Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1850-06-06
The Prospect.

Gloom is the word We have had occasion
of late to visit New York and Boston, and &c
learn the impressions of business men from al
most every section of the country. The pros
pect is gloomy, decidedly SO. In manufactures
all the most important branches are deeply de-
pressed. Manufacturers of iron, Of woolens
and Of cotton, are reducing their works, and
multitudes entirely suspending, in every part OF
the country. Commerce is following in the same
path: We have heard shipmas'cr in the Liver
pool trade declare, that he would not accept the
finest ship in America a gift, if he were TO be
obliged 10 run her fortw years to come. Some
IRE turning hopeful eyes to California: but they
are not the men wh5 have already invested
there. Californians themselves represent that
trade is dull, and prices Of goods of real estate
End of labor, rapidly declining. The mines
promise very well. as compared with former
years; bu, the miners will be delayed at least a
month beyond the ordinary time for successful
operations. owing TO high water; and besides,
ON the whole, the business is precarious. Says
q Californian Zone man in about three hundred
VIII be very successful: the two hundred and
nnefy-nine will be found all along in the down
ward SC =. from good living to the grave."-
The drawback upon successful business in Cal
ifornia, growing out CT the privations and disea-
ses incident to that country, has been greatly
nnderrated. A very large proportion OF those
who return in the steamers, come on account Of
thafr hoo fkav ton r1o Tho. ,f,cs
successful men in California: the unfortunate
cannot pay for steam passage home.
But why is this state of things? We think
mainly, it is because there is no hope in the future
from The action of Congress. The President il
his message at the opening of the session called
the attention of Congress to the business of the
country, and suggested mode of settling the
exciting questions which stand in the way of al
other legislation. Whatever may be the condi-
ton of the country, from the neglect of Con
gress, his skirts are clear. Congress seems ben
upon every thing else rather than It's duty to the
country. The session is more thad half gone
even for the longest session, ard nothing ha.
been done: the supplies for the government are
Misunderstanding, literally nothing, has beer
done towards giving even tolerabe hope of fu
ture relief to the country from the ruinous oper
alton of the Tariff of 'l6. The committees up
on that subject have not even met and we have
good authority for saying that they viii not NEE
at this session. There is then no reasonable
ground of hope for better state of things fol
al least year to come; hardly none for ever
two years to come. The impression, or rather
the fear is, that California will not be admitted
the Slavery question will not be setled-al
this session. Nothing can be done until these
questions are out Of the way. The effect OF
such convictions is very depressing and if the
gloomy anticipations arising therefrom are full
filled in the future, it needs no prophet TO predict
that the people will hold the politicians in Con
gress TO a strict account.