The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1842-07-21
THE ADJOURNMENT OF CONGRESS

The period having been nearly reached, be-
yond which the session of Congress has never
yet been protracted, the question is asked, on
all sides, when is the adjournment to take place?
The question Is one we cannot answer. We
do not know whether the leaders have, in eau
Gus, fixed the day; all we know is, that the first
of August will see the Representatives of the
People sedulously employed in studying the in
terests of their constituents, or their own, in
heading or impeaching the President. So much
as to the time of adjournment may be inferred
from the declaration of MIR. Fillmore. In oppos-
ing the reception Of Mr.. Casey's resolution to
adjourn on the first day of August, he empha-
tically announced that he would resist, at this
time, any proposition in relation to adjourn
ment.
The limit to the session, if not as yet unde.
fined, is unquestionably removed to some day
beyond the first Of August. Ifa remoter period
has been determined on, the decree of the eau
Gus has not yet been promulgated. No data be-
ing furnished, by authority from which we can
safely calculate the probable day of adjourn
ment, we are left to such onjectural estimates
must judge of the future by the past. The ses-
sion has endured from the beginning of Deem.
Der. From the outset until the last Veto, the
industry of Congress was uninterrupted in its
efforts to frame measures for the good of the
country What was done during that lapse of
six months is yet undiscovered-s a sort of
terra incognita. The Loan bill was passed
some OF the appropriation bills were also passed.
Now, supposng that the Exchequer bill will
not be touched, and supposing that one-half of
the appropriation bills remain to be acted on,
and that the Tariff bill, when returned from the
Senate, will occupy some time in debate
Judging from the past, how long will Congress
yet remain in session. The usual allowances
of interludeS devoted to other matters, besides
the great bills, must be made We have put
the difficulty into simple form Of calcu-
aton. Others can solve it as well as our
selves. If the past constitute fair rule
for judging the future, il will not be
rash to suppose that the people Of this country
will enjoy the blessings of legislation until the
month of Novembe-, at least. A legitimate
calculation would make the probable session
much longer But there are sufficient reasons
why it should terminate before the time pre-
scribed for the commencement of the next one
That the session will be one unprecedenlly
protracted there can now be no doubt. What JUS
tifcaion of prolonging it be alleged is diff
cult of conjecture The question is serious,
and no doubt should be considered without levi
y. The question is serious both because the
prolongation Of the session necessarily involves
the country in an expenditure of money which
must be taken in part from the pocket of the
artlzan and laborer to pay the legislator for the
services he processes to perform and because
the acts OF the Legislature may be such as to
effect momentously for veal or for woe the in
terests OF the people. Looking, however, at the
acts OF Congress we can hardly be serious