The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1846-08-12

by the government of that country. This is the
only view we can take oft
The letters of Messrs. Buchanan and McLane
are fair specimens Of honor able, upright, and
straightforward dealing, They are characteristic
OF the statesman
Adjournment OF Congress-Defeat of the Mex
lean Peace Bll-The Vetoes.
On Monday at twelve O'Clock, the rst term of
the Twenty Ninth Congress adjourned, after
session of eight months and eight days, during
which a number of very important bills were
passed, most of which have become laws of the
land; while others having been acted upon by
both houses, were vetoed by the President, and
the object in view defeated The river and har-
Dor bill and the French spoliation bill were laid
on the shelf by the prerogative Of the executive.
The first bill was vetoed upon constitutional
grounds, and the latter upon the want of fea-
sibility, and in consequence of its establish
ing a precedent, in the opinion Of the Presi-
dent, dangerous TO our institutions. The jus tice
ofthese claims is considered by the President
very doubtful, and he quotes Mr.. Jefferson as an
authority for this opinion These the first OBJ
iections, others, such the inability of the Trea-
sury 10 meet the demands already made, or to be
made upon it, on account of the war. The last
objections are the most powerful, but we think
the President will not be sustained in the position
he has taken in relation to the Justice of these
claims. very large portion of the amount
claimed by American citizens for spola-
tions committed by the French prior to the
slst of July, 1901, is now in the hands of those
who have purchased them of the original hold
Many of them are now in the hands of
trlotnr how, ,I q al
needy and poverty stricken owners; and the bill
passed by Congress would have put thousands
upon thousands of dollars in the pockets of those
parties, where it would have put hundreds in ths
hands ofthose originally the claimants or who have
inherited the original claims. This, however,
does not affect the justice of the claim upon the
government. There is no doubt but that an i'm
proper and injudcious period has been selected
TO satisfy these claims; but trust that at some
future time, when the treasury is not so embar-
raised as il is at present, these claims will receive
that consideration they entitled to.
The veto OF the river and harbor bill at first
created considerable excitement among the West
em members of Congress, and at places deeply
interested in the Improvements proposed; but it
is rapidly subsiding, and the objections of the
President meet with general approval.
The Mexican peace bill was defeated by the
want of time. Ii was killed by Mr.. Davis, of
Massachusetts, talking against time, he having
refused TO give way for the Chairman of the FL
nance Committee to introduce resolution to ex-
tend tho hour of adjournment, and continuing
speaking until within one minute of the hour of
final adjournment. In this way the bill was lost,
as there is but very little doubt but that it would
have passed, had there been little longer time.
Thus ended the first session of the Twenty
Ninth Congress, session that will long be re-
rnembered for its length, for the many important
measures perfected and for the final termination.
There have been many things to praise and
many to condemn, but upon The whole the peo-
pie have very little cause of complaint 1t is bet
ter that the many questions agitated should be
disposed of than TO have been left open from one
time to another.
SHALL WE HAVE REFORM IN THE NAVY I've
some time since, determined to devote a portion
of our columns exclusively to the news and inter-
ests of the army and navy of our country; and we
have, therefore, watched with more than usual
care not only the details connected with those in
4 81 haa1 rfars