The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-02-24
The Last Week oS This Congress-Ihe Proc
pect Before Us.

pect Before Us.
| There are only seven business days remaining
OF his refractory Congress, and the bulk of its
indispensable work remains yet to be done. An
ap ropration bill or two has been passed. but
the proposed heavy items of retrenchment, in
the civil list and the army and navy expeudi-
lures, are still TO be arranged between the two
houses. The final result will most probably be
very paltry exhibit in behalf of retrenchment
auo reform, and good deal of bnngling calcu-
ted to produce more mischief than good, in an
| Increase instead of reduction of the expendi-
lures concerned Assuming, however, that the
regular appropriations will be passed, in some
shape or other, sufficient to exc out the inter-
regnum till next December, we have only to cou-
slider the probable contingencies of the recess,
from the neglect OF this Congress in reference to
tie great leading measures, of a foreign aud do
| mestic character embodied in the Presidents
last annual message.
Upon our international rela thc message
breaches bold and decisive Anne o.t 80 ;t
concerning the intestine commissions Of the dying
republic of Mexico, the complications of the at
fairs of the Central American States, aud the
manifest destiny" of the island of Cuba. Upon
the first and second of these three important
subjects the President has, recently in vain at
tempted to wake up the slumbering energies OF
Congress to the necessity Of action; and the
thiId-the thirty million bill-intended for
| active negotia ions, was, on Tuesday last, after
hanging before the Senate for several weeks set
aside for the day by the close vote OF 33 to 80,
every Senator of every State being present, ex-
cept Mr.. Sumner, Of Massachusetts, But the fate
of this important measure will not be settled till
tomorrow, when Mr.. Slidell intends to call it up
for final vote
Considering the pressure ofSthe regular appro-
prations, with the items of retrenchment which
they involve, the probabilities are against the
passage, at this session, of the Thirty Mil
lion bill. AS for the milder proposition of Mr..
Senator Mason, we can hardly discover in it any
grant Of executive power, or any initiatory
movement, which does not already exist, or
which may not be attempted without any special
authority from Congress. Between the two
stools, we apprehend the Presidents clear and
positive recommendations touching this Cuba
question will fall to the ground Nor, regarding
the entanglements of Mexico and Central and
South America, does there appear any DISPOSE
ton on the part of either house sufficient to
Justify belief in any satisfactory measure of
legislation, within the seven days grace remain
ing to this most demoralzed and disorganized
democratic Congress.
Thus, in reference to the critical affairs Of Meyi-
co, the important concerns of Central and South
America touching our political and commercial
status in those countries and the paramount
question of the annexation of Cuba, the Presi-
dent, as it now appears, will be left substantially
in the same comparatively helpless situation, with
the adjournment of Congress, as he was shown
to be on the first Monday in December Should
any exigency therefore, arise during the ensuing
nine months Congressional vacation demanding
the exercise of Executive power without au-
thority, or the call of an extra session of
the new Congress to grant the powers de-
manded by the crisis, the alternative will
depend entirely upon the Presidents discretion.
Thus, upon our foreign relations the question of
an extra session will be subject to the contingent
ces which, from the active intrigues of France
and England in Spain, Mexico and Central Anne
RIGA, may, at any moment, demand the positive
Intervention and opposition Of our government
Next, concerning our domestic affairs, the
President has recommended the construction of
Pacific Railroad, under the authority of Con-
gress; comprehensive and much needed
general bankrupt law, and modification
of the tariff for the relief of the Treasury,
through those Determinations of specific duties
which, while increasing the revenue from the
customs, will, at the same time, afford an encou.
raging item of protection to our home manufac-
lures. Considering the Pacific Railroad as a
thing laid upon the shelf alongside the bank
rupt law, this tariff question: of these three sub
jects, alone remains to be settled. And here the
shoe pinches both sides of the foot. The Penn
sylvania democracy of the House have taken
stand with the bulk of the opposition, in favor
of the Presidents policy. They may thus be
competent, with some concessions to "free wool"
to carry their point in the House; but the anti
protection democratic majority of the Senate,
from the Southern and Western States, have for
mally decreed that it is ''inexpedent to disturb
the existing tariff law during the present ses-
sion;" and they will most likely stick to this
decision
There is "a very powerful reason for this opinion.
The next House Of Representatives may have
the important duty thrown upon it of electing
the next President of the United States. The
opposition in the Northern elections of last year
have secured in that House so large body of
members that the democracy in the Southern
States which will elect their members during the
coming spring. summer and fall cannot afford to
lose single man. To secure the House against
all accidents, they must make some important
gains; and their margin for such gains is very
limited. The people of the South-an agrcul-
tural people--are opposed to protective tariffs: