Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1856-01-03


and an adjournment took place without the
House coming TO definite result on this in.
terestng question.
CoNGREss-RECEPT OF THE
MESSAGE.
A general surprise was created in and
out Of the two Houses of Congress by the
unexpected presentation TO those two bodies of
the Presidents annual message, on Monday
last 1t seems to have been taken for granted,
without any special reason for the assumption,
that the message could not be received or
read until both Houses should be organized
1t has been customary for the two Houses
to appoint a joint committee TO wait upon the
President, and inform him of their readiness
to receive his communications. 1t has also
been customary for the House of Representa-
tives to effect an organization. within reason
able time after its meeting. While no law
makes it obligatory on the House to apprize
the President formally of its readiness to re-
ceive his message, yet that courtesy which is
equally necessary between individuals and
Departments of Government, suggested, soon
after our Government went into o. Grafton, the
propriety of making known to the President
the willingness and readiness of Congress to
receive his message. And in the early days
Of the republic the reception and the reading
Of these communications were one and the
same thing-for the rule then was for the Pre-
sident to go the Capitol, appropriately attended,
and with his sword by his side, and deliver
his message in person, and with his own voice
Such was the custom of Washington during
his two Presidential terms. The custom was
departed from, and we think it unfortunate, by
Jefferson.
In the Senate, the message, though not ex-
pected, was received, and read without en-
countering any objection. But the House
was thrown into state of high excite
ment by its announcement. A warm and pro-
tracted debate ensued, which resulted in the
refusal Of the House to hear the message read
Many speeches. and various expositions of the
respective duties of the President and the
House were made.
We shall state briefly our opinions on the
subject and the grounds of those opinions.
No one, we presume, will deny that it is the
duty of the President to communicate with
Congress That matter is determined by
constitutional provision-as follows:
"He shall, from time to time, gire to the
Congress form atiorio the state of the Union,
and recommend TO their consideration such
measures as he shall Judge necessary and erpe.
III
conrene both houses, or either Of them" dc.
If the President is President, it is his duty
to communicate, as above; and if Congress is
Congress, it Is its duty to receive such commu-
nication Else the constitutional provision is
altogether barren and worthless. That Presi.
dent Pierce, is President, every body knows, but
the question is gravely mooted by many, whe-
ther Congress is in fact Congress. On this
point we are not left in the dark The Consti-
tuition provides that /" Congress shall assemble
at least once in every year, and such meeting
shall be on the first Monday of December, I'M
less they shall by law appoint different day
1t further provides that "he House Of Repre-
sentatires shall choose their Speaker and other
officers
When the Senators and the elected Repre-.
sentatiyes of the people assemble in obedience
to law, at the appointed place and time, whe-
ther Speaker, Clerk, or other officers be
elected or not, these Senators and these
Representatives constitute the Congress-to
the whole, or either branch Of which, the Presi-
dent may-not may--but must, "slaH," COM
municate his opinions on public affairs
1t is idle to characterize, as some do charac-
terize, the sending in Of the Presidents mes
sage as usurpation," and as a discourtesy to
a coordinate branch OF the Government II
was his duty to do so, and as for the argument
in regard to discourtesy, the discourtesy exists
on the part of the dominant party towards the
President and the country, in the fact that they
will not organize.
Although the House refused to hear the
message, it was read in the Senate; it has been
published in all the papers, and its contents
will be known to the members Of the House as
well as il it had been received and read in that
body. Whether an organization will be pro-
NOTED or retarded by such knowledge we will
not undertake to say.
THE PREsIDENT,s MESSAGE,
We published in our last issue the Annual
Message OF the President IN the two Ho,eoo ~