Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1835-11-26
From the National inielligencer.
The Meeting Of Congress.

W tne cnanpe OF seasons, the decllnng sun
and the rising winds, the lessening days and
the lingering nights, did not warn MS of the
approach of the time for the annual meeting
OF the representatlv 9 of the people, the cas-
ual arrivals of members of both houses for
some days past would have apprzed us that
the opening ofthe annual session of congress
is now near at hand.
Judging from the indications which greet
our eyes and ears, the public mind is full of
anticipation ofa session of congress of more
than usual interest. This anticipation, though
founded in part, we think on an erroneous
estimate of the consequence of some topics
which have agtated the public mind during
the recess Of Congress, is fully justified bv the
importance OF several great questions, which,
in one shape or other, cannot fail TO DE aclta-
ted in congress Mt the approaching session.
In government like this, representative in
its character and republican in it's form. no
state ofthings could be imagined in which
the usual meeting ofthe legislature, possess
ing all the power over peace and war, over
taxation and expenditure, over the regulation
of commerce, and all the incidents to these
great functions of govCrnment will not be
looked to by the reflecting citizens whom it
represents, and for whom II makes laws, with
grave attention, not unmixed with anxiety
In government, moreover, 80 extensive as
tnat ofthe United Sfates-n Ire dy protecting
under irs wings n population Of fifteen mil
lions Of souls; embracing four and twenty po-
litical communities, and nursing several 9th
ers for future maturity; with annually ncreas-
ing popu afior, a"cpmuating wealth and
swelling re. oilrces-the oh lects OF legislation
must of necessity multiply, and, with each
successive term of congress, present them
-. L. Il. --i
circumstances. Ina large class of cases, IN
deed, the circumstances Of the time present,
and the wants Of the nation, are the measure
NJ the power Of congress; and the action Of,
the general government is therefore wdened
IN proportion rs cur C untry grows and im
proves, and as now wants are created by new
capacities. Manv objects demand the attcn-
ton ofconcreSs AZ this day whichtwenty years.
ago had never claimed il: and twenty years
hence many things wlll be familiar to the
statute book whrh now are not dreamed Of N
our phiosophv. The suujngation oi the will
derness, tho acquisition OF Louisiana aud
Florida, the culture Of cotton and sugar az
staples, with the Introduction of stearn-car-
riage on water and on land, have revolution
ised the government. in reference to the pow
ers Of congress, without changing word or
marring n sentence of the constitution. The
great subjects ot legislation, commerce and
the rubIic domain, are not what they were
when the constitution was framed. Wants
and necessities have grown up under the
changing circumstances ofthe conntry, which
render various measures "necessary and prop
er" now, the necessity and proprety ot which
were not felt formerly, and were 18th good
reason questioned, when asserted in the first
five lnstres Of the present government.
The opening of each annual session il also
tho occasion upon which the Executive.
charged with the conduct of our diplomatic
intercourse with foreign powers, and the exc
cution ofthe laws M home, - TO render an ac-
count of his stewardship to Congress, and
through Congress. to the People; when, there.
Tore, informal on Of greater or less inpo tance
may be looked for on The subject of our For
'ign Relations, md the state of the onion,
with such recommendations concerning both
's the President may Judge necessary and
'xpedent. II
Even what little We hnve said is enough TO
hew that, under any state OF things, one
'onld not err widely who should prognosti- .
ate that the first session Oft newly-chosen
congress would be pregnant with interest.
IL must be admitted, however, That there i
re some things IN the actual circumstances {
i
o the dongs of the present Congress the at r
ention even of those who have never befnre a
ppenred IN care much about them. No man r
an be wholly indifferent to what comes close g
ome ~ his own business e. bosom; and there n
no citizen who has not deep concern IN g
,e action Of Congress-, for wcal or for wo. r,
pom SINE Of the questions which are likely II
} come before II at the approaching session. b
The most serions of these questions will =,
robably grow out of tho redundant revenue, n
hich, now that the public debt is extinguish. il
!, leaves m annual surplus in the treasury, n
q accumulation Of which is snid already TO Al
nount TO twelve or fifteen millions of dollars o
That sball be done with thus surplus? The q,
iesfion which President Jefferson asked. in ii
e hypothesis ofa surplus Of revenue after =,
ying the public debt, we are now enabled o.,
ask without reservation or condition. Tho m