The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1842-05-31

statement facts and address them to YOU that thev
may appear with the report when it shall come up before
the House for action have the honor to be with groat
respect your obt serv't, llrt olt DAVID FELT.
Warrington.
Correspondence Of the Hcrald)
WASHINGTON, Saturday, 8 p. NJ
Proceedings In the House-Want OF Reform
Prudential Movements, sc.
The Senate has adjourned over to Monday, and
the House is engaged on private bills Several COM
muncations from the different departments were
presented, and referred, and some routine business
was transacted, but there was so much disorder and
confusion in the Hall, that hardly any one but the
Speaker and the clerk had any idea what was going
on. There is more need of Congressional reform
than any other. The fault is not with the Speaker
the evil lies deeper, and is mainly beyond his con-
troll. more stern, or tyrannical, overbear-
ing manner in the presiding officer, might do
something towards removing it, but the dignity
and efhciency OF the body can never be restored,
nor can business be promptly or properly
transacted, until the House comes to the deter
mnation to observe the rules implicitly and the dis
c''ssion OF questions shall be intrusted, by common
consent, TO the members of committees which have
considered and matured them, and such other men,
Ders as are informed, upon the subjects before the
House. motion TO suspend the rules should be
violation OF order. Now there are sometimes half
dozen day, consuming twenty minutes each, and
all to no purpose. Then members speak for hours
together, tor Bankum to empty seats, without once
alluding to the bill supposed to be under discussion
These things are getting to be indispensable, and
they must soon be mended, or the representative
body will fall into disgrace and contempt The pre-.
sent House comprises as much talent and patriotism
as many OF Its predecessors but the evils alluded to
are undenable and obvious to all. There is a con-
slant struggle going on between members having
different measures in charge for priorty-thus all
business is lmpeded, and jealousy and irritation
spring up. We can hardly hope for change how
ever during the present Congress 1t is as it were
amuuated body-a defective and inaccurate re-
presentation of the peaple. Since the census of
1880, the relative increase of the Western States
over the other members of the confederacy has
been enormous. Now, the united representation
Of Ohio, Indiana Illinois and Michigan is lust equal
to that OF Massachusetts, Rhode Island, NewIIamp-
shire, Connecticut and Vermont. Under the new
apportionment, the four named Western States
will overbalance all New England and New Jersey,
Delaware and Maryland beside. The recent cen
sus gives new aspect to affairs here and when the
people are all fairly represented, we may hope per-
haps TO see such reforms effected in Congress as are
indispensable to the responsibility of the popular
branch of the National Legislature
The friends of the several Presidential aspirants
in the democratic party here, are taking ground
more and more decided every day The admira-
BILE discipline Of that party, which has hi
therto insured harmonious action in every
point, bids fair to prove inadequate for that pur
pose hereafter. Mr.. Calhoun is at this moment
stronger with the democracy of the country so far
as it is represented in Congress, than any other
man in the nation. His commanding talents. his
great personal worth, and the power with which he
impresses his opinions upon all who approach him,
have conspired give him position with the party
which is contemplated with apprehension by the
friends Of MIR. Van Buren,. II is idle to speculate
upon the future, for can scarcely form one OPT
MON the shape which affairs are to take hereaf
ter, but go far as the purposes and wishes of the
democracy are reflected by its representation in
Congress, Mr.. Van Buren, has no show, as the cant
phrase is, for the Presidency
1t is understood here that no serious purpose is
entertained of entering Mr. Buchanan for the race
in 1874. The object is to place him prominently
before the people with a view to the election in
1913. His name is hardly mentioned out of Penn
sylvania, but there the demonstration may be so
decided as to exact conditional promise of the
nomination at the latest period.
This future policy of President Tyler is matter of
much solictude to a considerable portion of the De.
mocrats They know him to be thorough republi-
can in principle and feeling in theory and practice
and they know, furthermore that there is a natural
proclivlty in the popular mind towards the existing
administration provided there is nothing strikngly
exceptionabe in lis doctrines and measures-no will
fu wrong in its appointments, and no point of re-
pulsion IN the advisers with which the executive is
surrounded These men apprehend that certain
changes In the Cabinet, which may ultimately very
naturally occur, and without difficulty or Disagree
ment of any sort, and such liberal, state rights adj
mnistration of the affairs Of the government as the
country has right to expect from the hands of |
John Tyler, may draw of such portion of the De-
mocratic party to ensure the defeat of their can
dldate, unless they compromise with him. |
From the Wings, ultra or moderate, the President |
has nothing to expect. To say nothing of the ques
ton of the succession, the Wings will not unite |
with the executive, even in carrying out measures
obviously demanded by the popular voice. Nay, |
they turn aside TO assail the President, and embar
rass his administration. How then can they ex- /
pect the Offices within his gift He is bound TO
ect agents that will cooperate with him in conduct
ing the government; and par tof the Wing creed |
is to thwart him in every way After the fourth of |
March next the Wings will have no control in |
either branch of Congrcss. The Democrats AID the
Presidents friends will make a majority of the
Senate But enough on this point for the present
.t,, baltimore.
~ ti Correspondence of the Hs,ad1
!. BALTIMORE, May 20, Isa2.