The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1838-06-28
ADJoUnNMENr OF CONGRESS.

ADJOURNMENT OF CONGRESS
On motion of Mr. BUCHANAN, the Senate took
up the resolution of the other House, fixing the
OH of July next to terminate the present session Of
Congress
Mr.. BENTON objected TO any action on this sub
ect al this time He noticed several important bills
that yet TO be acted on and especially the Army
bill the fate Of which he was unwilling to risk by
binding Congress 10 adjourn on certain day. Mr..
b. moved TO lay the resolution on the table, and call
ed for the yeas and nays, which were ordered.
Mr.. GRUMPY said he was among The foremost
Of those who objected 10 the Senates fixing on day
Of adjournment, which he viewed as an improper
measure for the reason that though they knew very
well that they could despatch their own business in
the time proposed, they could perform their duty TO
the puee and had AL hfr IN msass5es al
said that they could act on every thing which the
public interest required by The day which they had
could say that in this The House had decided mpro-
pefy and Mr.. G. would therefore ior,the reso-
luton.
Mr.. BUCHANAN said he was glad that the Sc
nator from Missouri had called for the yeas and nays
and Mr.. B. would cheerfully record his vote against
laying the resolution the table, that he or the
Senator cared any thing about the yeas and nays in
respect TO their own votes, Mr., B. believed that if
his friend from Alabama (Mr. King) had prosecuted
the resolution OF adjournment offered by him, and
day had then been fixed on for adjournment, Con-
gress would at that time have been ready 10
adjourn as they would be on the 9Th OF July, or the
9Th of August, il they decided on fixed day.
They never would sci 10 work in earnest to do the
business Of the country till they knew The day that
was 10 terminate the session. II was like putting off
preparation for death; and in this hot weather any
plea would satisfy overworked men for putting off
preparation for adjournment till the very dav was
known and determined. Let Congress now fix
the 9th of July, and they would by that time have all
the business done which they were disposed to do.
Mr.. b. would be as sorry as any man, whether in
teresed in the bill or not, if the Army bshould not
Rttu nyNl1 fha Gar min toll thn rhn
vote Of two to one, had fixed the adjournment
the oh Of july that they, the Senate thought proper
TO give them longer time than the House itself had
deemed necessary, and that the Senate, therefore,
would not fix on the day proposed Would the
Senate thus, in effect tell the House that they did
not know in what time they could accomplish their
own business, and the Senate therefore would deter
mine for them, because the House would otherwise
fail OF their duty and neglect the Army bill I Mr..
B. hoped the resolution would be agreed to at once,
and Congress would then go to work and accomplish
all the business that was required to be done.
Mr. BENTON said that the Senator's theory was
conradiced by the existing state OF facts He insist
ed that the Senate had so far exerted themselves that
for two months they had been under an easy SAIL
and that the House had for some time been laboring
day and night to the full limit OF their strength so
that, in bis own knowledge, the health Of several in,
dividuals had been broken down. II was, therefore,
vain to expect that their work would be accelerated
by fixing on the day Of adjournment. The Army
bill had repeatedly passed the Senate, and failed IN
the other House, and Mr. B. was against running
that risk again. He was for holding the question Of
adjournment open at least till Monday next.
Mr.. BUCHANAN still insisted that il a day
were fixed, Congress would not spend so much time
in debate, aud would on that account hasten their
business. He noticed that with six weeks vaca-
ton, Congress had now been in session ever since
the irs OF September; and unless they were eau
tious, they were in the way to convert themselves
inoa Rump Parliament, and sit forever He in
sisted that il the business could not be done in the
time proposed, It would not be done at at ALL and il
was better to leave undone than to set so bad pre-
cedent as that of further proiracling the session
The question was now put on laying the resolution
on the table, and decided in the negative as fol-
lows:
YEAS-Messrs. Allen, Benton Linn, LYON, Nor
vell Sewer, Upton Wright--s
NAYS-Messrs. Bsyard, Buchanan, Calhoun, Clay,
of Alabama, Clay, Of Kentucky, Clayton, Crirendcn,
Cuthhert, Davis, Grudy, Hubbard, King, Knight,
lumpkin. Mexican, Menick, Morris. Mouton, Niles,
PIERCE Prenss, Preston. Roane, Robbins, Robinson,
Rupges, Smith, Of Connecticut, Smith, Of Indiana,
Southland, Spence, Strange, Swift, Talmadge, Troer,
Wall, Webster, White. Williams, Young-39. NJ.
The resolution was then agreed to without division
that the 9th Of July is fixed the day of adjourn
ment
Mr.. GRUMPY, from the Committee on The Judici-
ary reported the bill referred them, granting addition
al compensation TO Joseph X Averl as witness, the
committee recommending that the bill be indefinitely
postponed
Messrs. Smith, OF Connecticut, Norvel Morris
Hubbard, Williams Crittenden and Merrick, reported
variety Of private bills from Committees referred to
them.
On motion Of Mr., RoANE, the Committee for the
District Of Columbia, discharged from the further
consideration Of the petition Of the trustees Of Coun
Mr. BENTON, from the Committee on Military AZ.