The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1848-12-28


Seaton, is also very worthy man. He, too, gives,
or used to give, excellent suppers He, too, pre-
SIDES at dinner with much grace and diguity.-
Both have a compassionate regard for the bodily
comfort Of Congressman. They have wIned, and
dned, and fsted both houses OF Congress, from
time immemorial. They ought to receive their
| reward They are both in the vale of years We
see no reason why they should not be selected as
keepers of new Congressional eahng-house or
| fectory-not common affair, but an elegant and
genteel establishment, not far from the Capitol
| a thing whichis much needed in that delightful
and classic locality. Mr.. Gales is just the man to
conduct with success the financial affairs of such
| an establishment, and Mr.. Seaton would do the
honors of the table with all the ease and grace of
| Chesterfield; while both would, day after day,
| enjoy the boundless delight OF making scores of
Congressman happy
| After all, in this business there is, as usual
with Washington schemers, something behind the
curtain. A desperate struggle ls gong on with re-
spect to the organship under the new admlnstra-
ton. The Eastern wings are moving heaven and
earth to keep their antedlluvian friends of the In
tehgeNcer out Of the water, order that they may
be forced on General Taylor as his organ. On
the other hand, Mr. Bulhtt has taken the field,
and his friends are not idle. Great is the alarm
and great the jealousy of these opposite interests
Hence Mr.. Ashmun, and others OF that Xix, WI
doubtless fight hard to get something through Con-
gress to give "ald and comfort" to the IpteHigem-
GER This is the secret of all the fuss, alarm and
anxiety about the Congressional reporting. What
General Taylor may himself do, is not so certain,
though the philosophers on both sides seem to
think that that is but small matter. We shall
see but In the meantime, IN this quarrel for the
organising, we go for "Bullitt and Bragger."
CanfornIa-Its Destiny and Consequences.
It Is beyond all question that gold and silver, in
almost mexhaustible stores, exist in California;
and that crowds of people, from the four quarters
of the world, will rush there, with the view of
curing the advantages which have thus so suddenly
been brought to light To establish order there,
and to protect life and property, government is
essential, and Congress ought at once to establish
such system as will have that desired effect. The
time is pressing, and the occasion demands prompt
action. The Wilmot provso need not occupy their
time, for the question whether slavery shall or shall
not exist there, will be decided In the negative by
the emigrants from the free states, who fockng
thlther in such great numbers before they can DIS
It and arrive at conclusion. The fact, that
circumstances, totally unlocked for and wholly
expected, will decide this ,estIon and take 1t out
OF the hands of the members of Congress, long
before they shall have relieved themselves of the
tremendously long and puffy speeches and ar
guments which they compiled and manufac-
'ured during the recess, not tor the pur-
pose of deciding the question fair, equitable and
moderate grounds, but with the view of manufac-
turing political capital for themselves, and as has
been remarked, OF making their constituents be-
lleve that they are earnest. Let Congress,
therefore, 60 to work and establish government
that will meet the emergencies of the case, and,
our word for it, the Wilmot provso question will
be decided and set at rest for ever without their
assistance.
Next In Importance to establishing govern
vernment for California, is the formation of con.
nectlon between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans.
If we take into consideration the geographical po-
sltlon of the United States, and the natural con-
formation OF the continent, 1t is really disgrace
to the United States, and practical denial of the
the enterprise, lberality and progress, which our
people possess, that this connection or communI.
cation has not been formed long since. The mat
Ter has come upb before them, in the application from
MIR. Asplnwall and his associates, for contract
| 10 carry the mails, &c., &c, of the government
across the lsthmus of Panama, they being 20 ssess
ed of the right to construct railroad across the
continent at that point Let this be done at once
let the members throw to the winds all minor con-
| siderations-let them discard petty nvalries and
frivollties, and give their attention to the main
thing
| But we would not have it supposed, by urging,
as we do, Congrt to make this contract, that we
| have discarded our views, and the feasibility,
practlcabiity, and absolute necessity which exist
| for our having great national railroad that will
connect our navgable rivers on the Atlantic coast
with the waters of the Pacific. That road mus
be built, and the sooner it shall be commenced
the better. We must have a railroad across our
own territory, to connect the two extremes of our
possessions When that shall have been com.
pleted, a revolution in the commerce of the whole
world will have been achieved, and Ihe manifold
advantages which that revolution will develope,
will accrue to the United States although indi-
rectly will confer favors on the whole of the rest
of the world. The idea in this country and IN this
age, of sailing distance of seventeen thousand
miles, so to round Cape Horn and reach our wes-
tern territory, is when we know that the distance
in direct line is only five thousand-one-half Of
which is Of navigable waters-is certainly absurd.
Yet so it is-and until 1t be not So we may as well
boast a little less than we do of our enterprise
When that direct communication across our own
soil is completed, the position IN the commercial
world which is now occupied by London, and the
influence which that capital exercises, will be
transferred to New York, which city will become
the great centre of commerce-the great lever
which will move the whole world beside.
In connection with this subject, 1t may be as
well to make passing remark on the various
statements and msglvings put forth by per.
sons, on the ultimate effects which those great
aunferous discoveries will have on the des.
of the limited of fhar,