The New York herald., 1845-02-12

gress During the last few months, since they
have been assembled, they have exhibited great
many curious traits some disgracsful, and some
honorable, some silly and ridiculous. But, at last.
we are led 10 think that something good will come
of them-much more, indeed, than we had any
reason to expect. We have reference to the re-
form of the Post Office Department and the reduc-
tion of the rates Of postage.
If this great and punifcent measure, which has
passed the Senate by an unexampled majority, go
through the House without any attempt TO defeat
or delay it, 1t will leave a bright spot upon the
character of the present Congress which will long
be remembered with pleasure and gratitude by the
country. It is astonishing, when we look back
upon the few years that the public have been dis
cussing the subject of cheap postage, to find that
the struggles which the question has had, have
arisen chiefly from the opposition of those whose
duty it was to follow the impulses of the popular
sentiment Heretofore the principal opponents OF
the measure have been the Post Office officials,
and mere selfish interests of a similar kind. The
present reform may not be so much as the people
desired and expected, but we ought to be thankful
for what it gives
Indeed, with the exception of this postage ques-
ton, we do not believe that any thing else can be
settled during this session. The Oregon and Texas
questions have little chance of being passed upon
at this session, by the present Congress. These
questions it appears from the peculiar construction
of parties in the Senate, will be thrown upon the
country for the next three or four years, to be the
principal open issues between the two great parties
and to form the great topic Of agitation amongst
politicians. There is great reason to believe that
Texas shall not be annexed at all, since it seems
that it will not be annexed at this session; yet, 1t
will form great bone of contention between the
parties, and supply the means Of agitation formerly
created by the United States Bank-distribution
of the surplus revenues-and other matters
We trust, therefore. that this postage question
may not hang any longer in the House of Repre-.
sentatives, but be at once decided and made a
law.
REFORM IN WAsHINeToN-THE COMMITTEE OF
ACCOUNTS IN AN AGONY OF REFoRM-This great
countryside greatest in the world-will be de
lighted to learn that the era OF economy and re
form has at length begun in Washington under
auspices as fattering and as brilliant as the first
morning in the Garden of Eden. The wise men
forming the Committee Of Accounts there, who
have recently dug out of dark cave the dafalca
tions of the late clerk, McNuty, have directed the
new Clerk of the House to issue the following edic
in relation to his expenditures for Intellectual ali
ment:-
CLERKS OFFICE, HOUSE RErREsErrArrvEs, U. s.
WARRINGTON CRY, Feb. 8. ls45
SIR The Committee Of Accounts Of the House of Re-
Ne York Herald sent to this Office on public account
you will please render your bill to this tme and discon
NANe B. B. FRENCH.
Clerk Of the House Of Representatives, U. 8.
EDITOR OF THE New YoRx HERALD
This is certainly beginning The amount,
saved by this extraordinary effort at economy will
reach the enormous sum Of three dollars, federal
currency, for short session of Congress. 1t is
rue it deprives the amiable clerk Of the light. and
wit, and humor, and philosophy, and morality,
and religion, and fancy, and particularly the Gu.
rious developments, which may be cleaned from
the Ne,o York Herald. Such must, indeed, be an
incalculable loss to him. But out Of pure genero-
sity Of heart, we shall continue his name on our
irse list in spite of the ukase Of the Committee OF
Accounts. Although this is but small beginning
Of reform, it is still beginning; and we trust the
venerable philosophers of the Committee Of Ac-
counts. who are now engaged in digging out the
vast expenditures and extravagances of the Forids
Campaign, in which the name Of Capt. McLaugh
lin figures conspicuously, will succeed In their
researches in that quarter. We also advise them
to look to the jobs that are contemplated being
given to the newspapers at Washington, that live
on Jobs and on the trimmings and scrapings of the
political cauldron. The Globe, the Madisoniam
and National InteNigemcer must all live and il
they canaot get living out of the people in one
way, they must get it out of Congress another
way. Yet we trust these members of the Commit
tee of Accounts will show their love of economy
N their dealings with them as much as they have
shown it towards u.s.
We, therefore, congratulate the community and
the country generally on the prospect of the extra
ordinary reform, projected by the Committee OF
Accounts, who have had the sublime purity even
to lop off, by way Of beginning, three dollars
Viva Ia republique,
AT THE CoNFEssIoNAL.-We have already no.
honorable for certain ISLANDERS uttered by him four
years ago in reference to the Messrs. Barring, OF
London. This was very proper for him to do. We
nave, however, omitted TO notice that few days
ago, Mr. Epes Sargent, the editor OF the Republic,
during its brief existence, had also come forward
and made clean breast of it, in relation to that
story about British gold " being sent to this
country for the use Of the locofocos BY Sargent's
account, seems that of the Secretaries of the
Clay clubs of this city furnished that statement but
made mistake IN certain names-unintcntlally ne
says, but we rather think, if the whole truth were
told, that it would turn out that it was not un
willingly after ALL But the statement does no
quite exculpate Mr. Sargent, in relation to all ths
ridiculous statements about British gold" distri
buted among the locofocos. We are persuaded
that if the British had desired to expend any money
in this country for electioneerng purposes,t woult
have gone to aid Mr.. Clay, and the policy repre-
sented by him. But we do not believe that tn,
British cared one cent about the result of the cleo
tion 1t is true, during the last few years. both 10
cofocos and wings have received nearly one hun
dred millions from British capitalists in the shap,
OF loans, which have been spent in the construction
Of canals and railroads, and in the support Of tn,
extravagance Of those concerned, and who parti
cipated in the plunder. But as for electloneerins
the British have not sent single cent over here
| and Mr.. Euea Sargent has here onlv made 4