The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1849-12-17
Our Washington correspondence.


WASHINGTON, December Is, 1849.
The Difficulty Betpecn Mesys. Meade and Dsr Not Pet
Settled State Of Things in the Hou~-7ne FIRE S,ilers
-Instuctons to Senator'S Territorial Bais-Tns Brsgo
.afair- The Senate in Erecutfre Session
The difficulty between Mr. Meade aud Mr. Duer, CON-
trsry to all reasonable expectations Is not yet settled
Mr. Duer, | understand, refuses to make the amsnSe
honorable and the probability now that hostile col.
hsion will take place between the parties This 10
deeply to be regretted the 1t Is to be feared
that the quarrel between Mr.. Meade and Mr. Duer viii
be the foreranner Of general between Southern
and Northern gentlemen In Congress | cannot permit
myself to believe that this Is the design Of Mr. Duer
but feel quite certain tina. IT would be the unavod-
able consequence should he persist In his course
slso perceive that Mr. Duer, since the mortal offence
given to MIR. Meade, has become the fsyorts of his
party and that strong effort Ia making to elect him.
perhaps that very account, Speaker Of tho House
Such course would certainly bs i'll calculated to pre-
harmony and order In the House of Representa-
liver, particularly ut this crisis Does the North think
the feelings of the South not sufficiently reused
that they require additional goading by personal nsut
Is this the plan OF operation proposed by Mr. Seward
and sgreed upon by his deegsion II it be the pub
pronounce on the virtue and morality of the scheme
1t would be handsome counterpart to the appoint
ment Of Colonel Webb and lead to system Of retail
alton which would disgrace the government and rem
der the authority Of Congress a mock word in the
mouths OF the people. Already the spectacle exh-
bited TO the public Is sufficiently humiliatiux with
out adding to 1t the crime OF bloodshed murder.
There Is something rotten la Denmark on both
would not occur ana be avorably commented upon by
leading politicians Depend on it, haf dozen men
here are playing desperate game for power, even
at the risk of destroying public credit and sinking the
government and the country in the eyes of civil
iled world They have nov found champions
fighting champion and they will endeavor to make tho
man who has proved himself game the leader of the
House, Mr. Winthrop's and Mr. Vintons metal
not quite Of the temper desired by the Northern dis
organizers; they sought man who ready to die in
the trenches and they have found him We shall nov
have war to the knife and from the knife TO the ht,
unless the organs OF public opinion do their duty and
check the madness OF Congress by he slthful, sober
public opinion among their constituents;
The He use has djourned without doing ything.
The election of Speaker Is remote as ever. 1
was almost Inclined to the opinion that the House had
better remain without than that t should
organize merely for the purpose Of aud
legal disrupture The free soers declare that they
will attach the Wimot proviso to every territorial bill
that may be brought into Congress and 1t IL
tanned fact that there Is clear majority for the proviso
in both houses The Southern members have declared
that they will not submit to the indignty aud with
draw in bodyas coon ss the proviso passes and re-
ceves the sanction Of the President doubt however,
whether all will leave, though 1t Is wicked to provoke
them. win not now enter into q speculation as to
what members will withdraw, aud what members will
retain their seats All such speculstions are now out
Of season and only to add fuel TO the flames
The only remedy that can is to bring in ter
ritoriai bill at all Let State bills be Introduced, and
the catastrophe may yet be avoided bseve that the
Illinois and even those given TO Gen Cas- apply only
to territorial bills II State bills be introduced these
free to act according to their individual convictions
and thus the blow may be svered This Is an impsr-
tapt consideration, on which, doubt, you will offer
your opinion esitorislly | assure you Chat the
Hrcid Is read here with great effect and that its
tioDsl tendency and stout opposition to disunioa and
anarchy are duly appreciated.
The Drega correspondence too has found is echo In
Consressshd the Senate. They will not be able to say
q it. that the play Is not worth the candle Sens-
tors have taken the matter in hand and Mr. Clayton
will, doubt be called uaon for an explanation No
in the world doubt the genuineness of the let
ters; and the scrimony with which Mr.. Brega as
rallied by ME- Clay favorte letter writer's while at
the time Mr. Bregs continued in office, IL the
best ciicuusartial evidence Of the guilt Of the Pre-
mer.
The Senate has to day ssnifed to the President that
they ready to receive any communication from him
which requires their executive action SO shall have
quite spectacle before shooting ia the House, and
cutting of Of heads in tis Senate. wonder whether
Mr. Clayton ia at with the prospects before him
-" ton imPudcEee,
Iieu hmerdiye rccomperlsen