The Lancaster gazette. (Lancaster, Ohio) 1846-1852, 1851-03-13
sTl)e Gnfustcr Ga'ettr.
LANCASTER. MARCH Q, 1851.
tbs LATE CoNeREss.-We yesterda

HE LATE CoNGREss.-We yesteIuay
evening gave, by telegraph, full and
satisfactory account of the proceedings
ofthe last day Of the thirty.frst Congress.
We may remark here that, prior to the
discovery OF the magnetic telegraph. our
readers would have been under the ne
cessity of waiting until next week for
these proceedings, and even those of our
citizens who received daily papers from
the eastern cities, would not have been
in possession Of the intelligence before
Friday or Saturday of this week. We
may add that to the mass of our citizens
the telegraph only becomes of advantage
by the establishment of daily newspa
pers, and hence the necessity of suffi-
cient patronage to keep such papers in
existence. May we not hope that more
Of our citizens will lend their support to
such an enterprize.
The late session of Congress, barring a
few personalities and all occasional case
of individual excitement, has been qui-
ct one; and yet it has not accomplished as
much as was hoped of at the commence
ment. The General Appropriation bills,
as a matter Of course, were passed. In
addition to these. the Cheap Postage bill
and the PoSt.route appropriation bill
were passed.
1t is, however, easier to say what has
not been done. Congress has not pas
sed any modification of the Tariff law,
which the wants of American Industry So
imperatively demanded;it it has not passed
any act to prevent frauds upon the reve
nue., which the Secretary of the Treas
ury, in his report, so clearly showed wa:
necessary; it has made no appropriations
for the improvement of our Rivers anc
Harbors. so absolutely necessary 10 the
convenience, safety and prosperity Of ouI
inland commereeG it has sadIy neglected
the new State dfiGalifornia by refusing t.
establish mint in that State for the con
venience of its citizens, and after
lengthy discussion failed to make some
provision for the settlement of private
land claims, which neg lect may lead to
renewal OF the "squatter" war; it has re
fused ID make, what we think the exigen
cies of the case requires, any provision
forthe better settlement of private claims
it has not made an inquiry even into tn
practcablity and utility of connection
between the Atlantic and Pacific coast
by the most expeditions Of modern com
munications; it has not noticed event h
Presidents recommendations of an agrj
cultural bureau, and in several other il
stances have overlooked that officer
suggestions.
The President did his duty. He sci
in his message at very early hour {
the session, and the document was warn
ly received by men Of both parties. H
recommendations were considered wist
practicable and judicious, and some
s. our Democratic contemporaries eve
claimed it as a democratic dJcumen
He recommended to Congress the PR
priety Of making provisions in all thn'
cases alluded to abnve and gently hin,e
to them, after doing This, with you is II
pnwer, the honor, and The respunsibiii
of the legislation ofthe country" In a
cases. where information was desired al
asked for, he cheerlully and prompt
replied To the resolutions ofeither Hous
and threw no distractions in theway
Legislation, and as in many instance a fa
ure has been made to comply with Il
very proper recommendations Of Il
President, the responsibility rests wi
the law,making power Of the country.
sg Prominent and most important umol
all the measures to which the attention
Congress was directed. were those lou
ing to modification of the tariff, the r
provement of the rivers and harbors al
the establishment of an aglicultural /
ireau. Upon these are dependent the a
ricultural. manufacturing aud commerce
interests of the country; in other wor
upon these rests the prosperityof Anne
can lndustry-thc wealth of the Unio
To foster these, the Union was establis
ed, and tits the duty of Congress to NAL
Eall necessary and needful reguIatio
looking to their advancement and Il
promotion of American enterprize. II
President does his duty when he ca
the attention of Congress to these mea
ures, in the first place; and after tn,
have acted upon his recommendations,
is his duty to see that the laws are fait
fully and properly executed, His fr
duyis performed; his second duty is'b
yond his power; and whatever evil m
come from the neglect of Congress W
be Justly chargeable to them, and Il