The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1859-04-01
THE SPECIAL SESSION.


tFrom the Mobile Gala Daily Register, March "a
The question that has been debated recently in the
Cabinet councils at Washington, as to the necessity and
propiety of an extra session of Congress, has been deter
mined. BY a telegraphic despatch, published in another
column, it appears that the President, we think, wisely,
has concluded that it is better that the country should
submit to the inconvenience and disorder bequeathed it
by the late undutiful Congress than To attempt to remedy
and arrange them by referring them to a new and incom-
plete legislature. The fiscal year of the government ends
on the 30th of june next, and in order to provide for the
wants of the postal service of the country, Congress
ought to be convened, il called together at all before that
time, but as a large number of States would be unrepre-
sented in the House of Representatives, 1t would be an
act Of injustice to empower the rest to legislate upon the
important affairs of the country without them. If the
meeting, however, should be deferred until August, what
ever may the anticipated defalcations in the government
under existing contracts, they will then have occurred,
and the disorder resulting from them could be as well
borne until the regular session, as in the interim necessa-
ny for a full representation. In the petty policy which
was constantly exhibited by the individual members of
the late disgraceful Congress, it is not at all improbable
that many Of the petty ~aspirants of that ~paralytic body,
in their nervous jerkings for notoriety, desired the failure
Of the Post-ofice appropriations, for the purpose of fore
ing the President to coll a special session. To these little
political scheners, anxious for the lead of new construct
ed parties, the apparent necessity of providing for the
mail service was a hopeful source of large political capi-
tai, as it was highly probable, in their sight, that the re-
sponsibility of the session would fall upon the admins
tration, and furnish a new armory of opposition weapons
to be launched at the democracy.
If such, indeed, was the calculation of these devoted
patriots, it has, perhaps, happened well that the Presi-
dent abstains from a call. As Congress in its wisdom as
the guardian of the public purse, has neglected to pro-
vide for the usual wants Of the government, it is well
that the Executive does not hesitate to allow the conse-
qucnces to fall where they ought under the circumstances
of q policy and patriotism 80 sublime. IL will have the
effect, at all events, of calling the attention of the peo-
pie to the glaring delinquency of their representatives
and point them to the remedy of such criminal folly here
after. The authority of the Postmaster General under
existing contracts extends to the reduction, both Of the
grade and frequency of mail conveyances, and if the reve-
nues of the service are not sufficient a retrenchment in
the schedule of running service must of necessity be
made until the next session of Congress. 1t Is only a few
months before that event, and in the mean time the
country will learn by the inconvenience how important it
is that they should be represented by honest and faithful
servants sent to provide for the necessities of the govern
ment, and not for their own political gambling. The
country does not want any more such legislation as it had
last winter. Had Congress passed the bill of necessary
appropriations for all departments Of the government the
first week of the session and adjourned, it would have
done a good work But as il failed in this, and as we
have no fear that the government cannot DO kept NOV
ing for a few months of the next fiscal year under exist
ing laws, we would greatly prefer some grievous embar.
rassment to the intolerable licentiousness and disgusting
trihing which have disgraced our national legislation,
and which we fear would be renewed by an unusual con-
gressional session. Without a call no further mischief
will be done while a new assembly, without the repre-
sentatives of a large number Of States, might infiet
upon the public interests injuries and evils beyond our
prediction.