The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1859-02-03
CONGRESS AND THE QUESTIONS BE-
FORE IT.


Some twenty-four days Of the session yet re-
NAN. Little business has been transacted. The
Pacific railroad project, BY vote Of the Senate,
has, in effect, been postponed till another Con-
PRESS. The appropriation bills generally have
vet to be acted upon. A large amount of Terri
torial business is behindhand. A deficit of
revenue is announced loan-biTs are in prepa-
ration; schemes for revising the Tariff are to
be brought forward and, at the same time,
monster bills are submitted, TO invest the Presi-
dent with dictatorisl power, and also place at
his discretion a fund Of thirty millions, to be
used in negotiations for the purchase of Cuba.
1t is easy to see that there is hardly time
left for the transaction of the business which is
absolutely necessary. Congress will have quite
as much 20 do, as it can do intellgently, if it
cenfne itself to the appropriation bills, and to
g consideration of the measures necessary to
meet the deficit in the revenue. The Admins
ration Party must take the responsibility of pro-
posing loan, for there is no other way Of meet
ing the immediate wants of the Treasury, and
The Republicans will find plenty of work in pru-
ming the appropriations. The Tariff Question
e too delicate, complicated, and important, to
be dealt with at the end Of short session. If
introduced at all, it viii be, we presume, with a
view TO some party effect. Nobody knows or
can estimate the operation of the last Tariff
what revenue II viii produce, or what interests
1t VIII specially effect-for the plain reason that,
since its passage, the world has gone through
monetary ,convulsion, and commercial relations
have been in an abnormal or exceptional con-
dition. If Legislation is 20 be determined in the
light Of facts as well Of theories, it were well to
poz,pors TIL another Congress all schemes for
rev .ae a Tariff. about whose practical work
inar o. present know very little. By that
inmate operation will have been
81, Gad the new Congress, fresh from
49, People, and with ample time for considera-
ton anl oct.o8, viii be much better prepared
fer wise action, than Congress, now on the
eve Of expiring, with but twenty-four days left,
and nearly the entire necessary work of legis-
,a;.on unfinished. 1t is announced, too, that
the Administration Party in the Senate, which
completely controls that body, has resolved
against any project for modifying the Tariff du-
rinz .he present session. The Democratic
Party having thus assumed this responsibility,
why should Republicans waste their time upon
the subject The countrydoes not expect them
u assume any responsibility in relation TO ii.
EhAss seA-s.at u power. and cannot diSpose Of
HIf We raise more money by taxation, we
civ raise it 70 be wasted. The Administra-
ton stands ready with It's schemes Of expense
70 swallow up every dollar as fast AS 1t comes
llts the Treasury, aud leave the nation as much
IA leb. as ever. 4 willingness on the part of
the representatives Of the people 10 increase the
taxes vii only DC regarded as an approval of
these schemes"
u Is mol the Tariff to which the attention of
Republicans Will be called. An issue, far
more pressing and momentous, will be forced
upon thel1-the Slavery Issue, under tho forms
OF Cuba-Anuexation and Central American and
Mexican Spoliation.
Is the North willing to have Cuba with six
haEdred thousand slaves2 Is the South willing
TO have Caba with eight hundred thousand free
colored people? Is the Commercial Interest
anxious for Cuba, at the expense of war with
Spain, Franco, and England? Are the People
OF The Free States willing to give thirty millions
. 10 be expended at the discretion of James Bu-
cASnan, who signed the Osteud Manifesto and
endon.ed the Lecompton Fraud2 Are the
People wiling to put the army and navy at the
discretion Of James Buchanan, for the purpose
of despoilinS Mexico and Central America, and
subjeeting tie territories torn from them, to the
dominion OF Slavery? These are the Questions
TO be met by the Representatives Of the People
WHY divert themselves now with a strife about
the Tariff?
To everything there IS season.