The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-01-08
Tactlcs Of the Opposition.

ate observer, that the plebald Opposition
Of the two Houses are disposed not to
have any proper consideration, and much
less action, on the various recommends
tons by the PRESIDENT to Congress in
his annual message. The importance of
the matters adverted to by the PRESIDENT
seems to be justly appreciated by the
country; and the people, no doubt, desire
that their representatives should 60 to
! work and carry out in some form the
views thus submitted. But events, we
are sorry to believe, indicate that most of
the session is to be wasted in proftless
debate on topics of no Importance; or, if
they happen to be otherwise, by course
of remark alike indecorous and irrelevant;
and in efforts to disturb the country and
embarrass the Administration, by an un-
necessary agitation of the slavery ques-
ton. The result will, it is feared, be
great sectional evaporation, and nothing
done for the public good but the enact
ment of the usual appropriation bills.
In confirmation of what we here say,
we would point, in the first place, to the
rejection, by a majority of the Opposition,
of the equitable proposition submitted by
the Administration members for the organi-
cation of the House of Representatives,
though ultimately carried in spite of their
efforts. II was not enough for faction that
almost twenty days had been spent in a
state of disorder, to the dismay of all good
citizens, and the disgrace of the country;
but the leaders of the ultras from the
North and South intended that confusion
should continue to predominant in the hall,
and that nothing should be done unless
they could have every thing to their mind
But, thanks to the generous patriotism of
the Wings, and the liberality of few
Democrats, an Opposition Speaker was
elected-a result by no means to our liking,
but still much better than anarchy.
But even to this day the House is not
fully organized-no clerk is elected after
a session of over one month. One would
suppose that, after the Speakership had
been conceded TO them by the magma
nimity of their opponents, they might
yield with good grace the residue Of the
organization. Not so-they are just as
unreasonable and factious on the clerk
ship as they were on the principal ques-
ton; and should they be beaten in this,
we doubt not they will try to chase down
the door-keeper's Office, and that of SER
geant-at-arms, with as much heat as if the
welfare of twenty millions Of people de-
pended on the result. When they will
suffer the House to consummate its or
ganization, no one can tell; but we hope
all the month of January will answer their
purpose, if their object is to consume time.
But, unfortunately, the evidences Of a
factious disposition are not to be found
only in the hall Of Representatives. If
any one had ventured into the Senate
chamber on Friday morning last, he would
have found pending there measure of
very urgent necessity to insure proper
collection Of the revenue. The PRESIDENT
had by special message invited the at
tention Of Congress TO the subject; the
Committee Of Finance had promptly re-
ported bill, and the honorable Senator
from Vermont (Mr. PHELPs) was ready
in his seat to proceed with its considera-
ton. But, no all had TO be set aside to
afford Mr.. Senator CAss an opportunity
| 10 reiearSe memorifer an Grafton on the
enormities Of Austria in the affair Of poor
down-trodden Hungary, which have so
much shocked the sensibilities Of all good
men in this country-but which every
body understood just as well as the honor
able Senator himself. II will be recollect-
ed that his resolution merely proposed an
inquiry, and would have passed, of course /,
unless the mover had seen fit to make it
the subject of debate. No one understood
this better than Senator CAss himself !;
for when Mr. HALE afterwards proposed to
carry the matter over to the present week
for remark by himself, the Senator from
Michigan exclaimed, cit only proposes
inquiry''--thereby intimating that his pro-
position did not call for debate. Why,
then, did the honorable Senator speak
HIMSELF But when some engines, often
sive and defensive, are loaded, it is best
they should go off; therefore we acquiesce.
The honorable Senator rises from his seat,
and exhibits himself for the hour, turning
from the right to the left, with an evident
conviction that he was making a palpobie
hH.
Remarks Of General CAss that might