True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1856-08-27
Congressional Proceedings.

WASHINGTON, Aug. 2i'- Senate.-
The Presidents Message was received and
read 1t is as fulows:
Fellow Citizens Of the Senate
and House of Representatives.
In consequence Of The failure of Con.
grcss, during its recent session, to make
provisions for the supper. Of the army, ii
becomes imperatively incumbent on me,
to exercise The power, which The Consti-
tuition confers on the Executive on this
extraordinary occasion, and promptly to
convene the two Houses, in order to af.
ford them an opportunity of reconsider
ing subject Of such vital interest to the
peace and welfare Of the Union. The
exercise OF partial authority vested by
law, in the Secretary Of war, to contract
for supply of clothing and subsistence,
for The army, is wholly dependent on the
appropriations, annually made by Con.
gress. The omission Of Congress TO acl
in this respect, before the termination of
the fiscal year had already caused en-
barrassments, which were overcome only
in the expectation Of an appropriation be.
ing made before The close of the present
month. II the requisite funds be not
speedily provined, the Executive will no
longer be able 10 furnish means for trans.
porta ion of the equipments aud munitions,
which are essential to tie effectiveness of
a military force in the field. With no
provision, for the pay of The troops, the
contracts Of enlistment will have been
broken. and, the army must be, in effect,
disbanded-the consequences Of which
would be so disastrous as to command all
possible efforts to avert the calamity. 1t
is not merely, that the officers and enlis-
ted men Of the army are TO be thus .depri-
we'd of their pay, to which they are enli.
tied. by standing laws but that the con,
struction Of arms, at the pubic armories I;
the repairs and construction Of ordnance
at the arsenals and the manufacture Of
military clothing, and equipage must be
discontinued aud the persons, connected
with this branch of the public service,
thus be deprived suddenly, of employ.
ment, essential 10 their subsist 'nce.-Nor
is it. merely the waste consequent upon
the forced abandonment of the sea board
forlifcations, and Of the enlelior military
forts, and other establishments and the
enormous expense of Recruiting and re
organizing the army again; distribu-
ling 1t over The vast regions. which i
now occupies. These are evils which, i,
is true, may be repaired. hereafter, BY
taxes imposed upon the country bu
other evils are involved, which no expen
diiure, however, lavish, could remedy, il
comparison with which, local and person
al injuries or interests sink into insignif.
cence.
WASHINGTON, Aug. 2l.-The TIVE
!, Houses Of Congress re.assemhed. to da,
at l2 o'clock, in accordance with the Pres
ident's proclamation. The galleries q
both houses were crowded to excess an,
intense interest was everywhere manifes
ted. The Senate was called to orde
at IL O'Clock 80 Senators being pre-;
cut. ,,.t.
/, On motion Of Mr.. Hunter, the Secrt
, tary OF the Senate was ordered 10 acquaiI
t the House that quorum was assembled
and that the Senate was ready TO procee
to business.
House.--I'he Speaker called the hous
TO order, ut IL O'clock. II was then an
S nounced, that the body had assembled, j
] pursuance Of the Presidents Proclami
ton, which was read by the Clerk.
, The roll was called and ITO Member
I answered TO their names,
It On motion Of Mr.. Phelps, il was OF
. dered, that the Senate be informed. thu
9 there is quorum Of Members present
i and that the House is ready to proceed
d business.
] On motion Of Mr.. Campbell Of Obi
$ the Speaker was directed 70 appoint staI
ding committees, similar to those Of Il