The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-12-06

The second session of the Thirty second Congress
commences to-day and win close the Sd Of March
next The two Houses being ready for business, from
the organization holding over from the last session,
the annual message Of the President Of the United
States IL there be quorum in each, will most pro-
baby be read in both branches this morning If 50,
we expect to be able to lay it bsore or readers
morrow, with, perhaps, portion Of the accompany
ing annual reports from the several executive de-
partmepts The message has been despatched to
the principal points Of the United States by special
messengers, and viii be delivered by the Postmas-
tiers Of the respective cities teegraphc in.
formation shall have been received by them OF its
delivery to Congress.
We have heretofore adverted to what may be rsa.
sonably anticipated the leading features of the
message, to wit: the Cuba question, the Fishery
question the Lobos Islands gusno question, and the
Tehuantepec treaty question. We have reason TO
expect that the message will cast flood Of light
upon all these, and many other questions, foreign
and domestic, which, to some extent, more or less,
remain up to this hour involved in mystery. I. is
possible, too, there may be an extra message, an.
roupcipg the pacific settlement. by George Law s.
Company, Of the Crescent City controversy, which,
but few days ago, hung like black cloud of war
along our Southern horizon
The business Of tne two Houses viii give them
abundant employment for thrae months, however
well disposed they may be to work The unfinished
business Of the last session. after the discussion aud
reference of the various parts of the Presidents
message, will GENE up first on the calendar Nest
prominent amongst the bills passed by the House,
and only requiring the concurrence of the Senate
and the signature Of the President to become laws
of the land are
l. The Land Distribution bill, providing for a
distribution of some sixt5.fve millions Of acres of
the public lands among the several States of the
Union, of which the proportion to New York will
be, if passed, upwards of FIVE millions; or, to be
more exact, will be 5,4oO, 600 acres This measure
i, commonly known as Benefits Land bill. aud
doubtless hal considerable influence in his re.
election to Congress from this State, at the late
election.
2. The Homestead bill, also known as the Free
Farm bill, providing for ceding the entire public
domain, in mall farms of one hundred and sixty
acres for each family, &c to actual settlers, as q
free gift, to encourage the landless, and promote
the settlement of the unsettled districts OF the Far
West.
The friends of each of these bills will make a
dead set upon the ssnate but it is doubtful whether
eltntT u tuese eAudoTuluHTy Huu rdutcA measures
be whipped through within the limits of short
session Most of the leading democrats of the Senate
in favor of the Homestead bill, while upon the
Distribution scheme, the wings are believed to stand
almost alone in its support This gives the Home.
stead bill the inside track and it appears within the
range of possibility that it may pass, though, ne
apprehend, the country is hardly yet prepared for
an experime at so sweeping and novel as this This
so.called Industrial Associations, hswsver, and
the friends Of ''lana to the landes." including Sew.
ard and his allies, will do their utmost strengthen
themselves upon this project, for the campaign of
1856, whether passed or defeated in Congress. Ia
this view, if net in the meantime disposed Of,
enc of the first duties Of the new administration win
be to lock to the public lands ard DEVISE if possible
some honest, salutary, and regular system for the
transfer Of the same to actual settlers
The New York Branch Mint hangs in ths Eousa,
and whatever the result, it will be the duty Of Cur
delegation to reopen their fire upon thai question
We suspect thare is no hopo for French spoliatioas
none. Tie remission of the duty on railroad iron
the prise OF iron having risen to good proitwill
very likely be discussed in the House; and consider
ipg TIE vast amount of railroads under way and
projected all over the country, il would not be
prispg if this one important step should be taken
in behalf Of free trade. At all events, with
. surplrs Of fourteen or fifteen millions In the trea-
sury, after meeting its expenditures Of fifty millions
year, it is utterly idle for various manufac-
sturipg corporations to hope for any Increase of
bounty from the government. The whole theory Of
prots tion steadily declining and in dus time it
win become like the United States Bank, "au OBJ.
solete idea
Something will doubtless be attempted for the
satisfaction Of the creditors of Texas. Noiaitd-
sandir the tea millions indemnity given 70 Texas
in one Of the Compromise bills Of $780, for the pay
zsnt Of her debts, it i, lamen ably evident thu.
that State, following the example Of Mississippi,
ha, decided leaning to reputation. While Texas
was a republic, she borrowed some eight or nine
millions Of dollars, making various pledges for It's
redemption. For this purpose, her public lands were
left in her possession on her annexation to the
United States and, in 1850, the ten millions in.
IDENTITY on her boundary question were given to
her with the 50 2e view Yet it appears, from re-
port Of Mr. Pearce, ofthe Finsncs COMMITTEES Of the
United States Senate, Of August last, that no part
of this debt, principal interest, has been paid by
Texas. Neither the proceeds of her public lands,
according to The articles Of annexation, nor the
dutiei from imports, having been. in any manner,
applied TO this purpose. Nor has Texas effected
cry settlement with these creditors whereby the
United States have been released from these claims,
although nearly two years have elapsed sncs the
passage of the act Of Congress of 1850, And more
than eighteen months since the acceptance Of that
act by Texas"
According to the law OF nations, and Of common
equity in such cases, the Usited States, having abb
sorbed the sovereignty Of the a.e republic of Texas.
are responsible to its creditors Iften twenty or y
millions, are given by Congress to Texas 30 settle
up with those creditors, and she fails to DO it, Con-
gress is still responsible to them. Now, IL appears
that Texas haying provided, by legislative enact
ments for reputation upon sliding scale Of from
seventy TO twenty per cent upon her debts, her cred
tors have thought ft TO cali upon Congress. The
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