The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1848-01-07
New York, Friday, january 2, ls4s.
Congress. Yesyerflay,

Congress- Yesterday.
The debate on the important question of fur
n,shing more troops 10 recruit the army in
Mexico, involving it does a continuance of
the war IN that republic, was continued yester-
day in the Senate, and begins to assume most
remarkable character, great bitterness Of
feeling in the debaters, and a meeting of ex-
tremcs among politicians and parties. Mr..
Badger, of North Carolina, made few remarks
favorable 10 the purpose Of sending more troops
TO Mexico; but the principal speech, and the
most extraordinary feeling, came off in the de-
bate growing out of the general question IN
volved In Mr.. Cass's motion for an increase Of
the present army. On this question, MIR. Hale,
of New Hampshire-one of the representatives Of
the abolitionists New England-made most
bitter and violent speech against a continuance
of the war-against the policy of giving any
more assistance to the army-and expressing his
willingness to furnish just as much aid as would
bring our troops, by the nearest route, safe to
their homes again. The principal argument ad-
duced by Mr.. Hale against the continuance OF
the war; is the allegation that the annexation Of
Texas, Ike that of Mexico, was engendered
merely for the extension of slavery. How sim
gular and contradictory are the positions of emil
nent Senator'S and Representatives on this most
important question connected with Mexico !.
Mr.. Calhoun, a representative OF South Caro-
lna-,hc highest embodiment of the principle
involved in the domestic institutions of the
South-standing side by side with Mr.. Hale, of
New Hampshire, who is utterly and radically
opposed TO the same principle, in supporting
the same measure-the immediate discontlnu-
ance of the war with Mexico-for precisely
I'D &c
thing extremely sublime, or broadly farccal, in
thus beholding two distinguished men, from OPP
posltc points Of the country, representatives of
different principles in social and political mat
tiers. engaged, and standing shoulder to shout
der, in the same cause at Washington. How Is
this so What is the meaning of 1t What is
the solution of it Can il be found in Euclid or
Don Quixoite Is there any trace Of it in Ba.
con or Gil Bias Z
The interest in the debates in Washington is
increasing every day, and every hour, but above
all, the debates on the continuance and further
prosecution Of the war with Mexico, for In that
is the germ Of those principles that must, in due
time, decide the destiny OF this great ma
ton. After Mr.. Hale's extraordinary speech, the
subject ives postponed TO to-day, to be taken up
by Mr. Reverdy Johnson, of Maryland, also a
wing Senator, but most likely in favor of con-
tlnuance OF the war-a position maintained ge-
morally by Senator'S of both parties from the
South and West. We may expect every day or
two a remarkable speech from Mr.. Webster,
another from Mr.. Clayton, another from Mr.. Ben
ton--all involving views and principles, and
prospects of the futXe, deeply interesting TO
every politician and every man in the country.
This debate is only the commencement OF the
fun-ihe farce or the tragedy, as 1t may turn out
TO be. 1t involves a continuance OF the war IN
Mexico and all its responsibilities and results,
as we'll as that of the Presidency for the next
four years.
Thus has the Mexican war begun, and is now
In mid career in the Senate. Full reports OF the
debates, either in the Senate or the House, may
be expected the next morning after they are
delivered in Washington, in the Herald, trans-
mltted TO us by electric telegraph, at vast and
enormous expense. We incur this expense for
the good of the community and the commercial
regions of the country, because we believe that
the whole course Of trade, and business, and
banking, and commerce, depends on the solution
OF the question now before the Senate. The
prospects are that the war will be continued
that vast new loans will be required-loans
amounting TO eighty, ninety, or a hundred mil
lions Of dollars-for the next year, according to
the authority of some of the journals at Wash
ngton), which, together with the drain of specie
10 England, will soon bring the banking institu-
lions of this country into state OF absolute sus-
pension, and probably final bankruptcy. Let all
merchants, bankers, fnanciers, traders, and
every one, look out for so tails. There is nc
harm in taking care in time, and we warn them
accordingly.
ID.