Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1841-02-13
any other than the usual way General Jackson was

any other than the usual way General Jackson was
elected in November, lSS TO change the administration
of j. @ Adams; but, according 10 the Constitution he
could not come into power until the subsequent 1th OF
March, nor could he, for the Ordinary purposes OF Co.
yernment nut the legislative branch upon the exer-
else Gifts regular function until the subsequent Decc
Der And why are these delays, after the election OF a
Chief placed in the way of his Immediately
gyinc an impulse to the whole machinery ut Govern
menE Why does the Constitution keep tue PRESIDENT
elect out of Office for than three months alter ms
election. Why is the regular session OF the Congress
postponed for ght months after his induction INTO oice
WHY do many OF the States o! their elections to I'LL the
representative body in Congress- months alter the newly
elected President has declared his principles ana put
poses in his inaugural address? Is 1t not wisely
that Chief Magistrate shall not rush INTO the
ofthe high powers entrusted to himwh'e 'Ne
cdent 10 the contest are strongly operating on nm ana
his parzans. And is not the provision SAFE one whch
still protracs the meeting Of the BODY wnicn Is 10 CO.
operae in his designs until some months alter ne mas an
opportunity Of maniiesting tneu 10 lhe community
whose will is to be made effective in that body which IS
meant to balance the Executive power, and assist or
check his proposed measures the people shall
necessary after they are promulgated 1t is certain,
from the whole complexion Of our political institutions
that neither change Of .3dmnsstration--a change q
policg-a change in the measures Of me government is
contemplated as the instant result of the decision OF the
people tina, there shall be " chaRgco the Ch hagts-
frate of the L. States The Constitution intended that
there should be gradual accommodation OF the Co
vernnent the views winch inighl ne consequent.
on the elevation OF new EAccn,lve-that he should
have fine after his election, to become tranquil and de-
Lberate before his accession and that alter he had de-
cared his views in inaugural address, and manifest
ed his designs by the appointment OF his ocers, and
liz some months OF official service, Congress should
omo nreparcd to arrest or advance them, enlightened
bv the opinions and influenced by the wishes of Its
constituency II thus that the founders of the Co
vernmcn took care that Administration after ano-
Their should gradually glide into the public affairs, and
that every change ofthc HEAD should not prove reVo
luton in the body of the Government
When Mr. Van Buren, called the extraordinary ses-
sion of Congress- he did not presume to call 1t to enter
upon IFS lerisa,ive functions at large lie called II TO
provide for an unexpected ana e2'raora'nary olcui'
in the administration of the Government and one which
was nsupcrable unless provided tor BY Congress
,,hc banks had stopped payment with all the public
money in them The Treasury was, by law, prohibited
from paying any demands upon IT. except IN Specie OF
hank notes Convertible into it. The Treasury had nei-
Their. The President required by law TO dePosite
The pubc money in specie paying banks, and there
were no such banks existing Without, therefore, VI
oating his OATH and usurping legislative power, II was
impossible for the President to administer the Govern
,nent without a call of Congress- He called it there
fore to the extraordinary emergency ana Tor that
alone
But now what is it called for, according 10 the last pre-
texts set forth in the caucused enumeration OF the ~
Intelligencer? "ro change the Administration to
change the policy to change the measures OF Co.
vernment - "1he People acan: ne,o measures 1--WE
are oltD ,ehieh shall yrorde for their 1rctare" "1he
rfee, of posponing says the oracle of the Senatorial
caucus) any action By the merit Congress until the day
fired bv tie Constitution for their assembling, 'eH DC
to proiong Mr. Van Burens administration teriee or
eghteen aaonths after its constitutional term,aatoa-
And how did the Constitution commit such solecism
We have said enough this point. The Constitution
has carefully provided against any sudden change or
subversion Of the ordinary affairs Of the Government,
Ly the very clauses which the National lnteigencer
here arragns and is violation of its spirit TO call
an extraordinary session to do the business strictly
uerainn to the duties Of the body at lis ordinary
sions, and without any new or unexpected emergency
recurring it, Yet this is determined upon while Con-
press is actually in session, and performing all that it
holds to be IFS duty in the ordinary course
There are deep personal and selfish reasons for this
pneyampled movement-ths call for an extra session
of CONGRESS-, while Congress is actually sitting. We
sboI take occasion, in another article, TO display
what the intrguers wish to conceal, by drawing the
ve;l of n caucus over the discussions which have
brought their dissenting brethren to acquiesce IN it,
I'm lis ultimate effect in destroying the permanent as
tendency Of the violent who thus rush to the ac
accomplishment Of their schemes, this revolutionary
mode of reaching them will be beneficial. 1t will
omen the ewes of the honest who have heretofore sup
ported Them their rapacy and will hasten The fall!
of dynasty which proves, in It's first act that 1t has
sought power to prey upon, and not promote the pub
lie rood and that this the OF their enthu-
siasm in the late canvass, and not patriotism.