New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1859-01-06

When IL met Harrison was IN BIS cravc, ana .Ie'
sat IN the White House. Webster, Preston, Da-
yi.. and Grundy hsd retired from the senate;
Woodbury.. Nangum. and Berren had re- inferred X;
ard the most distinguished new members were
Evans, ChOate, Archer. and simmons.
CLAY led off with series Of Old-iashiOped Wig
measures. including National Bank. The Ba1A
bill passed. The Senate galleries aPplauied. The
President vetoed il. The reading OF the veto was
hssed BIZ the Senate galleries. A scene ensued, IN
/ the center of which figured Benton, shouting Tor
tie arrest of the " Bank rgfisus. Ctay was I'M
| nervous. Tyler was implica5le. The Cabinet Dis
| solved. Congress adjourned. The couatry was
in turmoil. The " higs quarTe,ed with the Presl-
cent al through his administration, and were only
able to coax out of him one genuine big measure
/ the Tariff OF l-i2.
! Toward the close of his term TYLER msde Ca!-
/ houn Secretary Of State. IN order that he mignt
/ annex Texas to the Union. He concluded a
treaty of annexation in l-ii. It's ratification was
| resisted in the Senate. Benton spoke three days
/ against H. and Killed il stone dead Sir yes, Sir,
1 stone dead Sir" Near the heel Of the next Sea-
sion. Joint resolutions OF annexation were carried
! through both Houses after gallant resistance.
! The fraudulent scheme was consummated on the
lat day of I lers Administration, by juggling col
/ fusion between him and Polk worthy II couple
| of Sixth Ward politicians. Thus this measure,
fnll of calsmites rs Pandcras box, was opened sud
/ closed-another settlement of the Slavery ques-
ton lust quarter of a century after the hrst
In the earlier years Of Folks Administration,
/ great changes occurred IN the membership OF the
! senate Crittenden-second only 10 Clay IN the
predatory strife of e1temporaneous debate-hlled
| his chair. Buchanan and Walker TOOK seats in the
| CabiIet. Wright was called 70 the Gubernstorial
chair of New York. Woodbury. assembled the
bench made vacant by the deatu OF the learned
Story Choate returned To the profession he loved
so well, there to scatter rhetorical jewels win
prodigal hand Tallmadge, Rnes, Archer, Man.
! gum. McDufiie, Berrien, King snd Linn, also re-
/ tired from the Chamber where they had so often
| displayed their stores cf learning and eloquence
! But. the great void thus created wes hed during
Folks term partly by the return Of Webster, Cat
I houn and CLAYTON Ia the field of their greatest
schisscments: and partly by the entrance into the
! Chamber of several Dew members, some OF whom
| have since occupied large space Ia the pubic
exc We give In this connection the names Of
! Cass. Dickinson, Corwin, Douglas, DIX. Hale,
J Keyerdy johnson, JEFF Davis, II. ;. Foote, Hun
! ter. Rusk Houston, Cameron, Hamin, Mason,
! Bel, Badger, Butler, Bright and Atchison
/ We mention tie debates in the Senate on the
/ Mexican War only to note the bold, brilliant and
extraordinarily eloquent speech of Mr.. Corwln.
/ We refer ~ the dry discussions on the Tariff Of
40" only to hint at Pennsy lyani,s aptitude to be
wh,edled by cries Ike that of Polk, Dallas and
I the tariff of ~" We aude To the mglti,olJ de-
bates on Oregon affairs SIMPLY 10 mark the diiler-
euce in treating disputes about territory lying near
the tropics and territory lying near the Arctic
> circle We carried the Texas boundary line
1 through streams Of blood to the kio Grande. We
hastily and pacfcally brought the Oregon line
down to the 49th parallel, 5io 40 being too cold
/ for negro propagation.
Freedom won one triumph IN Folks term.
bill for the organization OF the Territory ot Ore
gon. with the usual anti-slavery prohibition was
/ complicated with proposed compromises IN tne
/ long session Of l-iS. Dix and other Senators mad
! elucidsted the power Of Congress to prohibit
! Slavery in Federal Territories, but the Oligarchs
and their allies had determined to smite down the
/ "Wilmot Proyiso" While the bill lay IN this
! deadlock. the Buffalo Convention placed Van
Buren, ia nomination for the Presidency. Cass
being also in nomination, had resigned his seat Ia
/ the Senate, and honeward bound "by the
/ way of the lakes" the New-York Barnburners
I being after him in fall cry. The Democracy in
the Senate were alarmed. They took the Oregon
bill hastily from the table: and after n vehement
! debate in which all the chief Senators particl-
pated and which continued through the night and
until a Sabbath morning sun in August glIded
the Capitol. it passed with the ADt-Siayery clause
included, by the close yoto of ~ To -.
In this debate Calhoun announced the then start
ling, but too familiar doctrine that the Con-
sttution carries Slavery all territories where
our flag waves Congress bequeathed it, and all
the embarrassing questions that clustered around
| it, as legacy of strife to the incoming Admins
/ tration of Gen. Taylor.
Important changes occurred in the Senate.
/ Dix with his chaste eloquence, Cameron with his
sturdy sense, Allen with bis stenOrian defamation,
Clayton with his large experience aud Johnson
v tn hs legal lore. retired. Clay returned 10 play
the final act in the drama of public life. Seward,
Chase Truman Smith, Soule, Shields and Clemens
entered to perform distinguished parts in the scenes
soon 10 Open.
AT the first session in Taylor's term. territorial
questions in each wing of the Capitol which
destined to dissolve cabinets, destroy parties
and PROFOUND problems of government. tnat long
years 10 come Vill not solve. Benton aud Clay
Webster and Calhoun, stood IN the forum, IN the
fitness OF their fame, surrounded by as much
craftsmanship and eloquence as had ever appeared
in the Chamber before.
TIE loDg sud bitter contest over tho COmprO-
mice measures" Of $50 stN stands out clear be-
fore the public eye. The heroic resistance waged,
and the glowing words uttered, ags'n-t those
- messur.sof peace" falsely SO celed) by Sew.
ard, Hale, Chase, Dayton Smith, Ham1, aud
Baldwin, viii be- their passport to the gratitude
and admiration of posterity.
Ere the fruit of this evil tree, pauted by vault
ing ambition and craven fear, had matured, Cal
houn, Clay and Webster passed away. Benton
lived 70 see il fall rotten from the boughs he
must Dave regretted even the siidl snare lie uhn III
giving il root in the earth. The measures OF $50
were lauded by President Fillmore - Il settle
- ment, final settlement Of the whole subject Of
Slavery
Four years after the final" extinguishment Of
these sectional fires, the Senate Chamber was
aelow with an excitement that spread into every
corner If the land resulting in the repeal of the
Compromise of ls20, and raging more hercely than
at that memorable epoch. Previous 70 and pend
ing toe struggle OF i-.,4 the side Of Freedom had