The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1857-12-23

portations at this port alone were often . mil
lion day, they have been diminiahcd to the
average Of about a quarter Of million re-
ceipts at the Custom House per week.
Would not any man have said if questioned
upon the subject that under the heavy pressure
Of such events, disasters and Developments as
these, there would be, shortly after the assem-
bling Of Congress, thorough sitting and
searching discussion, in both houses ofthe causes
and remedies for this universal reyulsion. Ger
tainly we had supposed that the paramount inn
portance which the President gave to these
liancal and commercial disorders, in his annual
message, would at least meet with hearty re-
sponse from the leaders of his party in Congress
Failing in this expectation, we still believed
that the appeal of Mr.. Cobb for twenty millions
of Treasury notes would disclose in both
houses such discussions of facts, statistics,
causes and events in the financial and CONNER
cial world as would prove eminently useful to
wholesome legislation.
But what are the facts? From all that has
occurred, of which we have had any account,
one would suppose that not solitary member
dents message which treats of our financial and
commercial affairs Even Mr.. Cobb's Treasury
Note bill Of twenty millions has been passed
through the Senate as if it were a mere ap-
preparation for the Pottawotamie Indians.
Mr.. Hunter himself, who can discuss
comprehensive financial question as a statesman
should discuss it, has been content in this in
IN froo q ha al nf fXn
and sixpence. But, apart from the Chairman
on Finance, the debates in the Senate on this
Treasury Note bill have been of the most wshy-
washy and trashy description. And thus this
great crisis, and great practical measure for the
relief of the government, which might have
been constructed into great measure of relief
to every business interest o. the country, has,
slipshod, passed the Senate, and has been dis
| cussed in the House with the shallowness and
| fippancy of barroom conversation.
Kansas, popular sovereignty and the Lecomp-
ton Convention have swallowed up everything
else among our pothouse politicians and Bun
combe statesmen of the present Congress. And
why all this fuss and fury about Kansas? A
parcel of blackguards, desperadoes and vaga-
bond adventures from the North and South,
headed on the one side by jim Lane and on the
other by Jack Calhoun, have been brought face
to face in Il distant Territory upon the question
of introducing niggers there, when it is possible
that every niger in the Territory will
be frozen out before he winter is over.
Yet these Kansas Jail birds and vaga-
bonds have kept the whole country
in a ferment for three long years; and are now
| monopolAing the attention Of the wiseacres and
| imbeciles of Congress, when. if Jack Calhoun,
| Jim Lane. and all concerned in their squabble
in Kansas. we're annihisted. they would not be
missed in the civilized sections of the country
20 much as an opera singer, ballet dancer, or
popular Methodist preacher.
If We could believe the Douglases, the Ma
sons, the Biglers the Greens and Browns of
Congress. the safety Of the Union, of the fede
raj government. of all the State governments
and Of all our fellow citizens in their beds at
night depends upon this terrible issue of mig
gers or no niggers in Kansas, where niggers
never can be worth ten cents on the dollar.
The fact is that few such scheming and reck
less demagogues as JEFF Davis among the fire.
eaters. and Mr. Douglas among the dirt-eaters.
have made imbeciles and small potatoes of the
rank and file Of all parties Of both branches Of
Congress, untilsnot q man among them can be
found to talk of anything, or think of anything
but niggers, niggers, Kansas and popular sove-
regn.y. from one weeks end to another.
Any honest man who looks at the great ne
cessities and the just expectations OF the Anne
rican people, as an American, in reference to
Congress. and at this paltry and demoralizing
Kansas squabble over a half dozen nggers
which has reduced Congress TO the level of
Tammany Hall or the Pewter Mug, and who next
turns from this side OF the picture to the gravity
earnes,ness and decorum which characterize the
debates upon the financial and commercial ext
gencies Of the day in the British Parliament,
must confess to a sense of shame and mortifica-
lion ut the contrast. Are there no practical
statesmen left in the American Senate chamber?
Has il become mere caucus room OF conflict.
ing cliques of pettifoggng politicians and
thimble Triggers upon the niger question
| Have we nothing OF higher calbre than cross.
road stump orators on niggerism in the House.
The disclosures Of the last three weeks in both
I boust- give us no encouraging answer; but we
! have q hope IL, Within three weeks to come
| this Kausas Nuisance viii he 70 completely
ahalcd that We saal near no more Of it, except
a. the "reminiscences q dirty, drunken spree,
in which the leaders Of al parties concerned
made fools OF themselves and II each other.
We can only await in PATIENCE The abate pent Of
| this Kansas nuisance, and We are content 10
wait.
Is MURDER PUNISHABLE on Mon We hear
IN $3.50. a.I .l.n Mn.... - A.