The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1848-06-26
W ASKING TON, June a, Io4S.
The Business of Congress.

Congress is al present the greatest abuse under
dis Government and Of tho two hnnses, the San
AZ IS unique stionably the more blameable. The
.ahic business is mos, shamefully neglected This
eject is not Of the venal character which it is too
generally regarded. 1t is absolutely criminal, con-
sdeung the circumstances Of the county. On the
i2a OF December, 1916, treaty, giving us great
commercial advantages, was concluded with New
Granada, by our Charge, Mr.. Bidlack. 1t was sub
mited to the Senate on the 10th Of February, 1877
and continued before that body for fifteen months
without any action beng taken upon 1t. During
al this time commerce was subject to discri-
minating duties in the ports of New Granada from
which the ratification OF this treaty would have
lieved II. No intricate question was involved-no
obstacle raised-no principle contended for in op-
position TO Its ratification. The tipal action upon
II did not consume twenty minutes, and that much
lime gwen 10 its consideration last session. would
have saved our. merchants thousands of dollars.
But at the time it was submitted, the Senate was
engaged in faction fights, dsgraceful to itself and
disgusting TO the country.
A treaty of extraditon with Prussia. submitted
by Mr.. Calhoun, when he was Secretary On State,
nearly four years ago. was taken I'D | believe on
Wednesday last There is a question of nerna-
uonal law involved in this treaty. but certainly not
so complicated as TO require four years Tor its dis
cussion and decision.
From the moment effect is gwen by proclama-
ton to the treaty OF peace, between this country
and Mexico, California becomes a waif without pro-
lection, without government, without law. The
power OF the President TO govern 1t bv military
law ceases with the war, and II has made no law
Tor itself. II is even worse than Oregon in this
respect. II is now believed that Congress will adj
lourn without extending our laws over either OF
those countries. Oregon has impored our pro-
lection from the butchery of the Indians ana from
the complicated evils which the absence of all 60
vernment must necessarily nhct. But the Oregon
bill Is postponed from day to day, TO give op.
III mob, Il,
IT was postponed IN order to allow Mr. Dix to de-
fine his position on Monday next That gentle
man will entertain the Senate with some moderate
commonplace the subject of slavery first going
INTO an extended history of Oregon, its geographic
cal position, climate. SOIL animals, trees, shrubs
plants, rivers. ports, Indians, and white inhabi-
tants; and perhaps, like Mr.. Medill, the sapient
Indian commissioner, he will enter into a learned
dlsquisltlon on the number of pores in a square
inch, OF the skin of Black-foot Indian
How long VIII the country endure this idle dali
lance with subjects So momentousl Shall Callfor-
mia be left without law, and Oregon without pro-
lection! The slavery question has no connection
with Oregon. No man in his senses can dream of
me existence OF slavery IN that territory. The
thing Is impossible, and Mr. Dix knows II is i'm:
possible. Why, then, delay the passage of the bill
IN order TO discuss the question VIII the con-
stltuents OF those men look 10 it! Here is bill
winch humanity prompts immediate action upon,
delayed because Mr.. Dix wishes TO set himself
right with some miserable faction or other in New
York, while behind 1t, there is quantity of bust
ness vitality important, which will be suffered to
lie over TO the short session of Congress- when
there will be no possibility of transactinp IL. In
this case. the people should not petition. but com
mand this lazy, selfish miserable chamber. to at
TEND TO its business. The few honest capable. en-
ergetc men In the Senate, can do nothing They
are wholly rowerless. Those men, among them
Mr. Eoote, Mr.. Lewis, Mr.. Calhoun. Mr.. Under.
wood, and a few others, are striving IN vain TO
urge on the business before the Senate and are in
favor OF remaining at their posts until IL shall be
finished. But what avail their emonstrances, over
borne as they are by that dull hos, Of rapacIous po-
liticans whose whole efforts are directed 20 their
own aggrandizement
Some days ago. mentionedt lac bill TO repeal the
act OF 1887, CONCERNING pilots, in which Mr. DIX
prefends 10 take an interest He has not since
moved IN the mater. Doubtless his inactivity
arlses from the consideration that the merchants
- New York are a more infucgtial body than the
poor pilots
Neither Is the other House undeservIng of CEN
sure. No small portion OF time has been expended
n stupid partizan attacks on the Secretary of the
Treasury. In these attacks, Mr.. Rockwell has ac-
CURED most uhcnviable notoriey. He undertook
a. expose some errors in the Secretary report
ard. IN the effort, conrived 20 commit sixty-four
GROSS and egregious blunders, involving an aggre-
vale sum OF more than thlry-tbree millions of dol
Asrs. Mr.. Srrohm is put forward as ihe scapegoat
OUT tae errors are Mr.. Rockwell's. It is ques-