avenue, Washington city, in the year 1832; which was referred to the Committee of Claims. By Mr. Kittredge: The petition of George W. McCerren-heretofore presented May 15, 1850; Also, the petition of Whitemarsh B. Seabrook, Joseph Whaley, Christopher Wilkinson, Andrew Seabrook, and others, soldiers of the war of 1812-heretofore presented December 8, 1852. Ordered, That said petitions be referred to the Committee on Military Affairs. By Mr. Macdonald: The petition of the salaried clerks employed in the navy-yard at Gosport, Virginia, for increase of compensation; which was referred to the Committee on Naval Affairs. By Mr. Florence: The memorial of the society for the relief of poor and distressed masters of ships, their widows and children, of the port of Philadelphia, that it be made obligatory for all ships and vessels of 150 tons and upwards, clearing at the custom-house, to be furnished with two or more boys as apprentices; which was referred to the Committee on Commerce. Also, the petition of Joseph Nock for a renewal and extension of his patent for mail locks; which was referred to the Committee on Patents. Also, the petition of Joseph Nock for indemnity on account of the failure of the government to comply with their contract in relation to mail-locks-heretofore presented January 3, 1842; which was relerred to the Committee on the Post Office and Post Roads. By Mr. Upham: The certificate of Thomas Findley and others, in support of the petition in behalf of Edwin Gardner, of Marblehead, Massachusetts; which was referred to the Committee on Invalid Pen sions. Also, the petition of the heirs of Captain James Mugford, of Marblehead, Massachusetts, and crew of the continental cruiser Franklin, in 1776, for prize money due them for the capture of the British armed transport ship Hope; which was referred to the Committee of Claims. By Mr. Hibbard: The petition of Bela Young-heretofore presented December 23, 1852. By Mr. Etheridge: The petition of Christopher H. Williams, and others, in behalf of Thomas Boatwright, an invalid soldier of the war of 1812, for a pension. Ordered, That said petitions be referred to the Committee on Invalid Pensions. By Mr. Clingman: The petition of William Anderson, for a pension on account of his military services under General Wayne against the Indians in 1792; which was referred to the Committee on Revolutionary Pensions. By Mr. John L. Taylor: The petition of S. M. Grimes and T.. Sherer, register and receiver of the land office at Chillicothe, Ohio, for increase of compensation for services under the act reducing the price of public lands; which was referred to the Committee on Public Lands. By Mr. Caruthers: The petition of Messrs. Hartley & Long, for return of rent collected by the United States for mines not owned by the government; which was referred to the Committee of Claims. By Mr. Richard H. Stanton: The petition of John W. King, one of the creditors of the late republic of Texas, asking for relief in relation to said debt; which was referred to the Committee of Ways and Means. By Mr. Lamb: The petition of citizens of Marion county, Missouri, for an appropriation to establish certain roads in the Territories of Washington, Oregon, and Nebraska. By Mr. Etheridge: The petition of John Dugan, a soldier of the late war with Mexico, for back pay and bounty land due him for said services. Ordered, That said petitions be referred to the Committee on Military Affairs. By Mr. Chastain: The petition of Johnson K. Rogers, on behalf of himself and the Cherokee Indians in States east, for additional per capita claimed to be due them under the Cherokee treaties of 1835-36 and 1846; which was referred to the Committee on Indian Affairs. By Mr. Haven: The petition of Isaac S. Smith, of Buffalo, New York, for relief on a light-house contract at Horse-Shoe reef; which was referred to the Committee on Commerce. The Speaker announced that in pursuance of the authority conferred upon him yesterday by the order of the House, he had appointed the following members of the standing committees for the present session, viz: Committee of Elections.-Mr. Richard H. Stanton, of Kentucky; Mr. James Gamble, of Pennsylvania; Mr. James L. Seward, of Georgia; |