Rutland herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1823-1847, 1844-02-08
Fcom n. Naflcnal Iat.l.peneef Of Monday.

From Tho National iafsngeHeer 81 Monday
The seventh week Of the Session has passed a.
way. and very liule progress has yet been made
bv Congress in the transaction Of business The
House Of Representatives has only jus, got thro
with the reierance Of several topics embraced in the
Pre- dents Message at the opening Of the session;
having entertained seriously no Legislative mems.
ure,excep ;ha, by which the eighth of January
WINS signalized. There has been much debate, il
is,rue. in the House as nigh have been reason
ably expected from the unusual proportion of new
members and, contrary 10 what is 1--WE believe)
the general impression, we do no, regard the &C.
cupl,ion Of the house in preliminary debate as so
much time wasted-uness indeed, OF the charac-
ter OF the part oftha, which has occupied the two
OF thee las, days sitting in the House Of Represen
ta,ives debate which, exceeding in gross per
sona,y any hing that has ever before occurred in
legislative Halls, must fill every considera,e per-
son with pain and modification. and reflect any.
thing but credit upon the House itself
Unier the early practice of Congress- following
thai Of The British Parliament, an answer being
made by each House to the opening address
"a, that day delivered orally by the Presilen, to
the two Houses Of Congress the consideration of
that answer afforded an occasion las it yet docs at
the opening of each session Of the British Parlia
ment on whichthe state of the Nation was thrown
wide open to debate every topic of political inter
est being drawn within its range, and unreserved-
y discussed An opportunity was thus afforded 10
the members new, and old, which they no longer
enjoy, TO give free vent to their feelings and opin.
ions on matters and things in general After the
election OF Mr.. Jefferson TO the Presidency. when
the Presidents annual communication to Congress
came 10 be made in writing, this practice of n
general debate on the state of the Nation was dis
penscdiwilh and it has followed, almost as neces
sary consequence, that great deal of debate takes
place, at the first session speciality f every Con
gress, upon questions which, had tie state of the
Union undergone general debate at the beginning
would hardly elici, remark from any part OF The
House.
After the flow of debate for several weeks past
however, it may be fairly presumed that the House
will be disposed to 60 more steadily to work.
Meantime the committees of the House are no
illc, some of them at leas. devo,ing themselve
with assduity, at almost all times when the Hous,
is not in session, to the duties assigned TO then
which are very onerous and laborlous by the grea
number OF petitions presented, and the almost e
81 qually numerous inquiries committed to them b.
the solutions of the House.
The Senate has been more quietly, but no
therefore the less steadily engaged besides its pc
cular action on what is termed Executive bus
ncss-in maturing, through its committees, prop
osilions OF various character and magnitude, sue
as the Senate is authorised by the Constitution t
originate. For a large and most important elias
Of businessmen as revenue bills, which are II
qured by the Constitution 10 originate in tn
House of Representatives and biIl6pf appropris
ton, which, in practice do originate in that bod
the Senate must necessarily await the NOV,
ments Of the other House Thus waiting, how
ever, debate has begun in the Senate which il
wolves the whole question Of the Revenue, the r;
rid, and Financial policy generally
On this suhjec, we adhere to the opinion, her
tofore expressed, that the Tariff will not be toucI
cd al this Session,