The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-02-01
Our Washington Correspondence.
WAautNavoN Ian 90 1S

| O Me ~ uSHuStOU buuN5-ffOtb bUnktnE huS
! been carried in the District Of Colun,bia-
Effect Of the Necs from Merco--The Di6icuk
| ties schich Comontort has had 10 Encouaer--
The Secret Of the Spanish Int'Ig,es against Mer-
ico--TAe Poicer Of the Catholic Church Whot
| ciA be the ResuhoC Como,Jort's Deteat'- Hhae
is Mr.. Forsyth'-Our Policy tocards -Merico
The Subject to be Agitated IN the Senate, &c.
The report of the select committee of the Senate
on currency, through their chairman, Mr~Side has
made terrible sensation among the bankers, bro
kers and dealers in currency" in the District OF
Columbia. The evils Of these iegitimate shaving
shops have at last eliminated, and Congress will
probably apply the sponge of reform and wipe them
out altogether The bill reported prohibits the ssu-
ing of bank notes by corporations associations or in
dividuals within the District and will prevent the
circulation OF notes issued by corporations, associa
tons individuals beyond the limits Of the District
There is not ut present chartered bank in Wash
ton, but the old banks have managed to exist by
evading the principle of the law which abolished
them through skfuly worded joint resolution of
Congress- allowing them time, indefinitely, to wind
up their affairs. OF course they would wind
up their afairs; and it il well understood that
the lobby lawyers, who were the agents Of
these banks prepared the resolution of Congress for
the purpose of continuing the banks in existence
without the restrictions and responsibilities Of char
ters. Besides these old banks there other nsti
tutiens of banking character, literally shaving
shops" almost numerous as the gambling houses
of this city, which it is to be hoped, believe it is
intended. the proposed law may reach. No city in
the United States has been victmized made the
focus of victmizing the people by snch institutions,
as Washington. In this respect, the old saying of
| "the nearer the church the more Une1lly" may be
| paraphrased; and we may say, the nearer the law
| making power the more lawess. 1t unnecessary 10
discuss the question of the evils of such establish
| ments here; this has been discussed over aud
again, and has been conceded in the legislation Of
Congress, Notwithstanding that legislation has been
loose and the laws easily evaded. The late financial
crisis has brought the matter Of banks and banking,
and all paper institutions once more in review and
| has exposed the unsound principles on which they
| have been based and conducted And however ne
cessary some sort of banking institutions indeed,
| they are necessary at all-be to large CONNER
Sal ses as to the city Of New ,oSss York
in the city OF Washington place of such limited
commercial transactions, and where almost all the
money really necessary for circulation is paid out Pc
rodicaly from the Treasury to the employees Of the
government and to others having claims upon it.
Washington for many years was considered the best
point for wildcat operations, until the excess of
had far discredted the called banks that their
notes could not be circulated twenty miles from the
city, Congress checked the mischief to some extent
| but not radically. The gold and silver and treasury
notes Of the government afford sufficient circulation
| for Washington, whatever they may do for other
cities and it is TO be hoped Congress may pass the
bill reported, or similar one, upon the principle in
/ volved.
| The late news from Mexico with respect To the
| disorgaazed condition Of that unhappy country,
excitss much conversation in official circles, and
is deemed by far sighted men as subject prcg-
| napt with great events of the highest impor-
| tance 10 the United States. If even Comon-
! fort maintains his position for time
| against the insurgents which surround him on all
sides. the prestige OF his power is gone. He con-
menced a noble work-the regeneration of his coun-
| try and its emancipation from priestly power. He
succeeded partially, and an extraordinary success n
| was under the circumstances: bot when he might
have carried through his of reform against
even the intense hostility OF the church and the op
position Of ambitious agtstors at home plentiful
in Mexico, another power came 10 bear upon lam-a
foreign power-the government Of Spain, acting in
this ease undoubtedly, with and for the Church ~
Rome. Spain the most Catholic country, with her
most Cathoic Majesty, the Queen of Spain feel still
a great interest in the church and in the Spanish
race in America. When Comoniort aimed blow at
the church. rather at the power of the church in
Mexico he did not fear, calculate the extent of ts
influence; he did not. probably see how the cord III
sympathy would yihrate 10 the Vatican TO the Holy
Order of Jesus to Madrid and throughout the Ca
tholc world aye, and even to the Catholics of the
United States, as have seen it. The Spanish elc-
mept IN Mexico IL still strong through its intelli.
gence and intrigues, and especially through It's
religious affiliations. ] have heard even citi-
zens Of this republic Of the United States,
liberal in other respects, but from their
religious prejudices-beng Catholics-condernn the
liberal policy OF Comonfort. If the cord OF
sympathy vbrates here where We are 40 free
and intelligent, how much more in Spain, at Rome
and throughout the Catholic world In this we find
the secret Of Spanish hostility and Spanish intrigue
against Mexico; and here Il the power that, per-
haps, has to-day broken down or may tomorrow
break down the liberal government of Comonfort.
Mexico may be at fault regards her relations with
Spain, bat not 10 much at fault should induce a
magDanmous power 20 threaten weak one in its
difficulties and while struggling in such an up hill
road Of reform especially when there has been
ayowed desire to adjust whatever differences exist
n practicable. The truth H. Spain has been
standing in threatening attitude towards Mexico
for some time past from other motives than Those Of
reparation or compensation. And France and Eng
land have been for long time amusing and CO
quoting with the United States, and hum
bugging Mexico in talking about mediation, |
until the liberal government Of Comonfort IL |
destroyed or in peril Of destruction Spain did not
wish To go 10 war with Mexico she only wanted 81 |
break down Comonfort's government. Had Cotnou. |
fort been wise In tme and either forced Spain into
a declaration Of declared war himself. his |
government might have been saved. fear II is now
too late. Spain could not do much harm 30 Mexico.
The latter country would have the sympathy Of the
United States and the active assistance, doubtless,
of numbers Of our citizens. And, then, Comonfort |
would have united the Mexicans la the common de. |
fence of their country.
Should Comoniort be ovcrthrown-as the late news |
would seem 90 indicate what is 70 follow VIII our
old enemy. Santa Anna, he placed in power viii |
the republic be- divided among its military chieftans
who ambitious Of ruling and who have no /
higher pfincipeg Will there be a Sierra Madra re-
public organized, Ia part by our own adventurous |
citizens and the leading flibusters now out |
Of employment Will the history n Texas be acted |
over again west Of the Rio Grande2 There are some
OyCrnfnfg pOinp vcfd Int
most likely having some relation to the present diff
entities in Mexico.
We live In eyentful times, and among the most W |
those connected with Mexico. II our govern. /
ment well informed with respect 10 them9 Where il
Mr.. Forsyth Can he inform US, or does he not |
know II " highly important that we have an able