Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1840-12-11
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FRIDAY MORNING. DECEMBER II, lsio
CONGRESS-,

CONGRESS.
On Monday last, the national legislature assem-
bled at the seat Of government, for the purpose of
opening the second session of the present Con-
gress. That body never came together under
more singular circumstances than those in which
they meet each other on the present occasion.
Having found it necessary at the commence
ment OF the last session. to violate, in gross and
outrageous manner, the constitutional rights of
one of the States. they deprived five of her Repre-
senatives thier seats, and in order to consur~-
mate the iniquity which they had in view, they
proceeded to admit five other men to take the
places of those who had been thus illegally re-
jected, without the shadow of evidence to sup.
port their claim. In doing these things, the
administration doubtless hattered themselves
that they were secure of power, and might pur-
sue their future course of policy without check
or restraint. The result the presidential cleo
ton shows the gross and fatal error into which
they had fallen. Instead of securing their great
object-the continuance oftheir popularity and
powerfully have, under the most notifying
circumstances, lost both, without room for ray
W IhuI tiCy Ndh CNCI ICSdIu lIIcuI.-l nc
Executive is hurled from his exalted station by
majority. which under the circumstances of the
case, may be considered une xampled, and there
is every reason to believe that the next Congress
will contain decided majority in both Houses,
opposed to the pernicous policy of the present
administration Such change, in so short a
time, has never before occurred; and we have
never known the time when the ruling party
were in worse mood to meet such calamity.
As there is no Speaker to choose, and no
New Jersey case to occupy their time and ther
wits, we presume the Message from the Execu.
tive was delivered to the houses on Teusday.
Probably there never was a time when public
curiosity was more alive to see a document of
| this description, than on the present occasion.
1t is true, the trte subject of foreign policy is at
hand, ready if necessary, to occupy its legitimate
share of room in the official address and we do
not see but that the Florida war may be
thrummed over once more, with great grav-
ity, and with an equal degree of interest to
that produced on former occasions. We
have some doubts, however, whether Mr..
Secretary Woodbury., unless he deals largely
in works speculation or Imagination, will be
able to furnisl, his master with materials ne
cessary for flattering view of the financial
department, or of his favorite subject the
Sub Treasury. The last is somewhat of a
ticklsh topic. As his Message to the pre-
sent session may be considered in the ligh
Of a last will and testament, it is probable the
President will feel it necessary to bequcatI
the darling project to the government
and country, as legacy of great value ant
importance. But how to go about seriousl,
to extol his hobby, after snch vast proper.
ton of the people have set their seal of repro
baton to it, and in so emphatic a manner, j
is not easy to foresee. However, we shall
know more about the whole subject of tho
Message, when we have opportunity to reat
it.
But it cannot fail to De amusing to see til,
two Houses come together, conscious that
complete change in the character of the gov
eminent has taken place since they separates
in July last. This change, too, was undoub,
cdly altogether unexpected by the admins
tration, and the leading parizans. The,
probably considered themselves as eniircl
secure of success in the election, even up t.
IA very late period and were therefore en-
tirely unprepared for the defeat that the
have experienced. What course they vii
think it expedlent, under their present NOR
t'iy'ng circumstances, to pursue during tn
present short session, VIC shall not underak
to conjecture.