The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-10-11


the battle of the democracy is with Seward.
Let him be disposed of in November, and the
Regency may be attended TO.
The Coming Message-Its Purport and
Its Importance.
The time is rapidly approaching when Con-
gress is to meet, and the President has to lay
before it an account Of his Stewardship, with
such recommendations for legislative action as
his experience and practical wisdom may sug-
gest.
By many persons this is looked upon as
mere formula, which is annually gone through
with because it is so required by the spirit the
constitution and the custom of former years.
This is not only an erroneous idea, but one the
growth of which in the public mind will prove
more and more pernicious to the spirit of our
institutions as we become farther removed by
the lapse of time from the memory of the events
and discussions which attended the organiza-
ton of our government. On the part of Con-
gress there is an increasing disposition to ig-
more entirely the practical suggestions of the
President, and to waste its time in petty par
ty squabbles and bitter personal alterations.
Without any such thing among US as here
ditary craftsmanship, and where experienced
public men are continually withdrawn from
the arena of public service by the fickleness of
popular support, this is not only an evil, but
constitutes danger to our institutions. Length
Of service gives men practical experience in
public affairs which is of more value than ages
of study; and as the men possessing this qua
lily are being continually removed from posi-
ton and reabsorbed in the great mass of
the community, the suggestions which they
from time to time are called upon to make
should receive more attention from Congress
than has hitherto been accorded to them.
The last Congress presented an eminent ex-
ample of the injury which the inaction of the
representative body may inflict upon the public
interest. With nominal majority in both
houses in favor of the administration, the men,
bers Of each were so completely taken up with
their own private feuds that the recommends
tons of the President were not acted upon at
all. The public service was left to drift on as
best it could, some of its branches with scanty
provision, and others with none at all, for the
work required of them. We are now about to
enter upon new legislative year, and
with political division in Congress that
viii probably make action thing entirely
out of the question. The Senate is largely
in majority in favor of the administration,
but the House is divided in such manner as
to render any favorable action on the recon-
mendations of the President thing not to be
expected. Yet he cannot and will not fail in
his duty. There are many points which his
wisdom must again press upon Congress, and
others which practice has shown to him should
be taken up and acted upon by the national
legislative power.
In our domestic affairs he has been able,
through the suggestions of his experience, to
supply many Of the exigencies left unprovided
for by the inaction Of factious Congress.
Our difficulties in Kansas and Utah have been
piloted through the storm into calmer sea;
the Post Office service has been kept up; the
finances of the government have been brought
into good condition; the army and navy have
been made as efficiently useful to our frontier
communities, our commerce and our foreign
relations as it was possible for them to be; the
dangerous suggestions of the ultra-fre-eaters
of the South in regard to the slave trade and
filibusters have been resisted, and the growing
importance of our communications between
the Atlantic and Pacific shores have been cared
for. Yet all these must be again pressed upon
Congress by the President in his coming mes
sage for their examination and action
In our foreign relations his wisdom has
guided the government to peaceable solution
of some Of its difficulties and has succeeded in
deferring others. Paraguay has made treaty
and exhibited an example which will not be
without its weight among the disturbed nations
south of US. Nicaragua has ratified compact
which will make OUT Isthmus route safe to our
selves and the whole world. With Mexico ne
gotiations have been begun, whichit is much to
be desired shall be concluded in order to lead
the way to the establishment of peace and
order on the other side of our southern bounda-
ry. But there are many of the old and some new
questions which must be urged upon Congress.
Our differences with Spain have received no at
tention; the question of the future political
status of Cuba and its relations with us, so i'm
portant to the Union and near to the heart of
all classes among the people; our relations
with many of the Spanish-American States,
some of them involving principles of deep i'm
port and the new difficulty that has come up
with England in regard to the island of San
Juan-all call for Congressional action.
There are other things which urgently require
attention from that body. The present state
of the law in regard to the election of represen-
tatives in Congress is unequal and dangerous
in the extreme. Many of the elections do not
take place until Immediately previous to the
time for the meeting of that body; and al
though the President is authorized by the con-
stitution to call an extra session at any time