Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1844-01-25
From tAe Natiosai I4t,iigsseer.

from az natfofHf fRsrttHeRCtF
Thu ssvtuth week ot 4 ssiou has
pass away, and very litll- visltle pro.
Agfess bfs yet been made by c ngress 10
/ the transat ton of busin IS. Tse House
of Repres natives has cnly just gu
through ti the re iefeaer of th srvsss
topics tmbrscrd 10 tae Preside nts Mes
sage at tie opening IS the sessi'u; b "
ins rut.rt4ined srlousiy no ltgisi i've
90 asare IKE, pt tina, by @ii1eh the ,lghth
tof Januatv was sign4lizsc. There has
been much DEBATE, il is true, IN TIE House,
as might havr been rsaNRah'y expected
rom the unusual proportion OF new Mem
befs: and, contrary TO " hat IS Eve beiievel
! the general impression, We DO not regard
the occupation Of the House n prelimina.
ry debate as so much time wasted--un-
less, indeed, of the character OF part 81
that which has occupied the Two or three
las, days sitting 10 he House OF Repre-
sentatives; d. bate VIII i, exceeding N
gross personality any thing that has ever
before occurred 10 ihs Legislative Halls,
must eli every consideraie person with
pain and morlficatiun- enl reflect any
thing but credit Upon the House usali.---
Under the early practice OF Congress,
following that Of the British Parliament,
an Answer being made by each House
TO the opening Address Cat that day de'v
cred orally) BY the President TO the Two
House OF Congress, the consideration OF
that Answer afforded an occasion Gas II
yet does OF The opening OF each Session oil
the Blush Perlameni) on which the
state of the Nation was thrown wide open
to debate, every topic OF political interest
being drawn within i,s range, and unrc-
servedly discussed. An opportunity was
thus afforded 10 the Members, new and
old, which they no longer enjoy, TO give
free vent to their feelings eni matters
and things in general. After the election
OF Mr.. JEFFERSON to the Presidency,
when the Presidents annual commuEica-
ton to Congress came TO be made in writ
ing, this practice of general debate on
III. state Of the Nation was dispensed
with; and il has followed, almost as me-
cesssry consequence, that great deal OF
deb tie takes lace, at the first session es
pecially Of every Congress, upon ques
lions which, hal the state OF the Union
undergone general debate at the tegin-
ming, would hardly elicit remark from
any part Of the House. After the flow Of
debate fr several weeks past, however, II
may fairly be presumed that the House
will be disposed TO go more steadily to
work. Meantime the committees OF the
House have not been idle, some Of them
at least devoiing themselves with assidul.
", at almost oil times when the House as
not in session, 10 tn, duties assigned to
them, which are made very onerous and
laborious by the great number o. petitions
presented, and the almos, equally numer-
Gus inquiries committed 20 them by reso
lutions Of the House.
The Srnnte has bcen more quietly, but
not, the-ef re, the SIS steadily engaged
besides its peculiar action on what is
termed Executive busness-in maturing,
through its committees, propns tons OF
various character and magnitude, such rs
the Senate is authorized by the Consiitu
ton to originate. For long and most
important class of business--such os re-
venue bills, which ers required by thu
! Constitution to originate in the House o!
/ Repi eSenta;ives, and bills appropriation,
which, in practice, do originate in tina,
| DO iv-the Senate must nee 'ssarrlv az ait
| the movements Of the other House. Thus
waiting, however, a debate has begun IN
tie Senate which involves the whole ques.
ton Of tha Revenue. the Tariff. and Fl.
nancial policy generally.
On this subject we adhere 10 the opin.
ion, heretofore expressed, taai The Tarltf
viii not be touched al tits Session.