Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1847-03-12
An4OURNMENT OF CONGRESS.

I
grcss terminated on the 4th inst. The" Union
of!t!iat day, furnishes the following summary OF
soFac of the important measures which have been
acted upon While we do not believe the ac-
tioas OF sither House have met public expectation,
or been satisfactory to the people, yet we are
dismissed 10 be thankful that some good acts and
wise legislation was effected.
Close OF The LAST SESSION OF THE 29TH
CoRGREss.-This 29th Congress, the report of
the last days proceedings Of which will be found
in another part OF our paper this evening, has
leir a broad and strong mark on the foreign and
domestic policy of the country. Events and
acts which will make an important part OF the
history Of the country, have rapidly followed one
upon another through both its sessions. During
the. sessions of this Congress three new States
Texas Iowa and WiscOEsn-have been admitted
into our Union, and new Territory, under the
name OF Minnesota, has been organized. The
territorial bill for Oregon has failed to become
law; but the great Oregon question no longer
hangs gluomy over the foreign relations OF the
country, The establishment OF an equitable and
deraocratC revenue system, in the tariff OF lS46,
has thus far fully answered, as revenue measure,
the. authorizations of its friends. The statement
OF the Secretary of the Treasury, published last
evening. shows the gratifying fact that the hrst
three months of the operation oil the new tarIft
have witnessed an addition to the revenue collect
ed at the six principal ports of the Union OF more
than cicht hundred and sixty thousand dollars
over and above the amount received at the same
ports during the corresponding period OF the last
vcar of the Tariff of 1912. The constitutional
TREASURY 80 long called for by the people, has
been established, and its capacity, as fiscal
measure has been put TO the severest test Ill the
couluct Of the fiscal operations OF the Govern
mcIt durt!,r a time of war. There can be little
lad, !, Tow hN
the people. though it is unquestonably to be re-
rretcd that some very desirable amendments to
It. Including the establishment of branch mint
in the CITY Of New York, were lost in the Senate,
in opposition to the wishes of large majority OF
tha5 BODY through the ill-iudged and frivolous in
terf3rencc OF Mr.. Senator Badger. 49,.
Tn, legislation of this session, in view OF the
way with Mexico, has been important ana thougn
too long DELAYED, will doubtless conduce to vIndI-
cate the riuhts and sustain the honor OF the coun-
try. The immediate wants Of the Treasury have
beer, provided for by the loan bill, which appears
10 be most skilGully adapted to answer Its purpo-
scs IN avoiding all sacrifice OF the public credit
The. army bill will send new and most etncent
force into. the field, and permission has already
been nada by law and by Executive actIon 10 Sc
cure for il the service OF commanding ability IN
its guidance and military organization. The
three million bill, a peace measure, so strangely
oppbsnd hy the proessed friends OF peace, and
complicated Prematurey and unfortunately with
Other gltarng questions, is now the law OF tie
land, and will be found effective, we trust, IN Ia.
cilirating negotiations, and in aiding the v,gor OF
our arms SO bring the war to prompt and satis-
factory close.
Of the great measures recommended by the
Executive, two only of primary and pressing I'm,
porlancc Fave so far as we now recollect, tailed
to receive at least in some modified form, the as;
sent Of Congress. These measures are the Dill
for additional revenues and the bill for the gradua-
to,, .ot thu public lands They were at last in
clndrG in single measure reported from the Com
mitt$e Of Ways and Means, and bearing as they
bothdo upon the paramount interests OF the conn
try, and specially demanded as they are in the
present crisis, TO aid in sustaining the credit OF
the country. we cannot too strongly express our
reorst that thew have failed to become law
The democratic majority inCongress has fallen
far short of its usual patriotism and foresight IN
permitting these measures TO fail.