The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1857-12-07
The Thir'y-ffth Congress-A New Epoch In
our Political History.

Inc SOngreNS-A new Epoch IN
our Political History.
The Thirty-6fth Congress of the United
States meets in Washington to-day, and from
all the signs. necessities and revolutionary
movements and tendencies of the times politi-
cal, financial and commercial, with the assem-
bling of this Congress we enter upon new and
o most important and momentous epoch in the
history of the country and of civilization.
The business calendar that will be presented
to the two houses will cover an infinitely wider
margin for agitation and legislation than the
schedule of any preceding Congress since the
organization Of the government Considering,
too, the disintegration of our old parties and
party platforms. and the revolutionary proclivi-
ties of sections factions, and politicians of all
sorts, we stand upon the threshold of this new
Congress utterly unable to conjecture the drift
Of its proceedings. or the results which may
follow, of good or evil, to the American peo-
pie. Yet we are not without strong present.
ment that the general results will be good, for
we have the nucleus of law and order. peace
and harmony and wholesome reforms and re-
trenchments, in the careful, sagacious and
OF the heavy and diversified catalogue of
government measures and projects which will
he hroached in the two houses during this
long session. the following will doubtless form
the principal topics of the Presidents Mes
sage
|. Our foreign relations, including especial
il, our Central American affairs, our present
suggestive relations with Mexico, and some
information Of our present and prospective re-
lations with China
?. The treasury, its receipts, expenditures,
estimates and probable deficiencies and a call
for loan or an issue Of treasury notes TO
meet these deficiencies, and modification Of
the tariff
3. The Kansas Lccompton constitution; the
Minnesota and Oregon State organizations; the
affairs Of Mormondom. and the proceedings for
the new Territories Of Dacotah, Columbus and
Arizona.
4. An increase Of the army, an increase Of
its pay and heavy increase Of its appropria-
tions; the Pacific Railroad; the Indian tribes;
our frontier and seaboard defences.
8. An extensive correction Of the retired list
Board
&, Some reforms in our ocean mail steamship
service, and some large extensions Of the Post
Office land service.
Then a number Of important miscellaneous
measures will he brought up in Congress, which
may or may not be alluded to by the Presi-
dent, such NJ the Homestead BILL a bill
for government printing establishment, patent
law reforms bank reforms. river and harbor
Improvements, public building investigating
committees, and inquiries and calls for informa-
ton concerning the Walker 6libusters
But the first great and overwhelming subject
In both houses will he Kansas The desire to
get the Presidents Message on this subject ia
cilitatcd very much on Saturday night the de-
mocratic caucus nominations for the House Of
fcers. These nominations were the result Of
an arnistice on all sides upon the Kansas ques-
ton by common consent, so as to get the Mes
sage, that ground might b. broken without de-
lay upon this Lecomption constitution. This
business may be settled In few weeks, or il
may W expanded into fierce sectional agita-
ton Of several months. 1t may utterly break
up the democratic party, or It may put the
party fairly upon its legs again, slim az the
prospect for this happy result appears at pre-
sent From the actual opening Of the ball we
shall be better enabled to Judge a its probable
duration and consequences.
The Congress printing will be the next great
bone Of contention, and will doubtless
supersede for some time even the ext.
gencies Of the treasury. When they
come up, however they must necessarily
lead u very full and free discussion Of re
causes and worldwide consequences Of this
financial and commercial criss and TO hume
r0ua proiocts and exppdiept~ fat Inc modifca-