The Sun.
London, England, 1844-12-19 00:00:00

AMERICAN AFFAIRS.

NEW YORK, Nov. 30.—The National Legislature
convenes on Monday, the 2d of December. The
greatest doubt and uncertainty as to the policy which
Congress will pursue at their approaching session,
pervade the mind of every calm thinking man.
None—no, not one is prepared to give an opinion
upon which he is willing to act three months hence.
One thing is certain, and that is, the election of Mr.
Polk has already had an injurious effect upon all the
operations of trade. It has alarmed the ever-timid
capitalist, and =lust, through him, ere long reach all
classes of society. It is not for me to say whether
there is, or is not, sufficient cause for such apprehen-
sions. I state the fact as I know it to exist.

In coming to any conclusion on this sulect, the
state of political parties must be constantly kept in
view. In the House of Representatives the Loco-
focos have an overwhelming majority. In the Senate,
at their last adjournment, the Whigs had a majority
of six, but during the recess two vacancies have
occurred—viz., Mr. Wright (a Locofoco), one of the
New York senators, has been elected Governor of the
State; and Mr. Talmadge (a Whig), the other New
York senator, has been appointed Governor of Wis-
consin. These vacancies will b. filled by two Loco-
focos; consequently, the Whigs lose one of their ma-
jority, while their opponents gain a member, thus
reducing the Whig majority to four—amply suffi-
cient for all practical purposes, if they remain firm
and united. But will they so remain ? On the
answer to this question everything depends.
In my last letter I briefly suggested what appeared
to be the feelings of many Whigs. So far as I can
judge, some from one cause and some from another,
a very respectable minority of the party is favourable
to the scheme of allowing the Locofocos to carry all
their plans into operation immediately. The Whigs
would not vote for these measures, but on the final
question some of the Whig senators would retire,
leaving the power in the hands of their opponents.
In such an event Texas would be annexed, and the
tariff of 1842 would be repealed. Or, if these pro-
positions failed, they must fail by Locofoco votes.
It is true the Whigs who now favour this project,
generally take counsel from their irritated feelings;
perhaps they may think and act differently when
more under the control of calm reflection.

That the Locofoco friends of the tariff have already
become alarmed for its safety is certain. The coal
and iron of Pennsylvania are most liberally protected.
Without that protection they must languish, perhaps
perish. They employ a great number of labourers,
and constitute much of the productive wealth of the
State. While the Locofoco journals of the south are
revelling in the prospect that the tariff, through the
instrumentality of Mr. Polk, is to be annihilated, the
same party journals of Pennsylvania and other tariff
States are crying aloud, that Mr. Polk was elected as
the friend of the tariff, and that if he should now
abandon those " who have thus elected him, he would
be worse than a traitor."

As the period for Mr. Tyler's retirement t 9 private
life approaches, he appears anxious that some measure
should be adopted by Congress that might be called
his measure. The annexation of Texas to the United
States is claimed as a suggestion of his; but this
claim is ridiculed and laughed at by the Washington
Globe, and kindred prints. Be that as it may, while
the President claims it as " his thunder," he will
sacrifice any and every other measure, if necessary,
to accMnplish this much-wished-for object.
For some months past nothing has beeh heard on
this exciting subject. If any further negotiation
between the Governments of the United States and
Texas has taken place, the American people are in
ignorance as to the character of such negotiation.
Within a few days, however, we have had advices from
Texas, which state, with entire confidence, that Mr.
Jones, the President of that Republic, is opposed to
the annexation. If this rumour should prove to be
well-founded, it will put a new face upon the trans-
action, and may thus compel President Tyler, as a
last resort, to fall back upon Oregon.
me vv nig journals nirougnout the country seem
to be recovering from that state of astonishment into
which their late defeat had thrown them. Those
that have recovered recommend in strong terms an
immediate rally in opposition to the measure of an-
nexation, and in favour of the tariff of 1842. Should
this counsel prevail, nothing of importance will be
done during the approaching session, and Mr. Tyler
will retire from public life under deep disappointment
and mortification.

But he will not be the only mortified man. The
South Carolina Nullifiers will share his disappoint-
ment. A restless band, at. they are, will require of
Mr. Polk prompt action. They will press upon him
the necessity of an extra session, for the purpose of
taking up the exciting topics of annexation and the
tariff. Whether they will be able to induce him to
issue his proclamation for such session is problema-
tical. If not, they will commence intriguing against
the Executive and his advisers.

The President, in his annual message, may, and
probably will, speak of the prosperous condition of
the finances of the country; and well he may, for
never were they in a more gratifying state. The
tariff of 1842, a Whig measure, rescued the nation
from impending bankruptcy, revived public and pri-
vate credit, and furnished full and profitable employ-
ment to the industrious labourer. This subject, I
think, the President will handle with caution. It is
probable that the annexation of Texas will be taken
up in a separate and distinct message. Should this
be the case, details will not be given in the opening
communication.

Very few members of Congress have yet reached
this city on their way to Washington. There is,
therefore, no probability that a quorum will be pre-
sent on Monday; perhaps not until the middle of
the week.

The following is the amount of duties collected in
this port during the months of September, October,
and November, 1843, viz.:—
In September

1,084,246
613,524

In October
In November

3,407,332
In September, October, and November, 1844, viz
In September
In October
In November

4,474,671
In September, October, and November, 1844, there
has been exported from this port in specie, vig.
In September .
In October ... 1,197,958
In November

Total exports in specie during the last
three months

Imported during the same period, via.:—
In September
In October
In November
.•

106,108

Exports of specie in three months
beyond imports .
—Times. A GENEVESE TRAVELLER,

The incendiary, we are sorry to say, has been again
at work in Mildenhall. About half-past one on Thursday
morning, a fire broke out in a straw stack adjoining the
homestall belonging to Mr. Edward Peachey, of Holm-
sey-green, which in a short time communicated to the
barn, stables, and other buildings, the whole of which,
with a quantity of corn thrashed and unthrashed, farm-
ing implements, &c., were totally destroyed. The house,
which is built of stone and tiled, was saved. The sceae
of this fire was within 100 yards of the spot where Mr.
Childerstone's stacks were burnt last winter. An old
man who worked upon the premises nearly lost his life
in his endeavour to save some property in a barn, and
was rescued by persons outside breaking a hole through
and dragging him out. Mr. P. is insured in the Norwich
Union. A reward of 1001. is offered on conviction of the
incendiary.—Cambridge Advertiser.
LEWES AND HASTINGS RAILWAY.—Works hare
now begun at Southeram, on the eastern side of the river
Ouse, being the first commencement of the Hastings line.
Upwards of 100 men have already been engaged, and in
the few days they have been occupied, they have com-
pletely changed the face of the country on which they
are at work. Heavy cuttings have been made, and large
embankments already show themselves. We understand
that, as soon as the legal arrangements can be completed,
the works will be prosecuted with vigour at Bexhill and
other parts on the line.—Susses Express.
WORCESTER, DEC. 16.—A meeting was held at
the Guildhall to-day, the Right Rev, the Bishop of Ro-
chester, Dean of Worcester, in the chair (in the absence
of the Mayor from illness), to take into consideration the
sufferings of the poor at the present inclement season.
Various resolutions were passed to carry out the object
of the meeting, and nearly 150 L was subscribed on the
spot. The Bishop of the diocese (unable to attend the
meeting), with his accustomed liberality, subscribed 20/.