The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1848-02-20
INrELLIGENCElBY THE ssAILs


WASHINGTON, FeD. ~, 1910.
The Loan Bii-Scheming- House of Repre-
charlottesville. PoinseH.
So wretchedly emascu lated have the debates
in the House become, that even the vote on the
loan BILL taken yesterday, created no interest,"
The proceedings, however, were not very ma
teral. The great struggle is to come when the
bill will return from the Senate amended in con-
sonance with the views of the Secretary of the
Treasury. The wings of the House, and more
especially the Ways and Means Committee,
have committed sad mistake in refusing the
loan in the only way It can be available. They
will not be sustained in such opposition. They
are insensibly driving many wings into the de-
mocratic ranks. Their present policy is abso-
lutely suicidal. There is every prospect, not
withstanding the treaty negotiatedby Mr.. Trist,
that more men and money will be required -
However timid the President may be, he will
not be permitted to make any adjustment of our
difficulties with Mexico by which this country
will be dsgraced, and there ia little prospect
thai the terms accepted by Mr.. Trist, in the name
of this government, are such as il would COM
port with the honor of the nation to ratiiy.-
What then remains hut 10 hold quiet possess a
of Mexico, with such force as will maintain
the tranquility Of the country, until time shall
work out the result
But if the wings of the House have adopted a
mistaken policy, the administration party in the
Senate have been equally unfortunate. The ten
regiment bill should have been driven through
the Senate Immediately after it's third reading,
and the debate might have been easily trsnterrea
to Mr.. Calhoun's or Mr. Dickinson's resolutions.
The result, however, was not unexpected While
the course of the President is marked with timl-
dity and regeneration, il is in VAN to seek a
firm and unwaverng policy at the hands of his
agents in the Senate.
In connection with this subject, may mention
rumOr now prevalent, that in pursuance of
the policy adopted by the President, of raising
up and depressing, or attempting to depress, pro-
mineni candidates for the Presidency, in order
to secure the nomination of the Baltimore con-
venticn, the chairman OF the military commit
tee, in the Senate, is to be changed. Though the
statement comes from reliable source, trust,
for the honor of the office that Mr.. Polk holds,
there may be ome mistake In it (; but, it true, as
| fear 1t is, am confident there is too much of
manllness among senators to permit themselves
to be thus played off as pawns, one against
another, in one of the paltriest games ever en-
gagged in by small politician. | am free to ret-
crate my belief of the tota! incapacity Of the pre-
sent chairman for the position he holds as lead
er Of the democratic party in the Senate. His
friends admit it, and he scarcely doubts it but
it is not because Of his incapacity that Mr.. Polk
wishes his displacement. but in order to raise
up. another prominent individual asa counter
poise to the other candidates and yet some
men utterly refuse to believe that Mr. Polk de.
sires to be next President.
One feature III the QeDa'e on the loan Dill, yes
terday, is worthy Of notice. An amendment to
the 2lst section of the bill, offered by MIR. Col
lamer, to repeal the tariff law of l846, and res
tore that of 1912, was rejected by vote OF "a
to So. This proves two things that the sense OF
the House is opposed to the restoration of the
tariff of 1912, for the amendment was rejected by
a majority of eleven and, on the other hand,
that that question IS not obsolete, asisome BELIEVES
tor it had the votes of eighty five men, presumed
to be in their proper senses.
1t is a melancholy tact that there is not talent
sufficient in the present House of Representa-
tives to lend, even to the most important debate,
sess half dozen men capable of treating any
question with even ordinary ability. 1t has no
orator since Mr.. Winthrop became Speaker, and
but two statesmen OF any eminence, John Quincy
Adams and Charles Jared Ingersoll Its talk is
mere verbiage-its proceedings bore-ts votes
contradlctions-itself mere nest of politicians
"a workshop of intrigue. The few men of abb
llty who still remain, are too few to redeem the
chaos of stupidity, that Babel of cant and hum
bug and political juggling. Badly as the House
is constituted, the committees are worse org n
| lied. For this the Speaker is not to blame. He
was IN letters, and could not act in accordance
with his own convictions.
Mr.. Poinsett is writing letters to one of the
Senators on the Mexican question. To Mr..
POnsetts views the Inteiiigsneer attempts to at.
tach adventurous Importance, byl reminding the
public that the gentleman has lived for several
years in Mexico, and, therefore, knows all about
1t. But it unfortunately happens that many
years have elapsed since Mr.. Poinsett's return
from Mexico, and since then so many. changes
have taken place in the condition Of the coun-
try, that conclusions drawn now from impress
sions then received, would be very erroneous
Besides, the position of Minister Plenipoten-
tiary Is not most likely to afford facilities for
free Intercourse with people like the Mexi-
cans. Mr.. Thompson's book affords ample evil
dence of this fact All the knowledge gained
by Mr.. Ponsett during his stay in Mexico. will
scarcely give such force to his recommendation
of the line policy as to persuade its adoption.
GALvIENSIs.