Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1848-11-25
THE RE.AssEMBLAGE OF CONGRESS.

The public mind has been SO deeply engaged in
the canvass which has justended, and in reckoning
up and accounting for its results, as TO have been
almost nsensibe to the near end rapid approach of
the meeting of Congress. Such has certainly been
our own case, though we at least should have rea-
son to remember it, in view of the additional labors
and duties which its annual arrival necessarily de-
wolves upon us. The session begins, however, on
Monday week and already the Senators and Rep
resentatyes are on the road from every quarter to
attend it.
The absence Of any thing like the usual excite
ment in advance of the session is caused, doubtless
by the general conviction that no great questions
are likely to be decided at it. Again, happily, at
Peace with all the Foreign world, there is ques-
ton now 10 be decided of raising new armies, and
otherwise enabling the Executive to carry on a war
to which the public heart was always averse, and
on the termination of which it has hardly yet ceased
rejoicing. Whilst there is much legislation requir-
ed by public opinion to be done and undone, it is
vet known that the two Houses of Congress are not
so constituted as at this time to accord on certain
questions of hg her consequences and that, besides
the hands Of both Houses are tied, upon questions
on which they would concur in representing the
public will, by the known addiction of the present
Executive TO the exercise Of the Veto Power.
II is hence not within the range Of probability that
the Tariff, Protective, or Internal improvement
questions, will be agitated at the coming session ;
nor indeed any other question likely to give rise to
much contention, unless the President should in his
annual Message spring upon Congress some new
Al D,,hl
dreaming of.
The establishment OF Government for our lately
acquired Territories of New Mexico and California,
is the only question which occurs to us as likely to
produce any excitement at this session; and that,
rather because did at the last session, than from
any other reason. The National Election having
In the time drawn much of the fire out of that
cloud, let us hope that will pass over without any
hurtful explosion.
Upon the whole, we anticipate quiet, and yet a
busy session. The calm which naturally inter-
venes the election and the accession of new Chief
Magistrate, is favorable to the dispatch in Con-
gress Of that description of business usually termed
private, though involving the highest principles Of
public justice, having been in fact already, for the
most part carefully investigated and adjudicated by
the several committees of the two Houses. That
calm Of the passions is also suspicious TO all that
class of business, of acknowledged public impor-
lance, which has been for three years OVERLAND and
stfed by war projects and operations, and by the
great mass of measures which necessarily follow in
their train.
There is one thought suggested to our mind by
the advent Of this session. which we will not with
hold from our readers. Ii will be the second oe
the Thrtieth Congress; and upon its termination,
on the Sd Of March next this Government will
have existed, unchanged in form, for period of
sixty years; the expiration Of that term being sig
nalized by what has been happily termed "Revo-
luton of Ten Hours the effect of which, when
fully realized, will have been to restore the Govern
ment to the plain and obvious track from which it
has been IN practice, in many instances, departed
from. How 1t may strike others, we know not;
but in our eyes nothing can be more admirable
nothing more glorous-in view of the whole civil
LIKED world, agitated and convulsed before and
around Us, than this expression-so still. so in-
stanbneous, so Universally acquiesced in--of the
collective will Of three millions Of voters. What
more singular, what more imposing civil spectacle
could there be What exemplifcasion more deci.
sive Of the consummatc wisdom Of those happy in
stltutions which our great forefathers bestowed
upon US They surely gave them, besides all
their wisdom, some hidden force of virtue, which
men must feel, but cannot guess breahed into
them some strange spirit, some energy Of good,
which, like the unseen power of fermentation,
works soundness and sweetness out of seeming
trouble.
In such moment Of public exuliation as should,
we conceive, hail each recurring exhibition OF these
admirable powers Of our institutions, all citizens
should find high cause not merely for admiration at
process so wonderful, but corresponding good
will towards each other, that shall heal all personal
hurts as perfectly as the inward force we have men,
toned cures the wounds of the Constitution.
II appears by the New Orleans papers that Mr.
M.n.os 4