The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1846-01-10
NEW YORK HERALD.
Weekly Herald.


We shall give, in the Weekly Herald TO be ready at
O'Clock this morning. graphic illustration of the Bal
snce Of Power" on this continent II viii conclusively
exhibit the peculiar position in this matter ofhs United
States at the present moment According the illustra-
ton. this Union Is determined to be footing with
France as well the rest of Europe, in all national
matters.
The Present Congrcss-Its Character, and
Its Consequences.
The present Congress, now sitting in Washington,
has developed certain extraordinary characteristics,
which without parallel perhaps in the history OF
this country since the revolution.
The success of the Texan movement opened
new future to the present age. The first effect OF
that magnificent enterprise is still daily developing
itself in the present Congress, and bringing Out the
most extraordinary and most novel ideas which
ever animated a similar body, in any country The
final annexation Of Texas effected by this Congress,
and the re-occupation of the whole of Oregon, now
under animated debate, compromising also move
ment looking North towards the whole OF British
North Acknowledging South towards Cuba, San
Domingo, California, nay the whole OF Mexico
all point TO the accomplishment OF destiny which
is dazzling while it is terrible.
1t is very evident, by the extraordinary character
ofthese debates-by the magnifcence of some propo-
sltions-by the absurdity of othsrs-by the spendor
OF eloquence and the folly Of farce that the present
Congress may be set down as constituting one OF
the most extraordinary eras in the political develop
ment Of this republic There is nothing equal to it
in past history, unless look to those great
!uionary movements which divide the past from
the future, and give tone to the character OF
succeeding centuries Once, in the history of Eng
land, something similar to the present developments
of opinion in the United States, presented in the
extraordinary era which occurred in the middle Of
the 18th century, beginning with the session of the
long Parliament, in which the fountains OF the great
moral, POLITICAL and religious deep, were broken up.
There were three parties in that Parliament strug-
Cling for the mastery-the Cavaliers, the Presbyte-
rlans, and the Independents The latter constituted
the ultra or movement party-that is, the party ::
and it finally defeated both the other parties, and
ruled over the destnies of England for many years.
Similar developments occurred in France at the
of the great revolution in 1870. The Convention
and the Legislative Assembly were both marked by
striking features similar to those which dis
tingulshed the long Parliament of England These
two bodies also developed three great factions-the
Monarchists, the Girondists Cor intellectual Repub
licans) and the Democrats, or the Mountain party
After conflict of few short years duration, the
eventually, those great and extraordinary develop
ments IN France, which at last terminated in the
empire ofNapoleon.
The present Congress OF the United States, at
this moment, appears to be similarly divided into
three opposite partles or great factions These are
the whigs-the western democrats, or Oregon
men-and the southern, and some northern demo-
Gratis, or modern Oregon men. The debates in the
(.rnu frrlI of t6con ri
extraordinary bursts of eoquence, Of wonderful
passages of folly, ever distinguished the French
Convention, or the English long Parliament. It'll
indeed, singular spectacle to behold in the pre-
sent Congress of this great republic, embracing a
new age, new ideas, new movements, how the
Southern States occupy the position which the
Girondists occupied in the French convention. 1t
is singular to behold that John G. Calhoun, who has
hitherto been set down as an anarchists revolu-
tionist-a nul6er-should now be the leading con-
sentative element in that body moderating, by his
pacific course and tone, the rapid progress of public
opinion, hurrying onward, with railroad fiery
speed, to the accomplishment Of the destiny of the
republic. He is the Mirabeau of the present crisis
Who are the Robespierres, the Dantons, the
Marats of the present Congress ? A few weeks
perhaps, will let us know.
We are upon the brink of new movements among
civilized nations. There may be war; or there may
be peace but nothing now can stop the thoughts Of
the people, or cool the burning feelings that have
been fred up in this hemisphere
With these views, we think that Congress will
after terrible conflict, pass a vote giving years
notice or leaving il in the hands of the President
to do so, leaving him independent, to act according
to circumstances The vote in the Senate on this
resolution, will be close-it is thought viii be
tie, and will be determined by the casting vote Of
the Vice President The rest Of the measures to b.
taken, may be conhded to the hands Of the Presi
dent; but whatever be done, the first step OF 9
mighty future has been taken-the fountains of I
new deep are broken up-a new and flaming ligh
has been hung out in the sky of the Western hemis
phere-1nd henceforth the United States will CIV.
tone and impulse to all the civilized nations Of the
earth