The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-03-05


this paper. Oar list of its acts and resolutions,
public and private, signed, sealed and deliver
ed, Is wW thy of analysis. 1t involves an inter-
estiDg Yaixtare of measures-good, bad and in |
diferent-which, very probably, in the summing |
up. Though better than expected,) will leave |
nv. Secretary Guthrie proper subject for a
decree of insolvency.
The cream of the session, as we expected, |
(see eur reporD was concentrated in the last |
day, the third of March, which, according to
the decision of the two houses. is the longest
day in the year, being at least of thirty-sx
hours duration.
passed ana approved are
The apcual appropriation bills, with
great variety of amendments, which we must
necessarily postpone for inspection hereafter
The bill for revising our diplomatic and con-
sular system, including q large increase of the
compensation of our principal ministers abroad
-agood thing.
Pie two bills for increasing the efficiency
snd improving the discipline Of the Navy
These reforms, if we mistake not, include re-
tired list for superannuated officers, end re-
marines for good conduct, DC.
The new Bounty Land bin, which 80 far ex-
tends q land bounty to the'heirs and descend
ants of all the soldiers OF all the wars, white
and Indian, of the United States, as, we are in
formed, viii probably reeaire some two hun
dred millions of acres to satisfy it's demands.
This device takes the ground from under the
feet Of our newly imported foreign population,
and reduces the policy Of free farms to the doc
trine Of .sAmerica for the Americana"
The bill establishing a Court of ClGims. Time
will determine whether this is good move or
another Gardiner operation. Perhaps it may
work well for year o. two.
Tire Texas Claim bill Of seven and quarter
milkops, to satisfy the demands Of che creditors
of Texas against us. Texas will accept, and
| then most probably put in another claim, to
cover deficiencies, of four OF five millions.
| Ameng other things, four new regiments
| have been added to the army, {some spoils
there0; a telegraphic line has been granted =
the Pacific, thumbug}; a searching party Dks
| been ordered for Doctor Kane in the Arctic
| regions; General Scott has been made a Lieu
tenant General; the heirs of Gen. De Kalb have
|
been accepted from the heirs of Gen. Armstrong;
small notes have been abolished in the District
of Columbia; and Till has been passed md ap-
proved regulating the transportation of pas
sengars in steamships lsuggested by the Arctic
and other recent marine disasters). There has
also been a resolution passed explanatory of
the pin money to pages, messengers, &c, Of the
two houses. Under "a violent construction Of
this pin money item.of the session Of 1874,
the Kitchen Cabinet printers of the House laid
claim to an extra compensation Of $4,000,
which Secretary Guthrie peremptorily refused
to pey, as our readers will remember. This
explanatory resolution, we presume, signifies
that Guthrie was right, and that Gushing was
no Judge of the law.
Another good act requires the prepayment
of hostages by stamps, in all cases, after the
fiji of January next, with provision of .addi-
tional care, in the post Offices of letters con-
tanning remittances of money.
Among the bills rejected are various patent
extensions (good); various railroad land job
bing schemes (still hetter); French spoliations,
FIVE millions, vetoed, (good, perhaps, for the
Southern market). The veto of the original
Collins steamer appropriation has not resulted
in the destruction Of the line. The appropra-
ton is continued, reserving the discretion to
the government to cancel the contract With
this, we suppose, Mr.. Pierce will be satisfied
for the present, and that the Collins company
will concur.
The House amendment reducing the tariff to
an approximation to the policy of free trade
has also failed, by o close vote in the Senate,
Eot against the measure, but because of its
being an irrelevant appendage to ON appropria.
tion bill The vote in both houses however,
upon this experimental test, foreshadows de-
cisiye reduction of the tariff t the next session,
by an overwhelming majority.
An abortive effort by Senator Douglas to
provide for the admission of Oregon as State
into the Union is significant Of the revival of
the old trouble Of the slavery question upon the
proposition of admitting any State into the
contederacy hereafter. 1t must be compromised
by the admission of a free and q slave State to-
gether. We see no other alternative for peace
and harmony.
Upon the whole, as will appear from this re-
equalization, this last session Of Congress has
not beer without its good results. The spols-
in'A A"fe Ae'hIeu eomesnihBj bus lucy nave
been defeated in their largest operations There
has been a manifest disposition creeping into
the two houses, from the great popular ground
swell throughout the country, to do some
thing in the way Of wholesome and substan-
tial legislation. They have been hampered by
the administration and its spoils policy, and by
the hopeless condition Of the democracy; but at
the next session we shall have new Congress-
fresh from the people, and more fully up to the