The New York herald., 1863-12-08
The New COngress-The Presidential
Question.

The election of Mr.. Schuyler Colfax as
Speaker of the House Of Representatives of the
new Congress secures the organization Of the
standing committees, and developes satisfac-
tory working majority in favor Of the admins
tration and the prosecution of the war TO the sup
preston Of the rebellion We may perhaps
receive the Presidents Message to-day and
perhaps not; but in any event we must await
the exposition Of his views and recommenda-
tions before we can safely undertake to set
down the distinguishing measures of legislation
which will be the work Of the present session.
One thing. however, we may predict as in
evitable. and that is, that President making
Will be the principal business Of all parties of
both houses henceforward till the end Of the
session, next June, July or August. Washing
ton thus becomes the central rendezvous for
and cliques OF the loyal States. and the
two houses of Congress will find abun-
dant employment in ventilating the various
schemes and movements OF these conflicting
cliques and factions. From the time of General
Jackson, with one or two spasmodc exceptions.
down to 1860. the Presidency. from term to
term, was managed by close corporation of
democratic politicians, until the tricks of their
trade resulted al length in such deplorable
specimens of wisdom, courage and patriotism
az poor Pierce and poor old Buchanan. The
former opened the door to this rebellion in the
repeal Of the Missouri Compromise; and the
latter, who with single bucket Of cold water,
might have extinguished the fire kindled be-
-ween the abolitonists and secessionists, failed,
from sheer cowardice-to give him his best ex-
cuse-and permitted the ncendiary fame to ex-
tend into sweeping confagration. the mate
rial damages OF which half century of peace
will hardly suffice to repair
Such are the consequences which have be-
fallen the country from the rule of the manag-
ing politicians Of the last thirty years. A
new SET, since 1850, have risen into powcr;
but they are of the same character as the
unscrupulous hucksters Of the Albany Re
gency. They will now for a season establish
their headquarters at Washington, and en-
deavor so TO shape the legislation and the
debates, and all their wires. pipes aud pulleys
behind the scenes. o. to accomplish their own
cHuS vi bpous anu pi"u"'' ""uS' 'ue n'A' "u-
ministration. But at last the winds and tides
are all against the managing politicians. The
democratic party is dead-dead as Julius
Cesar: the late republican party has disap-
peared in the dissolving views of the recent
elections from Maine to California. Neither
republican nor democratic party politicians
have party Of any account TO back them.
! The popular elements of the country are all at
sea, and remain TO DO moulded into shape and
cohesive action by the course OF the admins
tration and the measures Of the present session
of Congress upon the momentous issue Of the
| reclamation OF the rebellious States
! The almighty niger and the almighty
| dollar" arc the two great agencie, upon which
/ the supporters Of Mr. Secretary Chase, for ex.
ample, confidently calculate upon nominating
and electing him. But the balance of power
is held by the army. and popular army
leader. either in the nominating conven.
ton Of the administration party or in
the election, as conservative oppo
sition candidate, will be apt to spoil the
estimates OF Mr.. Chase and his engineers. Some
Of the odds and ends Of the old exploded par
ties, "snufIiing the battle afar off," have re
Gently, at Cincinnati, broken ground in favor o.
General Mcclellan. They have hit upon Q
popular military hero; but there are two
Others, either Of whom NAV tlin go al tbt