Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1821-12-13
UNITED STATES.

| WAsHNGToN, December 10.-The bust
ness before CoNGREss cannot be expected TO
be as interesting for the first few weeks of the
Session as at a later period of it. The COM
| m'ttees are yet scarcely appointed and no
| business is likely To come seriously before
either house until it has first passed the or
deal oil the committees. The resolutions. d-
rectlnS committees 10 enquire into the expe-
diency of enacting this or that, are agreed to
as matters IN course, unless they contain slig.
Sestions altogether inadmissiblc. Ii is n courte-
| sy which the house Yields to any and every
OF It's members, to allow an investigation of
any matter which in his opinion the public in
tercst requires to be examined, unless it be
so offensive that 1t cannot even be allowed TO
be subject of enquiry or discussion 1t is
TINS custom which causes much Of the time of
Congress to be occupied on questions which
are ultimately decided in the negative. 1t is
nevertheless sautary practice, the abolition
ofwhich would be tn narrow the range of
Tree enquiry and substitute the pleasure of n
majority of the House for the rights of the
individual members. There are some per-
sons who seem to think that Congress ought
To work by the hour-assemble like the labor
crs at the Capitol, when the bell sounds, and,
like them, disperse when il rings again. In
the opInIono of such, no doubt, the early part of
the session is wasted, because it is not fertile
OF laws. Butthe truths, that no part ofthc SEES
sion OF Congress is more usefully employed
man that month or six weeks which is con
sumed by every new Congress i'm enquiries
ana consultations necessary TO enable its men,
bcrs to discharge the trust conided 10 them
satisfactorily 10 themselves, or advantagcousv
TO their country. I'm the present Congress
there are upwards of ninety new members, of
whom at least seventy-fye have never been
IN Congress before. The very best Informed
among these has to learn the routine of bust
ness IN Congress, before lie can become an
eiLcIent member ; and there are not a few of
them whose habits Of thought and modes oil
action have been so identified with the prac-
licc under our state governments, and so gra-
duated to- the scale and nature of the objects
Oh tnelf legislation, as to require some time
10 adapt and IamlliariZe themselves to their |
new station. For these and other reasons il |
appears To us not only allowable, but dcsira-
BILE, that no business Of importance should be
pressed to conclusion during the first week
or two Ofthe first session of each Congress.
IL TINS he correct as general position IT is |
particularly SO when applied to Congress in |
which there is SO great a proportion of new
members as in the present.
vi the proceedings Of Congress for the last
week, our readers have had regular account
-
THIS week, is wholly n matter of cnniecture.-
Few reporis-can be expected from the com
Inttees. In the course of the week, the
President may transmit TO Congress other
documents connected with the topics Of his
message, or one ordhc other House may call
Tor them. Reports may also be made by
some OF the Executive officers, Sc. These
VIII extend the field of deliberation over
which the committees have to travel.
The only important paper, however, which
we have right to expect during the week, is
The Annual Report Of the Secretary of the
treasury, which, we presume, NAV be- looked
or IN a day or two. From that document
We shall have the details on which is founded
he acceptable inliInalion to be found in the
residents Message, that the revenue, for
hreo years to come Mt least, will be adequate
o The national expenditure. II is surely n sub
Get 81 sincere congratulations that Congress
re relieved from the necessity of establishing
system Of internal taxation, at a period when
uch a system would necessarily operate ON
art only Of the Union the other part not 4
possessing currency in which taxes could be
objected by the United States. In the en- !
mn5 three years, we hope that something like 4
n equality Of value will be restored TO the
l"rency IN every section of the Union and. (
II be necessary Them to resort 10 direct taxe- I