The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1847-12-04
WASHINGTON, Dec. 2. Is.

evening CIALvIENSIS.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 2. l647.
Position Of Parties in the IHirfisM Congress--
The Leadership-Mr. Benton and Mr. Cal
houn.
The present position of parties in Congress
Will prevent the transaction of much business
There Is too much rivalry to expect cooperation
between the various sections OF party. This
will scarcely prevent the wings, however, from
| electlng their Speaker without much trouble
Without leader and an organized combine.
ton II Is vain for either party to expect to carry
| out their measures; and yet an organized comb.
nation Is, under present circumstances, scarcely
possible. There are so many sectional jealousies
ana feuds, that any member regarded as a leader
by one section OF either party, will be secuted
| by every other section. There are, among the
| wings OF the House, two three men of ac-
knowledged ability and discretion. fully CONNIE.
tent to lead; but they are either Clay whigs or
war wings, and consequently would not be re-
cognized as leaders by those of opposite senti-
ments Mr.. Winthrop, Mr.. Vinton, Mr.. Joseph
X: Ingersoll, are all men of ability-but neither
will be acknowledged as leader by the whole
tic members in the House, there is scarcely one
who could hold the reins for single day. Cir
cumstanced as the party is, however, a man
must have commanding, talents and profound
who crowd under its banner Anon, the old
members, there is no such man. The new dele
cations may furnish somebody capable Of exer-
cising authority, and, with discretion, to exert
it cautiously and prudently-but il is improbable.
The wings have Preponderance OF the
talent of both houses in this Congress, as in the
talent, and great deal of stupidity. Masse-
chusets, New York, New Jersey, Maryland,
North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Mis-
sssppi, Missouri, Kentucky, Ohio, Indiana, and
1nhtn nh vr tal- Lv,
some by both members in the Senate. As in tho
House, however, neither party can be governed
by leader, because there Is no man sufficiently
body. Mr.. Webster possesses the greatest intel
lect in the Senate but there Is scarcely any man
IN that body less popular with his own party.
shsn
would scarcely accept the leadership. Mr.. Man
gum is averse to the cares and anxieties of the
post, although better suited for it, probably, than
| any other man on the wing side. Mr.. Clayton
and Mr.. Berren, though men of ability, have
not sufficient tact. Mr.. Reverdy Johnson is an
argumentative lawyer Of great ability, but not
sufficiently experienced in senatorial tactics to
make safe leader. The Southern wings detest
| the Northern wings, whilst the latter have an
especial animosity to those of the West. North
Carolina has anything but friendly feelings
towards Massachusetts, and Massachusetts is At
deadly. enmity with Kentucky. Mr.. Badger was
one Of those members of Mr.. Tyler'e cabinet
who resigned, and Mr. Webster the one who
never regarded each other with very friendly
feelings consequently, Mr.. Webster and Mr..
Crlttenden are not likely to cooperate.
But if the Leadership of the wings in the Senate
Is so difficult, on the other hand, that of the de-
mocratlc party is utterly hopeless. In the latter
there are three grand organizations, besides nu-
three are under the control Of the administration,
| of Mr.. Calhoun, and of Mr.. Benton, respectively.
The adminstratio on forces will be led by General
Cass, who will give Mr.. Folks measures warm
r.lh xa,,h .f
be in opposition His party in the Senate will
not be SO large as at the last session, but he will
nevertheless be able to wage fierce war upon the
administration. II is not impossible that Mr..
Benton may also be In opposition. He has been
| for the last two years Mr.. Folks nightmare.
The President, at the commencement Of his
term, neglected to conciia him, and defeat
of the ad administration on the Oregon question was
the result. Mr.. Polk had doubtless calculated
upon the mortal enmity between Mr. Benton and
Mr.. Calhoun to throw the support of the former
into the scale of the administration but it hap
pened otherwise, and Mr.. Polk, profiting by sad
experience, resolved upon the concl iation Of the
man who preferred cooperation with an enemy
to the support of prOfessed friends by whom he
was not caressed. Accordingly, the President
made to Mr.. Benton the offer OF mission to a
foreign court. This was refused; whereupop,
upon suggestion dropped by Mr. Benton, Mr.
Polk offered to nominate him to the Lieutenant
Generaiship Of the army This offer, for a man
who had studied Humboldt thirty. years ago,
possessed unusual fascination, and the great
man 3 heart was at length softened al 30 many
proofs of the eagerness OF Mr.. Polk to conciliate
him in defiance of public opinion, which strong.
ly CONDEMNED the attempt to supersede General
| Scott by the appointment of civilian to the
command of the army. Accordingly, during
| the whole OF last session, he gave the admins
tration his warmest support The scheme was,
| however, defeated by Mr. Calhoun in the Sc
nate, and Mr.. Benton refused Major. General
ship to which he was appointed. Mr.. Polk had
| certainly used every effort to make him Lieut..
| General, but there have been various occur
rences since then, calculated to wean MIR. Ben
ton from his support. Mr.. Benton may be CO.
creed into support of the administration by
his terrible hostility TO Mr. Calhoun. The lat
ter will undoubtedly be in opposition; and Mr.
Benton is scarcely so greatly offended with the
administration as TO be driven into cooperation
with his great rival. Both gentlemen are
after Dr. Johnson's own heart. They hate with
a fierce hatred, and, TO do them justice, they
have avalled themselves OF every opportunity OF
| man lies ting their mutual aversion. Last SEES
| sion, Mr.. Benton delivered a terrible invective
| against Mr.. Calhoun IN the Senate, which the
latter gentleman repaid by defeating his appoint
ment to the Lieutenant Generalshp. Inhis
letter to the people of Oregon, Mr. Benton, Sc
| veral menths ago, avowed open war upon Mr..
Calhoun next session, and it is not to be doubted
that he will fulfil his threat; while, on his part,
Mr.. Calhoun will not be slow in meeting his
powerful antagonist.
This encounter will be, no doubt, extremely
interesting and dverting, bat unfortunately 1t
will be sadly out Of place, and gravely injurious
to the public interests. GALvIENsis.
WASHINGTON, Dec 3 lS47
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