New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1852-06-29

against them. Last year, the bill was re-
ported late, passed late in the House, and
only defeated by deliberate and shameful
waste of time by its enemies in the Senate.
They complained that the bill was taken
up too late-that there was not time
len for its discussion-and proved the
falsity of their own pretense by vast
ing hour after hour in reading old
documents to stave off a vote which
they knew would result in its pas
sage. They complained that some OF
its items were not to their taste-as if such
a bill ever could be made palatable in the
details to those who hate it in gross and in
principle. They denounced it as corrupt,
log-rolling, SC. though the Committees
reporting it in both Houses were strongly
'Democratic,' and though it had at no
time been out of the control of their own
party, But in truth these Strike higher
Strike lower!' tactics are generally un-
derstood. They mean simply, We hate
the bill any how, and so seize upon any
'pretext for opposing tiff there is none,
swe will invent ONE And, since they
could not drum up votes enough in either
House to defeat the bill last year, its enc
mies-partly out of essential hostility to
it, and partly because they wished to
screen their Presidential candidates, Cas-.
Douglas and Houston, from the necessity
of either alternating the South by support
ing or the West by opposing it-conspired
to talk it to DEATH though this course in
volved the necessity of killing several
other important measures along with it.
Must the same tactics prevail again !
We apprehend but would fain avert that
National disaster. Henry Clay, for forty
years the great champion of measures like
this, lies on his death bed-the Senate will
no more be reused or thrilled by his glori-
GUS voice. The third Session of this Pre-
sidential term draws to close-yet little
or nothing has been effected for Rivers and
Harbors. But no part of the blame can
be laid to the charge of Gen Taylor or Mr..
Fillmore. They have done all President
could do for the cause but hostile ma
jority in Congress has thwarted all their
efforts-nay, when It had been reduced to
a minority it still achieved by tactics the
triumph it could no longer effect by
strength.
And shall this Session have similar is
sue -? After it comes short one, wherein
little is usually done; then a new Presi-
Dental Term. And tohOSe term! On one
side are marshaled candidates who have
signalized themselves by the blindest, Bit
terest hostility to all such Improvements.
No two men in the Union have been more
sweepingly hostile to all River and Harbor
Improvements than Franklin Pierce and
William r King. They have fought
against bills which Committees of their
own party have framed, and which, passing
in spite of their hostility, Jackson and Van
Buren, signed. Should they by any chance
be elected, all hope of appropriations dur
ing their term must be abandoned. And
their advocates count on the votes ofOhio,
Michigan, Illinois, Wisconsin, &c., to elect
them Perhaps they may get these and
enough more to put them in-though we dc
not bel gin to believe it. But, in view of the
possibility of such result, we beseech
you, friends of River and Harbor Improve
ments in Congress, to call up the reported
bill as soon as possible and press it with al
YOUR might.