Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1852-12-08
CONGRESS-.

OON0A9GdSSs
The second session Of the present Congress
met on Monday last. and we presume the Pres
idents Message was transmitted to the two
Houses. We had not received it, of course,
when our paper went to press, but the follow
ing ~speculations of " Ion" an usually well Ia
formed correspondent of the Baltimore Sun,
may give some light as to what viii be its lea
ding features:
Congress viii soon meet, and some interest
is, as usual, felt in the forthcoming annual
message of the President. The chief points
of interest are the state of our foreign affairs
and the policy of the administration as to the
disposition of the accumulated surplus revenue
AS to the former subject, the country feels
some solicitude concerning the Cuban furry.
The President will show his hand as to thls
matter.
IF no answer has been received from the
Spanish government to the communication re-
ferred to by Mr. Conrad, we may still be'eft
in doubt, as to any adjustment of the question,
but the President will leave no doubt as to
the position of this government. Ii the exclu-
sion of the mail steamers and mails from the
ports of Cuba, on the grounds alleged, is con-
sidered as consistent with the existing treaty.
and is to be tolerated, we shall know it, and
can we'll conceive the results which will be in
duced by such a state of things.
Concerning Mexican affairs there will be
important information. It is probable that no
resumption of negotiations is likely to take
place during the present distracted state OF that
Republic, and there will be none on the subject
of the rejected treaty unless Mexico shall take
the initiative by direct and reasonable PROPOSE
tions.
The President must necessarily explain the
condition Of the fishery subject. No negOtia-
ton has probably occurred in regard to it, and
it will be difficult for the United States to sup,
port any pretensions in opposition to that con-
struction of the convention of 1918 upon which
the British Government has acted. and which
excludes US from the shore fishery. A new
commercial convention, extending and defining
our fishery rights, and establishing q reciproci.
ty Of trade with the British Provinces in Ger.
tain natural products, may have been proposed
by one party or the other, or be still in con.
temptation. Preliminary to such anegotlatlon
the President will doubtless again submit the
propositions of Canada for reciprocity OF trade
to the consideration Of Congress. The Cana
dian Parliament have suspended ACTION on then
retaliatory measures, with a view to await the
final determination Of this government upor
the propositions o~freciprocity.
The President will, it is supposed, recon-
mend that the surplus revenue OF about tWent,
millions be appropriated to the purchase o
United States debt, at the market price. The
stock will, should the measure pass, go IRON
100 to 40. The surplus of twenty million
will, therefore, ~extinguish fourteen millions 0
the debt. Even this will be better for tn
Treasury than to pay six per cent, interest Oh
the debt for ten or more years-tO say nothin.
Of the danger of retaining an immense fund il
the Treasury, subject to a political and sec
tional scramble, and promotiye Of extravaganc,
and corruption.
1t is now understood that both Gen, Cas-
and Gov. Marcy have given intimations Of thei
E positive determination to accept no Cabine
station in the new administration. It follow
also, from the refusal of these gentlemen t
90 into the Cabinet, that Gen. Pierce if he act
upon the principle Of perpetual Cabinet mni3
which Gen. Jackson established, cannot invit
into his c~ounsels any other members of Nh
! Folks Cabinet.
The Presidential election being over an
the Printing question disposed of, it is sggges
ted that Congress will OF. necessity apply il
self to business. That does not follow. I'll
after New Year nothing is TO be done and lit
. tie said. The Eighth of January will be eel
: ebrated By a grand democratic Congressions
festival. Some talk about Cuba filing u
-, the interval till after the ceremony Of c~ountin
= the electoral votes. Then will arrive the Pres
ident elect, and all eyes and thoughts will b
: drawn to the rising sun. Then the Cabine
is to be made in grand concert, and Congress
will be busy in laying pipe to the pap room.