The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-12-06
ReaSSembling of COngress--A Busy
Session in Prospect.
Monster Petition for According
Belligerent Rights to the
Cuban Insurgents.
Probable Release Of the Spanish
GunbOats.
WASHINGTON, Dec. s. 1850.


the eve OF the meeting OF Congress Is surprisingly
small. II Is estimated that there Is not quorum OF
either House yet In the city and 1t will require
the arrival by the early trains tomorrow OF large
number OF members, particularly OF the House.
Owing TO the short session last spring neither the
Senate nor House OF Representatives will lose any
time IN organization. committee will be appointed
to inform the President that their respective bodies
are ready for business after which, according to the
present determination. the President will fmmedl
ately send in his Message and accompanying docu,
ments. careful canvass OF the leading OF both
houses shows that the few who direct and influence
legislation are undetermined among themselves
Is to what course they will pursue what legisa-
ton they win urge. They seem to be waiting TO see
what form matters Will take after the message Ii
in. Senator Wilson gave hts opinion to-day that the
coming session would be strictly business, and more
so than has been the case for years. 1t Is also
generally thought that all the leading measures
which will come up for discussion will be first con-
sidered In caucus and be there well matured and
then be brought before the Senate for debate. 1t is
not known to any Senators OF prominence that
caucus Ii to be held tomorrow. and to use the
language OF several, there is nothing to hold q
caucus about. As for making q change Of
onlcers In the Senate, there seems to be no
foundation for sucn statement. Secretary Gorham
and Sergeant alarms French are both satisfactory
and therefore will not be disturbed The principal
features in the legislation OF the Senate, as now
talked Of will be the funding Of the national debt
and tinkerng the revenue and tariff laws.
Foreign questions will como up. but in what shape
is indefinite. Action in regard to Cuba grows more
doubtful every day. and that unless the Presi
dent makes suggestions the subject viii be taken
up. 1t is admitted that the sympathy Of the people
| il on the side Of Cuba, and some extraordinary
v,S~hea
opinion from the legislative branch Of the govern
ment.
Completion Of tho Presidents Message.
The Presidents message was completed yesterday.
Neither 1t nor the report OF the Secretary of the
Treasury is printed This precauton was taken In
order to prevent premature publication, as In
repeated cases heretofore. Both these documents
will be given in manuscript to the press All the
other reports have been printed and newspapers
supplied with advanced copies
Beliigerent Rights for Cuba-Monster Petition
from Philadelphia Statistics Of Population
and Commerce.
The friends OF Cuban independence propose bring
ing the subject OF the recognt Of the bellgerent
rights of the insurgents before Congress at an early
day OF the session. Several petitions numerously
signed by persons in different parts of the Union,
have already arrived and others are expected In q
few days. The design Is TO present them all at
once the Senate and House and have them re-
ferred TO the Committee Foreign Relations Of each
House. The longest petition thus far received
is from Philadelphia and Is signed BY 2974S
citizens 1t is estimated to be from q mile to
q mile and half long, and is wound around wheel
mounted on frame. The petition when it comes
into Congress will make an odd and formidable
appearance on the desk of the Speaker; for under
stand 1t is to be presented in the House OF Repre-
sentatives 1t will require at least two members of
the Committee on Foreign Affairs to carry 1t ND to
their committee room. II Is signed by nearly all
the members Of the Union League Of Philadelphia
and by citizens OF all shades Of politics. Among
the names are the most prominent merchants,
bankers manufacturers and politicians Of Philadel-
phia Each member Of Congress ia to be furnished
with q card containing map of the island OF Cuba
on the left hand side and Cuban nag on the right
over which are the words "Free Cuba.n Under the
map and nag are the following statistics intended
for the Information Of Rressmen:-Length, 900
miles; average BREADTH o5 miles, square miles, 45OO
o32 0oO.0O0 acres Population. Spanlards, includ-
ing army. 1oOO00 Americans and foreigners o5 900:
Cubans ,ooo total whites 1880 900; free colored
1000; slaves aud emanoipadoes fighting with tho
patriots 100000. Grand total, 100000. Exports,
$50 COO 0o0 imports SO 900; annual production,
$l00, 100000 Taxes annually paid to Spain,
$37, 100000 Ratio Of Spaniards TO population six
per cent; ratio Of their robbery to value OF produo-
ton thirty per cent. Shall such dtabolica rule
lastt
The Spanish Gunboats to he Released.
From information received tonight from o very
reliable am led to believe that the Spanish
gunboats will finally bs released BY the United States
authorities.
Tho Paris Exposition-Whnt Became of the
Appropriation for tho American Depart.
ment.
Information being wanted as to where the money
went that was appropriated by Congress for the
American department of the French Exposition O
resolution will in Q few days be introduced In
Congress calling on the Secretary Of state for q
full and complete statement OF the manner In
which the large amount OF money appropriated
by Congress in aid OF The American department Of
the French Exposition was expended. It is re-
ported that q large amount OF this money was
entrusted to particular favorte Of Mr.. Seward in
New York. and that no satisfactory account of how
1t was expended has yet been given to the proper
department. Another person, also Q particular
favorlte of Mr. seward, was entrusted with con-
siderable amount Of the money, and the people
would like to see an account OF his stewardship.
Conversational Mutual Admiration Society.
This evening o large number Of Senators ana
Members entertained each other at dinner this
being regarded as the best way to revive old &C.
quaintances. Representative Hooper gave dinner
to Secretary Boutwell,, Attorney General Hoar sena-
tor sumner aud a few members, mostly Massachu-
sets men; Senator Edmunds entertained Senator
Conkling Judge Rice and several senatorial friends
at wormsey's. The session seems to begin with
good cheer around the festive board.
Fight Over the New York Marshnlship-sigcI
Claims His Reward.
United States Marshal Barlow must look out for
his position There are two prominent republican
politicians looking out for the place. backed by con-
siderable influence. When Barlow resigned and his
deputy Mr.. Harlow, succeeded, It was generally be-
ieved that the thing was setted;sb one important
point had been overlooked, and that was that the
senate had not passed upon the question, and would
desire to have something to say about 1t. It appears