The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-02-15
The Business OF Congrcss-M0vements In the
Right DIRECTION at Last.


Congress has now been in session some two
months and half, and the only measure of any
consequence which has been passed into law
is Mr.. Secretary Cobbs relief bill of twenty
millions Of treasury notes. An empty treasury
with very heavily increased expenditures, and a
bill Of twenty millions of promises to pay, to
begin with, ought to be sufficient to admonish
the friends of the administration, who hold the
sponsibilties.
To this end our readers will be gratifed to
perceive that the democrats Of the Senate and
of the House of Representatives have been
moving in the right direction at last. Accord
| ing to our special Washington advices published
in yesterdays HERALD, at a caucus of democra-
tic Senator's, held on Saturday morning, IL was
| resolved that the Senate will first dispose of
the Army bill, and then take up the bill for the
admission Of Minnesota to which will be offered
an amendment for the simultaneous admission
Of Kansas under the Lecompton constitution
This is the policy which we have again and
again recommended, in accordance with the
good old compromise plan, on all
available occasions. of admitting u free State
and slave State together. This was the real
compromise upon which the Missouri line was
established Maine and Missouri); and why
should il not be the final settlement Minnesota
and Kansas Of the act which wiped out that
line. OF the success of the measure we have no
doubt; and We feel quite a. confident that IL
will speedily extngui-b this senseless Kansas
agitation.
But another and still more important Con.
gresiional caucus was held on Saturday at half
past seven +. NJ, by the democratic members Of
the House-Hon. John Cochrane in the chair
in reference TO the order Of business most advi-
sable and exredent in that body. Upon this
subject Mr.. Stephens. of Georgia. stated the
object Of the meeting to be 10 effect IL possi.
bic, concert Of action among the members of
the democratic party Hi principal reason for
this was very good one to wit that the re-
pubiioans were often in a majority il the
House. from the absence OF democratic mem
bers. This defect he desired 20 remedy In some
way. and moved. accordingly, a special com
mittee of Eve. with power TO call meetings and
attend TO business generally. This is another
movement in the right direction aud If pro.
rerly followed up will very materially iacili-
tate the practical business Of the House
Among the measures discussed under the
vide latitude Of debate of this caucus, were
The Lecompton constitution. the Army bill. and
the Pacific railroad In reference to the first
two, the House will doubtless follow the order
Of business pursued by the Senate, for by this
process and by no other. can the Kansas ques-
ton and the Army bill he speedily put out OF
the way Considering the heavy demands upon
the treasury, immediate and prospective, the
Pacific railroad will most probably not touch
bottom during this session. The project
whether one route or two routes shall be ADOPT
cd must inevitably, in lands, loans stocks.
securities &c. involve the government to the
extent Of many millions Of dollars and the
passage q the bill will be more likely to prove
an illimitabe job of spoils and plumber for the
lobby than any thing else.
AT all events, considering the straitened ne
cessitiss Of Mr. Cobb, and the probability tina
before the expiration of the next fiscal year hi
twenty millions Of treasury notes will be sweled
to fifty millions for the regular uses of the
treasury il has become the duty Of Con
gross to relieve him as much as possible. |
instead Of pushing him beyond his capacities |
Of Treasury notes or loans. with such enormous
jobs a. the Pacific Railroad. As things are |
going on. sooner or later there must be some |
radical notifications Of the tariff. or direct |
taxation Of The people, TO relieve the govern |
mcnt Of Us clnbarrassmenis.
Ordinary and extraordinary deficiencies and |
aIl We should not 10 surprised if the demand. |