The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1849-02-19
ANUsKMENTs THIS EVENING.


New York, Monday. February 10. 1870.
The Approaching End OF Congress-Win
Anything be DOnss
Only twelve working days of the present session
OF Congress remaIR; and if the various matters of
public and national interest which have been so
long awaiting legislation are to be passed upon or
to receive any attention at all, it must be done
within that time. But we do not fatter ourselves
that the remaining part Of the session will result
more benefit to the country than the first part
of 1t did Indeed, it would appear If one branch
of that body, at least were determined to persevere
In tho disgraceful policy which 1t assumed at the
frst, and to maintain an unenvlable consistency
TO tho last day Of the session. We allude to the
House of Representatives, the members of which
have, from the commencement of the session to
the present, wasted their time, which was not
their own, having, by accepting their seats,
given 1t to their constituents and the country, and
taking from the public treasury the sum of eight
dollars day each, without giving any equivalent.
In private life such conduct would be called swind-
ling, and we are not sure but the term might be
applied to the manner in which members of Con-
gress have acted this session. Almost the whole
of Saturday last occupied by the House of
RepreseL tatives in discussing the Mexican lndem-
nifty bill; and as if to mock the patience of the peo-
pie Of the United States, and remove every vestge
of doubt from their mlnds If any remained, of the
utter recklessness which has characterized the
present Congress, the members who took part in
tho discussion went over the ground which has
been trodden hard before, and raked up every
question which has agltated the country for
the last quarter of century. The tariff
and sub-treasury questions were dwelt upon at
length-the question of extending slavery to the
new territories with which the people of all sec
tons of the country have been sickened almost to
death-and even the United States Bank, were
unearthed and dragged into the discussion on this
Mexican indemnity BILL
This is the manner in which the time Of the
members and the money of the people are wasted,
and the interests of the country dlsregarded and
set at naught and this, too, at time when matters
of legislation equal in Importance to any that has
been brought to the notice OF legislative body
are not acted upon, but almost entirely Disregard
ed. II Congress had done its duty--had paid more
attention to the business which they were elected
to perform-then 1t has to the ebullons of fanatics
and the outpourings Of quas, reformers and would
be re-organizers of society, the country would ere
this have secured the immediate construction of a
railroad connecting the Atlantic with the Pacific
ocean, which would divert the commerce of the
world to a new channel, and make every nation on
earth tributary TO us In a greater or less degree
If attention had been paid to the matters requiring
iegislatoA-prompt and efficient egislaton-the
Thousands of enterprlsing citizens who are their
way to the gold region of California would not find,
ashley probably will on 'helr arrival, country with
out government without law or order, and in which
there is protection for lite and property but the
life and the bowie knife; and the Thousands who
are preparing to embark for that distant region,
would not make their arrangements with fear and
trembling,as they are dong lest that when thew
arrive there they shall find matters in worse
condition than they were represented by the last
accounts. Rather, however, than to attend to
these and other matters which are OF great and
absorbing interest to the people of the United
States, Legislators have spent their time in dis.
cusslng the ridiculous question of mileage, the
disturbing and abstract question OF slavery, and
other ridiculous things
We fear very much that nothing will be done
during the remainder of the session. AS we be.
fore remarked, it is apparent that Congress is de-
temined to maintain a consistency throughout,
and to end the session as they begun it. Still,
however, if the members were disposed to do
something for the good Of the country, they could
accomplish a great deal within the remaining
twelve working days before them. They could
organize government Tor the territories of CALI
fornia and New Mexico, and thereby prevent the
further efiusion Of blood there they could es-
tabllsh mint at San Francisco, and secure to our
own country the benefit Of the vast mineral wealth
OF that region which ID now finding Its wav To
foreign countries to enrich them at our expense.
they could pass the Panama railroad bill, and take
preliminary steps towards surveying a rail route
on our own territory to the Pacific and it could
establish a board for the adjustment OF claims
growing cut of the treaty with Mexico. Those
measures could be yet acted upon, late as it 10 in
the session, If the members would but give over
taking 10 Buncombe, cease giving ear to the
rawlings of fanatics or dissertations on Graham
bread and squash, allow the poor sailor as usual to
have glass of grog, and make up their minds to
perform the business to transact which they were
elevated to the seats which they have occupied 80
long IN verse than idleness. II, however, nothing
snoula be done, the people will have cause to re-
memoef the present session; and If they do not
put marx on every member who saw fit to dis
uact inc country, to insugate sectional ealouses,
ana promote discord In our confederate family, In
stead OF attending to the business Of the country.
1t will be because they are blessed with surit of
forgiveness in a remarkably liberal degree.
MORE GoLp.-The briggs Maek Adel with sao.
600 in gold dust, the Cayuga with s30. 900. and
the Laura Ann with 0,00O had sailed from San
fny nnrfa in Me- tn