The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1847-12-06


evening at sunset, states that the atmosphere wal
clear and that the Britannia was not then in
sight She is now in her seventeenth day.
Meeting OF Congress.
The thirtieth Congress Of the United States,
IN the sixtieth year of the present Constitution,
meets to-day at IL o'clock, at the capitol at
Washington.
II is almost needless to say, that this is one OF
the most important meetings which probably has
ever taken place upon this continent since the
meeting of that body of men by whom the De-
claration of Independence was declared The
action OF this Congress upon the questions which
force themselves before it for elaboration, must
necessarily produce results of one kind OF
another, affecting not only this continent, blu,
the whole civilized world. We do not allude to
the approaching presidential question, or to the
efforts which will be made, and the intrigues
which will be engendered, in order to produce
any particular result affecting the next Presi-
dency. Men, mere men, dwindle into insignif-
canoe before Interchangeable principles and
measures which impress a direction upon
futurity.
One of the most important questions which
ever was brought before Congress in this coun-
try, will now be presented to that body in the
shape of the pacifcaton of Mexico. That is,
what is to be done with the conquest of that
wonderful country peace is to be estab-
lished l-(but not what.sort of treaty shall be
made 7)-how we shall put an end to the war
What is to be the destiny of that country The
excitement which the Mexican question has now
created throughout the Union, is unsurpassed by
any thing in our day. Public men, who have
long since retired to the shades of private life,
could not resist the contagion of the moment,
but must come out with their views, whether
they are worth any thing or not. Amidst
the various plans for the settlement of the
Mexican question, and for the pacification
of that country, we have seen nothing approach
ing to the feasibility or practicabity of the plan
which has been suggested by General Quitman,
as given in letter from that able general to a
friend at Washington. He advises government
to retain its present position in Mexico, and it's
grasp upon that country as we now hold it, and
to await the issue of future events accomplish
| ing the destiny OF that nation, which events
would naturally and gradually result in the an
nexation or amalgamation of the two republics
On the other hand, the politicians have started
| preliminary question about slavery in the new
territories, under the designation of the Wilmoi
proviso, and certain parts of the country are now
agitatcd with the discussion of this merely pre-.
liminary matter. The attempts made to create
an excitement upon this question of slavery, as
it concerns Mexico, is much the same with tina
agitation we have seen made for the last twenty
years by some fanatics of the North. Moderate,
sensible men, of all parties, possessing true
American feelings and principles, ought to
discountenance such an immaterial question
at once, as being merely the isolated efforts
of little people to make themselves big in
| the different sections of the republic. 1t is q
mere farce, all this hubbub about the Wilmo
proviso. If the people of the State of New York
thought it to be their interest, or suited to thei
principles, to re-establish slavery among them to
morrow, no power in Congress, or in any Stat,
or States, exists to prevent them If the people o
new territories, before or after their admission
into the union of our States, chose either to abo
lish or to establish this institution in their coun
try, it is question in which they, themselves
alone are concerned, with which Congress an,
other States have nothing to do; it is out Of the
reach. The Wilmot proviso question is a mere
| ly local question, which has been seized hold o
by political knaves in order to give themselves
importance in their particular sections by takinl
sides either for or againstit, as the case may be
The real, the great question of the day, is the pa
cifcation of Mexico-the annexation Of Mckee
the disposal of Mexico. This Is the question
and nothing else.
Now upon this great question, the Congress
which meets this day, will have to determln.
one way or the other. In some quartets it ha,
been recommended by those who are opposed
to Mr.. Polk, to let him alone, and leave him t.
| settle the Mexican question as he may. Let hin
take the responsibility. But the position of par
ties in Congress is now 90 nicely balanced thai
every party must take the responsibility in the
settlement of this great question, even if they
should seek to avoid it by not voting. No par
tcular party controls the American government;
but in the present singular condition OF things,
every party in the country is represented in the
present executive and Congress. This state of
things will give to their deliberations peculiar
characteristics, and the great Importance of the
question they now have to decide upon will bring
orth all their talents and all their eloquence.
Looking, therefore, upon the Importance oil
this session Of Congress,we have made arrange.
ments for reporting Its proceedings, and COM
nenting upon its doings and deliberations, far
beyond what has ever yet been done by newspa
per enterprise. We shall represent fairly and
Justly the movements and policy of each party,
independent of every party, of every faction, and
of every man. We shall do justice to all
New PRovlDENcE.-By the brig Georgiana,
Captain Breton, we have files of the Gazette and
Guardian, published at Nassau, to the 10th Nov.
The project of steam communication between