The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-12-13
Congress and the War-Vhat is Congress-
DOiAgs

grcss done to strengthen the arms Of the GO
vernment in the prosecution of this great war
for the Union? Literally nothing. A discourag-
ing fact, in view of the necessities of the govern
ment and the expectations of the country
According to the estimates of the intelligent
Secretary of the Treasury the necessities of the
government from this time to July, 1865
eighteen months-will be over six hundred and
fifty millions Of dollars beyond the actual in
come OF the Treasury These estimates are
based upon the presumed continuance Of the
war. We have reason to hope, however, that
instead of lasting till July, 1868, this war will
be ended before July 1862. But for the in
terval to this coming July Mr.. Chase says the
Treasury will expend the balances of loans,
amounting to seventy-fve millions, authorized
at the last session of Congress, and will require,
"under laws to be enacted" an additional item
Of two hundred millions Of dollars.
Thus far; since July last, the government has
| realized in loans in various forms, including
Treasury demand notes. nearly two hundred
millions of -three-fourths of which
amount have been taken by orr banks, includ-
ing those of Boston, New York and Philadel-
phia. They cannot do much more Mr. Chase,
therefore, proposes that Congress shall provide
by law such arrangements as will enable him
to supersede with Treasury demand notes the
bills in circulation from our numerous banks
city aud country, great and snlali-thus practi-
cally converting all our banks to the pur-
poses of national bank. This subject de-
N tnds the instant attention of Congress above
all others, for if taken up to-day it would most
the two houses before any bill could be agreed
upon; while, in the meantime, the resources of
the Treasury will be nearly exhausted
But while the attention Of the two houses
should be thus instantly and earnestly directed
to the relief of the Treasury, and in orier to
avoid that panic and financial rcvulsion which
may otherwise be precipitated upon the country,
what is Congress doing? Debating and mani
pulating the everlasting slavery question in
every shape and form. Instead of finding
statesmen and practical measures ruling the
daliberatons Of the two Houses. we find such
bigoted and fanaticai politicians Of one idea as
Thaddeus Stevens and Loyejoy in the House,
and Sumner and Trumbull in the Senate, vast
ing day after day, in their fanatical harangucs
and disoyganizing abolition bills and resolu-
tons.
The President is prosecuting the war for the
Union but these disorganizing abolition agi-
Tutors are clamorous for u war for the abolition
of slavery" emancipation or separation" The
Secretary Of the Treasury asks for bread and
they would give him stone. They are in
structing the President to instruct our army
officers that they must revoke this order, and
that order, and the other; AMI they are de-
nouncing General Mcclellan for an ultimatum
to the President, which is a pure invention Of
tic street politicians Of Washington. In all
these ridiculous and mlschievous proceedings
| these abolition marplots have discovered "a
niger in tire bush," and the niger with them
is the one overriding and paramount idea.
The other evening, however, a Congressional
| republican caucus was held, at which, it
| appears, it was unanimously resolved to
| pass law for the emancipation of every rebel
masters slaves coming under the protection
| Of our land and naval forces. The President,
| in his Message, says that such slaves coming
! within our lines are already free, aud he pro-
| poses their colonization in some other and more
congcnial country, as the best disposition that.
! can be made Of them. We think however
| there is a world Of wisdom in that good old
| maxim of "Let well enough alo ne We are
| getting on very we'll with these contraband
| negroes under the treatment adapted at For
] tress Monroe, and By General Dix in Maryland
md on the eastern shore Of Virginia, and by
| General Sherman in South Carolina. Let these
csntrabands be employed by the government
| aad paid for their services, if You please; but
] lei them so be held to the end Of the war and
then, between the general government and each
I Of the Stale governments OF thu South directly
! concerned the matter can be settled Oh 4 con-
stitutional basis.
/ The general governme II catches and returns
fug tive slaves to their masters in obei fence to
the constitution :.anJ Congress. therefore, nee
not feel very painfully squeamish in leaving
this contraband negro question for q future def
mite settlement. Grant th, the rebel NJ astcr
in forfeitng his constitutional protection, for
iets his slaves, and that such slaves coming
I oyer 10 rs are free, how are we now to dis
'oyal Union men coming within our liness II
we are prosecuting this war for The restoration
Of our revoltcd states - the Union let us
avoid every act which may carry us into wal
for The extrpation Of the vital domestic institu
ton of those States.
We invite The special attention Of Congress
to the necessities OF the Treasury. We think il
more important to prevent q financial panic in
the North than to excite a new abolition panic
in the South.
EFrECr or THE NEWS or THE TRENl
AFFAIR IN ENGLAND-Thc Hansa brings us
an account Of the manner in which the
news of the arrest Of Messrs Masor
and Slidcll was received at the other
side. Consols and American securities imme
diatciy went down by the run, and in Liverpool
there was violent explosion of Indignation
among the merchants. 1t was resolved to cal
a public meeting upon the subject and two OF