The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-11-24
The Approaching Session or Congress.

1Slc Approaching SteShOn "a NObXIce1s
Tue second session Of this the Thirty fourth
Congress, opens next Monday, the first of Decem-
Der. II promises to be, if not very important
at least an interesting session. II viii be sure to
give ioreshadowing of the policy Of the admi-
nistration which is to come into power on the
fourth Of March next The republican party,
which had majority in the last House Of Repre-
sentatives, will, on account Of its defeat in the
Presidential contest, appear in the character Of
the opposition rather than in that of the doIni-
nant party. The democrats, on the contrary,
although still in the minority, will in fact as
a large extent, responsible therefor. The twenty
five or thirty Southern Know Nothing members
of the House will, as they have hitherto done
on all important questions side with the admins
tration party, and so give it small majority.
The acts Of the next session will therefore be, to
all intents and purposes, those of the democratic
party, notwithstanding the fact that the repub-
licans have the Speakership and organization Of
the committees in their own hands.
We published some ten days ago a communi
cation from our Washington correspondent, set
ting forth the important questions that are to
come before the next session. 1t is not necessary
now to recapitulate them all. The principal of
them are the settlement of the Kansas question,
the tariff and the several Pacific Railroad schemes.
We think it quite problematical, however,
whether all or any Of these measures will be dis
posed Of during the approaching session. The
republicans had not the pluck, energy or Con-
gressional experience, during the eight months Of
the long session, TO effect any practical legsla-
ton for the relief of the oppressed citizens OF
Kansas 1t is not likely that now, depressed by
their defeat before the country, and with some
three or four additions to the ranks of their adj
versaries they will, within the short space OF
three months-to which the session is restricted
be able to pass any such measure. The demo
Gratis and the Southern Know Nothings viii be,
Of course, opposed to any legislation on the sub
ject: the latter, because it would be adverse to
the sentiments Of slavery propagandism for
mer, because it would be a tacit if not an open
condemnation OF the policy Of the Pierce admi-
nistration. And poor Pierce looks piteously for
the consolation Of not having his acts condemned
by the country.
As for the tariff question, a voluminous bill on
the subject was prepared at the last session by
Mr. Campbell of Ohio, the republican chairman
Of the Committee OF Ways and Means in the
have the chance OF pluming himself on its passage
not, perhaps that the majority Of the House
have any objection to the provisions OF the bill
per &C. but that they would deprive the republicans
OF the privilege Of Boosting that in the Congress
in which they were in the ascendency they had
achieved single national measure or had
scared any higher in the walks OF legislation
than the donation of several millions Of acres of
the public domain TO railroad and stockjobbing
corporations, schemers and lobby agents There
fore it is that we deem it quite improbable that
Mr.. Campbells tariff bill viii have chance OF
being passed; and as that genteman's seat in
the next Congress will be contested by demo-
Graf, who viii probably GUST him, We regard bis
measure as shelved, per secula seculortn.
The third great question to come up in the
next session liz the Pacific Railroad scheme. II
will overshadow all other measures OF legislation.
and all bat snccessfully-to shove Il through in
It's jci,1e and unconsidered condition, at the
closing scenes Of the last session, we should not
be at all surprised to see that monstrous plan Of
peculation enacted into a law within the next
three months. From thirty to fifty thousand
on the lobby as the reward for vote in It's
favor; and We are sorry to say that We
do not place a sufficiently high estimate on TIE
honesty and public virtue of our representatives
to believe they viii be proof against these inin-
ences. II will be, therefore, rather matter OF
DO not pass during the approaching session. If
il be defeated at all or If IT he even STAYED of
for time, 80 as 10 let its provisions BE- properly
considered and matuTed, it will only be, we
opine, through the iirrnness, honesty and parlia-
mentary knowledge Of such men az Letcner Of
Virginia and Jones Of Tennessee, who are worth
to the country many millions year in saving
the treasury from spoliation and fraud.
Outside Of these three subjects-or, perhaps
through them-the legislation OF the next session
will probably be shaped with view 10 future
political operations The republicans will en-
deavor so TO shape their course as to allow NJ.
Pierce to carry out his ultra pro.lavery views,
that they may thus obtain more capital at the
North. The democrats viii try to avoid playing
thus into the hands OF their adversaries, and vii
rather try TO moderate and smooth down The
measures which The presidents would like to have
carried through, 50 that we luckily need not e.
pcct any more high handed measures in favor Of
slavery propagandsm. The democratic party in
Congress will ondeavor to shape its conduct in
such q way az 10 be able to exercise a