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^ have wc reared? what hopes tor the happy enjoyment of a coming eternity Itavi we secured? as christians, what progress n the divine life have we made? hav> iwo added to our faith virtue, to our virtue knowledge, and to our knowledge, temperance: have we been growing in grace, and in the knowledge oi God, daily? and have we laid a foundation for a growing and everlasting super o?rn<>tiirp in the kinndom of our Go !? Il - O so, happy are we. If so, the year has baeu well spent, we have "redeemed the time" because we have applied our hearts unto wisdom. If however these things should not be so, let us now at the beginning of the year promptly repent of all past evil deeds and like the prodigal resolve at once to " arise ;.n ' go to our fa. ther." We see dear reader, by the year that has just left us how rapidly time is hurrying us to eternity; and we are reminded by our friends who are constantly falling into their graves around us, that our hold upon life is weak and uncertain. Our frail hold upon every thing earthly, tells, that our grasp upon none is for eternity. The lust sigh that we heard upon ?- .1 !.?? the murmuring winusoi mc jmi um una just left us, whistles in our ears eternity. The muttering thunders of the one now commenced is continually re-echoing eternity!?Every thing upon which the eye rests, serves but to remind us that we ure "passing away;" that "we are strangers and pilgrims upon earth;" and that here we have "no continuing city." Our instability is written upon all the f< rms ol beauty and loveliness that are so fast fading before us. The fading flower?the withe-ring leaf?the murmuring stream, and the cold chills of autumn, speak to us ol nought but change?and ruin - and decay, But we are living as though insensible ol this instability?as though immortal in our earthly existence. Our Fathers! where are they? Dear n ader they lived where we now dwell; and stood in the same relation to all the concerns and interests of earth that we -?. new do. But their day and generation l - - ? ri,.,.- IHIM ?? nasspil *HHV" Jlin gv.ic. i \ i I .. j and *' the places that cnc- knew ihnn will know ihen n.? more forever " v hv.f i'.v.;.:,eir .;-sjtt?:v n iSv-i'sik' i* foi a? who h;*e m " v':.Dare we hope to escape iofii g-o.nial fate.7 dare wr believe ;ve shall :iv> ? > e?er? let us i^? ? i?npro?"?' the remaining days allulled us fur mi- enV'VioeM! .?f ihis earthly existanre, in j-reparing for that endless duration which <oir fathers hat e gone to experience. Let our years no longer pt6s "us a talc that is oi'i,"biit lei os apply them to wisdom. Certain is u, that her? tve have no ''abiding cuy'' we are "passing away" like ''shadows oyer Ui- 'gain " ''his great truth is taught us by ail past ez.u rinwe?by all we know o*" t- present, ami bv all ivc cat) learn of '.he future. F -r "-"an < is-a'.h aw a*.. y? -i-m giv? tij uo roe gnosf nno v he ' Seeing lluoi thii'nl - b?' better hex ifcui the p'-si-ni c>r, bare i'i b' Z"i ;r |>rt'jnra to i j'l.i' corumrri err.cut .if ;S<- .% .? s ^r: it is crophiaica.lv lb* st-r^.w; i*.:r go.wi ?.?''? iliocs. L>" li '.s S, tf . r.;:t>;..r jr .: ^ ?')*- y fe;,'; -rS"r "? ? L-.-s. ti.?* greet: ?tu-vsi! < who shait tio ?hi* *frvat itriioui>t *1 ^f tn :ls?? shortest {j??riy.: ?.-f iinu ; *- u scsl! ]yif ;?i?,st, ?.ju wh.i sfiai! strt' bo* . Then u p t:3!i look bark upon a hj? V<rrt =T^nTn77 uid u lie if nt come to riio. tve sJ'Jii) know* <io:| for v.-? s; ai; p t?::it as he iK. TUKuOft. Great yield of Col ion in E '\zef < }<>.? V?:c are informed, ;it->ti highly icsruciH blc authority, that Mr KHerons**, a c<mmo planter, resi'Jingm thi- Distr.rt, will average this year, ten bales to the hand \\ e rail this excellent crcppir+n, tti any section of countrv, hut ue consider ii evra ordinary for Edgefield, even in her pain.jest days. Let none who nil land re? nib'ing that of !vuct*m.\ ihi.s.t emigraiiiig. ?:!g-tjif.ld 1 avert iscr. The New V irk Eepress says?" Wi'liin the last three week? over a iioiiiun and a half of W ..ih n goods have been reshipped hack to England. These shipments have to ?!i made for two reasons.? First, they would n<'t pay a profit, and next, the parties were fearful that tin* Collector would seize thorn as he had seized ?: large portion of Woollens that have been before imported. The difference to the revenue will be very great. The New York correspondent of the National Intelligencer, under date of the I7th inst. says?Twenty-five thousand barrels of flour came down from Albany this morning in our tow boats, with, also, ai abundance of produce VVc shall no starte this winter, though there is gr-a suffering among the laboring classes foi the ivaut of employ. Z^Trmammmmtmrnrnmrn??W?MW?MB I THE JOUflNAL. UA.TlBSStf: SATURDAY MORNING, JANUARY 1, IS 10. j Wo tmler our iha11ks to our Ilcprespu.j talive in Congress, the lion. Thomas D. j.*UMTKR, for a copy of the President's I- . . .. i Message, and several inner pamjuueis. CONGRESS. Since our last notice of the proceedings in this body, they hare been making considerable progress considering the disposi lion manifested by the opposition during the first fifteen or twenty days of the session to throw all the difficulties in their power in the way of the organization of ' the House. These difficulties, however, have been surmounted, and the organization of the House is complete. The officers have all been elected except the Prinj ter. The New Jersey question has been j settled, at least for the present, by the rri j< ciion of a resolution offered by Mr. Evi'ans, of Maine, "that the members of the ! ' '. 20lh Congress, here present, do advise and : request the Speaker to administer the oath 1 i of qualification to those members'from N. ! Jersey, who have the regular certificates, 'and have presented themselves to be sworn." This resolution was lost?yeas : 112, nays 110 Mr. (Iuqh A. Garland 1 has been elected Clerk, Roderick Dor1 6ey Sergeant at Anns, Mr. Follonsbke Door Keeper, and C<d. Hunter Assistant* These elections took place on the 21 st and 23d ult. and the Message of the President ! was sent in on the 24th?since which, we i f j suppose, the members have been taking ' holiday, after their arduous labours. r: . Hon. John C. Calhoun.?We noticed a rumour in our last, in relation to this gentleman, who it was said, had given his sanction to the nomination of Gen. Harrison for the Presidency, and would hoarti; ly give him the weight of his great influence. We take pleasure in stating thai this rutnor has been contradicted in the most positive manner. The Richmond Enquirer denies, in the most unqualified terms, that Mr. Calhoun and his friends in Congress, are about to espouse the clause i if Go it. H arkison. The Enquirer remark*, that it is authorised to sav that Mr. Calhovn " refuses all ci operation hi the II arri.-burg nominations." TH:*. PRESIDENTS MESSAGE. We r?*??r?-t that our liaiils will not permit ns to lav the whole of this valuable document before our readers. We however give the leading portions of the Message, without the argument* by which they are enforced. We had marked such part of it as we intended to publish, but before it went to the hands of the j printer, we received the "Baltimore Clipwr," wi'h the 3tr.tctc an 1 connections, we ;td-0 UMVl. vYV iCColitnieUt! .,..r rrs 'y >.-,; nrily |(l peruse thai portion f .W- Oije 'fr-ieh ye publish, hut to ?' : if Nrh-'h:, if hi v hare not already s .- ! - \ it*.?ino H thoroughly; they - sit find i a* :Si?- an : as dr^nilie:! a state { per ? any I'!xe??utivf M: s-agethey have - is :>iat>? y?ars a-i:i ti win repay, ?. . ifi?- ' tliiy t>e>tow upon it. T-..- P-i*. scheme, the Ind i"-n ''m'hs'.u*; <*<>n:ii)ands !>y far the I.;rtT'*si o! h's i*triiiiiMi, an-.! is,-.*:'! Co'trw ( nj?aui Cf'if I v . to Tiic of Congress. Tl:? ar-j yumem ? ? iif j'.-rli of die subject is' fi;!i an.' aii!!', six! n it does not convince > ?!:<* ! pj?<?r?nts ?f this measure, we think j. xv;?i ... { pii/zl:* them to find materinis 7? it v. hi-h successfully to combat them. I'he 5V->ident roinmenre.s with a regret that :t<- ?v.n*?oi rnmrraiHlnip the peoph? 1T1 riavi i? J i;SIoyi < 1 prosperit V during tin' last V' ar? sji'Mr,ot L,:c rara^es of fire, t < ruins e.-.ih ii rasmiit oK in trade; hut ntdWithall this, he very ehreririgti Htl'.ni's to ilie many blessings so Iv'ti!iiif:ill .*ed upon us by the an. thor of a 1 gt?..d j V- itlt foreign countries we are toM our (relations exhibit the same friendly asiect i iliey hid at the delivery of the last annual t message. For the settlement of the North C istern Boundary, he states that the proposition promised bv Great B< i'uin lor a commission of explotation and survey, has been received, and a counter project, including ja provision for the final adjustment of the limits in dispute, is before the British Go' vermnent for its consideration. He thinks t that Government is desirous of an arnicai hie settlement of this question, r "To avoid another controversy in which a Slate Goremment mig'ht rightfully claim ilo have her wishes consulted, previously to the conclusion of conventional arrangements concerning her rights of jurisdiction or territory, I have thought it necessary to call the attention of the British Government to another portion of our countcrminous dominion, of which the division still remains to be adjusted. I refer to the line from the entrance of Lake Superior to the most northwestern point of the lake of the Woods, stipulations for the settlement of which are to be found in the treaty ol Ghent. The commissioners appointed under that article by the. two Governments having differed in their opinions, made separate reports, according to its stipulations. upon the points of disagreement, and these differences are now to he sub muted to me arbitration ol some lnenmy sovereign or state. The disputed points should be settled, and the li ie designated, before the territorial government, of which it is a boundary, lakes its place in the U> nion as a State; and I rely upon the cordial co-operation of the British Government to "fleet that object." With the Provinces themselves, we are informed that tranquility is restored. Wre are als" advised, that while we yet sympathise with the inhabitants of the Colonies, 1 we must be mindful and not violate our constitutional faith towards other nations. " From all the information I receive, he adds, confirmed to some extent by personal observation, I am satisfied no one can now hope to engage in such enterprise^ without encountering public indignali ?n, in addition to the severest penalties of the law." In relation to the following countries, we are thus informed: 41 Nothing ivis occurred to disturb the harmony of our intercourse with Austria, Belgium. Denmark, Naples, Portugal, Prussia, Russia, or Sweden. The internal state of Spain has sensibly improved, and a well grounded hope exists thai the return of peace will restore to the people of that country their former prosperity, and enable the Government to fulfil all its obligations at hoine^nd abroad The Government of Portugal. I have the satisfaction to state, lias paid in full the eleventh and hist instalment due to our citizens for the claiois embraced in the settlement made with it on the third of March, \&7. " I regret to be obliged to inform you that no convention for the settlement of the claims of our citizens upon Mexico has yet been ratified by the Government of that country. The first, convention firmed for that purpose was not presented by the President of Mexico for the appr >1 nation of its Coiigrses, from a belief that, the Kmg of Prus-da, the arbitrator in case of disagreement in the joint com i I 1* 1 T , I j mission to ho appoint ny tne unnea j Htalcs and Mexico, would not consent to take upon himself the office. Although (not entirely satisfied with the course pursued by Mexico, ] foit no hesitation in receiving in the most conciliatory spirit the explanation afforded, and also cheerfully consented to a new convention, in order to arrange the payments proposed to be made to our citizens, in a manner which while equally just to them, was deemed less onerous and inconvenient te the Mexican Government. Reiving confidently !upon the intentions of that Government, Mr. Ellis was directed to repair to Mexico, and diplomatic intercourse has been i resumed between the two countries." J He recommends to attention once more ; the passage of the Gradua'ion Law. Attenti ?n is also called to the present conditi >n of our principal seaports and navy | yard.-. lie also rails to notice cur condition as relates to the Florida war, and recommends that measures be adopted to -bring ii as speedily as possj]>,V to an issue. In spp of the Post Office Department, lie says " it is gratifying to witness the departments in general perform of their duties." The revenue of the Post Office Department for the year ending w ith the 30th June last, was four millions four hundred and s;vcnty-six thoasand six hundred and i thirty-eight dollars, exhibiting a large increase over the preceding year. The cash on hand in this department on the 13th ultimo, was about $206,701,9.1. Serious considerations are invited to i the Post Office Department, in order that it may be brought into a regular and perfect state. The suggestions of the Post Master General, relative to the moderacy of the legal allowance to witnesses in case of prosecutions from mail depredations is also recommended to the serious consider atitin of Congress. "I think it proper to call your attention to the power assumed by Territorial Legislatures to authorize the issue of bonds by corporate companies on the guarantee oi' the Territory." " The continued agitation of the question relative to the best mode of keeping and disbursing the public money, still injuriously affects the business of the country. The suspension of specie payments in 1837, rendered the use of deposite banks, as prescribed by the act of 1830, rather of embarrassment than aid, and of necessity placed the custody of most of the public money afterwards collected in charge of the public officers. The new . - j securities for its safety, which this requi! red, were a principal cause of my con| veiling an extra session of Congress; but j in consequence of a disagreement between i the two Houses, neither then nor at any subsequent period, has there been any legislation on the subject. The effort made at the last session to obtaian the authority . of Congress to punish the use of public money for private purposes as a crime, a measure attended under other governments with signal advantage, was also unsuccessful, from diversities of opinion in that body, notwithstanding the anxiety doubless felt by it to afford every practical security. The result of this is still to leave the custody of the public money without these safeguards which have been for sevAral vmpj oampctk' <ipsirpH hv tllP F.IP. cutive; and as the remedy is only to be found in the action of the Legislature, il imposes on me the duty of again submitting to you the propriety of passing a law providing for the safe keeping of the public moneys, and especially to ask that its use foi private purposes by any officers 1 entrusted with it, may be declared to be a felony, punishable with penalties proI portioned to the magnitude of the offence, " These circumstances, added to known , defects in the existing laws, and unusual | derangement in the general operations oi , trade, have, during the last three years , much increased the difficulties attendant , on the collection, keeping, and disbursei merit of the revenue, and called forth corresponding exertions from those having them in charge. Happily these have been successful beyond expectation. Vast sums have been collected and disbursec by the several Departments with unexpected cheapness and ease; transfers havt ' been readily made to every part of the Union, however distant; and defalcations ! have been far less than might have been , anticipated, from the absence of adequate legal restraints. Since the officers of the Treasury and Post Office Departments were charged with the custody of most oi I the public money received by them, there j have been collected sixty-six mollions of dollars, and, excluding the case of the late collector at New York, the aggregate amount of losses sustained in the collection cannot, it is believed, exceed sixty thousand dollars. The defalcation of the late collector of that city, of the extent and circumstances of which Congress has j been fully informed, ran through all the modes of keening the public money that j have been hitherto in use, and was distinguished by an aggravated disregard of du' tv, that broke through the restraints ol every system, and cannot, therefore, be usefully referred to as a test of the comparative safety of either. Additional information will also be furnished by the report of the Secretary of the Treasury, in reply to a call made upon that officer by the House of Representatives at the last session, requiring detailed information on the subject of defaults by public offiAH mititcf rptmn *^cj a ui aguiu uiiu'.i vovi from 1789 to 1837. This document will be submitted to you in a few days. The general results, (independent of the Posl Office, which is kept separately, and will be stated by itself.) so far as they bcai upon this subject: are, that the lossse which have been, and are likely to be, sustained by any class of agents, have been i ?the greatest by including, as required in the resolution, their depreciated paper received for public dues; that the next largest have been by disbursing officers, and , the least by collectors and receivers. If j the losses on duty bonds arc included, they alone will be threefold those by both collectors and_rcecixrr&. - .Chn'-wMo-sxpe: Ticr.cc, therefore, furnishes the strongest evidence that the desired legislation of Congress is alone wanting to insure in those operafious the highest degree of security and facility. Such also appears to have Ijcen the experience of other nations. From the results of inquiries made by the Secretary of the Treasury in regard to the practice amongthem, i am enabled to state that in twenty-two out of twenty-seven foreign Governments, from which undoubted information has been obtained, the public moneys are kept in charge of public officers. This concurrence of opinion in favor of that system is perhaps as | great as exists on any question of internal | administration. 1 "In the modes of business and official i restraints on disbursing officers, no legal j change was produced by the suspension of specie payments. The report last referred to will be found to contain also much useful information in relation to this subject. " I have heretofore assigned to Congress my reasons for believing that the establishment of an Independent National Treasury, as contemplated by the Constitution, is necessary to the safe action of the Federal Government. The suspension of specie payments in 1837, by the banks having 1 i bn />nofA/Kf rvf lir? nnhlir monov. showed UlVs V, UOtV* A J VI LOW ^ 7 in so alarming a degree our dependence on those institutions for the performance of duties required by law, that I then recommended the entire dissolution of that connection. This recommendation has been subjected, as I desired it should be to severe scrutiny and animated discussion; ' and I allow myself to believe that, not' withstanding the natural diversities of opinion which may be anticipated on all subjects involving such important consid r j ' ... ! oration?, it has secured in its favor as general a concurrence of public sentiment : as could be expected on one of such mag~ I nitude. I "Recent events have also continued to develope new objections to such a connection. Seldom is any bank, under the existing system and practice, able to meet, on demand, all its liabilities for deposites and notes in circulation. It maintains specie payments, and transacts a profitable business, only by the confidence of the public in its solvency; and whenever this is destroyed, the demands of its depositors and note holders?pressed more rapidly than it can make collections from its debtors?force it to stop payment. Tliis loss of confidence with its consequences occurred in 1837, and afforded the apology of the banks for their suspension. The : public then acquiesced in the validity of the excuse; and, while the State Legisla, tures did not exact from them the forfeited charters, Congress, in accordance with i thf? recommendation of the Executive, al lowed them time to pay over the public money they hold, although compelled to issue Treasury notes to supply the deficiency thus created, i "It now appears that there are other mo- * I tives than a want of public confidence unf der which the banks seek to justify them, selves in a refusal to meet their obligations. I scarcely were the country and Govern ment relieved in a degree from the diffi culties occasioned by the general suspen; sion of 1837, when a partial one. occur; ring within thirty months of the former, t produced new and serious embarrassments I though it had no palliation in such circum stances as were alledged in justification of ; that which had previously taken place.? : There was nothing in the condition of the country to endanger a well managed bank : ing institution; commerce was deranged ! by no foreign war; every branch of manu; facturing industry was crowned with rich 3 rewards, and the more than usual abunf dance of our harvests, after supplying our : domestic wants, but left our granaries and F storehouses filled with a surplus for expor> tation. It is in the midst of this that an iri redeemable and depreciated paper cur- * rency is entailed upon the people by a ' large portion of the banks. They are not driven to it by the exhibition of the loss of public confidence, or of a sudden pressure i from their depositors or note holders, but ' they excuse themselves by alledging that the current business and exchange with foreign countries, which draws the precious metals from their vaults, would require, in F order to meet it, a larger curtailment of > their loans to a comparatively small portion of the community than it would be convenient for them to bear, or perhajx* safe for the banks to exact. The plea has r ceased to be one of necessity. Convenience and policy are now deemed sufficient to -warrant these institutions in disregardt ing their solemn obligations. Such conduct. is not merely an injury to individual . creditors, but it is a wrong to the whole I community, from whose liberality they hold most valuable privileges,?whose rights they violate, whose business they deI range, and the value of whose property ' they render unstable and insecure. It must be evident that this new ground for bank suspensions, in reference to which their action is not only disconnected with, but wholly independent of, that of the public, ' gives a character to their suspensions more alarming than any which they exhibited before, and greatly increases the impropriety of relying on the banks in the transactions of the Government. A large and highly respectable portion T?f-SV.r-4>g.1 kns are exempted from all blame on account of fhiVseeoritf delinquency. New dangers to the banks are also daily disclosed from the extension of that system of extravagant credit of which they are the pillars. Formerly our foreign commerce was founded on an exchange of commodities, including the precious metals, and leaving in its transactions but little foreign debt. Such is not now the case. "Aided by the facilities afforded by the banks mere credit has become too commonly the basis of trade. Many of the banks themselves, not content witH largely < i stimulating this system among others, have i J usurped the business, while they impair the stability of the mercantile community; ' they have become large borrowers instead of lenders; they establish their agencies abroad; they deal largely in stock and merchandize: they encourage the issue of state securities until the foreign market is glutA #* J _ ?- .i L iLmmm . mm#-] i i\ n i r. C r> /1 ? V* iU/% It'u Willi Ult'Ui; rtiiu uiisclusikju nuu titu legitimate use of their own capital, and the exercise of their lawful privileges, they raise by large loans, additional means for every variety of speculation. The remarks'of the President, on the piesent banking system, are, of course, in accordance with the doctrines of the party at the head of which he stands. Speaking of the dependance of one set of banking insiitionson another, he says? "But this chain of dependence does not stop here. It does not terminate at Philadelphia or New York. It reaches across the ocean and ends in London, the centre of the credit system. The same laws of trade, which give to the banks of our prin-. cipal cities the power over the whole