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    ' . ' 1226 THE LEADER/ [Saturday ^

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    THE PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE. The Canada stea...

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    The 'Cabinet Met In Council On Thursday,...

    They will require to have the insinuation contradicted that the Consort of the Queen has attended the conference of . Cabinet 'Ministers with , the Sovereign . They will require , in short , to be assured that Goburg objects have not embarrassed the actions of the responsible public servants of England . For explanations oh these points they will not look to the Sovereign , who can do no wrong ; but to the Ministers , who are answerable , with their credit and with their heads , for

    a-faithful performance of the duties , with which they are entrusted , by the people as well as the Sovereign . The declaration of war by Persia against Eng - land is of no great importance in itself . It will , probably , oblige our Government to send a force to take possession of some Persian ports , in order to teach the Shah his place ; but the chief importance of the preposterous act on the part ot that Sovereign is in disclosing the extent to which Hussian intrigues have gone . "We have already mentioned our belief that some of these branching encroachments of Russia are inte nded to divert

    this country , and to alarm our too sensitive people at the prospect of engaging with so destructive and all-grappling a kraken ; but probably the power of Russia will prove to be as fictitious as that monster of the deep ; and we have signs already that the giant is labouring under internal disease . A state of siege has been declared in the Crimea and Bessarabia . Why ? Because there was a tendency to insurrection in these provinces , in sympathy with Turkey . N " is Bessarabia the only part of Russia that is doubtful . Prince Paskiewich will not advise the

    withdrawal of troops from Poland , for fear of consequences . In short , there is reason to suppose that the great Goliah of the North is in a consumption . On the field of Europe nothing more interesting has occurred than the opening of the church of the Waldenses at Turin ; nor is that incident the only mark of the growth of public freedom , religious as well as political , in the sole

    constitutional state of Italy- Correspondents mention the freedom of the people in Genoa , and the circulation of Bibles from . Nice . In short , Sardinia is rapidly moving towards a truly English state of constitutional freedom . There are parts of Europe upon which this country mayTely for sympathy and co-operation , not only on the score of parchment ti'eaty-bond , but on the score of genuine feeling and common objects .

    At home , independently of the muflled Ministerial crisis , there is nothing more important than the meeting at Birmingham for the reformation of juvenile offenders , and Lord Ashburton ' s proposal to encourage the teaching of common things to the uneducated classes . Lord A . shburton ' s proposal is truly practical , and it evidently will be carried out . That is to say , instead of teaching only reading , writing , and arithmetic , which the sanctimonious have truly said is not education , Lord Ashburton ' s proposition is to teach the people tho way of life—household duties

    —pra ctical science in the humblest sense of the word . If the same common sense could be taught to some of the classes called educated , it would extend the benefit , and would perhaps facilitate not only the teaching of common things to common people , but also such improvements as the idea of teaching boys and girl . s the ; way they should go , instead of sending them to prison to learn tlic way they should not go ; our practice heretofore . But , again , this reform will be accomplished ; the elmracier and the assemblage at Birmingham confirm tho supposition .

    Another reform in mtended by the judgment m tho case- of the IZinpe . ror steamer at the Edinburgh Court of Session . The JCmpcror \ vuh a pleasureboat , plying on tho Clyde ; u certain party had engaged it for Sunday excurHion . s ; they lauded nt ft f picr belonging to Sir . lumen Colquhoun , near the Guxolocli ; Sir James in a Sabimlli observer ,

    and he prohibited them from landing ; they still landed ; he put up barriers ; they broke down his barriers , vanquished his servants , and still went to the Gareloch ; on which he took them into court . If you buDd a public pier , said the Lord Justice Clerk to Sir James and take revenues "from it , you cannot claim a better position for your pier

    than f or all public piers ; and there is no law in Scotland to prevent travelling on the Sunday by river , highway , or public pier . When' the Scotch know that there is no law to force them to stop at home , they will begin to feel a less cowardly dread of the " meenister" tells them they must stop at home or in kirk .

    London is suffering from a permanent siege on its eastern frontier ; and the enemy , only visible when he assumes the shape and substance of a fog , inflicts deadly injuries upon our health . In plain language , there is a vast district on both banks of the Thames , undrained , pestiferous , fog-creating , killing . In Woolwich , numbers die from the effects of this malaria . Some time , ago Sir Cullen

    Eardley called attention to the subject , held a meeting , appointed a committee ; and that committee has now published a satisfactory report showing how the evil may be got rid of by selfremunerating drainage . " We presume that Government will aid , at least not obstruct , the movement , which , it is truly said , will contribute to the moral health as well as the physical comfort of multitudes . The elections of Common Councilmen and

    wardofficers furnished the opportunity for eliciting in the several wards of London a very general declaration in favour of the Royal Commission , and the strong feeling in favour of thorough reform ; retaining the municipal institution to develop it into real self-government of the people . It is satisfactory to see how this idea of self-government is gaining ground through the whole body of the community . We do not await the B ^ eform Bill of Lord John Russell with much interest ; but we do await the revival , in more active times , of the organic life which ought to reside in the people of England .

    ' . ' 1226 The Leader/ [Saturday ^

    ' . ' 1226 THE LEADER / [ Saturday

    The President's Message. The Canada Stea...

    THE PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE . The Canada steam-ship , which left Boston on the 7 th instant , and reached the Mersey on Sunday night , was the bearer of the President ' s Message . As the first document of the kind isBued by Franklin Pierce , it has attracted more attention than usual ; and although not a startling production , like the inaugural speech , it possesses the business-like qualities of modesty , brevity , and decision . Wo proceed to lay before our readers such parts of the text entiro as will interest them , and the other portions abridged ; fora short message is still a long document .

    In the preliminary paragraphs , General Pierce alludes to the yellow lever as the drawback upon general prosperity ; recommends trust in God ; and declares his " deepest conviction , that we can place no secure reliance upon any apparent progress if it bo not sustained upon national integrity , resting upon tho great truths affirmed and illustrated by Divine revelation . " Having disposed of these matters , General Tierce informs \ is that foreign relations are little changed . There is tho Fisheries question , but that ho hopes to settle favourably to America ; there are questions in Central America , but tho Minister in London is instructed to settle these ; and there is SPAIN AND CUBA .

    " Independently of our valuable trado with Spain , wo have important political relations with her , growing out of our neighbourhood to tho islands of Cuba and Porto Kico . I urn happy to announce , that Kinco the last Ooncrcaa no attempts have been nrndo , by unauthorised expeditions within tlio United States , against either of theso colonies . Should any movement Jbo manifested within our limits , nil tho means at my command will bo vigoroufily oxertod to repress it . Soveral annoying occurrences havo tulcen place- at Haviniii ia the

    , ox- vicinity of tho island of Cuba , between our citizens and tho Spanish authorities . Considering tho proximity of that inland to our whorca—lying , as it does , in tho track ol trade between Homo of our principal cities—and the HUBMciOHB vigilance with which foreign intercourse , particularly that , with tho United States , is there- guarded , a repetition of such occurrences may well bo apprehended . Ah no diplomatic intercourse is allowed between our consul at Havana and the Captain General of Cuba , ready explanations cannot bo made , or prompt rcxlroflB afforded , whore nrfmy lias resulted . All complaint on the part of our citizens , under the proKont arrangement , must bo ! in the first place , i > ronontcd to thin Government , mid then referred to

    Spain . Spam agam refers it to her local authorities ?„ Cuba for investigation , and postpones an answer till she 1 heard from tlrose authorities . To avoid these irritating a vexatious dekj-sVa proposition has been made to provide r a direct appeal for redress to the Captain General bvcm consul , ill behalf of our injured fellow-citizens . Hithprt the Government of S ^ ain has declined to enter into any smfr Arrangement . This ' bourse on her part is deeply regvettprt for , without « oa » Arrangement of thi ' s kind , the good un tierstanding between the two countries may be exposed tn occasional interruption . Our minister at Madrid is ; stnucted to renaw the proposition , and to press it a ^ a" upon tho ceowtoatlon of her Catholic Majest y ' s Government . ' ¦ ¦ ''¦ " . ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦ " . ' ' ¦¦ . ' " ¦ . ' : ¦ ¦¦ ¦ ¦ ..

    *? For several year * Spain BM been calling the attention of this Government to a claim for losses byjsomeof her subjects in the case of theaeAiooner Antistad .- ¦ .-This claim is believed to rest on the obligations imposed by our existing treatv with that country . Its justice was -admitted , in our diplomatic correspondence with the Spanish Government , asearlv as March , 1847 ; and one of my predecessors , in his annual Message of that year , recommended that provision should be made for its payment . In January last it was a <* ain submitted to Congress by the executive . It has received a favourable consideration by committees of both branches but as yet there has been no final action upon it . I conceive that good faith requires its prompt adjustment , and I present it to your early and favourable consideration . " "

    General Pierce announces his approval of the act of Captain Ingraham in the harbour of Smyrna , and the arrival of the Hungarian Koszta in the United States ; and he declares that he will carry out and enforce the principles and policy laid down in the despatch of Secretary Marcy to the Austrian Government upon all proper occasions . With regard to Brazil , negotiations are in progress to throw open the navigation of the Amazon . There are questions in dispute with ! Mexico ; among others , a boundary question . The new Minister to China is instructed to extend the commercial relations of the United States in that quarter . Nothing is known of the intentions of the Emperor of Japan with regard to free trade .

    We now come to home affairs , which are varied and full of interest . "We are thus not only at peace with all foreign countries , but , in regard to political affairs , are exempt from any cause of serious disquietude in our domestic relations . " The controversies , which have agitated the country heretofore , are passing away with the causes which produced them and the passions which they had awakened : or , if any trace of them remains , it may be reasonably hoped tliat . it will only be perceived in the zealous rivalry of all good citizens to testify their respect for the rights of the States , their devotion to the union , and their common determination that each one of the states , its institutions , its welfare , and its domestic peace shall be held alike secure under the sacred asgis of the constitution .

    " This new league of amity and of mutual confidence and support into which the people of the republic Jiave entered , happily affords inducement and opportunity for the adoption of a more comprehensive and unembarrassed line of policy and action , as to the great material interests of the country , whether regarded in themselves or in connexion with the powers of the civilised world . " The United States have continued gradually and steadily to expand , through acquisitions of territory , which , how much soever some of them may have been questioned , are now universally seen and admitted to have been wise in policy , just in . character , and a great element in tho advancement of our country , and , with It , of the human race , in freedom , in prosperity , and in happiness . The thirteen states have grown to be thirty-one , with relations reaching to Europe on the one side , and on the other to the distant realms of Asia .

    " I am deeply sensiblo of tho immense responsibility whicli the present magnitude of tho republic , and the ¦ diversity ana multiplicity of its interests , devolves upon nio : tho alleviation of which , bo far as relates to the immediate conduct ot the publio business is , first , in my reliance on tho wisdom and patriotism of tho two Houses ot Congress ; and , second y in tho directions afforded me by tho principles of public polity , affirmed by our fathers of the epoch of 1798 , sanctioned by long experience , and consecrated anew by the overwhelming voice ot the people of tho United States . " Kecurring to those principles , which constitute tho organic basis of union , wo perceive that , vast as the functions and duties of the Federal Government , vested in , or entrusted to , is three greaniepirtmonts , the leg islative , OXCCUt . ivfV i \ xu \ iiiHw'iii ) vnf-. t . lin nnhsitjinHvm D 0 W 0 T . the pOP u '

    force , and the large capacities for social and matei " . ! o j velopment exist in tho respective states , which , all being themselves well constituted republics , as they P ^ ° 7 tl , 0 they alone nro capable of maintaining and porpetuatmf , American Union . Tho Federal Government has its apF " priato lino of action in tho specific and limited powe womtoned on it by tho constitution , chiefly as to thoso tinpw > ^ which tho states havo a common interest in their re" * ¦ .. j to one another , and to foreign Governments : while tne fi , mass of interests wliioh belong to pultivftted men , tn ov . nary business of life , tho spruiga of industry , nil tnc ; u » v Hified personal and domostic affiiirfl of Bociotv , rest ecu ^ upon tho general reserved poworaofthe people ot tll 0 . ° " 1 ( j states . TJiero is tho effective democracy of tho nation , thoro tho vital essence of ita being nnd its

    greatnessttlCVKNUK AN 1 > PUBUO niCH'I . " Of tho practioal consoquencos which flow from nature of tho Federal Government , tho primary < n" > " .: , duty of adininistoring with integrity and . fidohty w " » _ trust reposed iu it bv tho constitution . osjpecmHy >» " ^ plication of tho public funds , an drawn H- ' ™^ , ]! ^ - people and appropriated to Hpecilio objects ny V j , ; , , ge » Happily 1 havo no occasion to Hiigfiost any r «« lc '" llU yyt iu tho financial policy of tho Government . Ours i »

• Citation
  • Leader (1850-1860), Dec. 24, 1853, page 2, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_24121853/page/2/