The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1846-02-19
LAYBsf IHYELLIGEHCB BY YHE CALLS.
AFFAIRS IN WASHINGTON.


Editorial Correspondence
WASHINGTON, Feb. IL, 1886
Neither an extremely good spirit, nor an ultra
bad spirit prevailed in Congress o-day. Mephisto-
philes appeared to be present; and quietness pre-
vailed in both Houses Mr.. Colquitt, Of Georgia,
made highly respectable, most able and amia-
bic speech on the Oregon question, in the Senate.
In the HouSe nothing was doing, except washing
and brushing the boots and shoes Of public Affair."
the smallest sewers connected with the doings Of q
great nation Yet, although il has been dulness IN
the Senate, there Is an underground preparation
going on IN the House OF the greatest excitement
principally in relation to the tariff question, and,
collateraly, on all ths great measures proposed by
Mr.. Polk for discussion in this Congress. They
are preparing for very extended and exciting ex-
preston in the House Of Representatives Mount
Etna is laborng Vesuvius is grumbling in its In
ternal regions, and, in a short time, the lava will
roll down the sides OF the mountains OF democracy
and the dus, and ashes will be scattered over the
whole republic.
There is to be much singular and mysterious con-
ncxion between the tariff, the sub-treasury, the
wareheusing measures, and the Oregon question.
The excitement IN Washington, in Congress, and
throughout the country, will be increased hereafter,
in the ratio OF fpe TO one Oregon divided the wings
and the democrats-Oregon, from ts being foreign
question, and, like the handle OF Jug, all on one
side, threw the wings and the democrats together,
and left few men Of sense in the heart of the mi
nority in the House. The question OF the tariff will
produce greater separation, and vast splitting up
again OF both parties The confusion that will be
produced on measures will only be exceeded by the
confusion in relation to men looking to the next
Presidential election The Presidential ciques will
once more break up, on The tariff question, to a
greater extent than parties have done on the Ore.
gon question.
From all can learn in this dirty muddy, changing
latitude, there is every probability that both the
whg and democratic parties are entirely disorgan-
ized-so far as the next Presidential election
10 involved as to the issue l perceive, on
all hands, that the strong and deep rooted pre-
judce is generating and extending against the Con-
venuon system of selecting candidates tor the Pre-
sidency, that formerly existed against the caucus
system. some twenty-five years ago This feeling,
sentiment, new idea, is warmed with the freshness
OF immediate paternity II seems TO BE- increasing
every day 10 geomrtrical ratio do not believe
there will ever be President again elected by
nomination at Convention at Baltimore, or any
is beginning to exhibit itself in Congress; and the
new candidate for President, at the next Preslden
tia election, will acquire strength the days pass
along, and will have an unbounded influence on the
measures before Congress, owing this disposition
to abandon all cawcusss relative to the next Presi-
Dental election. This feeling has produced that
singular combination Of votes on the Oregon ques-
ton, and nothing else; aud am inclined to think
a., c..l ho. vkS
to produce an influence on the measures before
Congress now.
Let us look to the position of things beyond the
limits Of Congress. The friends Of Calhoun, be-
yond III. doubt, are determined to organize and run
their man, all hazards and hope to run him in the
House. This movement begins in the South. II
we turn to the North, we will find similar feeling.
The abolltionsts Of the Northern States polled
nearly 100 900 votes at the last election, in which
they run their candidate, and they entertain the idea
OF running their candidate again and am inclined
to think that the natives, with their head brought
out of New York and Philadelphia, and their tail
anywhere, are organizing their materid for the
next Presidential contest. They will probably mo-
inmate their own man, John Mclean, anew, for the
West, where Cass named, and will probably
give enough to bring him into the House. would
be inclined to expect that General Scott and Others,
too, will take the same course.
All these movements are now in their infancy
they are increasing in their momentum every day
and it is very natural to suppose that the numerous
ciiques will take their own candidates. The Presi
Dental question: therefore, It will be seen, will be
the basis Of a sort OF dissoving power among the
parties, almost similar to that which has been ex-
hbted by the influence it exercised on the Oregon
question.
In all these movements, the chances are that Mr..
Folks administration, before two years are over,
will be lett "alone in it's glory" very much in the
same position in which Tyler closed his administra-
ton Certainly, if the distributions OF Office should
have all been made, it probable that the relatio
Of the Polk administration, upon each clique Of par
ty, would present the same links and lneaments A.
those Of the last days Of the Tyler administration
In this state of things, it will be that Affairs
at Washington, at this moment, are In a state OF
:" confusion, COMPOUNDED" 1t is quite as probable
that things will be settled at this Of Congress.
as that every thing will be left To the future. This
only increases the interest of the present crisis. II
the tariff 10 settled on sound principles, it il Proba-
BILE thar the Oregon question will be completed, and
all end harmoniously. On the other hand, il 1t be
not settled, (and it is just likely a. not that no
settlement will take place on the tariff question,)
every thing will remain in doubt and uncertainty,
and an intense and fevensh excitement will prevail
This is a briet view Of what can give Of the
present condition Of things to-day; but such 10 the
Of human events, and the uncertainty -
to affairs in Congress, that should not v onder It
another change should take place tomorrow, with
the action Of the cuisine influences, the brandy
potations as they excite the tpplers about the bar
rooms
WASHINGTON, Feb IL, 1875.
The Oregon QSsstsow.
In my former letters, Iststed TO you that there ex
listed no probability that our differences with Great
Britain could be brought to an smicabe adjustment