The Sun.
London, England, 1849-01-13 00:00:00

AMERICAN AFFAIRS.
NEW YORK, DEC. 20.
Congress have now been in session two weeks, and
hake transacted very little business—none comparatively
of any importance. This, however, is " according to
ancient usage." It was supposed that as the session
must terminate, by the provisions of the Constitution,
on the 4th of March, ail parties would unite in pressing
forward the public business. It is now evident, hew-
ever, that but little will be dune until after the Christ-
mas holidays.
The movements which
.ve been made indicate an
exciting
session. The question of slavery will be dis-
cussed in all its forms with great violence. On this
subject the South and the North will be arrayed in
hostility the one against the other. The South will press
a compromise, which the North will oppose in all and
every form. The result probably will be that the 4th
of March will arrive without any definitive action on
this agitating question, which will then, as a matter of
course, he turned over to the new Congress. In that
new body the Northern party will predominate. They
will be a majority in the House of Representatives cer-
tainly; in the Senate probably.
On the 12th inst. an attack was made on the ma-
nagers of the Smithsonian Fund. It was in the form of
an inquiry into the expenditure of the money of that
fund. In the discussion of that question it appeared
that a large amount of the fund had been lent to the
State of Alabama, which was considered lost, but that
the fund had been made good from the Treasury of the
United States. The agitators of the inquiry denied the
legality of such payment, contending that the loss
should be sustained by the fund, and not by the Go-
vernment. Tho opposite party assumed the ground that
the managers were the agents or trustees of the Go-
vernment, and as such the Government was liable for
their acts, and equitably bound to make good any loss
arising out of the transactions of the agents.
This undoubtedly was the honest view of the case, and
I have deemed it proper to make these details, as the
British people may feel interested in the question. The
resolution of inquiry, on which the discussion arose, was
then laid on the table by a vote of yeas, 107; nays, 76.
On the 13th inst. in the House of Representatives a
resolution passed, ordering territorial bills to be re-
ported, with the Wilmot proviso in them.
This decision settles the principle, so far as the 187
members who voted are concerned. The vote stood for
the resolution—yeas, 107; nays, 80.
Mr. Miller, on the 17th, offered a resolution, calling
on the President for the correspondence, if any, which
had taken place with the Government of Spain in
relation to the purchase of the island of Cuba, which
by the rules of the House must lay over one day. Yes-
terday, the 19th, he moved to take it up for considera-
tion, which, being opposed, he consented to let it rest
for the present.

' Mr. Douglas called up his bill for the admission of
Calitornia and New Mexico as a State into the Union,
with a view to its reference, with his amendment, to the
Committee on Territories. Upon this proposition an
animated discussion ensued, in the progress of which it
was proposed to substitute the Judiciary Committee for
the Committee on Territories. This debate was raised
and continued by petty party considerations on both
sides. It was an unworthy struggle for the reference to
that committee supposed to be most favourable to the
contending partisans. After a protracted debate the
yeas and nays were ordered on the Committee of Terri-
tories, and were as follows:—Yeas, 24; nays, 25; absent,
9—about equally divided. On the motion of Mr. Berrian,
the bill was then referred to the Judiciary Committee.
On the motion of Mr. Benton, the Senate then pro-
ceeded to the consideration of the special order, being
the bill authorizing the Government to contract with
Messrs. Aspinwall and others for that transport, for 20
years, of the mails, military supplies, &c., by steam
across tee isthmus of Panama, when the proposed rail-
road of the latter across that isthmus shall have been
completed. After a short and apparently a business dis-
cussion, the Senate, without taking any question, went
into Executive session. The prevailing feeling was a
desire for information.
Mr. Giddings introduced a bill authorizing the people
of the district of Columbia to express their wishes as to
the condition of slavery therein. Mr. Giddings said that
when he spoke of the people of the district, he meant
every male inhabitant. (Mr. Giddings was interrupted
by the Speaker, and a motion made to lay the bill on the
table. Yeas and nays, lacing ordered, were—yeas, 105;
nays, 79.)

DEC. 26.
Up to this day nothing decisive in reference to any
important contested measure has taken place in Con-
gress. The partisans, however, of various grades and
hues are caucusing, making movements, and developing
projects which demonstrate that violent collisions are
near at hand, which in all probability will end in do-
ing nothing; but if anything practical is effected, I have
no doubt it will be injurious to the prosperity, the har-
mony, and the much vaunted character of this " land of
the free."
On the 21st inst. Mr. Gott, of New York, introduced
into the House of Representatives a resolution, which
was adopted, instructing the committee on the subject to
report a bill for the prohibition in the district of Colum-
bia of the slave trade. This proposition produced much
excitement, and some heated remarks. Among others,
Mr. Llolmes of South Carolina, suggested that the
southern members vacate their seats by withdrawing
from the house. If this suggestion is adopted, it will
undoubtedly carry the question of slavery over to the
next Congress, so far as California and New Mexico are
concerned. It may happen, and it probably will, that
General Taylor, as President, will have to settle this
vexed question.
The movement of Mr. Gott has opened the whole sub-
ject of slavery, and appears to meet the wishes of a ma-
jority of Congress. The decision of the House, instruct-
ing the committee to prepare and report a biliprohibit-
ing slavery in the district of Columbia, has given great
confidence to the friends of the measure, insomuch that
they seem to consider it certain that it will pass. Your
correspondent takes a different view of the subject.
There is a numerous class of citizens who will oppose
any measure which interferes with the provisions of the
Constitution, which this does vitally.
A telegraphic dispatch, under date Washington, Dec.
2, says the southern members of Congress of both parties
met in caucus in the Senate Chambers at half-past 7
o'clock this evening. Senator Metcalf presided. Re-
presentative Venable acted as secretary. A series of
resolutions touching the extension of slavery/pi the neve
territory were offered. Mr. Morse of Louisiana, led off
in a powerful and eloquent speech. The attendance wise
very large, and much interest was manifested in the pee,
ceedings. Senator Benton was not present.
Since the preceding paragraph was written, a more
detailed account of the meeting has been received. Re-
solution:; in connexion with the whole proceedings were
introduced by Mr. Bayly, of Virginia, embracing essen-
tially, in regard to the rights of the general government,
the principles of the resolution of 1798. Mr. Stephens,
of Georgia, opposed immediate action on the resolutions,
and moved a reference of them to a committee of one
from each State, to report upon the subject at an ad-
journed meeting to be held January 15, 1849. The
meeting was orderly; very little excitement was mani-
fested, and even the Ultras were quite moderate in the
expression of their sentiments. The remarks of General
Rusk, senator, from Texas, like those of Mr. Calhoun,
were listened to with the most profound attention. Mr.
Stephen's resolution, was finally agreed to with great
unanimity. The following gentlemen were appointed
the, committee on the part of the slaveholding States,
Vi 2. :—Stephens, of Georgia ; Clayton, of Delaware;be
_aini
Chapman, of Maryland; Bayly, of Virginia; Venable,
of North Carolina; Calhoun, of South Carolina; King,
of Alabama; Foote, of Mississipi; Douns, of Louisiana;
of Mobile ; Borland of Arkansas ; f
subject, I re-
Morehead, of Kentucky; Gentry, of Tenessee
0;
_Alc.ohrinan:
and Rusk, of Texas.
youpresent ses-
The preceding statement will afford
inaitbsirpdisley:
heretofore predicted,
sion. Everything indicates, as view of the action of Congress during the .
much heated
the great and ex-
heated discussion,
stormy but unproductive inelionfu•
citing questions there
fanaticism
pbeuatt,vewriyillpitatslse
it
tia
ts rohhefivceenenar ssl itt to
action.
t he:Aang nextyt
b towhiTWaie
ths phelacennsrhnilgtseairCtevsesreaos, cheerio the
:or eef bs.
sau
ctto.
re-action
aspect of the Free Soil p
t
d-aseheck. In a former leltnt 1111
position, or substanti.ally so. Met the
letter opinion,
us cause, with bright
apprehension
ruin a glom , prospects before
might • ing too mucn ; and now
them, by req
hinted my
, by treading in
the footsteps of
commenced.
certainly nommen They demand an universal aboli•
• of slavery. The provisions a dimplied
non
n pledges of
the Constitution they spurn, and demand a surrender of
them, in the district of Columbia, forthwith. I cannot
believe that this demand will ever be granted by an
honest Congress. The people of the north will never,
in my opinion, require 13
it. Your correspondent has
been, and is
yet, an active member of the Free Soil
party, but will instantly abandon it on Congress passing
any law interfering with the compromises of the Con-
stitution. Such a law would be dishonest, and would be
nothing but licensed robbery. These opinions, I know,
are entertained by many conscientious members of the
Free Soil party, and assuredly will be acted upon by
them whenever, in their opinion. it becomes necessary.
---T.

Mmes.

ROYAL MARINES IN IRELAND.—No official announce-
meta has yet been made of either the recal or movement
of the Battalion from Ireland, but we can safely assert,
from information upon which we can rely, that it may be
expected in England soon after the question of the writ
of errorihas been decided.
SMOKE CONSUMING APPARATU*B.--Mr. Haig, who,
for more than a year past, has had the Ariel, old steam-
vessel, at Woolwich, appropriated to his service for try
ing experiments with his marine smoke-consuming appa-
ratus, has suspended his operations.
THE PORTSMOUTH SEAMEN AND MARINES' ORPHAN
ScHooLs.—The Portsmouth authorities have received
instructions from the Admiralty to transfer the slice of
Admiralty ground granted as a site for the erection of
the new schools, to the committee of the institution.