Democratic standard. [volume] (Georgetown, Brown County, Ohio) 1837-1850, 1841-04-13
From the Globe.
THE CALLED SESSION.

provides for called session of Congress;
but il is only on ''extraordinary," occa-
sions that the President may call it, and
evidsntly in cases when congress could
not itself Eoresee the occasion, and provide
for it. The calling of congress is an i'm
portant measure. 1t involves an immensi-
" of expense and trouble, and involves a
multitude ofinterests; and when the oc-
casOn can be foreseen, It is the business
Of congress to provide by law for its own
meeting. The Constitution requires the
meeting to be annually, and on the 1st
Monday in December, 'unless congress
shall by law, appoint different day." 1t
is, then, for the congress itself, while in
session, 10 judge of the propriety Of al
tering the day of meeting, so far as ex-
existing causes are concerned; for causes
not then existing causes happening in
the recess-itis for the President TO Judge
and to these causes only, is he limited -
He cannot cOnstilutionally call a congress
for legislation which is in the common
Order-which belongs to the ordinary
business-for, of all that, congress itself
cOuldjudge, and would be the proper and
constitutional judge. Apply this reason
ing TO the present case. Congress has
just risen. 1t was in session three months.
II rose without providing fora session
earlier than the ist Of December next; it
ross without oppointinga different day
This, then, was a declaration on the part
Of congress that it would have no meet
ing before the regular time-that there
was nothing TO make either an extra ses.
zion or an earlier meeting necessary -
This was the decision of congress; and
unless the President has discovered some
thing since the adjournment which con.
q gress knew nothing about, he has revers-
ed their decision-has taken jurisdiction
Of point decided by them, rescinded
their resolution, and made them come to-
gether in case in which they had dec-
ded il was not necessary TO come. The
proclamation gives no reasons for the call
tsimply speaks of"grave and weighty
matters, chiefly connected with the reVe.
nue. and the finances"--that is TO say,
with the income and the income. Now,
II the President has discovered since the
adjournment Of congress, that the reve
nue. will be defcient--that it will no
keep the Government in operation until
ihe regular meeting-then the extraOrdi
nary occasion has occurred which gives
him jurisdiction Of the case, and author
ized him to take the responsibility o
imposing upln the people, the trouble
ofspecial elections, and on the icountr,
the expense Of an extra session.
This is the clear theory, and spirit
and the words OF our constitution, anc
such has been ths practice Ofths Govern
,ment. Never has any President callsC
congress together, except for causes
happening in the recess; eighteen times
BY law, has congress called itself, eithe
At an earlier day, or for Hn extra session
and in no case has any President, before
this time, by his mere will, involved thC
country in the labor and expense of spe
cial elections, in order to hold speCia
session. We cannot prove negatives, bu
We can prove Alternatives, and while leav
ing to the supporters Of The present Ad
ninistration the task Of producing pre-
cedent for the ensuing called session.
session noioriously called for ordnar
measure of legisIalion-we proceed I
show the eighteen instances, in whic
congress has called itself together by Law
They are as follows:
Date of the act of Time ofmeetinj