Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1854-12-25
Matters AL Washingtoll.

10 War-Hard Times and the duties
on Raaacay The Nebraska test re-
pm liated-The mew feeling against for
eigaerss-John Wentworth, the member
from the Chicago district, occasionally hnds
time to write letter to the Democrat.
He is considered one ofthose sagacious men
who learn what is about to take place, and
therefore his, viewsarele adwith considerable
interest. He thus sketches what Congress
NAV do at the present session. The post
ponement of the payment of duties on rail-
road iron would be a great relief at the pres
emit time.s AS an instance, Milwaukee IS a.
bout issuing $4,000 Of city Bonds merely
to paw for duties, on the iron for the Lake
Shore Railroad. When the U. S. Treasu-
ry is so full of money, the government
would not feel the delay:
Washington, Dec. 8, 1854.
There is going to be no foreign war un-
der this administration and, least Of all, BY
any encouragement from even the present
Congress. Cuba and other countries may
drop into our lap when they get ripe. But
filibustering is overheard. Financial men
and commercial men may calculate on peace.
The Presidents message settles the
question about railroad grants. None will
be made at this session. This will give
confidence to tottering railroad companies
by stopping the thousand Of more specula-
tive companies, who would soon depress
still lower, by tieir new issues, all kinds Of
railroad securities. Since the message,
several men, WHO came here to lobby for
railroad grants, nave left for home.
| There is general disposition to relieve
the Treasury Of is boarded gold and scat
ter it about the country. There are some
fears that if the gold is once unlocked, it
will 90 abroad. Men are in study how
to ditfuse it over BUR country to the best
advantage. Theplan Of refunding the du-
ties on refunding the duties on railroad /
ron has almost majority in Congress, and
may have before Congress adjourns, if
the present panicIin the money market
continues.
There is not the east particle of DISPOSE
ton here make thdNebraska act, so called,
test of party faitl. In the Presidents
own Congressional District, in New Hamp-
shire, Mr.. Morrison, a rampant anti-Nebras-
ka man, and the candidate for the United
States Senate in the last New Hampshire
Legislature, ofthe fusionists, is renominated
for Congress and is supported by all the
papers friendly to the President.
A very large number Of the southern
members Of Congress, of both political par
ties, have joined the Know Nothings.-
They object to foreigners as furnishing the
most successful competition to slave labor,
and as being an element in the hands of
Abolitionists to keep slavery out Of the new
territories. They will vote for no home
stead bill that embraces foreigners of any
kind, naturalized OF not.
This is the argument South, whilst at
the North, outside of the religious question
the argument is the expense Of foreign pau
pers. The largest kind of stories are told
about other countries shipping their idiots,
insane and paupers generally to this country
to be supported. Whether true or false,
have seen no official information upon which
to base an opinion. hear men say that
documents upon this matter are soon to be
published.
From all see and hear around me, it
is evident that the foreign question is to
override all others, even the slavery ques-
ton; as we see men of the most opposite
views touching slavery forgetting all their
differences and acting together.
AS near as can find out, the opposition
to foreigners is to settle down upon two
measures.
LIST. The appointment Of some kind of
commission or the adoption of some plan
to prevent the immigration here of any per
sons not sound in mind and body, unless
they have friends who will give bond to
support them.
I'd. The entire repeal Of all naturaliza-
ton laws.
There are many leading foreigners who
think a judicious measure of the first kind
would entirely defeat the latter, and urge
its immediate adoption. But nobody vet
proposes anything practical.
The naturalization laws cunnot be touch
ed while Gen. Pierce is President. Yet, if
the present excitement is kept up, they Ger
tainly will be under thenext administration.
50 foreigners should not delay moment
in taking the preliminary steps for natural
lzatlen. Once naturalized, they have
nothing to fear.
The Eastern war.
However we may deplore the existence
OF war and its horrors, no one can withhold