The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1848-12-08
Congress-.

The ice has been fairly broken; the preliminary
business has been pretty much concluded, and 1t
Is full time for the members of both houses to go
to work. The most important subject now await
ing legislative action, is decidedly that of the sla-
| very question connection with our new terrific
RES During the interval of political agitation tina
will exist between this time and the Inauguration of
President Taylor, Congress ought TO leglslate prac-
tcally on those important me isures which the well
fare and interest OF the country demand prompt
action upon-measures which have no reference to
politics or 10 the political ascendancy of one party
over the other We would like see, especially the
abolition question in connection with our new
territories settled, order prevent political ag
tators from making it a geographical or sectional
Issue between the North and the South. That It
can be satisfactorily settled, we have doubt. Il
this thing be not disposed Of, we hope that, at all
events, other vital questions demanding settle
ment will be acted upon-such as the postage re-
form, which has been recommended by all
branches of the government, and by all parties.
If it be possible, and we think il 49, to reduce the
postage to a uniform rate of three cents, 1t would
be advisable to do so at the earliest practicable
moment as well as to effect reorganization of
the whole system; for we think reorganization
is demanded Some are in favor of having the
rostmas,ers throughout the country, elected; but
we think this would be going too fast, to say the
least, would be questionable policy to pursue ct
present. The time will soon come, hewever, when
it may be proper and Judlclous to carry 1t into ef
feet.
| Some notifications have been proposed in the
| financial system of the government, and also In
the tariff Alterations and amendments might
| hoo h,uk kofh
of these measures, and that, too, without compro-
missing any political principle, or running into ex-
tremes of ul,rasm on any side. The presen.
tariff is good working law, although it Is opea
to amendments, which we think might be JUDI
ciously inserted, without changing Its main fea-
lures The present financial system of the govern
ment also works well; but this quality has arisen
| from singular circumstances. In fact, while we
have ostensibly had sub.treasury, we have In
reality not had one for during the operation OF
the present system, the Secretary of the Treasury
has had the power of using treasury notes as a
currency This should be a permanent feature OF
the financial system Of the government and with
this modification we have no doubt the present
system would work satisfactorily.
| THE PRESIDENTS MEssAoK.-Thls document has
received great deal of condemnation among the
journals here, although, with the exception of Its
clerical prollxity, the repetition which pervades it,
as well as the recurring often to the same ideas,
it seems to be good, practical, and sound docu-
ment
The most ridiculous trash we have seen against
1t, is that coming from our contemporary the Tn
bune 1t was probably written by the famous MIR.
Slievegamon historian of the recent revolution In
Ireland. 1t seems that while Mr.. Greeley is busy
Ia his new suit, boots and all, with his everlasting
land reforms, Mr.. Slievegamon fills his place in
New York, and utters the veriest trash that ever
came from a school boy.
NAVAL AND OTHER REpoRTs.-Several reports
are crowded out to-day. We give that OF the
Secretary OF War We will find place tor the
others in day or two. Our columns are over
| run with interesting r,atter
| ARRIVAL OF ANOTHER RoTnscHu.D Among the
passengers In the Britannia, is the name of Mr.
Rothschld. Whether the gentleman is in any way
connected with the bankers, is not yet ascertained