The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1847-03-15

party supported the tariff of 1876, and the wing
party, with still fewer exceptions, opposed it.
New York and Pennsylvania, the two democratic
States the delegations of which gave il most
signal opposition, did not sustain the course of
their representatives when they presented them
selves for reelection. In Pennsylvania, the only
democrat who voted for the tariff Of 1876 was re.
elected, and most of those who opposed it were
defeated. In New York, at the last election, the
tariff question was not made general issue, and
it exercised little, if any, influence in controlling
the vote Of the State. The excitement which its
passage caused mas altogether subsidized, and it is
likely TO remain for years undlsturbed, with the
exception, perhaps. Of slight modification, for
the purpose of raising additional revenue
The sub-treasury has not yet been sufficiently
tested to enable one to form definite opinion of
the influence it is destined TO exercise on the
monetary affairs Of the country Still more on
the question of the passage Of this measure than
on that of the tariff, the party lines distinctly
drawn. Wings opposed and democrats supported
it with very few exceptions. 1t was an old party
question, and there was very little variance of
opinion, except between the parties The public
attention is SO much occupied by the grave ques-
tons affecting our foreign relations, that neither
the tariff nor the sub treasury has lately attracted
the interest of the people to any great extent In
lS40 the sub.reasury, and in 1874 the tariff were
the all absorbing questions. Now every question
of domestic policy is-if not disregarded-at least
regarded as but OF secondary importance They
have been so regarded during the session just
closed, although during the one preceding II, |
need not say they excited great deal of interest.
| have said before, the two great political orga-
nlzations have been, during this Congress, split
up into many sections. This subdivision and
mi mol al ma IL MI, @r
the twenty-ninth Congress. The barriers OF party
have all been thrown down. Wings, democrats,
natives and aboltionists, have, at some time or
another during the last two sessions lost their par
tisan individuality, and side by side, shoulder TO
shoulder, the abolitionist OF the north, and the
STAKEHOLDER Of the south-the red hot enthusiastic
democrat of Illinois, and the cool, cautious whig
o. MISUNDERSTANDING been found advocating or
opposing the same measure. Again, western de-
mocrat and eastern wing have fought sgainst
southern democrat and southern wing But the
combinations are too complicated and manifold
TO be traced and unrayelled. lcan but endeavor
to furnish key to some Of the most prominent.
At the commencement OF the first session of
the last Congress, the two parties were severaly
united-at its close theI disruption was COM
pete. The Oregon question first broke the har-
mony of the democrats. The wings stood pretty
well together until the Wimot proviso shattered
their union. During the whole OF the two ses-
sions, the friends OF Mr.. Calhoun have maintained
a distinct and separate organization. The adj
minstration has had, as YET, no distinct party
The partisans of Mr.. Wright attempted to organ
iZe themselves last session, and failed to effect
aught but mischief both to Mr.. Wright and TO the
public interests. Their natural enemies are the
friends OF Mr.. Cass, who, with few exceptions,
have conducted themselves, so far, with com
mendable propriety.
= he Oregon question arrayed the West against
the South and portion of the North. Forty
nine men" and "fifty-iour. forty men" were,
for a time, the only two partIes in Congress-
wings and democrats were found in both sec
tons The South, DESTROYS of limiting the Access
sion Of strength to the West, advocated the line
Of the forty ninth parallel. They were joined by
the commercial men of the North. These COM
bined forces trumphed. But the Western men,
though Infatuated, were not yet nearly so much
50 as they afterwards became They assisted in
passing the tariff bill, on the tacit understanding
as they alege, that they would have the support
OF the South on the river and harbor bill. That
measure passed and was vetoed by the President.
Then the measure of their wrath was indeed full:
but it did not overflow until they were deserted
by the Southern democrats, who had previously
assisted them to pass the bill, on the vote TO re-
verse the Presidents veto, by constitutional ma
iorty oil tWo-thrds
From this maddened state of feeling sprang the
celebrated Wimot proviso. IL was Matched in
the heat OF the rage and resentment engenderea
in the breasts OF the western members, first by
the course of the South on the Oregon question
and afterwards by the veto Of tho River and Har-
Dor bill, and the dcsertion of the South on the
motion TO reverse that veto. The appropra-
ton oil two millions OF dollars asked for by the
President, TO enable him to make peace with
Mexico, was seized as the means Of em barrass-
ing him and annoying the South The eastern
democrats who had been with the South on the
Oregon question, united with the west in support
of the Wilmot proviso, as slavery is aught but Il
popular institution at the north and thus pow
erful combination was formed against the South.
IL was at the close of the session--men had not
leisure TO examine the proposition, and If they
had they were too much blinded by passion on
the one part, and love of popularity on the other,
to heed its absurdity. 1t passed the House by a
largo majority. II could not have passed the
Senate. Whilst the House was in the extraordi-
nary fefment produced by the violen: contention
of sectional interests, the session came to a close
and every body went home dissatisfied with him
self and with every body else.
The last session opened with the consideration
and discussion OF the war question The two
parties were again for Tune distinct. The
wings at the commencement OF the session, blum
dered into violent opposition to the war, and iu-