New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1860-12-01
THE MEETING OF CONGRESS.

| The XXXVIth Congress re-assembles for its
| second and closing session at Washington on
Monday next, and, though that session is limited
| by the Constitution to some ninety days IN all,
there is no doubt that it will prove alike stormy
and eventful That it will be more crowded
with excitement and passion than fruitful In good
works, it requires no prophetic vision to f0retel
That strenuous efforts will be made to signaize
| il by O new compromise, peace-oferng OF
Northern convictions to Southern menaces, is
already well known. That the certain secession
of South Carolina from the Union, with the
threatened and not improbable secession of several
other Slave States, will be subjects of most gen.
era concern and attention, all know and feel.
That it is in the power of the Fire-Eaters, with
| the outgoing Federal Administration entirely
plastic to their viii and ant-Republicon
majority in either House, to favor the passage
of an act declaring all the Federal Terri
tories open to savehOlding appropriation and
settlement, is morally certain. Still, we
lack evidence that they generally desire
any such triumph. South Carolina is determined
to break up the Union any how, and would evil
IDENTITY regret to have her excuses for such action
| diminished. Her Representatives mot her Sena-
| tors) are coming on to Washington to pocket the
| LIBERAL pay allowed them for doing nothing since
the last adjournment; but having secured this and
the generous Mileage allowed to members, they
will be seen marching grandly out of the Hall
on the 18th inst, and hencefortb the places that
knew them Gas legislatOrs) will know them no
more foreyer-as they now think. Others will
| GILL IN thair hat
cherish joyful hope that by the time the new
compromise is ready for passage, there will be
no majority left in either House to give it the
requisite sanction. Hence we cherish an abiding
faith that one triumph for Human Liberty has at
length been achieved in our COnfederacy that the
yictors will not proceed to recant and profess
themselves sorry for.
This ought to be a very busy and very
benefcent session. The public interests urgently
call for prompt, decisive, efficient legislation.
In the first place, the National Finances are in
shameful condition. The outgoing Administra-
ton met its first Congress with demands of
authority to make loans and issue Treasury
Notes. These demands should have been rejected
but were not. Mr.. Secretary Cobb insisted, in
the face of all reason, that his deficiency was
but temporary, and that measures of temporary
relief would suffice. Congress must have known
] better, but refused to do better. Even then, the
Republicans properly nsisisted that We ought to
take steps to increase the revenue instead of
running deeper and deeper into debt in time
of profound peace and average prosperity. The
President cOncurred in this opinion, but his Cabi-
net did not When Mr. Buchanan urged the
propriety of raising the Tariff, Mr.. Cobb said
that the President was opposing the Admistra-
ton. Last Winter, tO0--tbe Republicans being
much stronger than in the preceding Congress
a bill increasing and readjusting the Duties on
Imports, previously framed and submitted
by Mr. Morrill, Of VT, was revised and
reported by the Committee Of Ways and
Means passed the House triumphanty, but was
beaten in the Senate, though every Republican
supported it. Instead of raising more revenue,
the Democratic majority there insisted on au-
thorizing further loan, which Mr.. Cobb has, in
| the most bunglng manner, effected. But, az this
loan was required to pay off Treasury Notes
falling due, the Government has derived little
positive relief from it, and the Treasury is now
in most dilapidated, seedy, exhausted condition.
The Secretary has postponed every possible ex-
penditure for objects of permanent utility on the
plea of inability, yet it is very doubtful that he
can pay the large sums that the Members will
want Of him of hand in satisfaction of their
clamo FOR compensation for the recess aud Mile
age. We devoutly hope that NJ may not be able
to pay them that hs capacity to borrow is
exhausted, and that the Members must go UNPAID
till they pass (substantiaIy) the Morrill, Tariff.
There was never better time for this than the
present, and we shall probably be long without
better Tariff unless it is improved. Let it be
understood that there is no money for Congress