New-York tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1841-1842, 1841-12-27
Nv this ssruins's Southern Hail.
c,rr,spopAenc, Of the Ne~-iork Tribune
WASHINGTON, Dec >. letl.
SATURDAY Evening.

The aspect of public Affairs n Congress Is not
IS attractive as could be wished. The great fnes-
.ures of the Session, the regulation OF the currency
and the exchanges and the adjustment of the 'arii
apptehend. cannot Dc satisfactorily accomplished
Ara caucus.conven,ion hed by the Loccs oil lhurs-
dav last, although nothing conclusive was deter
mined upon. decided indications OF hostility those
measures were manifested by q large majority OF
the marty in both Houses. Contrary to the sdyIces
Of the Herald. and other prints IN your city. YOU
will shortly perceive the und-sused opposition OF
Mr.. CA1HorS. Mr. WEIGHT and Mr.. BUcRANAs
to the proJet OF the Ptesiden; for regulating the
finances of the country. backed and sustained BY
both parties south of the Pcismac ard west ct the
Aleennies. In fact. have the highest authority
for saving. tha, there vii, not be twenty votes IN
favor Of the Executive scheme from those sections
in the House. If ,hi. impression be well founded
the country can hardly here for the contamination
of any fiscal plan during the present Congress.
This result * deeply to be daPcred. and | confess
should be most happy to find my views entirely
erroneous OF this fact however, you may rest
perfectly satisfied the exchange features OF the
Bill submitted by ,he Secretary of the Treasury
will receive no suppsrt, OF consequence, from either
party. The dangerous augmentation OF power
proposed in this portion of the bill has alarmed the
strongest advocates of Bank of the United States
and even they viii oppose it pugnis e calei6ns
The Press is generally fault as to the Source OF
this obnoxious section, and ascribe it to MIR. WEB-
SER. can assure YOU, confidently, that it erna-
mated from another high quarter, in liberal spirit
OF concession to the North. Were to name the
gentleman. you would not hesitate moment to
appreciate the masnanimity which prompted the
propositions; but | am constrained to silence
The preliminary debate upon the Tariff, which
has arisen out OF the question Of reference Of The
portion of the Presidents Message relating 10 that
subject. bids fair to occupy the House many days
to come. The d-cursive character of the speeches
already made has licensed latitude OF discussion
which. il not discrcditable to the dignity of H Re-
publican representative body will tleost battle the
&o.ts ofthe accomplished Speaker control it. "
the Anti Protectonists deem the decision OF thu
question testing the sense OF the House in regard
TO protecting American Manufactures, they -
solved to put forth their utmost eAcrtions IN The
efior, to refer the subject TO the Committee Of
Ways and Means ,ras,, however they will be
defeated, and the appropriate Committee on Man
ufacturcs will take it in charge.
The Opposition under The direction OF Mr.. CAL
HouS and one or others are playing deep
game to divide and distract the Wing party in
Congress They intend 10 deyolye the most Of the
debate upon the Currency the friends, VAIN
and lukewarrn, of the Administration: and thus
hope to succeed in defeating the measure without
any active efforts on their part. They will then
proclaim TO the country the utter reckle.sness of
the Wings. who, in defiance OF their holy horror
OF the 1non OF the purse and sword, have again
decided, with a majority in both houses, that thtS
union at least should be for three years
to come, and the responsibility must rest on them
alone.
There are several nominations before the Sem
ate, which may not be acted on uatil week after
next. 1t i, believed that the confirmation of one
or two of the nominees will be attended with
much difficulty and debate; yet | sincerely hope
orr friends will interpose objections TO that of
the First Comptroller in the Treasury Department,
who ia no, only high,mnded, honorable gentle
man, every way qualified for the important trust
assigned him, but his gallant services in the late
war on our Canadian frontier would seem to de
mana the most liberal forbearnnce of party opposi.
ton. Your correspondent has enjoyed the per-
sonal acquaintance of this gentleman many years,
and is free to say that if the most exalted quail
ties of the head and heart can commend a man to
the notice OF his Government OF the admiration Of
hit acquaintance. Major JAMES y. BARKER has
received at the hands of President Tyler no dis
tinction which just ard grateful cosntry might
not chserfully award Moreover, his restoration
his present station caused removal of his pre-
decesser; but at the urgent solicitation OF that
gentlemen, he was called by the President to the
place. Whatever of inculpation may have been
charged against HIN in the matter of Swartwout
must be utterly srounde-s. It is well-known
fact that Mr.. BARKER was appointed to office BY
Gen. Jackson long after the defalcations had &C.
Cured in the Collectors Office at York, and,
by the long-estabished usases of the Treasury De-
par,ment, he deprived OF the means of their
detection. No blame whatever can attach to Mai.
BARKER in this regard, and l am confident the in
justice of Mr.. WlsE's Report ~ill fail to injure
him in the estimation Of the Wings.
Yours, &c. LEO.
MvEDER.-We regret to learn that Robert Gun
nngham, Esq. OF Jefferson County in this State