The northern galaxy. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1844-1848, 1847-12-28
THE PROSPECT BEFORE US.

\
The editor Of the New York Tribune,
Who has attended the opening of Congress
n al Washington, writes upon his return his
Uonvictions Of 1.-The aspects at Washing
Hfon," as follows
A A week of anxious and careful obser-
walton at Washington has not strengthened
Jour hopes of early and determined action
tby Congress for the termination ofthe war
with Mexico. That large majority OF
both Houses are heartily DESTROYS that the
war should be terminated, and would glad
ly approve a treaty of peace securing us
the boundary offered by Mexico TO Mr.
Trist, we undoubtedly believe. But we
are rapidly approaching Presidential e.
lection. and too many, uahapplly, are more
anxious that their party should succeed IN
\ that contest than that their country should
be lust in the sight of Heaven and man.
kind-more solicitous that the Federal pat
! ronage should be dispensed through IA
yored and favorable chanrels than that
erape-shot e. bayonet-thrusts should cease
70 be dispensed at all. Of those claim
\ ing to be Democrats Par-e1ceLlence, We
cannot learn that half dozen tout Of
South Cardinal will really do anything TO
stop the war.
Mr.. Calhoun, we cannot doubt, is SIN
eerely DESTROYS of arresting hostllities be-
fore the close of the session, and will IN
due time act, and if need be dare, with a
view to that end But we do not know
that, beyond the Sonth- Carolina delega-
tion. his convictions will modify or fore
shadow the course of more than three or
four members of both Houses. MIR. Ben
ton, as yet. maintains a studied silence
with regard to the great topic but, while
all know that he will do little from love to
Mr.. Polk, and nothing from Difference to
Mr.. Calhoun. we have no solid grounds tor
hoping that he will take any decisive stand
against the continuance Of the war. lie
will hardly define his position" until the
Fremont trial shall have been brought to
u verdict.
The Wing members generally are right
in sentiment, and most sincerely anxious
that this horrible, wasteGul carnage should
be terminated. But, (alas that the word
should be neededD there are several who
have not yet learned that nothing can be
more expedient than doing exactly right,
and doing it right off; and, while they
would like to see the war ended. they hold |
that the wings can only promote this t,y Sc
curing the election of Wing President,
and to this end they would have all ener-
gies directed. The Wings can do moth
ing, they argue and until fully in power
any resoIute attempt TO arrest the war now |
could really accomplish nothing for peace,
while it would deprive US of the opportu- !
nifty of making peace next year, by ena-
bling our opponents to cleo: a President
Now, however sound the mass of the
Wing members may be, it takes but three
or four of them, W ting with the locofocos,
TO deefeat all the main body Of the Wings;
and in the knowledge of this, many of the
wings say, "Why divide and be defeated
Let US hang together and maintain our as
tendency by attempting nothing that all
cannot be brought to concur in"-and
thus appropriations will be voted as if the
Administration had still a majority; though |
it will hardly be so easy to affix lying |
preamble to a supply bill as it once was.
Put we do not mean that Congress is
likely to swallow all the recommendations
Of the President unqualiiedly. We think |
it will not The tea and coffee tax can
hardly be forced through the House, no
matter how urgently pressed. No such
Graduation bill as Polk and Walker re-
commend is likely to pass, though we
trust 81 me far better measure, looking to
the interests OF actual settlers only, will be
prepared and duly considered. The Er-
ecutive requirement of twenty new regi
ments of Regulars will hardly be ratified,
though Volunteers will probably be called
out in abundance.-lt seems to be the
prevalent impression that the Volunteers
elect better officers than Mr.. Polk ap-
points. (Gen. Pillow is not one of the E.
lected;) and We are confident that no
Treasury Notes will be authorized by the
present Congress. We do not understand
however. that the Executive processes TO
want anY