20 DECEMBER 1856, Page 6

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Frourt.—Prince Frederick William of Prussia has been entertained by his host the Emperor with splendid reviews, a ball, banquets, and a hunting expedition at Fontainebleau. Unluckily, the weather was not propitious for sport, and they returned to the Tuileries some time sooner than they had intended. The meeting of the Conference was, a few days ago, announced as fixed for the 20th or 25th; it is now stated that the Plenipotentimies will not assemble so soon, as they cannot agree who shall preside. It is even said that Austria is inclined to back out, as she doubts the good faith of Count Walewski.

M. de Salvandy, whose state of health had long given the greatest un- easiness to his friends, expired on Monday, at his seat of Graveron in Normandy. He retained to the last moment the full possession of his faculties, and was able to bid a most affecting adieu to all those who surrounded him—to his son M. Paul de Salvandy, to his daughter the Marquise d'Aux, and to his wife. M. de Salvandy had a few days be- fore received the sacrament from the Bishop of Evereux. He was born at Condom on the 11th June 1795, and was consequently only sixty-one years of age. Only a very short time before his death, he corrected with a firm hand the proofs of a new edition of one of his works. M. .de Sal- vandy was for many years a member of the French Academy, and was a leading politician in the time of Louis Philippe, under whom he was for a long while Minister of Public Instruction.

Slaii tr l .—Rumours from several quarters have been circulated,

this week, to the effect that the King of Prussia is seriously preparing for war with Switzerland for the possession of Neuchatel. The anny to be employed on this enterprise has been progressively stated, first at 60,000, then at 100,000, now at 150,000 men. The Swiss, on their side, seem obstinately bent on frying the Royalist prisoners ; and the King, it is said, fears that " indiscreet " letters of his own may be read at the trial. For some time it has seemed doubtful what policy France would adopt. In some measure the Moniteur of Wednesday answered the doubt by an explanation, which at least discloses a bitterness of feeling on the part of the French Government.

"The Great Powers signed in 1852, at London, a protocol stating the rights of the King of Prussia on Neuchatel. tel. The overnment of the Em- peror, bound, like the other Cabinets, could not, whatever interest he might take in Switzerland, disavow what has been consecrated by treaties.

"In 1848, a revolution took place at Neuchatel, and broke asunder the bonds which connected the Canton with the King of Prussia. That Sove- reign constantly protested against the new order of things, making an express reserve of his rights ; and has never ceased to raise his voice mu favour of a portion of the population which complained of being oppressed by the victors. " In the month of September last, the vanquished party endeavoured to take its revenge, involdng the name of the King. That attempt failed. The Canton was occupied by the Federal troops, and the Neuchatel-els taken with arms in hand were brought before Swiss tribunals.

"This event would lead to a conflict between the Helvetic Confederation

and Prussia : for the former, in advancing troops to reestablish order in the•Canton of Neuchatel, pretended to fulfil a Federal obligation ; Prussia, on

her part, found her honour engaged not to allow men to be tried who had raised the standard of the King, and who, according to their conviction, were fighting for right and justice.

"The attitude of the Government of France, from her geographkal posi- tion, must necessarily have a marked influence upon the settlement of this difference. Consequently, it was the interest of both parties not to neglect anything to make sure of its support. The King of Prussia addressed him- self to the Emperor, expresainrto himl in emphatic language, all the in- terest he felt for men compromised in his cause. He begged his Majesty to request their liberation ; communicating to him at the same time his con- ciliating dispositions. "The French Government, happy to be able to prevent a conflict between two Powers to which it is bound by friendly intercourse, hastened to com- ply with the request of King Frederick William ; and, strong in its good intentions towards Switzerland, and with the knowledge of the conciliating sentiments of Prussia, it requested the liberation of the prisoners. At the same time, the Government of the Emperor did not conceal the happy. re- sults which that concession might have, as it would become a sort of obhen-

tion on the part of France to prevent any armed conflict, and to exert itself to obtain from the King of Prussia a final settlement of the question con- formable to the wishes of Switzerland.

"Unhappily, these wise considerations have not been appreciated ; the counsels of France have been rejected ; and the Federal Government has preferred to yield to democratical influences which are agitated around it rather than to comply with well-meant counsels inspired solely by the desire of effecting an amicable settlement of a question which, pending too long already, might, if more complicated, disturb the peace of Europe. Thus France has met, on the one hand, with moderation, the sincere desire of terminating a delicate question, and a courteous deference for her political situation; on the other hand, on the contrary, a lamentable obstinacy, an exaggerated susceptibility, and a complete indifference to her counsels. Switzerland must not therefore be astonished if in the course of events she should no longer find that good-will which she might so easily have ob- tained at the cost of a very slight sacrifice."

Stalg.—Milano, the would-be assassin of the King of Naples, was hanged on the 136. It appears that he was a native of Calabria ; that he had been a novice in a convent, then an insurgent, afterwards for a long time under the surveillance of the police, from which he escaped and volunteered for the army. When he enlisted he professed ignorance; after his arrest he wrote a declaration full of Latin quotations. The de- position which has been published is as follows—

"For six years I have cherished a hatred against Ferdinand H. I belong to the class of insurgents in Calabria in the year 1848. It was my intention to purge the earth of this monster. I have not the slightest intention of re- reeling the names of my brethren who conspire like me to rid the world of this tyrant ; but the occasion will come when their daggers will avenge all." He is said to have declared that they had better hang him, for if he regained his liberty he should renew the attempt. The King seems to have behaved with great self-possession. When Milano struck him he was in advance of his staff: the bayonet was well aimed, but coming in contact with the King's pistols, the blow was weakened : Milano was about to renew his thrust when Colonel Latour rode the man down. The King showed no fear; be gave the Queen and the Duke of Calabria cheerful assurance of his safety, and continued the review. When he returned to his palace, the Foreign Ministers and Officers of State hast- ened to offer their congratulations. To one of them the King remarked, that he was wounded " slightly " ; to another, that Milano was a hand- some young fellow. Afterwards he drove out as usual. On the 9th Naples was illuminated ; on the 10th the public were admitted to the palace, and 10,000 persons went thither. The Emperor of Austria remains at Venice. On the 9th he visited Polo, and inspected its dockyards, arsenal, and fortifications : the flotilla in the port were also reviewed.

Itussia.—Aceording to the Journal of Constantinople, the Russians retook Soudjak Kaleh on the 22d November, "and drove out the Cireas- sians, after an obstinate resistance. On the following day, the same ge- neral captured a Turkish brig and eighteen boats, under pretence that their papers were not regular. Some other boats escaped and got into Trebisond; where the Consuls drew up reports of the affair." The latter news is doubted, for no better reason than that in her pre- sent circumstances Russia would not act so.

A reform in the military administration of Russia, rendered necessary by the scandalous abuses so often detected in that department, has just been adopted. The commanding-officer of every regiment has hitherto been charged with the entire equipment and provisioning of his men, and has had a certain sum allowed him for that purpose; he was not required to account for the expenditure of the funds intrusted to him, but was held responsible as a contractor for keeping his regiment in a proper condition. This system having been found inconvenient, the Government has now commenced a different one in the Ismailovski Regiment of the Guards: a regimental finance committee, to consist of a chef de bataillon, another superior officer, and four subalterns, will have the management of the funds, and give an account of them to Government.

Versia.—The French journal La Praise gives a meagre account of the capture of Herat, based on a letter from Teheran. According to this statement, the Shah, finding matters going on badly, sent a French offi- cer named Buhler to assist the commander-in-chief with advice—really to direct the siege. Buhler, it is said, contrived not only to push the ap- proaches rapidly towards the place, but, by a judicious disposition of the Persian forces, kept in check the neighbouring tribes. Finally, he invested Herat ; but on the eve of the assault which had been ordered, Esa Khau capitulated, on what terms is not stated. "All the country round Herat for a distance of forty leagues is militarily occupied by the Persians, and the chiefs of the Affghan tribes are hurrying in from all sides to the commander-in-chief.".

As respects the conduct of Russia, the foreign papers teem with reports of the concentration of troops on the Persian frontier, and the activity of the flotilla in the Caspian Sea.

Utia.—The fuller despatches of the Indian mail contain copies of the declaration of war against Persia, proclaimed at Calcutta on the 1st and at Bombay on the 10th November. The declaration seta forth "the reasons that have rendered this mea- sure necessary." In January 1853, Colonel Sheil, her Majesty's Minis- ter at Teheran, concluded certain articles of agreement with the Suder Azim or Prime Minister of the Persian Government. "By those articles, the Persian Government engaged not to send troops to Herat on any account, unless foreign troops—that is, troops from the di- rection of. Cahill or Candahar or other foreign country—should invade He- rat. In the event of troops being sent, the Persian Government engaged that the said troops should not enter the city of Herat; and that, on the re- turn of the foreign troops towards their own territory, the Persian troops should be immediately withdrawn from the neighbourhood of Herat to Per- sian soil. "The Persian Government also engaged to abstain from all interference whatsoever in the internal affairs of Herat, whether in taking possession, or occupying, or assuming the sovereignty, or governing, except in so far as Interference existed between the two parties during the Ihfetiiue of the late Yar Mahomed.' "And lastly, the Persian Government engaged to relinquish all preten- sion to and demand for the coinage, or the reading of the NIsh ootbeh, or any other acknowledgment of allegiance or subjection on the part of the people of Herat to the Government of Persia.

"It was at the same time stipulated, that so long as there should be no interference of any sort whatever on the part of the British Government in the affairs of Herat, the engagements contracted by the Persian Govern-

ment, as aforesaid, should remain in full force and effect. On the other hand, it was agreed, in the name of the British Government, .that if any foreign power, such as the Affghans or others,' should wish to interfere with or take possession of Herat, the British Government, on the requisition of the Persian Ministers, would not object to restrain such foreign power by friendly advice, so that Herat might remain in its own state of inde- pendence.'"

Great Britain has faithfully fulfilled its obligations; but the Persian Go- vernment has broken the articles, by sending an expedition to Herat. The Persian Government alleged in excuse for this prooeeding, that Dost Mo- hamed, instigated by his neighbours," seized Candahar, and that he de- signed to seize Herat. But the assertion. that he was instigated by his neighbours to occupy Candahar and advance upon Herat, is, " if by those 'neighbours ' the British Government is indicated, wholly untrue " ; nor are there any indications that Dost Mohamed intended to advance upon Herat. The .Persian Government, having laid siege to Herat, and called it Persian soil, and having determined to persist " in an aggression as unpro- voked as it 13 contrary to good faith," that conduct has been pronounced " by her Majesty's Government to constitute an act of open hostility to Great Britain." Persia has refused, as a preliminary to the adjustment of differences, to withdraw her troops; and the British Government has felt bound to convince Persia that her solemn engagements cannot be vio- lated with impunity. To this end, a force has been sent to the Persian Gulf, and its "further operations will be guided by such instructions as the progress of events and the policy of the British Government may demand."

Another proclamation gives Persian ships immunity from seizure un- til the 30th November, and promises protection to Persian subjects resi- dent in India.

The last transports sailed from Bombay on the 7th November. It was not then known at Bombay whether Herat had fallen or not. Doat Mohamed had returned from Candahar to Cabul.

e 4i II B.—A letter from Canton relates an incident that may give rise to unpleasant consequences. It appears that on the 11th October, the crew of a junk bearing the Imperial flag boarded a trading vessel bearing the British flag and registered at Hongkong, took four Chinese from her crew, and beheaded them at Canton. Two days were given by the Bri- tish authorities for explanation and apology; neither was forthcoming, and the armed boats of a British man-of-war captured the junk. A strong naval force mustered at Whampoa, and some of the steamers went up the river as far as the depth of the water would permit.

e apt nf &WI lit.—We have received files of Cape papers down to the 25th October. A considerable body of troops that had recently arrived from England had been placed on the frontier, and their presence had already had a good effect on the Caffies. The followers of the Prophet, who bade them kill their cattle and abstain from sowing corn, had, some thought, diminished, while others affirmed that the Prophet's "reputation was as brilliant as ever."

" Caffreland," says the Graham's Town Journal, "is much altered for the better within the last ten years. A proof of this is to be seen in the fact that a large proportion of the trade carried on with them is for money, instead of useless trinkets. With money you can now buy of the Caffie anything he has for sale; and this extends far into the interior. This is a vast step towards civilization; to which I may add, that very few Caffres are seen with a skin kaross. All, with very trifling exceptions, wear warm woollen blankets, of the quality of which they are excellent judges—pre- ferring to pay 15s. or 20s. for a good article, rather than half that price for a bad one. There are many other changes of equal significance and im- portance silently going on among them ; most of which may be traced to the seeds of civilization which were scattered amongst them during the administration of Sir Harry Smith, and which we may hope will produce in due time, under the skilful and fostering care of our present Governor, abundant fruit."

Itilf if 5.—The Niagara arrived at Liverpool, from Boston,

on Monday ; bringing the President's message, and whims from New York to the 2d instant.

Congress met on the 1st. There was a full attendance of members: only fourteen Senators were absent, and the Representatives numbered upwards of two hundred. The leading topic of the President's message is the recent election, and the conduct of the different parties in the Union in reference to it. Mr. Pierce considers that the people of the United States have sanctioned and announced certain great principles by their recent political action. Those principles are—the equality of all the States ; the equality of all the citizens; the inviolability of the constitutional rights of different sec- tions of the Union ; unalterable attachment to the Union. At the same time they have "emphatically condemned the idea of organizing in these United States mere geographical parties ; of marshalling in hostile array towards each other the different parts of the country, North or South, East or West." Mr. Pierce is bitter against the Abolitionists; who, well kowing that the measures they advocate could only lead to a civil and servile war—that they are revolutionary and unlawful—nevertheless pursue them, under the shelter of the great liberty of free discussion and action allowed by the laws and usages of the country.

But, continues the President, "extremes beget extremes. Violent attack from the North finds its inevitable consequence in the growth of a spirit of angry defiance in the South. Thus, in the progress of events, we had reached that consummation, which the voice of the people has now so pointedly rebuked, of the attempt of a portion of the States, by a sectional organization and movement, to usurp the control of the Government of the United States." The great body who took this fatal step are sincerely at- tached to the Union ; but they have entered into a path which leads nowhere, unless it be to civil war and disunion, and which has no other possible outlet." They have long acted "aggressively against the rights of nearly one- half of the thirty-one States"; ; first, by the strenuous agitation "of the question of Negro emancipation " ; next, by facilitating the escape of people held to service in the Southern States " • thirdly, by attempting to adopt a geographical line for the purpose of limiting the extension of slavery. "The enactment which established the restrictive geographical line [i.e. the Missouri Compromise] was acquiesced in rather than approved by the States of the Union." The North, by attempting to apply the restriction to the new territory acquired from Mexico, was the first to break the compact, "if compact there was"; it ceased thenceforth to have any binding virtue; it was repealed by the Kansas Nebraska Act. It is now established that Congress has no power to impose restrictions of this character upon any present or future States of the Union. Mr. Pierce defends at great length the repeal of the compromise. "All the repeal did was to relieve the statute- book of an objectionable enactment, unconstitutional in effect and injurious in terms to a large portion of the States. Is it the fact that in rill the un.-

settled regions of the United States, if emigration be left free to act in this respect for itself, without legal prohibitions on.either side, slave labour will i

spontaneously go everywhere n preference to free labour ? Is it the fact that the peculiar domestic institutions of the Southern States possess

relatively so much of vigour, that wheresoever an avenue is freely open to all the world they will penetrate, to the exclusion of those a the Northern States ? Is it the fact that the former enjoy, com- pared with the latter, such irresistibly superior vitalitv, independent of clime* soil, and all other accidental circumstances, as to be able to produce the supposed result in spite of the assumed moral obstacles to its accom- plishment, and of the more numerous population of the Northern States ? The argument of those who advocate the enactment of new laws of restric- tion and condemn the repeal of old ones, in effect avers that their particular views of government have no self-extending or self-sustaining power of their own, and will go nowhere unless forced by ant of Congress : and if Con- gress do but pause for a moment in the policy of stern coercion—if it ven- ture to try the experiment of leaving men to judge for themselves what in- stitutions will best suit them—if it be not strained up to perpetual legisla- tive exertion on this point—if Congress proceed thus to act in the very spirit of liberty—it is at once charged with aiming to extend slave labour into all the new territories of the United States."

With respect to the lamentable transactions in Kansas, Mr. Pierre refers it to the "propagandist-colonization," which, taking its rise in the North, called forth "a counter-action with opposite views in other sections of the Union." In consequence, there have been disorders acts of violence, mag- nified and exaggerated for party purposes "imputed irregularities in the elections." But the troops of the United' States, without bloodshed, have put an end to the disorder, and have expelled the predatory and foreign bands. The election irregularities are beyond the sphere of the Executive. The disturbances in Kansas arising from sectional interests and party pas- sions were inevitable.

The financial statements contained in the message are of little interest. The income has been 73,918,141 dollars • which, added to the balance in hand, gives a total of 92,850,117 dollars. The expenditure has been 72,948,792 dollars. The amount of the public debt is 71,879,937 dollars. The payment on accouut of the debt is 12,776,390 dollars.

The President recommends a revision of the revenue-laws, and laws to prevent fraud and embezzlement on the part of public servants, and the abstraction of public documents.

The Army should be made more efficient. The Navy exhibits evi- dences of increased vigour; all the new frigates are afloat, two in active nervice.

In treating of Foreiga affairs' the President touches on the relations of the 'United States with Central America and Great Britain.

With regard to the latter he remarks, that "occasion of controvetsy " respecting the interpretation of the Clayton-Bulwer treaty has been re- moved by a new convention ; and that, should certain proposed supplemental arrangements be concurred in, the objects contemplated by the original convention—the neutrality of the Isthmus—will be fully attfunech Touch- ing Nicaragua, the President observes, that as he could not decide Which of two governments in that country is the government de facto, he has refused to receive the representatives of either. The Republic of New Granada ,has not only been proved to have been responsible for the outrage at the Pa- nama Railway Company's station in April last, but it has sought to impose certain duties on goods and shipping contrary to treaty. The United States will exact an indemnity for the loss sustained in the former, and resist the execution of the latter.

The United States takes a friendly interest in the other American states. "But the unsettled condition of some of them, distracted by frequent revo- lutions and thus incapable of regular and firm internal administration, has tended to eMbarrass occasionally our public intercourse by reason of wrongs which our citizens suffer at their hands, and which they are slow to redress. Unfortunately, it is against the Republic of Mexico, with which it is our special desire to maintain a good understanding, that such complaints are motet numerous ; and, although earnestly urged upon its attention, they have not as yet received the eonsideration which this Government had a rht to expect. While -reparation for past injuries has been withheld, others have been added. The political condition of that country,lowever, has been such as to demand forbearance on the part of the United States. I shall continue m3, efforts to procure for the wrongs of our citizens that redress which is indispensable to the continued association of the two Re- publics."

Mr. Pierce repeats in substance the despatch of Mr. Marcy on Mari- time Law in answer to the Paris:declaration, and cherishes a hope that the proposal to exempt private property from capture on the high seas will command the approbation of the maritime powers, and thus be in- corporated into the code of international law.

The documents from the various departments with which the President accompanied his message have some points of interest beyond those al- luded to in the message itself. Thus, the Secretary of the Navy reports that there should be two squadrons in the Pacific ; and that additional sloops of war, heavily armed, but of light draught, should be built for coast, port, and river service. There is an improvement in the accommo- dation for sailors, and in their numbers and character. The apprentice system, which has attracted many hundred boys into the service, must be fostered, as the only mode of incorporating into the corps of seamen "a fair proportion" of Americans.

The Postmaster-General states that Great Britain has proposed to re- duce the postage between Great Britain and the United States from twenty-four to twelve cents per letter. The department "indicated Et Witlinf:" *efts to accede to this proposal, pro- Yided the transit- 1. "...arge on mails passing through England from and to the 'United States is -reduced to 121.e. an ounce, the price paid by that Govern- ment for the conveyance of the British and Canada mails through the United States. . . . This condition was, however, coupled with an offer on the part of this department to have the transit-price for all closed mails in both countries fixed at the uniform rate of 12c. an ounce ; a concession which would secure to the British and Californian and West India closed mails the right of transit in some cases at only half and in others at only one quarter the price now paid under the treaty."

The Secretary of War recommends additional coast-fortifications, and refers to the successful resistance of Russian forts in the Black Sea and Baltic as a proof of the sufficiency of properly-constructed fortifications to resist fleets. But Congress must be more liberal in ammunition. At the present rate of appropriations, it would require forty years to supply each mounted piece at the forts with a hundred rounds of ammunition. The statistics of the army are curious. Its authorized strength is 17,894. Its actual strength on the 1st July was 16,562. The number of enlistments during the twelve months ending September 30 was 4440; the number of persons offering to enlist, but who were rejected for mi- nority or unfitness, 5694. The number of casualties during the last fis- cal year by deaths, discharges, and,desertions, was 6096, of which 3233 was by desertion. Increased pay to the officers is earnestly urged. The increased number of resignations last year is, he says, evidently the con- sequence of the insufficiency of the present pay. He renews his roman_ mendation for a retired list of disabled officers as indispensable to the efficiency of the service. The Secretary of the Interior reports that during the last four years no less than 93,976,772 acres of land have been disposed of in California, Oregon, Washington' Kansas, Nebraska, Utah, and New Mexico, The number of acres sold for cash is 30,935,174; the number granted to rail- way companies is 17,036,282.

The House of Representatives, by a majority of 101 to 97, had refused to admit Mr. Whitfield, the Pro-Slavery delegate from Kansas.

The New York correspondent of the Daily News, on the faith of a gentleman who had just returned from Kansas, puts a new face on mat- ters in that quarter. Peace had been restored ; Governor Geary had made known that he would energetically repress all disorder. The evi- dence of tranquillity and confidence, however, is furnished by the re- port of certain, proceedings at Leavenworth. /The land-sales began there on the 18th November. They were attended by "several thousands of persons" ; men were present from the Free States "with not less than fire millions of dollars for the purchase of land," men from the Slave States with two millions. About one half are supposed to have been settlers. The Governor, "with an adequate force," was at hand to. maintain order. Before the sales began, he "read fresh instruction from Washington, in which he was required by all means to protect the rights and privileges of bona fide settlers against any attempts on the part of speculators to infringe them ; and when he announced that he would carry these instructions out to the letter, he was vociferously cheered by all the actual settlers present. Under these encouraging auspices the sale began, and was prosecuted with order, spirit, and good feeling among all parties." The settlers formed a society for protection against specu- lators; and " thus Free State men were seen lending money to Pro- Slavery men, and vice versa, all appearances of violence or jealousy among the actual Kansas settlers having passed away." The return of order had raised prices ; but those who lacked means could borrow—at 40 per cent. At a public reception given to the Governor, he contrasted the change in the aspect of the town since his arrival-

" When I landed, the town was bridling with bayonets, and it was sur- rounded by barricades. Now, all is order and tranquillity. Then, for a thousand dollars I could have bought as many lots as I could have taken deeds for. Property has risen two thousand per cent. Other parts of the territory have witnessed a like restoration of peace. These great and salu- tary changes have allayed, or soon will allay, bad feeling between sections . and States, and give repose and perpetuity to the Federal Union."

The lion has taken a berth with the lamb. The proceedings of the day were "attended by many unforeseen acts of justice, and a new magnanimity on the part of the Border Ruffians. They have restored to the Free State men all the property unjustly taken from them, and the full valuation in cash for the Sharpe's rifles &c., of which their emigrant parties were robbed on the river. This introduces a new state of things into Kansas."

It is stated that President Pierce has dismissed the Border Rnftina Judge Lecompte, and that the change in policy towards Kansas is the result of the influence of Mr. Buchanan.

Mr. Buchanan is President of the Board of Trustees of the Frank- lin and Marshal College. The students, numbering above a hundred, recently waited on hint' at Wheatlands, his house in Pennsylvania, to con- gratulate him on his electidn to the office of President of the Union. In reply to their address, Mr. Buchanan referred to his own youth, when he was a "college boy,' and "none, of the best of boys either, being fond of fun like themselves." He gave them some useful advice ; exhorting them to learn thoroughly all they undertook, and especially to avoid the abuse of intoxicating drinks. "It would be better for that boy who contracts an appetite for strong drink that he had been dead or had never been born." Having given them sound anti paternal advice, Mr. Buchanan turned to a topic of more general interest. He thanked them for their congratulations upon his election to the high and responsible office of President; but whether the event would prove to be a matter of congratulation, time alone could determine. Without saying which party was right or which was wrong, the fears of the "Father of his Country" had at last been realized, and they now behold a sectional party— one portion of their Union arrayed in political hostility against the other. The object of his administration would be to destroy any sectional party,. North or South, and harmonize all sections of the Union under a national and conservative government, as it was fifty years ago. Unless this.were done the time might come when the sectional animosities which now un- happily existed might break up the fairest and most perfect form of govern- ment the sun ever shone upon. But he trusted that the same Power which has watched over and preserved them in the past would continue to smile upon them, and make them a prosperous, united, and happy people. In conclusion he said, that if he could in any degree be the honoured instru- ment of allaying this sectional excitement and restoring government to the principles and policy of the fathers, he would then feel that he bad not assumed the arduous duties of the office 111 vain.

[This is the first reported speech that Mr. Buchanan has made since he became a candidate for the office of President.)